While Muslim leaders jostle for leadership, China is set to rewrite Quran

The recently concluded four-day Malaysian summit spear headed by the 93-year old Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammed has inadvertently exposed the fault lines in the Muslim World. Referred to as the M5 Summit, this miniature version of Islamic coalition is a brain child of the Pakistan-Malaysia-Turkey axis which aimed to develop a regional forum to vociferously defend Islamic interests and burgeoning Islamophobia. Having met along the sidelines of the UNGA summit, the leaders of these countries who are united by their strong opposition to India’s move on revocation of special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir formally signalled the launch of a new religious coalition. Aside China, these three leaders raised Kashmir issue at the UNGA summit as well.

Needless to say, the trigger for this alternative Islamic forum has been the underwhelming response of Muslim community to India’s decision to abrogate article 370. Since 1969, the Muslim Ummah threw their weight behind Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a coalition of 57 Muslim countries to voice out their concerns. Headquartered in Jeddah and controlled by the Saudi, OIC has thus far been the flag bearer of Muslim World. Dismissing the abrogation of article 370 as India’s internal matter, both Saudi and the UAE subdued the issue.  Dissatisfied with this approach, the trio, laid foundation for this new coalition, to champion global Muslim causes.

Coming together of Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia which has nothing in common other than the religion has raised curious doubts among analysts. None of these countries lie in geographically contiguous area nor they are bound by a common agenda and face common threats. But leaders of these countries are known to be veritable religious zealots. Keen on resurrecting the glory of Ottoman Empire, Erdogan who stormed into power in 2003 recklessly trampled and rebuked secularist credentials integral to Turkish constitution. Intent on clinching the leadership of Sunni Muslim community toppling the Saudi Arabia from the coveted position, Erdogan is forging new ties and muscling to increase its heft and clout in the region. Nonagenarian Mahathir, the old race horse known for his aversion to the West defeated Najib Razak in elections on charges of steering country into Chinese orbit and corruption ascended the Prime Minister chair. Faced with the dauting challenge of taking a strong position amidst rising tide of Malay ethnocentrism, projecting himself as the champion of Malayan rights, Mahathir unabashedly embraced the religious zealotry with ease and turned down India’s repeated request to extradite religious hate-mongerer Zakir Naik. Even the persecution of Shias and Ahmediyas are reported to have increased under his regime. Imran Khan’s fascination for religious fundamentalism doesn’t need a fresh introduction, famous as Taliban Khan, he claimed that a game of cricket with India is jihad and married his spiritual mentor months ahead of Prime Ministerial elections. Clearly, political Islam or fostering Islamisation has been the top of the agenda these leaders and the new summit by consequence.

Having pledged to be more vocal on political Islam, in November, Prime Minister Mahathir announced soft launch of M5 Summit with a theme, “The role of development in achieving national sovereignty”. The five countries to lead the inaugural session included- Malaysia, Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia and Qatar. Qatar which has been battling the Saudi and the UAE led trade, economic and social blockade is an important addition to the new grouping. Though Qatar didn’t object India’s move on Kashmir, Qatar based Al Jazeera took up cudgels against India. Mahathir announced that 450 scholars, intellectuals and leaders from across the World will attend the meet to discuss the challenges faced by Muslim Ummah based on the seven pillars of development & sovereignty, culture & identity, justice & freedom, integrity & good governance, peace, security & defence, technology & internet governance, trade & investment.

Saudi Arabia which has been closely monitoring the situation summoned Imran Khan to Riyadh days before the summit. Under duress, Khan cancelled his visit to Kuala Lumpur at the eleventh hour. This together with Saudi King Salman’s telephonic conversation with Mahathir before the meet underscored Riyadh’s disapproval of the new coalition. Ever since the Yemen War, Saudi’s disposition took a downward spiral. Brewing crisis in the Middle East, burgeoning sectarian rivalry and security threat from Iran, loss of face due to Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, receding global oil demands have slowly undercut its influence and reputation. Though it attempted to resurrect its leadership by creating an Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), which failed to emerge as cogent pan-Islamic force since it excluded Shia countries. Being the leader of a potent Islamic World, Saudi failed to address major issues beleaguering the Muslim countries- Yemen War, Rohingya Refugee crisis, religious persecutions, Syrian war, rising sectarian clashes and many more. So, when Saudi questioned plausibility of weakening the cause of Islam through multiple institutions, Mahathir chose to ignore the concerns and held the Malaysian Summit.

