Julian Assange to Al Gore on NaMo chant

[AugenBlick]

Prominent figures in the West — from former Vice President Al Gore to controversial Wikileaks founder Julian Assange — were chanting NaMo last week.

The ongoing crisis in Iraq that saw many Indian citizens stranded in that country gripped much of the international attention last week as did the efforts by the Narendra Modi Government to bring them back to India. Narendra Modi’s postponed visit to Japan also created some buzz as did the speculation on his attending the FIFA World Cup finals ahead of the BRICS summit in Brazil. Team NitiCentral takes a look at all the international buzz on India during the week ending June 21 including why prominent figures in the West from former Vice President Al Gore to controversial Wikileaks founder Julian Assange were chanting NaMo last week.

Let us first begin this week’s round up with the bizarre comments on Narendra Modi by Julian Assange. The Wikileaks founder and notorious whistle blower in a Reddit Ask Me Anything session, according to Michael Oleaga of Latin Post, described the Indian PM as a business authoritarian whose landmark victory in the elections was an ‘interesting development.’ Commenting on the change that Narendra Modi is likely to bring around, Assange said that it was an ‘open question whether Modi will bring more good than bad to India’. Assange’s comments on Modi shouldn’t surprise us for the WikiLeaks had desperately sought a role in the Indian Elections with some highly forgettable “leaks” that found resonance with none, with the exception of the Aam Admi Party’s supporters on social media.

What Narendra Modi’s ascent could mean to the global economy in general and more specifically to the Island Countries was well encapsulated by Dev Nadkarni in the Island Business. He points out that Narendra Modi’s focus on integration may very well mean more business between not only India’s old partners like Russia but also open up avenues go Island nations with a strong Indian presence like Fiji, Mauritius, the Maldives, Suriname and the Caribbean countries.

Global Socialists in Depression

While Nadkarni is optimistic of a Modi led India the global Socialist fraternity seem to have not come out of their depression yet.

Klaudio Llusko writing for the Eurasia Review who is wary of the rising right wing in Europe appears perceptibly alarmed by Narendra Modi’s absolute victory in India. The author declares ‘Modi’s political figure is certainly not what India needs in order to initiate a project of de-neutralization,’ and then goes on to insinuate that Modi’s ‘nationalist inclinations’ may have ramifications on global stability. Clearly a pro-active India on the global scene makes him ill at ease. Rahuldeep Gill writing for Los Angeles Times is not far behind. In his opinion, after the election of Narendra Modi as PM, “India still lacks a government that has the credibility to build a lasting legacy of democratic pluralism.”

John B Quigley couldn’t’ agree with Llusko or Gill more. In his piece for The Californian, the author warns that Obama should be wary of getting ‘cosy’ with the Indian PM lest Obama be seen as anti-Muslim and that America could not afford to anger the Muslim world further. He writes ‘…embracing Modi could give him the political space to keep India’s Muslims down,’ who according to the writer leads a tenuous existence in Indiawhilecompletely ignoring the resounding mandate given to Modi.

Graham Peebles’ concern voiced in the Dissident Voice is far more sweeping. He believes that neither the Muslims, the 800 million living in poverty, the Adivasis or the Dalits are safe in a Modi led India. Just a few moments on Google will tell you that Peebles‘s The Create Trust, a UK registered NGO of which he is the director has run education projects and teacher training programs in India. Perhaps he too is feeling the heat of greater scrutiny of Foreign NGOs by the Indian Government.

Optimism on Geo-Political convergence and Climate Change

On the other end of the spectrum is Robert Kaufman who in his essay for the Orange County Register counters that Narendra Modi led BJP win in India bodes well not only for the country but is also in tandem with America’s policy in Asia. According to Kaufman the Indian PM could be expected to follow former PM AB Vajpayee’s line, which would mean increased interaction with Israel. Bonding between India and Japan also counters the growing Chinese agenda which suits America just fine. The author ends on the note

“The United States should seize the moment to reset relations with a democratic India sharing our democratic values and geopolitical interests.”

