PM Modi and US President Donald Trump had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. Watch this video to know more.

India-U.S. seek to make breakthrough on trade dispute

G20 leaders are at Osaka meet for the gala dinner. Watch this video to know more.

G20 leaders at Osaka meet for gala dinner

G20 leaders' spouses attend various cultural programs in Osaka and Kyoto on the sidelines of the ongoing summit. Watch this video to know more.

G20 leaders' spouses attends various cultural programs

G20 leaders get a taste of Japanese culture

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 14th G20 summit in Japan’s Osaka city from June 28 to June 29, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press briefing. Watch full video to know more.

PM Narendra Modi to Attend G20 Summit in Japan's Osaka from June 27-29: MEA

On the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha results, the New York Times published an article titled “How Narendra Modi Seduced India with Envy and Hate”. A little before the election, Time magazine featured NaMo on their cover and in bold letters labelled him as the “Divider in Chief”. Kapil Komireddi’s analysis of the Indian political landscape for The Guardian went on to call Indians “intellectually vacant” and the country a “make believe land of fudge and fakery”.&nbsp;

These scathing remarks from the international community crystallised national support for Modi and May 23, 2019 put the debate to rest, telling the world what India really is – an exemplary democracy that does not seek validation from a few writers in Manhattan or London to create the ideological roadmap for our future.&nbsp;

However, it is imperative to discuss a political narrative that goes beyond cow lynchings and hate speech, as some leading Western publications have been trying to propagate. Modi’s victory is unfazed by this empty outrage because it represents what India has always stood for – inclusion, development and progress.

The people of India have faith in their PM not simply because of his superstar appeal, but because of the way he has addressed the needs of different segments of Indian society through various developmental schemes. Some of the key initiatives by Modi such as Jan Dhan Yojna and Swachh Bharat have been praised by global organisations such as the World Bank. The Jan Dhan initiative has been lauded by the Bank as one of the most successful financial inclusion initiatives. Over 344 million bank accounts have been opened and to the critics who thrive on cynicism, only 16.3 per cent of these accounts were inoperative.&nbsp;

According to the World Health Organisation, Swachh Bharat’s cleanliness drive has been estimated to avert hygiene and food conditions-related deaths of over 3,00,000 children by October 2019.&nbsp;

Just before the 2014 electoral upset, only under 40 per cent of Indian households had access to toilets. By 2018, this number increased to 89 per cent under Modi. A rock star appeal doesn’t push the country to set electoral precedents - the provision of basic necessities does.&nbsp;

Making toilets and providing electricity to every village might not be consequential to the average New York Times subscriber, but it is what created the bond of trust between Modi and the woman who is no longer eve-teased as she tries to use the restroom in the morning.&nbsp;

A one-Dimensional analysis of any issue, let alone the Indian economy, is problematic. The 2014 Indian economy that was handed to Modi as a welcome package by the Gandhi family, was in a shambles with double-digit inflation, investors withdrawing funds from India and the country being included on the list of the “fragile five economies”.&nbsp;

The Modi government (despite certain mishaps) has in the past five years taken serious measures to change things around. Beyond focusing on better infrastructure, the transparency brought into the system through structural reforms such as GST, the Bankruptcy &amp; Insolvency Code Bill and FDI in selective sectors, among others, has made India the favourite FDI destination in 2018, ahead of US and China.

Communal violence is unfortunately not new. It is a systemic product of the post-Independence social and religious fragility in India. However, fortunately, there hasn’t been a single case of large-scale communal riots since Modi came to power in 2014. Compare that with the UPA government, which failed to manage communal violence - the 2006 Aligarh riots, 2008 Dhule riots, 2010 Deganga, 2011 Bharatpur, 2012 Assam riots and most famously, 2013 Muzaffarnagar, are just a few examples that come to mind.

Indian voters recognise that the UPA government not just failed to maintain peace on a domestic level, but also on the international level, costing the country over 800 civilians between 2004 and 2014 at the hands of terrorism funded by neighbouring countries. Modi has denied India the chance to become a victim yet again and gave Parliament a culture shock when he pivoted from the meekish approach it has usually adopted in the past.&nbsp;

While it is satisfying for some to demonise Modi in the short run, it is much more difficult to come up with a clear and inclusive roadmap, rally the troops in a country with 100+ languages and six major religions and influence people in a unified manner and inspire meaningful change.&nbsp;

The truth is we don’t have the time or the bandwidth for despair anymore as we grow desperate to see India evolve into a global leader. The road is long and uphill, but empty criticism will not be carried as excess baggage by the citizens who are determined to rise.&nbsp;

&nbsp; 
(Mansi Sharma contributed to this article) 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-empty-outrage-will-not-do-2764306">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

On the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha results, the New York Times published an article titled “How Narendra Modi Seduced India with Envy and Hate”. A little before the election, Time magazine featured NaMo on their cover and in bold letters labelled him as the “Divider in Chief”.