Notwithstanding the abstentions of Pakistan and Indonesia, hoisting himself as a strident vocal advocate of Muslim World, he targeted India for legislating CAA. After lashing out at India for “invading and occupying Kashmir” at UNGA, he drew attention of the Muslim world to the latest anti-CAA protests in India during the M5S. He said, “I am sorry to see that India, which claims to be a secular state, is taking action against some Muslims to deprive them of citizenship. If we do that here (Malaysia) you know what will happen, there will be chaos”.  Playing a second fiddle, OIC immediately issued a statement criticizing CAA. “The General Secretariat of OIC has been closely following the developments affecting Muslim minority in India. It expresses its concern over the recent developments pertaining to the issue of citizenship rights and the Babri Masjid case. It reiterates its call to ensure safety of the Muslim minority and the protection of Islamic places in India”. Out doing M5S, OIC had indeed raised the Babri Masjid issue, a case amicably resolved by Indian Judiciary. The spurious concerns raised by both the forum reeks of hypocrisy and poor comprehension of India’s democratic functioning. Additionally, reiterating its defiance, Mahathir warmly received and acknowledged the presence of controversial preacher Zakir Naik at the summit.

In their tearing hurry to pitch themselves as the saviours of the Muslim World with tough anti-India posturing, they gave free pass to China which is perpetrating the worst form of human rights violations against Muslim and preparing to rewrite Quran with Chinese characteristics. The outlandish criticisms of OIC and M5S against India reflect their churlishness. Criticisms of discrimination against minorities in India are purely fictional, for they are entitled with special privileges under the constitution of India. Rapid demographic dividend of the minorities vis-à-vis majority community in India vouch for the same. The fictitious allegations of Muslims being denied citizenship under CAA are simply motivated and stands no ground.

US state department’s annual report for the year 2019 blacklisted nine countries for religious freedom violations which includes-China, Pakistan, Eritrea, Myanmar, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Ironically, these black listed countries are casting aspersions on India which has asserted its position as beacon of democracy and secular values.  Front runner of the religious persecutions Pakistan unleashed this nefarious anti-India propaganda. Playing the Muslim card, it spurred both the organisations to slander India.

Antithetically, Khan feigned ignorance about the incarceration of over 1.5 million Uighur Muslims in concentration camps. Similarly, Turkey, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia which are contending for leadership of Muslim community turned a blind eye to unspeakable Chinese atrocities. Turkey became first nation to voice out concerns about the situation in Xinjiang fell silent after Erdogan’s state visit to China recently. Saudi Arabia also followed same trend. In what can be termed as brazen subjugation, the entire Muslim World, failed their fellow Uighur brethren by adopting a resolution at the 50^th Council of Foreign Ministers which read-“ the council welcomes the outcomes of the visit conducted by General Secretariat’s delegation upon invitation from People’s Republic of China (PRC); commends the efforts of PRC in providing care to its Muslim citizens; and looks forward to further cooperation between OIC and PRC”. A cache of leaked documents recovered by NYT, exposed the travails faced by Uighurs detained in the so called “re-education camps”. From cultural persecution to illegal organ harvesting and now bedding of Uighur women with Han men whose husbands are away in detention camps, China is committing inhuman crimes against the hapless Uighurs. Entire Western World, sham human rights organisations including the saviours of Muslim world have been silent over China’s massive crackdown. The vassal state of China, Pakistan’s Taliban Khan has even feigned ignorance about persecution of Uighurs in interviews with international media.

The summit participated by four Muslim leaders- Turkish President Erdogan, Iranian President Hasan Rouhani and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamid al Thani and Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohammed is nothing more than virtue signalling to Riyadh. This convention is a fervent attempt to challenge the hegemony of Saudi Arabia and the move is more political than ideological. Else what explains their complete silence towards China’s religious persecution. The collective anti-India posturing is a motivated vitriolic aimed at maligning the nation which is attempting to reclaim its due place on global platform.

Emboldened by the global silence and empty rhetoric of Muslim countries, China is constituting an expert committee of 16 members to rewrite Quran and Bible with socialistic characteristics. Though the names find no mention, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) last month called for, “comprehensive evaluation of existing religious classics aiming at the content which don’t conform to the progress of the times”. Religious censoring has been rampant in atheist China, Mosques are bulldozed, Churches are locked. PRC founder Mao Zedong, ordered destruction of religious monuments and wiping out every trace of religion during the cultural revolution. Religion has been an instrument for China. It is allowing the Chinese Buddhism to flourish only to buttress its soft power. CCP has always remained supreme and hence no wonder as Chairman of everything in China President Xi has ordered re-evaluation of religion to make people patriotic with Communist party ideals as its religion. The guardians of the Muslim World are better advised to better introspect their own record on religious persecutions and then take the countries which are worst offenders of religious persecution to task rather than bashing up a pluralistic nation which is an icon of syncretic culture, India to flaunt their religious chauvinism.

