The Biden-Modi Meeting Was a Failure for Democracy
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received VIP treatment at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue this week, including a state dinner with President Biden and an address to Congress. Modi’s red-carpet treatment was a significant endorsement of his governance, and one few world leaders have received. However, under Modi’s premiership, India has moved away from shared values and democratic norms, embracing Hindu nationalism and scapegoating religious minorities. While President Biden and Congressional leaders spoke about human rights and religious freedom, talk alone will not move Modi to change course. Modi accomplished much during his brief time in Washington, at little cost to his political agenda. The Joint Statement from the United States and India covers a laundry list of Indian priorities. While the document references human rights at the beginning, its 58 paragraphs overwhelmingly focus on technology and trade in ways hugely beneficial to India. Modi also scored a renewed pledge to permanently include India in a reformed United Nations Security Council and joint slap down of archrival Pakistan for terrorism. But did Modi deserve this treatment? The U.S. secured little in hard security commitments from him or other items that could bolster democracy and human rights in the region. For instance, Modi
India’s Rising Importance for the US: Potential and Grim Challenges
India's increasing inclination towards sourcing defence supplies from the US does signify a strengthening strategic partnership. However, it is important to recognise that defence cooperation takes time to mature, and challenges may arise along the way. India’s ascent on the global stage is a subject that has garnered limited attention, yet recent developments point to its growing significance. However, it is also true that India remains relatively unknown among the American public and policy circles. Its visibility in the mainstream media, financial exchanges, global supply chains, and even common stores is minimal. But the lack of widespread recognition need not diminish India’s potential impact or its emerging role in international affairs. While India’s middle class is expanding, concerns are raised about its comparability with developed nations. The overvaluation of gross domestic product (GDP) using ‘purchasing power parity’ (PPP) misrepresents India’s global economic outreach; not even comparable with China let alone the US or the European Union. It is essential to acknowledge that India’s per capita income remains far too low– ranked 139th in nominal and 127th in terms of PPP. The sheer size of the Indian market, with just under 1.5 billion consumers, and a nominal GDP of $3 trillion presents a compelling
WSJ Reporter Who Asked PM Modi Question About Human Rights Faces Twitter Abuse
The online attack on Sabrina Siddiqui, highlighting her Muslim heritage and connections to Pakistan by dint of having a parent from that country, was led by the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s information cell, Amit Malviya. New Delhi: Sabrina Siddiqui, the White House correspondent of the Wall Street Journal who asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi a question on alleged discrimination of minorities in India during his visit to the US, came under a targeted attack from pro-Hindutva social media users, particularly on Twitter. The online attack on Siddiqui, highlighting her Muslim heritage and connections to Pakistan by dint of having a parent from that country, was led by the head of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s information cell, Amit Malviya. Taking to Twitter, Malviya called Sabrina’s question “motivated” and that she was given a “fitting answer” by Modi which, according to him, was a “blow” to the “toolkit gang” – a pejorative phrase used by the ruling party’s IT cell head to refer to those who have questioned the BJP and the prime minister on different issues, including discrimination against Muslims. At the press conference in the White House, Sidduqe asked Modi, “India has long prided itself as the world’s largest democracy,
Indian politician’s tweet targets Barack Obama and Indian Muslims
Indian politician Himanta Biswa Sarma lashed out at former U.S. president Barack Obama in a tweet Friday, saying Indian police “should prioritize taking care of” the many “Hussain Obama” in India — a pointed reference to the country’s Muslim population. The comment came after an interview in which Obama encouraged President Biden to press Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the country’s treatment of its Muslim minority population during an official state visit Thursday. Sarma serves as chief minister of Assam, a northeastern state in India with one of the highest concentrations of Muslims, and is a rising star in Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been criticized for its Hindu nationalist platform, mistreatment of Muslim minority rights and declining press freedom. Against this backdrop of human rights issues, Modi, once banned from the United States because of allegations of encouragement of religious violence, is currently in the midst of an official state visit where he has made history by being the first Indian leader to address Congress twice. Modi’s U.S. visit sends a big, if quiet, signal to China Before Modi’s second congressional address, Obama gave an interview Thursday with CNN in which he emphasized protection of India’s Muslim minority. Obama said if
How Americans are Helping Fund Hindu Extremism in India
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is an Indian right-wing, Hindu paramilitary group that has been accused of promoting violence and intolerance under the guise of Hinduism. It was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a physician and activist who drew inspiration from fascist movements in Europe. Hedgewar’s goal was to establish a Hindu-only nation in India. The RSS adopts a paramilitary structure, training its members in hand-to-hand combat and weapons, preparing them for potential conflicts with Muslims and other minority groups. The RSS has close ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party, India’s ruling political party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a former member of the RSS. The RSS and other Hindu nationalist groups played a key role in Modi’s national rise to power a decade ago. The history of the RSS is tainted by bloodshed. One notable incident was the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 by Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Additionally, its members were involved in the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque in 1992. The RSS’s alleged complicity in the Gujarat riots of 2002, led to accusations against Modi himself, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time. Because of
Warrior Sikhs attack persecuted Christians in India
Pastor Jai opened up his church in the city of Rajewal in preparation for Sunday services. Just as the congregation was worshipping, a mob comprised of men dressed in the traditional attire of a Sikh warrior stormed into the church, causing significant property damage and injuring numerous persecuted Christians in India. As previously reported on the GCR Prayer App, the South Asian nation has recently fallen under international criticism for the violent riots that took place in Manipur early last month, displacing tens of thousands of persecuted Christians in India. Throughout the country, religious tensions couldn’t be higher. The attackers in Rajewal wore blue robes and were armed with swords and spears. They barged into a peaceful church service and tore Bibles, vandalized vehicles and assaulted congregants. Pastor Jai and the church members were forced to hurl stones in self-defense. The police were called to help bring the hostile situation under control. The attackers are said to belong to the Nihang sect, which is a warrior order in India, but the sect has denied any involvement. According to the U.S. Department of State, Christians comprise just over 2% of the population. Many believe the number to be as high as nearly 5%—however persecuted
Manipur Is Burning: Why Are You Silent, Mr Modi?