On the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha results, the New York Times published an article titled “How Narendra Modi Seduced India with Envy and Hate”. A little before the election, Time magazine featured NaMo on their cover and in bold letters labelled him as the “Divider in Chief”. Kapil Komireddi’s analysis of the Indian political landscape for The Guardian went on to call Indians “intellectually vacant” and the country a “make believe land of fudge and fakery”. These scathing remarks from the international community crystallised national support for Modi and May 23, 2019 put the debate to rest, telling the world what India really is – an exemplary democracy that does not seek validation from a few writers in Manhattan or London to create the ideological roadmap for our future. However, it is imperative to discuss a political narrative that goes beyond cow lynchings and hate speech, as some leading Western publications have been trying to propagate. Modi’s victory is unfazed by this empty outrage because it represents what India has always stood for – inclusion, development and progress. The people of India have faith in their PM not simply because of his superstar appeal, but because of the way he has addressed the needs of different segments of Indian society through various developmental schemes. Some of the key initiatives by Modi such as Jan Dhan Yojna and Swachh Bharat have been praised by global organisations such as the World Bank. The Jan Dhan initiative has been lauded by the Bank as one of the most successful financial inclusion initiatives. Over 344 million bank accounts have been opened and to the critics who thrive on cynicism, only 16.3 per cent of these accounts were inoperative. According to the World Health Organisation, Swachh Bharat’s cleanliness drive has been estimated to avert hygiene and food conditions-related deaths of over 3,00,000 children by October 2019. Just before the 2014 electoral upset, only under 40 per cent of Indian households had access to toilets. By 2018, this number increased to 89 per cent under Modi. A rock star appeal doesn’t push the country to set electoral precedents - the provision of basic necessities does. Making toilets and providing electricity to every village might not be consequential to the average New York Times subscriber, but it is what created the bond of trust between Modi and the woman who is no longer eve-teased as she tries to use the restroom in the morning. A one-Dimensional analysis of any issue, let alone the Indian economy, is problematic. The 2014 Indian economy that was handed to Modi as a welcome package by the Gandhi family, was in a shambles with double-digit inflation, investors withdrawing funds from India and the country being included on the list of the “fragile five economies”. The Modi government (despite certain mishaps) has in the past five years taken serious measures to change things around. Beyond focusing on better infrastructure, the transparency brought into the system through structural reforms such as GST, the Bankruptcy & Insolvency Code Bill and FDI in selective sectors, among others, has made India the favourite FDI destination in 2018, ahead of US and China. Communal violence is unfortunately not new. It is a systemic product of the post-Independence social and religious fragility in India. However, fortunately, there hasn’t been a single case of large-scale communal riots since Modi came to power in 2014. Compare that with the UPA government, which failed to manage communal violence - the 2006 Aligarh riots, 2008 Dhule riots, 2010 Deganga, 2011 Bharatpur, 2012 Assam riots and most famously, 2013 Muzaffarnagar, are just a few examples that come to mind. Indian voters recognise that the UPA government not just failed to maintain peace on a domestic level, but also on the international level, costing the country over 800 civilians between 2004 and 2014 at the hands of terrorism funded by neighbouring countries. Modi has denied India the chance to become a victim yet again and gave Parliament a culture shock when he pivoted from the meekish approach it has usually adopted in the past. While it is satisfying for some to demonise Modi in the short run, it is much more difficult to come up with a clear and inclusive roadmap, rally the troops in a country with 100+ languages and six major religions and influence people in a unified manner and inspire meaningful change. The truth is we don’t have the time or the bandwidth for despair anymore as we grow desperate to see India evolve into a global leader. The road is long and uphill, but empty criticism will not be carried as excess baggage by the citizens who are determined to rise. (Mansi Sharma contributed to this article) (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Narendra Modi’s victory is unfazed by empty outrages

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for all the Members of Parliament on Thursday.

The dinner will take place at Ashoka Hotel in the national capital, sources said.

The invitation was extended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi to all members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

It will be the first time that the Prime Minister will be meeting all the MPs after the new government was formed last month.

Meanwhile, Modi will chair a meeting of the presidents of all political parties today to discuss the idea of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-mamata-stalin-and-chandrababu-naidu-decide-to-skip-pm-modis-one-nation-one-election-meeting-today-228537">'One Country, One Election'</a> along with other issues of national importance in both the Houses of Parliament.

During the all-party meet on Sunday, ahead of the start of the 17th Lok&nbsp;Sabha, the Prime Minister had urged all leaders to keep their political differences aside.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for all the Members of Parliament on Thursday. The dinner will take place at Ashoka Hotel in the national capital, sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for all the Members of Parliament on Thursday. The dinner will take place at Ashoka Hotel in the national capital, sources said. The invitation was extended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi to all members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. It will be the first time that the Prime Minister will be meeting all the MPs after the new government was formed last month. Meanwhile, Modi will chair a meeting of the presidents of all political parties today to discuss the idea of 'One Country, One Election' along with other issues of national importance in both the Houses of Parliament. During the all-party meet on Sunday, ahead of the start of the 17th Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister had urged all leaders to keep their political differences aside.

PM Modi to host dinner for all MPs tomorrow

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said that his party did not return to power with a massive mandate using polarisation or appeasement, but through uniting people of India.

"BJP did not come back to power with routine political play. We did not come back by dividing people in the name of caste and religion, polarisation or appeasement.&nbsp;

In fact, we returned to power by demolishing all these and uniting people of India," Ram Madhav said at an event here on Friday. Taking a dig at some opposition parties, the BJP leader said that dynasty used to be a merit in politics some years back which has demolished to an extent.

