India has been passing through difficult times. This applies to our internal as well as the external conditions. It is really difficult to navigate safely and successfully in these circumstances.
The United States still holds the status of the most powerful country. Russia had been equal to the U.S. but after 1990 the former Soviet Union lost this position. In spite of possessing the largest arsenal of nuclear and other weapons, the Soviet Union lost its prestigious position. It was because of the unnatural nature of communism and the oppressive policies adopted by the Soviet Union. It can be safely concluded that the Communist country got crushed under its own weight. Now Russia is trying to get back its former position.
One important reason for the Russian efforts to regain its former position is the U.S. policy, supported by European countries, to give NATO membership to Ukraine. It isunacceptableto Russia as it would endanger its military position.
Now, look towards the other side, i.e. the United States. It is being controlled by a maverick and unpredictable personality of Donald Trump. India is the biggest victim of the tariff policies of Trump,who is hell bent on pressurising and denigrating India. It is a very big challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thereby to India’s reputation.The recent 2-day visit of Vladimir Putin must be seen in the context of US-Russia tussle for supremacy.
Indian diplomacy has failed to tackle the maverick manoeuvres of Trump. PM Modi felt that it is time to tell Trump that we are a sovereign country and that our old friend Russia is backing us. What would be the reaction of Trump is yet to be seen. The repercussions of Trump’s policies have produced grave dangers for India. India has to go through a period of tight rope walking.
India could have played a positive role and safeguarded its interest if our internal conditions were satisfactory. But our economy, social conditions, governance – everything is severely disturbed. PM Modi may survive but the country is in a very bad position. Now we see that Modiji is busy with his yatras of religious shrines. And his followers, as usual have been spreading poison in the society and polarising the citizens for upcoming assembly elections in several states.Will Modi succeed in countering the grave dangers India is facing or will he fall back on his stress upon “Nehru’s wrongs,” “foreign conspiracies,” “vishwa guru claim,” “the role of foreign invaders (Mughals, Turks and other Muslims rulers in the past).
The worst aspect of PM Modi’s manoeuvrings is that common Indians will have to pay the price for his wrong policies through more lawlessness, communal tensions, and economic slowdown. It is time for Indians to gird up their loins. Portends are not good. India must be ready for the worst. We must be ready to face the dangerous scenario of the end of the democracy and one-party rule, and its consequences.