Brij Bhardwaj
Indo-U.S relations have taken another fall. Will they come up again as in the past, or will the largest democracy in the world, and the other which is a super power, will part company? There is hope as it happened in the past when India went to war with Pakistan in 1971 leading to the creation of Bangladesh. At that time the US had sent its fleet to the Indian ocean but by the time it came it found the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh had surrendered and the war was over.
The second time, in the eighties, when India carried out a nuclear test and declared to the world that it was a nuclear power, the US with other western countries imposed sanctions on India. But that also came to a close with a treaty between India and USA and sanctions were withdrawn. One hopes that this will happen again and India’s position with regard to import of oil from Russia and its trade pact with the US and the importance of good relations between the two countries understood by decision makers in the USA.
One point is clear, that the public by and large in India fully support the stand taken by the Modi Government. A poll carried out by an agency on behalf of a leading newspaper in India showed that as many as 63 per cent of people polled supported the Government stand. The people also felt that irrespective of the difficulties that country may face with imposition of fifty per cent tariff on Indian exports to the United States, India should stand firm and not submit to unfair or unreasonable demands.
Recent indications from the United States have not been encouraging, like its claim that it mediated between India and Pakistan to end the five days war when the ceasefire was agreed only at the request of the Pakistan Army. Moreover, the Pakistan Army Chief was hosted for lunch by the US President and the US failed to support India against cross border terrorism. The US has also chosen to impose high tariffs on India when China is the biggest importer of oil from Russia.
Even the US has been importing uranium and other items from Russia and western countries which supported such action have been importing energy and other items from Russia.The stand of India is clear that no other country can decide what we should buy and from which country. India has had close relations with Russia for a long time and has been buying defence equipment from them which has served us well in border conflicts and wars with Pakistan.
India by participation in BRICS, where talks were held with the Presidents of Russia and China, has made it clear that it will not allow anyone else to dictate our trade or friendship with other countries. Recent parleys with Chinese leaders have resulted in improving relations with China. But the Indian Prime Minister has made it clear that border tensions and good relations can not go together. By taking part in a session of BRICS, but not joining leaders as guests to watch the Chinese Army Parade attended by Russian and North Korean leaders, India has maintained a neutral position.
Recent developments have shown that India will maintain an independent position on world issues and work for peace everywhere. As for economic issues, self reliance is the goal and the Government intends to give a boost to the Swadeshi Movement.
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