Need of Policy on Foreign Front

Many a times, aspirations of the nation mismatch with its practices; rather lack of it, prolonging utilization of full national potentials. Today, India aspires for a world power status; the desire arising from its ancient civilization, modern democratic foundation and strength of human resources. However, the governments in power have fallen short in their attempts to rationalize strategies to realize this dream. An important missing aspect is clear formulation of foreign policy goals that the government must strive to achieve. As a result, the terminology of foreign policy remains the same as was devised by its founding fathers in the early days of independent India. The practice, however, is now different that makes the foreign policy blurry and confusing. The need to do away with this dichotomy becomes urgent considering the increased importance of India for many big and small countries in the world politics. Moreover, this will help in setting the clear targets for Indian diplomats to pursue their external endeavors.
Lack of comprehensive foreign policy vision is partly a result of non-conviction of incumbent leadership about India’s pre-1991 positions in world politics; but having no courage of its public denouncement. As a result, political leadership simply can not connect with fundamentals of Indian foreign policy and fails to provide it new direction in the ever-changing world scenario. Panchshila, anti-colonialism and Non-alignment have been the three central pillars of Indian foreign policy since independence. Hesitation of political establishment in reinforcing these principles opens up two possibilities; one, India will be part of military alliances in the near future and two, India will interfere and try to dominate internal politics and policies of independent nations. However, there are no policy statements or documents ascertaining such possibilities, these are only assumptions. This necessitates the government to clarify whether it has abandoned Panchshila and Non-alignment as guiding principles of foreign policy conduit; if yes, what is its new normative framework and if not, why is it shy of proclaiming them in discussions and negotiations with foreign countries and multinational institutions? The Nehruvian leadership was not apologetic about its world view and India’s foreign policy pursuits therein. Therefore, in the realm of foreign policy it had almost practiced what it preached. The post-Nehruvian leadership should demonstrate similar courage and fashion the foreign policy issues in public domain.
Perhaps, India is the only major country wherein the government neither states its foreign policy goals even once during its full tenure nor are they discussed in the Parliament at full length. There are two useful examples to learn from; the Chinese and the American. China has published white papers on foreign policies and strategic issues elaborating its positions and goals. Similarly, American Congress extensively debates each aspect of President’s foreign policy compelling the chief executive to reveal his administration’s objectives and plans. India can adopt both the practices with its own characteristics. This will keep the public informed about government’s intentions while the latter will gain more clarity and purpose in its actions on external fronts. A foreign policy document; elaborating India’s objectives, policies and approach to conflict resolution, will help enhancing India’s image at the world stage if put in right perspective. It will be a meaningful exercise to connect non-alignment with peaceful emergence of multi-polar world as well as interpretation of Panchshila as India’s efforts to normalize and maintain friendly relations with all its neighbors including Pakistan and China. Anti-colonial legacy can be carried forward in the form of support to Palestine as well as demand for de-nuclearisation. Indian establishment is bogged down with adjusting in the existing world order but lacks the vision of how it wants to shape this world. Indian political establishment must realize that foreign policy is not a mere bureaucratic process but requires political vision to achieve nation’s aspirations in the world. It is imperative on the incumbent government to initiate such a policy document and also amend the constitution to bring in Parliament’s role in scrutinizing government’s foreign policy details. Instead of showing mirage to its citizens, government must keep them informed and involved about the challenges and daunting tasks on external fronts.
The greatest illusion that has been impressed upon general public is India’s ‘natural’ claim on UNSC permanent seat and its being just a matter of time to win this bid. The expansion of UNSC requires sustained international campaigns exposing unjust power hierarchy created due to the present order. The expansion of UNSC is intrinsically linked with overall reform of the United Nations. Unless India champions cause of egalitarian political order by rallying with small and medium powers in the world, the Big Fives will not do anything more than paying the lip service to the reform agenda. Foreign policy establishment in India has to deliberate upon this aspect to devise a long term strategy to generate international pressure on existing big share holders in the world order.
India’s inclusion in the expanded UNSC on equal basis is even more difficult task given the complexities of the world politics. India has to maintain a fine balance between strengthening relationships with great powers and maintaining its traditional ties with third world countries as well as regional powers. Instances of annoying Iran and distancing from left-leaning governments in Latin America to please the United States will at best result in these countries’ non-enthusiasm in supporting India’s bid and at worst these countries’ lining up against India at crucial juncture; for example, at a time of securing overwhelming majority in the UN’s General Assembly for its cause. Similar can be the approach of India’s smaller neighbors unless New Delhi works out comfortable relationships with them.
The UNSC is the leadership position, if not seat of power, in the world politics. Therefore, India must demonstrate its ability to provide leadership in solving complex international issues, which will require New Delhi’s intensive engagement with countries in all the regions of the world. Furthermore, India must come out with its own approaches on important international matters other than the climate change issues and negotiations in WTO. This includes future of Iraq and Afghanistan, question of Palestine and preventing Iran’s nuclearisation in the overall context of de-nuclearisation. In the present case of western powers’ utter failure in providing optimistic scenarios on these burning issues, India should calibrate innovative diplomatic solutions on such fronts.
Last, but is the most important, India has to demonstrate its capability of resolving its own international disputes in a peaceful and constructive manners; mainly Kashmir and border imbroglio with China. The great power status, including the UNSC permanent seat, will naturally come to New Delhi’s way when India succeeds in achieving these tasks; but not the other way around. If Indian leadership hopes to play bigger and independent role once it gains the UNSC permanent seat, it is following the mirage wherein India will have neither of it. In fact, it will be condemned to be merely a regional power in South Asia embroiled in its own cross-border problems with neighboring countries.

