The landslide victory of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party in
the western Indian state of Gujrat — could be very portentous not only for India but
for South Asian region itself. The outcome of the elections held in the aftermath of
communal carnage has belied all prognostications of the exit polls. The more than
two third majority Narendra Modi, the BJP chief minister has managed to win for his party,
is a clear indication that the party of Gandhi and Nehru can no longer charm the voters.
The failure of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress chief to win over the Gujrat voters, despite the
massacre of the minority community in the recent riots there, portends dangerous trends
emerging in Indian politics. It is indeed a sorry reflection on the illustrious political
party that in less than two decades after the death of the iron lady the party is groping
in darkness looking for a real leader. The persecution of the large minority population of
nearly 150 million people by the rightist associates of the ruling BJP has not only
alienated their doubtful loyalty further but also generated deep sense of mistrust and
apprehension amongst them. The recent communal riots in Gujrat and official indifference
to protect the minority there has posed a serious problem to muslims of other states as
well. If the Gujrat wave envelops other states of northern Indian and the minorities face
similar threats and dangers like in Gujrat, not only India's image as a secular country
will be soiled but even her adherence to secular democracy will become big suspect. As it
is, the state terrorism practised by India in the disputed state of Kashmir for five long
decades, the continuous enmity with Islamic Pakistan and none too friendly relations with
muslim Bangladesh has already tarnished her secular identity. her inimical behavior
towards the only Hindu Kingdom, a traditionally friendly country and a tiny neighbor with
close social ties, might baffle many about Her real intentions towards her smaller
neighbors. Her animosity towards her neighbors and her lukewarm interest in the
development of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) might only
contribute to confirm the lurking misgiving that she has still not been able to forsake
the concept of Akhand Bharat. And more so with the rightist Bharatiya Janta Party
and her sister organizations gaining grounds in India. Consequently with India's growing
might and her obduracy not to treat her neighbors with the respect they deserve, all the
smaller countries of South Asia must think hard about entering into some kind of agreement
for their mutual peace and security. Indeed China's recent interest in the SAARC could be
termed as a positive development in the troubled politics of South Asia. But the power
that needs to take even keener interest in the affairs of this region is the United
States. The demonstration by the United States of her growing concern in South Asian
affairs in recent years is a welcome move. India's urgency to ally with the only super
power and lure American money has given a certain leverage to the United States which she
has to exercise to correct the serious imbalance in this region. As far Nepal is
concerned, India's persistent unwillingness to restrain the Maoists in their territory has
not only made Nepal's task of containing the Maoists harder but made life more miserable
for the Nepalese people. Why does not India realize that their stubborn refusal to help
Nepal is alienating even the common man in the street? India must know this is a very
wrong way of pressurizing her smaller neighbor because Nepal will not give in to uncalled
for coercion. It is time all Nepalese politicians, who have any love for their country as
well as the Nepalese establishment took up the issue with India firmly. Even the latest
statement of Shyam Saran, the Indian Ambassador cannot make any impression on the Nepalese
people because they have been hearing such empty rhetorics from their Indian friends all
the time. They want India to respect and honor the traditionally friendly ties and
demonstrate to the world that they practise what they profess. They must not let the
latest trend in their domestic politics create any kind of apprehensions in the minds of
their neighbors. |