He said, "In this country, dynastic identity was considered to be a huge qualification for politics. There is nothing wrong in it, but people should come forward through their efficiency and not only their surname.

Earlier, he had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will break the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-will-break-congress-record-of-ruling-country-for-longest-duration-ram-madhav-225415">Congress' record </a>of ruling the country for the longest period and the BJP will remain in power when the nation would celebrate its 100 years of independence.

"A strong government is formed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time at the centre. Now, this government will run for a longer duration," Madhav had said on June 8.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said that his party did not return to power with a massive mandate using polarisation or appeasement, but through uniting people of India.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav said that his party did not return to power with a massive mandate using polarisation or appeasement, but through uniting people of India. "BJP did not come back to power with routine political play. We did not come back by dividing people in the name of caste and religion, polarisation or appeasement. In fact, we returned to power by demolishing all these and uniting people of India," Ram Madhav said at an event here on Friday. Taking a dig at some opposition parties, the BJP leader said that dynasty used to be a merit in politics some years back which has demolished to an extent. He said, "In this country, dynastic identity was considered to be a huge qualification for politics. There is nothing wrong in it, but people should come forward through their efficiency and not only their surname. Earlier, he had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will break the Congress' record of ruling the country for the longest period and the BJP will remain in power when the nation would celebrate its 100 years of independence. "A strong government is formed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time at the centre. Now, this government will run for a longer duration," Madhav had said on June 8.

BJP returned to power by uniting people of India, says Ram Madhav

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-refuses-to-endorse-chinas-bri-at-sco-says-connectivity-projects-must-respect-territorial-integrity-227208">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> chaired the 5th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on Saturday.

During the meeting, the prime minister said that the goal will now be to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024. The task is challenging but achievable, PM Modi said.&nbsp;

"Niti Aayog has a key role to play in fulfilling the mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas," he stated.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
PM at the 5th meeting of Governing Council of NITI Aayog: NITI Aayog has key role to play in fulfilling the mantra of SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas, SabkaVishwas. Goal to make India a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024, is challenging, but achievable, with the concerted efforts of states <a href="https://t.co/LMNcVHRMlW">pic.twitter.com/LMNcVHRMlW</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1139846704574939136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The meeting saw various Chief Ministers and Union Ministers in attendance&nbsp;except West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao.

Recalling the recent general elections as the world's largest democratic exercise, the prime minister said that it is now time for everyone to work for the development of India, news agency PTI reported.

He spoke of a collective fight against poverty, unemployment, drought, flood, pollution, corruption and violence.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs the 5th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog. <a href="https://t.co/99JGEEZwiX">pic.twitter.com/99JGEEZwiX</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1139840504881795072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

PM Modi also called for effective steps to tackle drought and added that the newly created Jal Shakti Ministry will help provide an integrated approach to water management.

In his last election rally in May, the prime minister had given an indication as to what will be his <a href="PM Modi also called for effective steps to tackle drought and added that the newly created Jal Shakti Ministry will help provide an integrated approach to water management.">focus area during his second term</a>.

While addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone in May, PM Modi had said, "Fifty years ago, Lohia told Jawaharlal Nehru that the most important issues facing women were water and sanitation... I am fulfilling Lohia's wish. After constructing toilets and giving dignity to women, I will focus my next term on ensuring clean drinking water."

BJP's manifesto had also promised the setting up of a unified Ministry of Water to end the water woes of the country.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Watch: Modi-Imran exchange greetings at SCO

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/modi-imran-exchange-greetings-at-sco-227229/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 5th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on Saturday. During the meeting, the prime minister said that the goal will now be to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 5th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on Saturday. During the meeting, the prime minister said that the goal will now be to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024. The task is challenging but achievable, PM Modi said. "Niti Aayog has a key role to play in fulfilling the mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas," he stated. PM at the 5th meeting of Governing Council of NITI Aayog: NITI Aayog has key role to play in fulfilling the mantra of SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas, SabkaVishwas. Goal to make India a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024, is challenging, but achievable, with the concerted efforts of states pic.twitter.com/LMNcVHRMlW — ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2019 × The meeting saw various Chief Ministers and Union Ministers in attendance except West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao. Recalling the recent general elections as the world's largest democratic exercise, the prime minister said that it is now time for everyone to work for the development of India, news agency PTI reported. He spoke of a collective fight against poverty, unemployment, drought, flood, pollution, corruption and violence. Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs the 5th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog. pic.twitter.com/99JGEEZwiX — ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2019 × PM Modi also called for effective steps to tackle drought and added that the newly created Jal Shakti Ministry will help provide an integrated approach to water management. In his last election rally in May, the prime minister had given an indication as to what will be his focus area during his second term. While addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone in May, PM Modi had said, "Fifty years ago, Lohia told Jawaharlal Nehru that the most important issues facing women were water and sanitation... I am fulfilling Lohia's wish. After constructing toilets and giving dignity to women, I will focus my next term on ensuring clean drinking water." BJP's manifesto had also promised the setting up of a unified Ministry of Water to end the water woes of the country. (With inputs from agencies) Watch: Modi-Imran exchange greetings at SCO ×

Developing India into $5 trillion economy challenging but achievable: PM Modi at NITI Aayog meeting 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed SCO summit 2019. He slammed Pakistan over terrorism. Listen in.