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CAA and hypocrisies galore

This article is an attempt to highlight the bigotry and sanctimony of various stake holders and their attempts to wreak havoc in the country in the aftermath of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Political Parties

Having agreed to partition country along religious grounds and woefully failing in forcing the undivided Pakistan to maintain the sanctity of Nehru-Liaquat pact the grand old party has mercilessly staked the lives of millions of minorities. For over the past seven decades, lives of religious minorities these Islam nations is hanging by tenterhooks. Left to fend for themselves, the grand old party which is at the forefront to claim all the honours for the independence of the country, shirked away from shouldering its responsibilities. It has displayed neither the political will nor conviction to correct the historical blunders and unfinished tasks of the partition. Like other unfinished missions which begged for a fair conclusion, BJP government promised to bring some shine, respect and honour to the millions persecuted minorities tabled the historic Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) in the Parliament. Instead of hailing the monumental effort, initiated to rescue minorities in this geographical continuum, congress party vociferously opposed the legislation tooth and nail. With unassailable, evocative and inspiring replies, BJP rebutted the arguments of the opposition which pretentiously held on to the dubious narrative of religious discrimination.

Stalwarts of the Congress party- Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Vallabhai Patel have alluded to the fact India has moral and civilisational responsibility towards non-Muslim communities who are left behind in Pakistan. In 2003, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh then, the leader of opposition voiced out “it is moral obligation that if circumstances force people, these unfortunate people (with reference to minorities facing persecution), to seek refuge in our country, our approach to granting citizenship to these unfortunate people should be more liberal” in a debate with Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani. Similarly, Prakash Karat of CPI (M) in 2012 reminded then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the need to grant citizenship to Bangladeshi minorities. In 1958, CPI passed resolution in 1958 to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities.

To woo the Bengali Hindu population before the 2015 Assam Assembly election Congress party President Anjan Dutt demanded citizenship to minorities of Bangladesh. Elaborating on Congress party’s intent, he reminded that party brought cabinet resolution in 2011 sought refugee status and asylum for them. In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister in 2012, Tarun Gogoi, pleaded that persecuted minorities shouldn’t be treated as foreigners. Switch to 2019, dawned by political amnesia, in contravention to its earlier position, prevaricatingly stoking the religious divide, argued that CAB is against basic tenet of Constitution.

Leading from the front, the peerless spin master Congress shamelessly muddled the debates in both houses of Parliament undermining the promises of its legendary leaders. Ensuring the successful passage of this bill in the both houses of the Parliament, BJP has not only proved its mettle but gave a reality check and much needed moral drubbing to the party which has abdicated its principles and ethics as a political party.

As a proof of political depravity, Congress announced Bharat Bachao Andolan in the aftermath of the CAB becoming enforceable Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Kickstarting modus operandi of protesting the ruling dispensation, bizarrely, unrepentant about the prospect of tarnishing India’s image Indian Overseas Congress staged a rally before the Indian High Commission, London. The rally attended by barely handful of people received support from Pakistan centric groups marking the complete metamorphosis of GOP into B-team of Pakistan. For Congress Party’s statements be it on CAB or Article 370 have become almost indistinguishable from Pakistan’s baseless tirade and ludicrous rants.  Brazenly defending Congress party’s new position Rahul Gandhi called CAA “unconstitutional” and ominously endorsed the protests that ensued in the national capital ever since.

Not to be left behind other political parties made dramatic U-turns. Notable among them was Shiv Sena which voted for the bill in the Lok Sabha and abstained voting in Rajya Sabha. Coming of ages from being a strong advocate of Hindu causes, Sena as a token of its servility even likened the police action against violently protesting Jamia students as Jallianwala Bagh giving testimony of its sycophantic attributes. Cognizant of the limited purview of CAB, other parties needlessly circumvented from the whole issue by repeatedly pointing at the absence of such provision to Hindu minorities from Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

The vast majority of the persecuted minorities included Dalits. But the champion of Dalit causes, BSP and even SP voted against the bill and termed it “divisive and unconstitutional”. Arguing that CAA is discriminatory, refrained from endorsing the bill. The complicity of TMC and AIMIM who vociferously opposed the bill in orchestrating violent protests and the latter’s collusion with PFI is under investigation. Ever since legislation of this bill, both the parties known for pandering and appeasement of Muslims dubiously incited people in their pocket boroughs.  Tacitly giving a religious colour to the bill, parties allowed   protests to degenerate into chaos for their political mileage.

Media

The fourth pillar of democracy instead of holding mirror to various stakeholders whose unbecoming conduct is proving to be inimical to the country have resorted to yellow journalism. Devoid of the patience to read and comprehend a 2000-word CAB document media has turned themselves into the mouth pieces of political masters regurgitating the falsehoods and churning reams of orchestrated partisan editorials.

