Opinion Jagdeep Dhankhar’s comments on PM Modi: Why look for foreign validation in age of ‘atmanirbharta’

At the same time, the essence of our democratic system is that the people are supreme. Hence, they have the inherent right to analyse and scrutinise the approaches and words of high constitutional authorities. In this case, Dhankhar has touched on several important points in his brief remarks. Some of these deserve to be applauded but the connotations of others are troubling.

VP Dhankhar’s assertion that India’s rise is unstoppable is true on many counts. He has also shown his impartiality by acknowledging that “everyone has contributed to it”. Yet, Dhankhar would know that the world is a ruthlessly competitive place where a country’s rise has to be placed in the context of nations which pose strategic challenges to it. It is here that India is in a difficult position. The greatest strategic challenge it faces is from China. It cannot be contested that China’s rise has been far greater than India’s and that the latter has to do much better to meet the threats that emanate from its northern neighbour. PM Modi’s inspiring call to make India the world’s third-largest economy deserves the support and hard work of every Indian but much more will need to be done to reduce the growing gap with China.

Dhankhar has asked every Indian to be proud of Modi. There is no doubt that Modi is the tallest leader in the country. He has the people’s mandate and his electoral successes in the 2014 and 2019 elections were stunning. It is also true that he has many admirers abroad. The question though is: How much weight should the people place on what the world says about PM Modi?

Indeed, an Indian leader needs the endorsement of the Indian people for his contributions to promoting domestic popular welfare — not what the world thinks of him. The final judge of any leader, as Dhankhar would know, is the Indian electorate. And, ultimately it assesses leaders on their domestic policies and schemes. Clearly, as yet, Modi has their confidence in these areas.

Handling foreign policy is nevertheless an important aspect of any prime minister’s brief. However, the recognition a leader has on “global platforms” is not a measure of foreign policy success. Praise on “global platforms” — by the great powers and others too — is lavished on a foreign leader not so much because of his/her international standing but because it serves their interests to do so. This is the sad truth of international relations and advanced countries recognise that. It is doubtful that in such countries Dhankhar’s counterparts would refer to what others think of their heads of government/states. Indeed, it can be argued that such references smack of the colonial mentality that Modi has urged India to shed in the Amrit Kaal.

What was especially troubling about Dhankhar’s comments was his specific mention of the US Senate and Congress. PM Modi is the first Indian to be given the opportunity of addressing a Joint Session of the US Congress twice. This is because his hold over the Indian polity is firm but also — and largely — because of the current alignment of Indian and US interests. The question is: In singling out the US Senate and Congress, did Dhankhar, perhaps unwittingly, reveal that India gives inordinate importance to what US lawmakers think about this country and its leaders? Is this warranted coming from the second-highest constitutional authority in India? In any event, an Indian Prime Minister needs the mandate of the Indian people — and Modi has that in abundance — not the applause of a foreign legislature.

The writer is a former diplomat