SCO summit 2019: PM Modi slams Pakistan over terrorism

SCO summit 2019 extended format meeting is underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed SCO summit 2019. Listen in.

SCO summit 2019: Extended format meeting underway

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing SCO summit 2019. Listen in.

PM Modi addresses SCO summit 2019

No pleasantries were exchanged between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan PM Imran Khan at an informal dinner hosted by Kyrgyzstan President Sooronbay Jeenbekov on Day 1 of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Watch this video to know more.

No PM Modi-Imran talks on SCO summit Day 1

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO) summit begins in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan today. Watch this video to know more.

Meeting of SCO leaders begins

Sources told us that there were no formal meeting in between Indian PM Modi & Pakistani PM Imran Khan. But they both greeted each other. Imran also congratulated PM Modi for his victory in LS Polls 2019. Watch this video to know more.

SCO Summit 2019: No Formal  Meet of Modi-Imran

Watch Prime Minister Narendra Modi's itinerary for the day.

PM Modi's itinerary for the day

Pakistan said that it condemns terror in all form. Pakistan has also proposed plan to promote tourism. Watch this video to know more.

WION Exclusive: In Conversation with Mr. Tilak Devasher, Former Bureaucrat over Pakistan's word

Reiterating India's strong stand against terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appealed that countries supporting, aiding and funding terrorism must be held accountable during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Watch this video to know more.

SCO Summit 2019: PM Modi Says, ''End State-Sponsored Terror''

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed SCO summit 2019. He slammed Pakistan over terrorism. Then What Pakistani PM replied. Listen to it.

SCO Summit 2019: Pak Repeat The Same Old Lies

Reiterating India's strong stand against terrorism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed that countries supporting, aiding and funding terrorism must be held accountable during his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Watch this video to know more.

PM Modi's anti-terror pitch at SCO

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold two bilateral meetings with the President of Kazakhstan, Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani. Watch this video to know more.

PM Modi to hold 2 bilateral meetings today

In this video know what is Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO)?

What is Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO)?

PM Modi: 'Everyone needs to come together to fight terrorism'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday directed all ministries of the central government to focus on 'ease of living' for the common man and said the results of Lok Sabha elections have shown that people want to change "status quo". Watch this video to know more.

Modi's first meet with government secretaries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sri Lanka on his way back to India from Maldives. PM Modi is the first world leader to visit the island nation after the serial bombings on Easter left more than 250 dead. Watch full video to know more.

How is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit perceived in Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a brief stop in Kerala today, on his way to the Maldives, which is his first international visit since becoming prime minister for his second term. Watch full video to know more.

Kerala: PM Modi performs traditional pooja at Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur of Thrissur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Guruvayur temple in Thrissur district of Kerala to offer prayers. Watch full video to know more.

Kerala: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers at Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur of Thrissur

The landslide victory of the BJP-led coalition under the leadership of Narendra Modi in the 2019 parliamentary elections is indeed historic. In the next five years, Modi will have the opportunity to make a new India. In doing so, his government will surely continue to reinvent Indian foreign policy.

True, in Modi’s first term, Indian foreign policy had undergone a remarkable transformation. First, India aggressively pursued a multi-aligned policy in engagement with the word. This change saw India fostering engagement with all the global powers. While the US designated India as a defence partner, New Delhi expanded military ties with Russia, France and Japan. &nbsp;

Under the Modi government, India became a member of the Missile Technology Regime, which aims to check proliferation of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicle capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. &nbsp;

In another major development, India succeeded in getting Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist at the UN. India’s ties with East and Southeast Asian countries have touched a new high under Modi’s Act East Policy and its relations with its South Asian neighbours, except Pakistan, have also been on an upward trajectory.

At the same time, the BJP government has sent a clear signal to India’s neighbours and beyond that its efforts to foster friendly ties should not be seen as the sign of weakness. This is in the context of the Balakot strike in Pakistan and India’s position during the Doklam crisis with China. &nbsp;

Thus, in his first term, Modi did not just set the agenda for Indian foreign policy, but its efforts boosted the country’s image as an important player in shaping regional and global geopolitical, strategic and economic landscapes.

Consequently, as Modi begins his second term, there would be more of continuity than change in Indian foreign policy. India’s invitation to the member states of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) – Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan for the swearing-in ceremony of Modi, clearly underscores his continued efforts to boost India’s Neighbourhood First policy. &nbsp;

BIMSTEC, which covers a vast regional geographical area, can play an important role in meeting India’s economic aspirations. At the same time, there is also an indication that the Modi government would take further efforts to isolate Pakistan at the regional and global level for providing shelter to terrorists operating against India. &nbsp;

The invitation to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic indicates India’s seriousness about strengthening ties with Central Asian countries to effectively protect its strategic, economic and energy interests. &nbsp;

Strong ties with Bishkek will also help India promote its agenda at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), since the Kyrgyz Republic heads this grouping. &nbsp;

As Mauritius has been a major source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India, the presence of the leader from this country at the oath-taking ceremony of the Modi government will surely help deepen ties between the two countries. &nbsp;