Maharashtra: Old Game With New Horses

Receiving US President in Mumbai was a political consolation to outgoing Maharashtra CM. Departure of Barak Obama was followed by ousting of Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan was named as 25th Chief Minister of Maharashtra. He will be the 16th person to take oath of office of this highly prestigious post. His predecessor had this honor twice so as Vilasrao Deshmukh and Shankar Rao Chavan. Vasantrao Naik, Vasantdada Patil and Sharad Pawar held the coveted position three times each. Vasantrao Naik was the only Chief Minister who had occupied the office for full five year term (1967-1972) starting from formation of the Vidhan Sabha to dissolution of it. He is also the longest serving Chief Minister of Maharashtra totaling more than 10 years of uninterrupted reigns.
Prithviraj Chavan’s choice as chief of the Congress legislature party in Maharashtra, even though he was never member of state assembly, signals a long term strategy of Congress high-command. Maharashtra has become an exception in Sonia Gandhi’s strategy of continuance of Chief Ministerial post in Congress-ruled states. In the 11 years since recapturing of state assembly from the saffron alliance, the Congress-NCP is now having the 5th Chief Minister; with Vilasrao Deshmukh donning the cap twice and at least half a dozen aspirants waiting in the line. Compare this with the other Congress ruled states and the difference becomes stark. Providing stable and development oriented government seems to be the priority of Congress president. And this is the real challenge before the new Chief Minister. All these years in politics, Prithviraj Chavan has maintained distance from various state factions and kept himself away from lobbying for anybody for positions in state politics. This has become his edge over other contenders for the top post. While he has acquired considerable experience as administrator in central government, he lacks first hand political knowledge of handling the 24X7 conspirators in Maharashtra Congress. His selection is also a message to central ministers from Maharashtra, mainly Deshmukh and Sushil Kumar Shinde, to concentrate on their incumbent jobs rather than scoring goals in the murky state politics. Along with his colleagues in Delhi, Prithviraj Chavan has to take care of nuisance of Narayan Rane and others in the Maharashtra Congress.
As a minister in UPA government since last 6 years and working in the PMO all this period, Prithviraj Chavan is well acquainted with priorities of Manmohan Singh government and its flagship programs. This is an advantage for him in implementing center sponsored schemes in the state. On the other hand, his ability to grasp the rural and agricultural despair and provide remedy to it will be tested during his tenure. In the last Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, the loan waiver scheme had boosted the Congress performance significantly. This may not be the factor four years from now when the state will go for scheduled elections. In spite the rapid rate of urbanization and emergence of city-centered political forces like MNS, farmers hold the political key in Maharashtra; particularly the agricultural community in Vidarbha and Marathvada region. These are the least familiar areas for Mr. Chavan. Demand of separate statehood not only exists but getting strengthened in these two regions is no good news for new CM, who is after all an outsider in state politics.
Prithviraj Chavan’s posting in Mumbai is also aimed at countering influence of NCP in its stronghold of Western Maharashtra. In rest of Maharashtra, NCP ‘s strength is limited to certain pockets and is stagnated. Although Mr. Chavan hails from Western Maharashtra and thrice elected from family’s pocket borough Karad, of late he has not kept engaged with people in the region. In fact, he was defeated by the newly formed NCP’s candidate in 1999 Lok Sabha election. NCP’s Sriniwas Patil has recorded three consecutive victories in this constituency since formation of the party by Sharad Pawar. Nonetheless, the NCP has taken up the challenge of Prithviraj Chavan entering the state politics quite seriously. The first sign of it was Ajit Pawar’s elevation as Deputy Chief Minister. Energetic nephew of Sharad Pawar knows the nitty-gritty of Western Maharashtra’s politics and can help the party protect its Maratha vote bank. However, demotion of Chagan Bhujbal seriously threatens NCP’s credibility as party of all social groupings, particularly among the OBCs in the state. His immediate and future accommodation in NCP’s hierarchy will have long term effect on NCP’s attempts to increase its support base in the state.
Mr. Chavan’s appointment is also a result of political negation wherein rest of his competitors became ineligible due to some sort of allegation of corruption against them; the main reason of leadership change merely a year after last assembly elections. However, many corrupt faces will continue to hold portfolios in the Prithviraj Chavan’s ministry; making it tough for him to provide clean administration. Years of deliberate neglect of corrupt activities of state leaders has resulted into a situation where in the state government has become hostage to lobbies of industrialists-mining mafias-real estate dealers-educational tsars-liquor barons and co-operative supremos. They are the real power bearers no matter who the Chief Minister is or whoever is his deputy. Neither Mr. Chavan nor the Congress has any program to break the stranglehold of these powerful lobbies to provide relief to common man. The new CM, in all probability, will provide stable government since equally corrupt and inept political opposition in the state poses no threat to the ruling alliance. But there is least possibility of Mr. Chavan leaving an impression of clean and working government, another reason for this being lack of mass support for the new CM. Mr. Chavan, or anyone else for that matter, cannot take on the corrupt lobbies unless they raise people’s support for the cause. In such scenario, corruption will continue unabated despite having a non-corrupt administrator at the helms of the affair, who will be merely an instrument in the hands of corrupt lobbies. The latter will, in fact, thrive on his or her clean image. Fight against corruption cannot be win by rhetoric and symbolism but by people oriented policies and clear priorities. Interestingly, Mr. Chavan has not uttered a word so far against high level corruption; instead he is seeking co-operation from everyone, including the tainted politicians.
Thus, political and administrative challenges before the new CM are enormous. Only sky is the limit for performance. Can he? Will he? These are the key questions in the minds of people in the state, who are desperately seeking positive answers.