Not satisfied with the peddling of facts and distorted commentaries established players of the media have unveiled a new episode of manufacturing sheroes. To suit to their narratives, they diligently identified renowned Jihadi propagandists native of Kerala and latest imports to the Jamia University. Downplaying the role of students and vandalism heaped on the capital region and elsewhere pictures of heroism of sheroes were skilfully captured through high-resolution, wide-angled cameras and hoisted onto the front pages of the leading newspapers. Besides perpetually solidifying the victimhood narrative, they used pictures of newly-minted vicious protagonists to stoke anti-CAA passions and highlight the highhandedness of the state. Indian media which frequently manufactures a new crop of Kannhayia Kumars and Umars Khalids to justify every anti-India act has propped up the new cult of sheroes- Ladeeda Farzana, Aysha Renna who called India fascist for executing terrorist Yakub Memon and extolled extremist ideology.

Giving a free pass to largescale destruction of public property carried out by instigated mobs, they have normalised the vandalism of mobs. Whitewashing the violent protests and the stone pelting accompanied by chants Allahu Akbar and Naara e Takbeer which left 12 police personnel injured, media even turned a deaf ear to the blatantly communal rants of “Hinduon se Azadi”. Unfortunately, media which tamely ignored to dwell on the communal overtones of these protestors who hurled bombs was quick to demand high-level probe on Police entry into the Jamia institute. Secret report now reveals that the men who indulged in stone pelting and vandalism are actually illegal Bangladeshi Muslim migrants.

Media’s bigoted coverage and misleading propaganda is exacerbating fissures and opening fresh fronts of confrontation. The newfound student solidarity and the concomitant anti-CAA rallies by motivated chunk of student organisations is just a fallout of this distorted reportage. The falsities, heightened fear mongering perpetuated by the Indian media is amplified by International media which is giving a dangerous religious and authoritarian colour to the whole issue. These recursive biased snippets are quickly picked up international bodies and enemy countries which are using it to portray India in a poor light overshadowing its image as a responsible nation. Needless to say, mendacious journalism has become a bane on India.

International Bodies

After the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, religious organisation US commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) known for its religious bigotry and bias slammed India for “setting a legal criterion for citizenship based in religion” and called for sanctions on Home Minister Amit Shah if it is passed in Rajya Sabha. Known for its jaundiced perceptions, India rejected its remarks and questioned its locus standi.

Soon enough, UNHRC whose leadership is currently hijacked by religious bigots, dictatorial regimes and human rights violators termed it as “discriminatory”. Surprisingly, the commission which is muted towards religious persecutions and confinement of around 1.5 million Uighurs lashed out at India for a legislation that grants citizenship to minorities facing persecution. The irony is not lost on council which failed to pull up Pakistan, whose blasphemous laws reduced the population of minorities from 23% in 1947 to just 3%.

Meanwhile, the US in a cautiously worded statement with regard to CAA said that it is closely monitoring the developments in India. Frankly, it doesn’t have any moral authority to lecture India since the government remained a mute spectator when Trump explicitly demanded a religious specific ban on entry to the US and stalled the government till funds were granted for the construction of great to infiltration of illegal migrants. 

Civil Society and Religious Organisations

Leftist who operate under the garb of the Civil society organisations are doing a great disservice by justifying violent protests under the ruse of freedom in a democratic nation. Working hand in glove with the media which is best known for obfuscation of the facts, they are misleading people and lulling them into accepting the violence carried out the illegal migrants at the behest of vested interest groups. Islamists and Leftists the inalienable partners across the World and united by their penchant for violence and anti-India agenda are now working overtime to exacerbate the anti-CAA protests. Aided by leftists, radical Islamist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami, PFI, SDPI have emerged as anti-CAA front steering the protests. They even threatened to exterminate Hindus and other who support the bill and warned of replicating the Malabar Hindu genocide of 1921.

Hypocrisy of the Leftist-Islamist brigade is inexplicable. Ironically, the brigade, (apostles of secularism and messiahs of peace) prevailed on the government to settle fleeing Rohingyas Muslims don’t have an iota of empathy for the persecuted religious minorities. Portraying CAA an attempt to exclude Muslim from obtaining citizenship, the brigade is creating fear and panic.  Ever since Modi’s ascent to power, Urban Naxals, castigated his regime as intolerant and inimical to Muslims. Then what explains their browbeating if Muslim brethren are saved from these travails in India? On the contrary, Modi government substantially increased scholarships to the Muslim community and initiated several social welfare schemes for minorities. Deemed as minorities, Muslims enjoy special privileges in India then why should they object to minorities from the neighbouring countries fleeing religious persecution be denied a dignified life through grant of citizenship?? 