Of course, the rise of China and its deepening engagement in the Indian Ocean and in South Asia, has posed a serious security concern in India. Though New Delhi has been looking to ‘reset’ ties with Beijing, it is highly unlikely that China, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, will end its hostile approach towards India, especially when both the Asian powers are aspiring for a similar status in the same geography. &nbsp;

Thus, fully aware of these structural and other compulsions, India has endorsed America’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. Last month, New Delhi also established the Indo-Pacific Desk to bring more clarity to its Act East Policy, thereby playing its role in promoting a multipolar order in the region. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Nevertheless, China’s assertive posturing, Trump’s unpredictable behaviour and his America First Policy, the impact of the Iran sanctions on India’s energy requirement and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism are some major issues facing the Modi government in his second term. &nbsp;

Last but not least, this time India’s induction as a permanent member of the UN Security Council could be a top foreign policy priority of the Modi government.

 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-modi-s-second-term-spells-foreign-policy-continuity-2756865">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The landslide victory of the BJP-led coalition under the leadership of Narendra Modi in the 2019 parliamentary elections is indeed historic. In the next five years, Modi will have the opportunity to make a new India.

The landslide victory of the BJP-led coalition under the leadership of Narendra Modi in the 2019 parliamentary elections is indeed historic. In the next five years, Modi will have the opportunity to make a new India. In doing so, his government will surely continue to reinvent Indian foreign policy. True, in Modi’s first term, Indian foreign policy had undergone a remarkable transformation. First, India aggressively pursued a multi-aligned policy in engagement with the word. This change saw India fostering engagement with all the global powers. While the US designated India as a defence partner, New Delhi expanded military ties with Russia, France and Japan. Under the Modi government, India became a member of the Missile Technology Regime, which aims to check proliferation of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicle capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. In another major development, India succeeded in getting Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist at the UN. India’s ties with East and Southeast Asian countries have touched a new high under Modi’s Act East Policy and its relations with its South Asian neighbours, except Pakistan, have also been on an upward trajectory. At the same time, the BJP government has sent a clear signal to India’s neighbours and beyond that its efforts to foster friendly ties should not be seen as the sign of weakness. This is in the context of the Balakot strike in Pakistan and India’s position during the Doklam crisis with China. Thus, in his first term, Modi did not just set the agenda for Indian foreign policy, but its efforts boosted the country’s image as an important player in shaping regional and global geopolitical, strategic and economic landscapes. Consequently, as Modi begins his second term, there would be more of continuity than change in Indian foreign policy. India’s invitation to the member states of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) – Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan for the swearing-in ceremony of Modi, clearly underscores his continued efforts to boost India’s Neighbourhood First policy. BIMSTEC, which covers a vast regional geographical area, can play an important role in meeting India’s economic aspirations. At the same time, there is also an indication that the Modi government would take further efforts to isolate Pakistan at the regional and global level for providing shelter to terrorists operating against India. The invitation to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic indicates India’s seriousness about strengthening ties with Central Asian countries to effectively protect its strategic, economic and energy interests. Strong ties with Bishkek will also help India promote its agenda at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), since the Kyrgyz Republic heads this grouping. As Mauritius has been a major source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in India, the presence of the leader from this country at the oath-taking ceremony of the Modi government will surely help deepen ties between the two countries. Of course, the rise of China and its deepening engagement in the Indian Ocean and in South Asia, has posed a serious security concern in India. Though New Delhi has been looking to ‘reset’ ties with Beijing, it is highly unlikely that China, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, will end its hostile approach towards India, especially when both the Asian powers are aspiring for a similar status in the same geography. Thus, fully aware of these structural and other compulsions, India has endorsed America’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. Last month, New Delhi also established the Indo-Pacific Desk to bring more clarity to its Act East Policy, thereby playing its role in promoting a multipolar order in the region. Nevertheless, China’s assertive posturing, Trump’s unpredictable behaviour and his America First Policy, the impact of the Iran sanctions on India’s energy requirement and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism are some major issues facing the Modi government in his second term. Last but not least, this time India’s induction as a permanent member of the UN Security Council could be a top foreign policy priority of the Modi government. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Narendra Modi’s second term spells foreign policy continuity

In India, prime ministers (PM) have always been more than just primus inter pares (first among equals). The most effective among them have personified the combination of three main roles — as a public figure of mass appeal, as one who is not merely a leader of the ruling party in the Parliament, but one having considerable influence on it and as the head of the government. &nbsp;

Each of these three roles influences the other two. Despite differences in personality and style of functioning, as between Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, AB Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, the success of the prime minister has depended to a large extent, on one’s ability to balance these functions. &nbsp;

Hopes and aspirations of multitudes of people have to be raised by the nation’s most important functionary in such a way as can be substantially met by him as the head of the government. &nbsp;

Herein lies the problem. Our best PMs have all been tall in stature, but their performance records, almost inevitably, have been mixed and short of expectations. &nbsp;

There are a few reasons for this. Whenever a government takes charge, the hype attached to the electoral process creates an impression, aided by the media, that things would start changing big time.

Nothing revolutionary happens for the simple reason that government is a continuum, that the elected leaders have to work with the same instrumentalities of the state, and that the freedom to make new capital investments is often rather limited.&nbsp;

In a short time, the executive arm will get to grapple with the serious business of governance, where the PM’s stewardship can make a major difference initiating paradigmatic changes, as happened during the nation’s short tryst with capitalistic ideas from the early nineties.