His sentiments are echoed by Ammarah Aftab writing in The Express Tribune who at the very onset clearly states,

‘the support and cooperation of India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi is significant for the US in order to meet serious security concerns …’

Chinese assertions, Islamic extremism are just some of the concerns that are shared by India and America. The writer suggests increased military purchases from America, finding ways of integrating India’s rural market with a global one, solving issues on global warming where India needs to take more responsibility – as means to a greater Indian –US partnership.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore writing on his favorite subject of global warming, in the Rolling Stones highlighted the fact that Narendra Modi after winning the elections announced a revolutionary roadmap to make the country rely primarily on photovoltaic energy in providing electricity to 400 million Indians.

J Matthew Roney in Sustainablog writes that the Narendra Modi led Government has already announced the expansion of its National Solar Mission goals for 2022— increasing power generation from 22,000 to 34,000 megawatts—to generate 3 percent of the country’s electricity from solar power.

Countering Religious Extremism

Closer home, the impact of religious extremism that has taken hold of Middle East and Africa is beginning to emerge. Jason Burke for The Guardian in his report writes of the Al- Qaeda trying to rouse other militant factions to take up arms in the name of Kashmir through a video that the fanatic organization has just released. The inspiration no doubt is the rise of ISIS in Iraq which threatens to overrun the entire country. The footage is titled “War should continue, message to the Muslims of Kashmir” and as per Burke‘Specific messages are addressed to Kashmiri Muslims living on both sides of the de facto border between Pakistan and India, as well as to the broader Muslim populations of both countries.’

This gives rise to another set of problems, a different type of holy war, as can already be seen in Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Both countries are home to a sizeable Buddhist population with Sri Lanka being largely a Buddhist nation and some parts of it have grown violent. In a report for the Sri Lanka Guardian Tisaranee Gunasakera writes of the recent violence that took place in Aluthgama after a Buddhist monk and his driver were attacked by three Muslim youths. According to the author, the authorities then gave permission for a Buddhist by the name of Galagoda-Atte Gnanasara of the BBS( Bodu Bala Sena) in an already tense Althugama to hold a rally. The man then went on to allegedly incite mobs while the authorities stood on the sidelines and watched.

Narendra Modi’s Government will no doubt be monitoring the situation carefully and making sure such incidents are not aped in India. The Himalayan states of India and some parts of the North east boast of a considerable Buddhist population. Gaya, in Bihar, also has a strong Buddhist presence and the state has recently been in the news for terror related activities and there have been reports of the Indian Mujhaideen and LeT expanding its activities in the northern part of the state.

Foreign NGOs in IB Scanner makes International News

The Intelligence Bureau’s reported scrutiny of NGOs receiving foreign funding has caught the attention of global press. Drawing parallels with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the crackdown on Foreign-funded non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are “negatively impacting economic development,” is Rakesh Krishnan Simha writing for the Russian and India Report. Highlighting how NGOs with foreign funding were at the forefront of protests against the Russian-built nuclear power station in Kudankulam, he goes further to argue thatIndia should do a Russia to –

‘simply label NGOs involved in political activity as “foreign agents”, which is fair enough as they are clearly acting in the interests of a foreign state.’

Not limiting himself to the Russian parallel, Rakesh Simha also points out how in the United States NGOs have to file a report of their activities every six months, produce copies of all their contracts and even verbal agreements with outfits they work for.

Eye on the Dragon

Monitoring China will be a key a priority for the Modi government according to Andrew Buncome in his report for The Independent where he speculates on what he describes as “Indian worry” about China’s growing clout. PM Modi’s first international stop, Bhutan according to him confirms that worry as he goes on to enumerate the deals struck between the Indian and Bhutanese leadership regarding food exports and hydroelectricity power generation.

India must also turn its attention towards Nepal, another neighboring country where China has made inroads. An encouraging sign was the people to people contact between the two countries. According to the Republica, the Nepal-India Samarastra Manch, a social organization based in Rajasthan, India, recently honored the former chairman of the Interim Election Council of Ministers in Nepal Khil Raj Regmi in a function in Kathmandu. At the event Regmi praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while expressing high hopes for Indo-Nepal relationships.