Determined to rectify historic blunders imperilling country’s sovereignty, days into second term Narendra Modi government swung into action. Bestowed with an absolute majority, barely hundred days into power, he expedited passage of various bills including the contentious Triple Talaq and the long awaited, abrogation of the article 370. Wary of losing the support of minorities, political parties dilly-dallied over these bills. By taking the bull by its horns, Modi has consolidated his leadership like no other leader. Additionally, Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict ending the seven-decade long stalemate has bolstered the political fortunes of BJP as an unassailable political party.

Modi’s incorruptibility, forthrightness, uncompromising attitude and his refusal to co-opt the Lutyen’s brigade turned him into an inveterate enemy of left brigade and vested groups which leeched India and crippled its progress. Like a juggernaut on roll expending his prowess and energies Modi endeavoured to resurrect India’s position as a fountainhead of invaluable civilisation and rising power. BJP began to reap political gains from Modi’s burgeoning popularity. Expanding from the confines of traditional Hindu belt, BJP became pan-India party sweeping the traditional bastions of regional and national political parties. Staring at irrelevance and oblivion parties itched for an opportunity to throw Modi-led BJP out of power.

In cahoots with vested groups, political parties made several unsuccessful attempts to create large scale public dissent to malign BJP. Congress party’s reprehensible collusion with external agencies to orchestrate protests on foreign lands is a case in point. Desperate to wrest back control with perilous disregard towards national interests, political parties waited for an opportunity to build an atmosphere of fear and paranoia in the country. CAA had thus become the fodder canon for the survival of the political parties which are far losing their political and electoral relevance. Through obfuscation, flagrant U-turns, propaganda and fear mongering they began instigating violence.  Sparing no efforts, parties connived with vested groups to drive a wedge in the social harmony of the country. Else, nothing can explain the sudden antipathy towards CAB which was recommended by various political parties and leaders cutting across the ideological spectrum. Hope the Indian electorate who are no longer taking to violence kindly can see through this insidious political game at display.

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Indian Diaspora influence the UK elections

After the Citizenship Amendment Bill, UK elections have been the much-talked affair on the social media by the Indians.  Even the recently concluded Canadian Parliamentary elections where the New Democratic Party (NDP) led by the Canadian-Indian Jagmeet Singh who emerged as King maker with 24 seats also failed to elicit as much interest as the UK elections.  Indian Diaspora in Canada accounts for 4% of the total population have fairly dominant electoral presence unlike the 1.5 million Indian origin people in UK which account for 2.3% of total UK population. Then, what made Indians watch the UK elections so keenly? All this distils down to the unwarranted interventions of the UK Labour Party in India’s domestic affairs.

On August 5^th, in line with the constitutionally laid out legislative procedure Modi government having obtained consent of two-thirds of elected representatives in both the houses, revoked special status granted to the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Incensed Pakistan by India’s historic decision, it mobilised anti-India propaganda blitzkrieg through its diaspora. On August 10^th Pakistani origin Muslim MPs of Labour party forwarded letters to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to “strongly condemn” India for abrogating article 370. Conservative leader MP Bob Blackman shot back at Labour party stating that India is “perfectly entitled” to implement its election manifesto and advised that UK should keep away from the domestic affairs of a third country. Acknowledging the concerns of Muslim MPs, on Aug 11^th Jeremy Corbyn tweeted, “The situation in Kashmir is deeply disturbing. Human rights abuses taking place in Kashmir are unacceptable. The rights of Kashmiri people must be respected and UN resolutions implemented.”

With the tacit support of Labour party pro-Pakistani supporters under the garb of protests attacked women and children assembled at the Indian Embassy to celebrate Independence Day. India took strong objection to the protests, but Mayor Sadiq Khan and Corbyn refused to condemn the rally of over 10,000 protestors who descended on London. Emboldened by their silence, they marched again on September 7^th, hurled eggs, stones on the Indian Embassy. Labour party which has been a platform for anti-India lobby, Khalistanis and Islamists didn’t express any regrets for the second attack.

It is no secret that Labour had an uneasy relationship with India especially after Modi’s ascent to power. He reluctantly called upon Modi on his visit to London in 2015. Barely a year after the Brexit, UK shadow foreign minister Emily Thornberg in her conversation with Indian Journalists Association hinted that UK will invariably, “incorporate human rights into post-Brexit trade deal” and criticised India’s plans to deport illegal Rohingyas infiltrators. Corbyn who has never hidden his dislike for India, in contravention to norms of international politics, allowed Labour party to pass an emergency motion on an internal issue of India on September 25^th. The resolution called upon Corbyn to seek the entry of international observers into Kashmir to demand for the self-determination of the people.  It stated, “accept that Kashmir is a disputed territory and the people of Kashmir should be given the right of self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions”. Pandering to the interests of its dedicated vote-bank, Labour Party left no stone unturned to rake up India’s domestic affair for its narrow political gains. Labour party’s brazen politicisation has evoked the backlash of the Indian Diaspora.