As one symbolising public hope, the PM has to constantly interact directly with the people, and frequently so, explaining what is expected to be achieved in the next five years, admitting failures and errors in judgement and specifying how the problems are sought to be overcome. &nbsp;

During the early election years after independence, Nehru converted every public meeting to an exercise in adult education, explaining to people the nation’s experiments with democracy and secularism, the need for industrialisation and large irrigation projects, among others.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Softly and persuasively, the PM has to seek public support in the nation’s resolve to fight corruption, promote communal harmony and improve relationships with neighbouring countries. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The body language should be accommodative, not combative, exuding the aura that he is the leader of the whole country, not merely of his party, which might have obtained less than 50 per cent of the votes polled, and direct endorsement from a much lesser percentage of the country’s population.

In his second role as one having an influence over the party, the PM should seek the party’s support in keeping a close vigil on the performance and integrity of individual ministers. Axiomatically, if the minister is honest and efficient, the higher bureaucracy always follows suit. &nbsp;

In cases of direct conflict between the sectarian goals of the party and the inclusive idea of the government, the PM should act as a wise mediator and gradually steer the party towards the latter. &nbsp;

The PM alone, by virtue of his moral authority and wide public acceptance, can reduce the areas of potential conflict between the government and the party.&nbsp;

Another area where he can make a difference is by way of influencing the national discourse on issues that constitute the idea of India like a pluralist democracy, a federal structure, a mixed economy and of course, tolerant secularism that embraces and respects all faiths equally.

All these ideas, when sought to be shaped by public action led by the state, invariably get modified in some way or the other. The ideals that the Father of Our Nation espoused in respect of all the above have been substantially reshaped since independence. &nbsp;

As the chief executive of the nation, the PM has to persuade and inspire, facilitate change and prioritise action - often in combination. As the head of government, he has to focus on legislations of significance, social and economic, that require to be urgently passed through Parliament, as for instance, on land and labour reforms and women’s reservation issues.

On the executive front, his leadership for action is even more direct and pervasive. How to reduce poverty and income inequality, address farm distress, attract investment and enhance export to spur growth, keep inflation under control, generate employment through skill development as a movement, ensure national security, resolve the contentious NPA issue to enable banks to increase lending and how the Millennium Development Goals be achieved ahead of schedule, are among the umpteen concerns that would require his immediate attention.

Certain areas that are crying for reforms relate to augmenting the state’s capacity to carry forward the government’s mandate. Civil service reforms and strengthening of institutions such as the recently-constituted Lokpal fall into this category.

In this Herculean endeavour, the PM and his ministers must take advantage of the counsel of the best minds, inside and outside the government, within the country and from abroad. &nbsp;

If &nbsp;everyone is humble enough to understand the limitations of one’s imagination and capacity and is therefore prompted to seek advice from the knowledgeable, if only his team appreciates that electoral victory is merely the starting point of a process that requires to be carefully and pragmatically nurtured through the cooperation of all - then only will the prime minister of this complex and diverse country be able to make a lasting impress on the nation’s collective consciousness and be respected by all his countrymen as a statesman. 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-more-than-first-among-equals-2756868">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

 
 
&nbsp;

In India, prime ministers (PM) have always been more than just primus inter pares (first among equals). The most effective among them have personified the combination of three main roles — as a public figure of mass appeal, as one who is not merely a leader of the ruling party in the Parliament, but one having considerable influence on it and as the head of the government.