It's said Emperor Nero played the fiddle while Rome was burning. Historians have pointed out that the story is baseless. The fiddle was not there in Rome during Nero's time, and his favourite instrument was the lyre. When the fire began, he was 35 miles away from Rome. However, it is true that Nero availed of the fire to blame the Christians and started a wave of persecution, the first of many. It would be wrong to say that the Central Government behaved like Nero, even though the fact remains that the Union Home Minister could find time to go to Manipur only three weeks after the fire started. In short, the fire raged on for three weeks before the fire brigade in the nation's capital thought of taking note of it. In defence of the Home Minister, it can be argued that the all- important Karnataka State elections merited his attention. Prime Minister Modi, in his super popular Mann ki Baat on 17 June 2023, spoke about the dark days of the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25 June 1975. He spoke about the ravages of cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat. He had no time to say even a
Is ‘Save India from China’ the real motive for Modi’s US odyssey?
The Prime Minister has to go shopping for arms and energy supplies in the US, with Asian international relations a mess and Russia at war. Question is, what will India need to pay? The United States administration’s authorisation to General Electric company to sell GE414 engines to India is aimed at assisting Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme or AMCA1 — a fifth-generation stealth, multirole fighter plane, with sixth generation technologies, for the Indian Air force (IAF) and Indian Navy. The understanding — finalised during US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin’s visit to Delhi earlier this month — could be among the announcements during Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington this week. Also in the pipeline, expected to be made public during or around Modi’s trip to France on 14 July, is a purchase of the naval version of Dassault Aviation’s Rafale. The air force variety — chosen by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government — is already rendering service in the IAF. It has generally been reported that the GE414 engines were meant for the Light Combat Aircraft, LCA Tejas 2, project. Their dual utilisation in the development underway at HAL is an additional dimension. It’s apparently a setback for Rolls Royce,
How Modi went from being banned to embraced by the United States
(CNN) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was once shunned by the United States. Denied a visa for “severe violations of religious freedom,” he was effectively banned from entering the country for nearly a decade. But in the nine years since that ban was lifted, Modi has been progressively embraced by the White House – now more than ever. The leader of the world’s most populous nation will meet with US President Joe Biden during a state visit to Washington this week, in a trip that is expected to further boost defense, trade and technology ties, and celebrate “the warm bonds of family and friendship” that link the two countries together. Modi will also lead celebrations for the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, illustrating the influence of India’s soft power. He will then address Congress the following day, an honor reserved for close US allies, and attend a lavish state dinner hosted by Biden in a clear indication of how much of a strategic partner Modi has become But while the ceremonies and diplomatic niceties play out in Washington, analysts say Modi’s visit will also be a test for the Biden administration, that has positioned itself
Blame for Manipur violence on BJP, Narendra Modi urged to ‘speak up and take accountability’
Over 550 citizens’ groups, academics and lawyers on Friday attributed the violence in Manipur to “divisive politics” by the BJP, a party they accused of “exacerbating” age-old ethnic tensions between communities for political gain. The groups and individual signatories issued a joint statement calling for an immediate halt to the violence and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “speak up and take accountability”. “Manipur is burning today in very large part due to the divisive politics played by the BJP and its governments at the Centre and state. And on them lies the onus to stop this ongoing civil war before more lives are lost,” the statement said. More than 100 people have died and over 300 have been injured in violence between Manipur’s majority Meiteis and the tribal Kukis. The violence began on May 3 following tribal protests against the Meiteis’ efforts to gain Scheduled Tribe status, which had been bolstered by a Manipur High Court order in April. The joint statement said that while the high court order had been the “immediate trigger” for the violence, the situation had been “grim” since January when the state’s BJP government began eviction drives in the Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts, declaring tribal forest dwellers as