With an eye on the Muslim vote bank who constitute 5% of the UK population, Corbyn took to divisive politics. Liberal Democrats and Labour Party vied for support of Muslim community. During the election campaigning both toed an anti-India line. He met Indian Overseas Congress group which had expressed its disappointment with revocation of article 370 to create fissures among Indian groups. Despite Corbyn’s politicking, displaying rare unity, over 100 Indian Diaspora demanded the retraction of Labour’s anti-India resolution. Though Indian-origin Labour leaders Keith Vaz and Virendra Sharma prevailed on the party to recall the motion, Corbyn didn’t change a word of it and alleged it was misinterpreted. Labour Party didn’t budge.

Despite the episodes of two violent protests, Pro-Pakistani groups under the banner of “Free Kashmir” planned a demonstration coinciding Diwali day. But neither the Labour party nor the mayor of London made any attempts to stop it. After strong complaints from Indian Embassy and MEA UK restricted the march after Johnson weighed in. Miffed by Labour’s obduracy, Indian groups in a joint statement termed its approval for march on Diwali as an “act of Hinduphobia and racism”.  

Indians have traditionally supported the Labour party but Corbyn’s move to placate the Pro-Pakistanis undermining the sensitivities of the Indian Diaspora is not lost on them. With elections seemingly imminent, Corbyn greeted Indians on Diwali and made hurried temple runs. But Corbyn’s anti-India stance ostensibly sprouted seeds of discontentment in Indian Diaspora. Exacerbating these rifts, Labour party even denied enough representation to the Indian candidates in the elections. Corbyn’s antipathy towards Jewish community and his regrettable arrogance to apologise for his anti-Semitic remarks generated angst among Jewish community. His unabashed appeasement, compulsive obsession to be politically right, an illusionary utopia of socialistic liberalism which offered no solutions Brexit have driven people away from the party and the self-styled “international leader”. Corbyn’s anti-Semitism, overt Hinduphobia, benign overtures towards Hamas and Hezbollah, support for the Irish Republic movement evoked questions about his integrity.

In sharp contrast, Johnson pledged to strengthen ties and trade engagement with India post-Brexit and lauded Modi’s nation building efforts. Adopting a wait and watch policy, conservatives maintained that Kashmir was a bilateral issue. Corbyn’s defiance to even alter a word in the Kashmir resolution is the final nail the coffin. Irked by his irredeemable anti-Indian stance a resilient and united Indian Diaspora voted enmasse against the party. Indian Diaspora which is known to be highly influential in their adopted country has for the first time delivered an impactful verdict driving home a message. This voting pattern should alert political outfits (intent on ganging up against India) in countries with sizeable Indian Diaspora.

2019 UK general elections, a third in four years delivered a comprehensive mandate to Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson who promised to get Brexit done by Jan 31^st 2020. Conservatives registered their greatest victory since Margret Thatcher’s 1983 mandate winning 365 seats polling 43.6% votes way ahead of the majority mark of 326. Labour tasted its worst defeat since 1935 obtaining 203 seats. Campaigning against Brexit, Nicolas Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party lapped up 48 seats up by 13 seats. 

Fatigued by the Brexit impasse that missed three deadlines voters turned out in huge numbers and delivered decisive mandate. Conjectured as ill-prepared, disorganised politician with a mop of ruffled blonde hair, the gaffe-prone Johnson, a product of Oxford is deemed as an elitist in British political circles. Infamous for his affairs, and regarded as wunderkind, he made no secret of his desire to be Prime Minister. Pursuing career in journalism, he became an editor at the age of 35 and simultaneously forayed into politics. Defeating the Labour party in its bastion, London he became mayor in 2008 and got re-elected in 2012. As a mayor he reduced crime rate of the city, build more houses, introduced rent a bike scheme and presided over the 2012 Summer Olympics. Not good at playing a second fiddle, he failed to enthuse as foreign secretary under Prime Minister Theresa May. He unceremoniously exited after failing to rescue a British citizen jailed in Iran on her visit to the country on charges of spying.

Being an avid Brexiteer, after May failed to deliver, Johnson emerged as a favourite in the selection process that lasted for six weeks. Irresolutely committed to extricate UK from the EU even without a deal, he even prorogued the Parliament. Crippled by the absence of absolute majority to facilitate a Brexit, he finally announced elections needed to divorce EU.

Unlike Corbyn who is hostile to India, Johnson is intent on deepening ties with India. While Indo-UK took a hit due to May’s chaotic immigration policy, Priti Patel has promised to overhaul the immigration plan and introduce Australian-style point system. Johnson who brooks no complacency towards terrorism can be an effective partner in India’s counter terror cooperation. His election can be a big boost to Indo-UK bilateral relationship. In all, 15 Indian-origin Brits got elected, seven each from conservatives and Labour and one from Liberal Democratic Party the highest ever so far.