In India, prime ministers (PM) have always been more than just primus inter pares (first among equals). The most effective among them have personified the combination of three main roles — as a public figure of mass appeal, as one who is not merely a leader of the ruling party in the Parliament, but one having considerable influence on it and as the head of the government. Each of these three roles influences the other two. Despite differences in personality and style of functioning, as between Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, AB Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, the success of the prime minister has depended to a large extent, on one’s ability to balance these functions. Hopes and aspirations of multitudes of people have to be raised by the nation’s most important functionary in such a way as can be substantially met by him as the head of the government. Herein lies the problem. Our best PMs have all been tall in stature, but their performance records, almost inevitably, have been mixed and short of expectations. There are a few reasons for this. Whenever a government takes charge, the hype attached to the electoral process creates an impression, aided by the media, that things would start changing big time. Nothing revolutionary happens for the simple reason that government is a continuum, that the elected leaders have to work with the same instrumentalities of the state, and that the freedom to make new capital investments is often rather limited. In a short time, the executive arm will get to grapple with the serious business of governance, where the PM’s stewardship can make a major difference initiating paradigmatic changes, as happened during the nation’s short tryst with capitalistic ideas from the early nineties. As one symbolising public hope, the PM has to constantly interact directly with the people, and frequently so, explaining what is expected to be achieved in the next five years, admitting failures and errors in judgement and specifying how the problems are sought to be overcome. During the early election years after independence, Nehru converted every public meeting to an exercise in adult education, explaining to people the nation’s experiments with democracy and secularism, the need for industrialisation and large irrigation projects, among others. Softly and persuasively, the PM has to seek public support in the nation’s resolve to fight corruption, promote communal harmony and improve relationships with neighbouring countries. The body language should be accommodative, not combative, exuding the aura that he is the leader of the whole country, not merely of his party, which might have obtained less than 50 per cent of the votes polled, and direct endorsement from a much lesser percentage of the country’s population. In his second role as one having an influence over the party, the PM should seek the party’s support in keeping a close vigil on the performance and integrity of individual ministers. Axiomatically, if the minister is honest and efficient, the higher bureaucracy always follows suit. In cases of direct conflict between the sectarian goals of the party and the inclusive idea of the government, the PM should act as a wise mediator and gradually steer the party towards the latter. The PM alone, by virtue of his moral authority and wide public acceptance, can reduce the areas of potential conflict between the government and the party. Another area where he can make a difference is by way of influencing the national discourse on issues that constitute the idea of India like a pluralist democracy, a federal structure, a mixed economy and of course, tolerant secularism that embraces and respects all faiths equally. All these ideas, when sought to be shaped by public action led by the state, invariably get modified in some way or the other. The ideals that the Father of Our Nation espoused in respect of all the above have been substantially reshaped since independence. As the chief executive of the nation, the PM has to persuade and inspire, facilitate change and prioritise action - often in combination. As the head of government, he has to focus on legislations of significance, social and economic, that require to be urgently passed through Parliament, as for instance, on land and labour reforms and women’s reservation issues. On the executive front, his leadership for action is even more direct and pervasive. How to reduce poverty and income inequality, address farm distress, attract investment and enhance export to spur growth, keep inflation under control, generate employment through skill development as a movement, ensure national security, resolve the contentious NPA issue to enable banks to increase lending and how the Millennium Development Goals be achieved ahead of schedule, are among the umpteen concerns that would require his immediate attention. Certain areas that are crying for reforms relate to augmenting the state’s capacity to carry forward the government’s mandate. Civil service reforms and strengthening of institutions such as the recently-constituted Lokpal fall into this category. In this Herculean endeavour, the PM and his ministers must take advantage of the counsel of the best minds, inside and outside the government, within the country and from abroad. If everyone is humble enough to understand the limitations of one’s imagination and capacity and is therefore prompted to seek advice from the knowledgeable, if only his team appreciates that electoral victory is merely the starting point of a process that requires to be carefully and pragmatically nurtured through the cooperation of all - then only will the prime minister of this complex and diverse country be able to make a lasting impress on the nation’s collective consciousness and be respected by all his countrymen as a statesman. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

As the chief executive of the nation, PM has to inspire, facilitate change and prioritise action

Leaders of the BIMSTEC member countries attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan

Gravitas: PM Modi renews push for 'Neighbourhood' first

After coming back to power with a bigger mandate than what it got in 2014, Narendra Modi-led NDA government has taken some immediate steps which reflect a big diplomatic outreach to the regional neighbours and Prime Minister's resolve to win the trust of minorities in his second term.

The nation comes first and so it was deeply heartening to see kin of Pulwama martyrs attending the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for his second consecutive term.&nbsp;

The family members of BJP workers, who were killed in the political violence in West Bengal, were also invited to the ceremony.

On the global front,&nbsp;Modi had invited leaders of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) that shows a continuance of his government's commitment to the&nbsp;'Neighbourhood First' policy. BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Thailand and Nepal.&nbsp;

After URI attack, India had boycotted the SAARC summit which was being organised&nbsp;in Islamabad in November 2016. No further action has been taken to resume the SAARC summit since then.&nbsp;SAARC, or South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Inviting BIMSTEC leaders indicates that India is shaping an alternative regional platform.&nbsp;

The Prime Minister had also extended separate invitations to the leaders of Kyrgyzstan and Mauritius. Kyrgyzstan holds importance here because the country is holding the annual summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) next month which will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan as attendees.&nbsp;

Modi's move is in line with the government's 'Neighbourhood First' policy&nbsp;and has sent out the right signal&nbsp;regarding his focus on regional cooperation.

Furthermore, Modi will start his second-term bilateral visits with the Maldives, where China has been trying to expand its influence. He will also address the Maldivian Parliament during his visit.&nbsp;

On his way back from the Maldives, Modi will make a stopover at Colombo to express his solidarity after easter attacks which killed over 250 civilians. It's important to recall here that India had shared intelligence inputs with Sri Lanka before the deadly blasts rocked the country.

The visit can be seen as a clear message that India stands united with Sri Lanka in its fight against terrorism.&nbsp;

India's Stern Message to Pakistan&nbsp;

India has turned down several talks initiatives from Pakistan since 2016 when an Air Force station in Pathankot was attacked by heavily-armed Pakistan-based terrorists. The tension between the South Asia neighbours has escalated since the February 2019 Pulwama attack and India's subsequent airstrike in Balakot - deep Inside Pakistan.

Unlike 2014, the Pakistani premier was not invited to the oath-taking ceremony of Modi this time. When Imran Khan dialled Modi to congratulate him on his second term and expressed his desire to work together for the betterment of their people, Modi made it clear that diplomatic dialogue can't be resumed unless Islamabad stops targetting India by exporting terrorism to Jammu and Kashmir.