Business Sentiments Buoyed by a Modi led India

Adam Jourdon writing for Reuters talks of the surge in confidence levels in the business world with the change in regimes in Thailand and India but warns that this sentiment spike may be short-lived and that India could be due for a “reality check” after its election boost. Kenneth Rapoza of Forbes notes even though the rupee declined against the dollar owing to the turmoil in Iraq and the resulted increase in oil prices, investor sentiment has not. The report quotes Nicolas Jaquier, an economist for Standard Life Investments in the U.K. saying “We’re actually very excited about India, Out of the four BRICs, they are the most exciting. There is a lot of potential.”

Narendra Modi’s postponed visit to Japan raised much anticipation as well. Clint Richards of The Diplomat, wrote on how Japanese nuclear power producers already have their sights trained on international markets and it is very likely that amongst the many things that Modi and Abe will talk on, civil nuclear development will feature prominently. Japan is also likely to extend a carbon offset deal to India going by aReuters report in The Star which would mean India can use Tokyo’s environmental technology to help reduce its emissions. The deal would allow Japanese companies to set carbon-cutting technology in India in return of carbon credits under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).

Another Asian country that India could have potentially stronger ties with is the Philippines. The country is home to a strong Indian diaspora and face similar economic concerns writes Prof. Cesar Polvorosa Jr. in Interaskyon and asserts that ‘The Philippines and India have a lot of areas to both compete and cooperate in business and the economy relying on their respective strengths.’

Business World too reported on the upbeat mood of the two economies and as per the report, on the Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asia Business Sentiment Index, all fifteen respondents maintained a very positive outlook with regard to the two countries.

We recently talked about the dip in Australia’s coal exports and it has emerged that business between India and Australia went down by as much as 14 per cent to rest at 15.2 billion dollars according to a PTI report in the Authintmail. The situation will be remedied as India no doubt will be looking at expanding markets for its exports and says the report, ‘the newly elected “Team Modi” is expected to now make the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia as a priority.

The pleased mood of the markets can perhaps be explained by the fact that the Narendra Modi led Government immediately got down to business after the elections. Finance Asia maintains that ‘India, which for years has attracted scorn for its red tape and punishing climate for foreign business, looks set to adopt a more mature attitude, from the bottom up,’ talking of the encouragement that family owned businesses are receiving from the Government to compete globally.

Socio-Political concerns of the Global Press

Johan Kuylenstierna and Prakash Kumar in their article for Reuters write that the challenge for Modi lies not in just constructing the toilets but also in getting people to use them. The authors suggests that building demand for toilets first, constructing as per the requirements of the user , keeping ecological sanitation in mind and influencing people would be a good start. The issue of sanitation is also directly related to women’s safety especially in rural India where women often have to venture out after dark. The UN Human rights Council is already demanding more action from the Indian PM in order to stem the violence against women in the country, many of which are borne out of the caste divide.

Micah Zenko writing for the Council for Foreign Relations has also raised questions on the action the current government will take with regard to Kashmir, especially the AFSPA and Article 370. The author writes that mending the AFSPA could inspire greater Kashmiri confidence in the Central government whereas a ‘repeal’ of Article 370 is least desired by the inhabitants of Kashmir.

Black Money to FIFA

According to Ian Bremmer of the Politico Magazine the amount could possibly run into $2 trillion dollars Angelos Anastasiou of Cyprus Mail quotes High Commissioner of Cyprus, Maria Michail (Cyprus, one of the tax heavens on which India had placed heavy limitations), “We don’t want black money in Cyprus, we want legitimate money. We are willing to work with the SIT on black money and will take up the issue with the new government.” More cooperation of similar nature is needed from other tax havens.

FIFA fever it seems has caught up with geo-politics with David Goldbatt in his piece ‘Soccer as the continuation of politics by other means’, for the Al Jazeera writing on the failure of emerging nations India and China failing to qualify for the World Cup:

“Now, on the pitch and diplomatically, Africa and the Middle East have arrived. The giants of Asia await. It would be interesting to know if Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi feel it when they come to Brazil and what they will do with it.”

Julian Assange to Al Gore on NaMo chant | India News Analysis and Op-Ed Commentary | Politics | Governance | Economic Freedom | National Interest​