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Leaving behind the historical baggage, India and Sri Lanka begin a new chapter

Barely ten after days after Gotabaya Rajapaksa took over as the seventh executive president of Sri Lanka, he made India his port of call. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders to congratulate Gotabaya on his victory. In his first telephonic conversation, he spoke about working together for “peace, prosperity and security of the region” and extended an invitation to visit India. Losing no time, Modi soon dispatched External Affairs Minister, Jaishankar Subramanian well versed with Indo-Sri Lanka relations to prepare ground for Gotabaya’s visit to India. This meeting turned out to be Gotabaya’s first official meeting as a President. India’s proactive approach and alacrity underscores the importance of strong Indo-Sri Lankan bilateral ties for peace and security of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Days ahead of Gotabaya’s three-day visit to India, Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh signalled India’s interest to make a fresh beginning. In line with India’s intentions to deepen ties with Sri Lanka, after the ceremonial Red-carpet welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Gotabaya said, “My expectations are very high and I want to, during my tenure as the President, bring relationship between India and Sri Lanka to a high level. We of course have a longstanding friendship, historically, culturally and politically. At the same time, we need to work together for the benefit of India and the people of Sri Lanka on security as well as economic development”. Gotabaya’s optimistic remarks has in one fell swoop demolished the cynicism of naysayers who keep harping about the India’s disastrous accord with Sri Lanka. His pragmatism demonstrated an inclination to offload the baggage of the past and embark on a journey of stable and reliable friendship.

The Indo-Sri Lanka accord has irrevocably damaged bilateral ties. Beijing capitalised on the rifts in the Indo-Sri Lankan relations and smartly pushed itself into Indian neighbourhood. China’s seeping penetration posed fresh challenges to India and forcing New Delhi to reconnect with the region. Unveiling the Neighbourhood first policy, Modi endeavoured to revamp India’s ties. Scripting a fresh beginning to Indo-Sri Lankan relations, Modi visited the island nation in 2015 becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka in 28 years. Aside bolstering assistance towards the rehabilitation of the war ravaged Tamilians and inking infrastructure development projects, as token of tangible expression of friendship and support, India launched “Suva Seriya”, a prehospital care ambulance service initially for the Western and Southern provinces in August 2016. By August 2018, India expanded it to seven more provinces. Invoking cultural ties, Modi attended the Vesak Day Celebrations in 2017. Expressing solidarity to the country ripped by the serial blasts, Modi travelled to Colombo in June days after he took charge as Prime Minister for a second time.

Indo-Sri Lankan ties which took a toll under the decade long Rajapaksa regime from 2005 to 2015 showed signs of revival under leadership of Sirisena. But infighting, inept governance, political squabbling and glaring administrative lapses in national security ensured their defeat and Rajapaksas’ romped home victory in the 2019 Presidential elections. It was largely believed that with a China-leaning left regime in power in Nepal a pro-China Rajapaksas’ return in Sri Lanka is India’s worst nightmare. Aside their overt Chinese leanings, Rajapaksas having outmanoeuvred the hedging game are known for their authoritarianism. India which has kept its ears close to the ground, in the past two-years built bridges of friendship with Rajapaksas and Buddhists, the main constituents of the Sinhala wave. Cognisant of imminent collapse of the Sirisena regime under the burden of its own political inconsistencies, Modi had an informal meeting with Mahinda Rajapaksa in June.

Known to be a polarising figure, Gotabaya’s fraught nature of electoral victory singularly powered by an overwhelming Sinhala majority confirms the same. Besides the vital challenges of reviving dwindling Sri Lankan economy and national security, largely denounced by minorities, Gotabaya also faces the tough task of earning the trust of Tamil minorities. India being the second largest economy in the continent with a proven counter terrorism potential and key stake holder in rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils is his best bet.

Unlike the previous Indian leaderships, Modi seems to have earned the trust of neighbours. On the eve of Gotabaya’s visit to India Sri Lankan newspaper Daily mirror editorial wrote- “Prime Minister Modi is a man of conviction and courage. He has the backing of his people. He does what he believes is best for India, whether or not the World understands or appreciates. He wouldn’t hesitate to advocate such thinking for his friends in his neighbourhood”. Beyond mere lip service, Sri Lankan strongly believes that Modi can deliver. This kind of pragmatism is not lost on Gotabaya who is a strong and decisive leader. The one hour long one-on-one discussion between the leaders, on the issues of national security and economic development attests the resolve of both leaders to build a strong relationship.