Imran Khan and Narendra Modi will be attending the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan next week but no meeting has been announced between the two so far.&nbsp;

In the last 5 years, India has firmly stood against Pakistan's soil being used by terrorists for plotting and launching attacks on India. After the Pulwama attack, the US, UK and France too backed India to have Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azahar designated as a global terrorist by the UN. Under pressure, China, after a decade, finally lifted the technical hold that was shielding Azhar.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the Prime Minister is likely to host the Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year in Varanasi for an informal summit.

The development comes after the nailing of Masood Azhar which has visibly improved relations between India and China. Reaching out to China for the informal summit is significant because China is an 'all-weather' friend of Islamabad.

Talks with Pakistan won't yield any results unless Islamabad decides to shut its terror export industry, and thus, Modi did the right thing by telling Imran Khan that creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism were essential for fostering cooperation for peace.

Message for Minorities

In his first speech after winning the Lok Sabha elections 2019 with a thumping majority, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for 'inclusive politics' and broke his silence on minorities. Modi said his government will work to win the trust of minorities.

Modi expanded his 2014 slogan to - "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikaas, Sabka Vishwas," and asked his MPs to work for everyone without discriminating on the basis of caste and religion.

Many critics of BJP have downplayed PM's speech. Modi's assurance to minorities should be welcomed by people - liberals too. The appreciable thing will be to give his new government some time to deliver the&nbsp;commitments and promises.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

After coming back to power with a bigger mandate than what it got in 2014, Narendra Modi-led NDA government has taken some immediate steps which reflect a big diplomatic outreach to the regional neighbours and Prime Minister's resolve to win the trust of minorities in his second term.

After coming back to power with a bigger mandate than what it got in 2014, Narendra Modi-led NDA government has taken some immediate steps which reflect a big diplomatic outreach to the regional neighbours and Prime Minister's resolve to win the trust of minorities in his second term. The nation comes first and so it was deeply heartening to see kin of Pulwama martyrs attending the oath-taking ceremony of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for his second consecutive term. The family members of BJP workers, who were killed in the political violence in West Bengal, were also invited to the ceremony. On the global front, Modi had invited leaders of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) that shows a continuance of his government's commitment to the 'Neighbourhood First' policy. BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Thailand and Nepal. After URI attack, India had boycotted the SAARC summit which was being organised in Islamabad in November 2016. No further action has been taken to resume the SAARC summit since then. SAARC, or South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Inviting BIMSTEC leaders indicates that India is shaping an alternative regional platform. The Prime Minister had also extended separate invitations to the leaders of Kyrgyzstan and Mauritius. Kyrgyzstan holds importance here because the country is holding the annual summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) next month which will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan as attendees. Modi's move is in line with the government's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and has sent out the right signal regarding his focus on regional cooperation. Furthermore, Modi will start his second-term bilateral visits with the Maldives, where China has been trying to expand its influence. He will also address the Maldivian Parliament during his visit. On his way back from the Maldives, Modi will make a stopover at Colombo to express his solidarity after easter attacks which killed over 250 civilians. It's important to recall here that India had shared intelligence inputs with Sri Lanka before the deadly blasts rocked the country. The visit can be seen as a clear message that India stands united with Sri Lanka in its fight against terrorism. India's Stern Message to Pakistan India has turned down several talks initiatives from Pakistan since 2016 when an Air Force station in Pathankot was attacked by heavily-armed Pakistan-based terrorists. The tension between the South Asia neighbours has escalated since the February 2019 Pulwama attack and India's subsequent airstrike in Balakot - deep Inside Pakistan. Unlike 2014, the Pakistani premier was not invited to the oath-taking ceremony of Modi this time. When Imran Khan dialled Modi to congratulate him on his second term and expressed his desire to work together for the betterment of their people, Modi made it clear that diplomatic dialogue can't be resumed unless Islamabad stops targetting India by exporting terrorism to Jammu and Kashmir. Imran Khan and Narendra Modi will be attending the SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan next week but no meeting has been announced between the two so far. In the last 5 years, India has firmly stood against Pakistan's soil being used by terrorists for plotting and launching attacks on India. After the Pulwama attack, the US, UK and France too backed India to have Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azahar designated as a global terrorist by the UN. Under pressure, China, after a decade, finally lifted the technical hold that was shielding Azhar. Furthermore, the Prime Minister is likely to host the Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year in Varanasi for an informal summit. The development comes after the nailing of Masood Azhar which has visibly improved relations between India and China. Reaching out to China for the informal summit is significant because China is an 'all-weather' friend of Islamabad. Talks with Pakistan won't yield any results unless Islamabad decides to shut its terror export industry, and thus, Modi did the right thing by telling Imran Khan that creating trust and an environment free of violence and terrorism were essential for fostering cooperation for peace. Message for Minorities In his first speech after winning the Lok Sabha elections 2019 with a thumping majority, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for 'inclusive politics' and broke his silence on minorities. Modi said his government will work to win the trust of minorities. Modi expanded his 2014 slogan to - "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikaas, Sabka Vishwas," and asked his MPs to work for everyone without discriminating on the basis of caste and religion. Many critics of BJP have downplayed PM's speech. Modi's assurance to minorities should be welcomed by people - liberals too. The appreciable thing will be to give his new government some time to deliver the commitments and promises. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

From big diplomatic outreach to heartening message for minorities - Narendra Modi 2.0 has sent the right signals