Fly on the Wall
Modi Govt.'s Chinese Chakkar
Contradictory signals are emerging in the Modi dispensation on how to deal with its estranged Chinese neighbor. Until the other day, the government had firmly rejected the Chinese proposal to keep the border dispute out of the trade talks. The country's security and intelligence agencies are also averse to giving any concession to the Chinese either. India did not yield to the Chinese proposal though PM Modi and Chinese President Xi shook hands at international conferences and held some conversation as well whose details are not known as yet. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also held meetings with his Chinese counterpart. The political leadership seems keen to resolve the dispute but the Chinese are prolonging any settlement as 30 rounds of commander-level talks had been held during the last four years.
But all of a sudden, the Modi government appointed Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran batted for more FDI from China as import has been rising rapidly reflecting very high dependence on the neighbor. The survey tabled in Parliament on July 22, 2024 pointed out that India must strike a balance between importing goods and FDI from China. The government ran for a cover and distanced itself from the Economic Survey. On July 31, one of the senior-most ministers in the Modi government holding Commerce & Industry portfolio, declared in Mumbai, “There is no change in policy on Chinese investments to India and the ideas presented in the Survey are not binding.” Everyone in the country thought the matter ended with Goyal's categorical announcement. In 2020, the Modi government mandated prior approval for FDI from countries sharing land borders with India which was primarily aimed at China.
The story, however, did not end here. Three days later on August 3, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under Piyush Goyal offered an olive branch to the Chinese saying, “Faster approval for FDI from China can be considered if it boosts manufacturing.” This showed the government's desperation as the import-export gap with China in 2023-24 was at a record $85 billion. Secondly, the government is also worried over developing geopolitical situation in its neighbourhood.
BJP back to its Roots
Irrespective of having ties with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh and Janata Dal (U) in Bihar, the BJP seems to be returning to its Hindu agenda to win votes. These two allies and some of the smaller parties are somewhat considered “secular” as they get the support of the minorities. But the BJP leadership realized it has to nurse its own vote bank while the allies may take care of their own constituencies. After its failure to win a clear majority at the hustings in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party has been seriously mulling its strategy to retain its vote bank. In its zeal to win minority votes, the BJP lost some of its own core constituency. The process of course correction has begun. A major decision to allow government servants to participate in the activities of the RSS is seen as part of this plan. The RSS has also sent a word that UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath should not be rubbed on the wrong side either. It is also looking up to Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan as potential future leader. Interestingly, the “Bulldozer” experiment of UP is now frequently seen in Delhi as well under the Lieutenant Governor. The restoration of Hindu shrines in various parts of the country is fast-tracked to keep up the pressure. Secondly, the RSS is also working out plans to celebrate its foundation day when it turns 100 years on VijayaDashmi in 2025. The RSS was founded by Dr K B Hedgewar at Nagpur in1925 on VijayaDashmi.
What's in store for BJP's Gandhis
The limelight may have been hogged by the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. But nothing is heard about the BJP's two Gandhis lately. Ever since Varun Gandhi was denied a Lok Sabha ticket and his mother Maneka Gandhi lost her Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat, nothing is heard about them. It transpires that the party is mulling some sort of a political role for its Gandhis. Though Varun Gandhi held the key party post of general secretary for sometime. Maneka Gandhi was a Cabinet Minister in the first Modi government but was not inducted in the Modi 2.0 regime. She is reported to have met Prime Minister Modi recently while Varun Gandhi also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. What transpired during these meetings is not immediately known. But it seems something is cooking and some role may be given when organizational changes take place or she may be given some other responsibility.
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