Separated by a distance of 12 nautical miles, geographically India is Sri Lanka’s closest and the only neighbour. Succinctly highlighting the significance of Indo-Sri Lankan ties, in the press meet after the bilateral dialogue, Modi said- “A stable, secure and prosperous Sri Lanka is not in India’s interest but also in the interest of entire IOR”. He stated that Sri Lanka is vital part of India’s Neighbourhood first policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine. Owing to its strategic geographical location, Sri Lanka will have an impact on the emerging contours of Indo-Pacific as well.

Prioritising relationship with Sri Lanka, Modi signalled that both countries must be aware of the sensibilities and securities of each other countries. Building upon the foundational frame work of the historical ethnic, cultural, religious, linguistic and civilizational linkages and keen on strengthening multi-faceted relationship and cooperation, India announced financial assistance to Sri Lanka. This includes a $400 million Line of Credit (LOC) towards infrastructure development, expediting the use of $100 million LOC for solar projects and a special $50 million LOC to combat terrorism. Clearly, India’s support in terms of finances aren’t close to Chinese investments, but India’s generous offer of assistance in intelligence sharing and crucial cooperation in tackling the Islamic terrorism which is finding its roots in the island nation is highly significant.

Sri Lanka which has cultivated an extensive intelligence network has been instrumental in crushing the LTTE and ending the 26-year old civil war. But radical Islamic terror is a different ball game and India’s support and assistance will help in extricating the fledging terror networks in the island. Indeed, the counter terror cooperation besides unearthing terror launch pads in the island can effectively safeguard India against Islamic terror attacks emanating from Sri Lanka.

In this context, it must be appreciated that while Sino-Sri Lankan ties rest on the pivot of economic assistance, Indo-Sri Lankan ties are more intricate and multi-dimensional. Rajapaksas who are known for their nationalistic approach understand the need for strong and stable relations with India.

Even now Tamil leaders accuse central leadership for failing in their responsibilities towards Sri Lankan Tamils. Highlighting India’s concerns towards them, Modi raked up the issue of implementation of the 13^th amendment, which seeks establishment of provincial council system and devolution of power to nine provinces with Gotabaya. During the press meet, Modi announced construction of 46,000 houses with Indian assistance for the internally displaced people in the Northern and Eastern provinces and ensured early completion of 14,000 houses for Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka. Another issue that plagues Indo-Sri Lankan ties has been of exploitative fishing of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters. Leaders have reportedly discussed this issue in the bilateral talks and Gotabaya has pledged to release Indian boats and fisherman in Sri Lankan custody.

While analysts wish to address India’s proactive approach in engaging with Sri Lanka through the prism of China, there are many aspects to Indo-Sri Lankan besides the security aspects. Sri Lanka’s defence acquisitions and close ties with Pakistan also raises India’s hackles. In is election agenda, Gotabaya advocated a neutral foreign policy. Mindful of India’s redlines Gotabaya affirmed, “Sri Lanka will not be party to any activity that could be a security concern to India” at the Presidential Banquet. Elaborating Sri Lankan foreign policy, in his interview to Hindustan Times, he reiterated, “We genuinely want to strengthen our relationship. I have always said that we don’t want to do anything which will jeopardise the security of India or act against the concerns of India in any way”.

Sri Lanka with external debt of 66% to its GDP has currently the lowest growth rate of 2.3% in South Asia baring Pakistan. Besides the Chinese loans, indiscriminate corporate borrowing from external agencies backed by government guarantees in previous regime have intensified island’s financial woes. Curbs on lending and financial assistance from IMF and other European agencies owing to blatant human rights violations aggravated economic crisis. To overcome, this mounting debt burden, previous regime signed 99-year lease of Hambantota port with China to defray the $1.1 billion loan. But this hasn’t offered any reprieve. On the contrary, financial crisis exacerbated as tourism sector suffered a slump post Easter attacks.

To avoid massive macroeconomic instability, Gotabaya is inviting investments from India, Japan, Australia, Singapore and the US. Referring to the Hambantota lease as a threat to national security, Gotabaya announced that his government is working towards renegotiating the deal. Though strategists are ruling out any reworking on transaction of a sovereign agreement, Rajapaksas having woken up by the fallouts of the BRI have made it a campaign promise. While this doesn’t necessary mean that China will stop making forays into the island. But this opens up door for India to step in and offer assistance in reconstruction of Sri Lankan economy. To this end, India should reconsider reviewing the trade agreement and reduce the trade levies and increase mutual interdependence. A tangible economic cooperation and a balanced bilateral trade can go a long way in enhancing trust and deepening ties.

Through candid discussions Modi and Gotabaya have explored immense opportunities for fostering cooperation. Straddling along the commercial shipping lanes and strategically in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is pivotal for India’s security and the island nation must be sensitive to New Delhi’s concerns.

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