No matter who wins, the Narendra Modi government will undoubtedly reach out to the new US administration and vice versa after November polls - be it Republican Trump or Democrats Joe Biden-Kamala Harris duo.
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| Kamala Harris: What's 'Indian' about her ? |
It is usual that global media celebrate the US presidential election because of the geopolitical and economic influence that Capitol Hill exerts on the world. The reportage of the November election, however, is gathering more steam than usual in India.
Some sections of the media say the nomination of Kamala Harris, whose mother is a migrant Indian, as the Democrats' vice president candidate could sway substantial votes of Asian Americans against Republican President Donald Trump.
While that remains nothing more than an expectation, social media discussion presents Harris' nomination as Joe Biden's running mate as the "blossoming of the American lotus," giving it a pro-Hindu tint.
The name Kamala in Sanskrit means lotus. Paradoxically, the lotus is also the electoral symbol of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Discussion on the blossoming of the American lotus, however ridiculous and silly it may be, shows the eagerness of a politically motivated group in India to connect every success in the world with their party.
It goes without saying, Kamala Harris has nothing much to do do with being 'desi' or the 'desi connect' or 'India' as a nation except that she is the daughter of cancer biologist Shyamala Gopalan, who migrated from the southern Indian city of Chennai. Her father is a Jamaican migrant. That way, Jamaicans could be more excited !!
It is natural if some American Indians live vicariously through her half-Indian status.
True, Modi has a unique habit of putting his own country - India - and of course
the Indians at the centre of the universe.
In the run up to the much awaited Presidential elections in the United States, the 'Indian Americans' have gained a sudden importance. Thanks to Democratic candidate Biden's decision to field Kamala Harris as the candidate for Vice President.
Will the outcome of US Presidential elections in November make things tougher for Hindu fundamentalist forces in India?
Indeed, during the Modi regime, India-US relations have improved. The Modi-Trump bond has enhanced strategic ties in bilateral relations.
The Modi government has got almost a free pass from the American establishment under right-winger Donald Trump on human rights and religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims.
Trump and Modi share equal dislike or indifferent relationship towards Muslims. In 2002, Modi, as Gujarat state chief minister, came under severe criticism for anti-Muslim carnage that killed hundreds of Muslims including women and children. Trump's hatred toward Muslims and the sinister rhetoric are also well known.
Under President Trump, the US has almost turned a blind eye to the Indian government's policy toward religious minorities. On Aug. 5, 2019, the Modi government, guided by his party's electoral promise and the jingoism of a hardline Hindutva cult, abolished the semi-autonomous status of Muslim-majority Kashmir's special privileges.
"Kamala Harris is a strong supporter of human rights and the rights of Kashmiris. She opposes bullies like Modi … Half south Indian, Kamala is the best choice" for vice president, tweeted one Tony Ashai, whose Twitter profile describes him as a Kashmiri-American architect and designer.
Seat of Hindu spirituality
Harris' support for Kashmir is sure to attract some votes, as expressed in another tweet. She "is the favorite candidate of those who wants to break my ancestral homeland of Kashmir away from India. Kashmir is the seat of Hindu spirituality. I can't support any candidate who goes to bat for Kashmiri terrorists," it said.
The Democrats are projected as those fighting Trump's anti-Muslim and pro-corporate approach. However, some experts feel a strong Indo-US tie prevails, and it will continue, no matter who comes to power.
"The Indo-US bond will be hardly affected even if Kamala Harris becomes vice president," BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva told UCA News. "We had good ties during Barack Obama, and it only improved when Trump took charge."
But Kamala Harris has strongly opposed the Modi government's decision on Kashmir. When progressive American lawmaker Pramila Jayapal — a Democrat — introduced a US House resolution urging India to uphold human rights in Kashmir, Harris tweeted: "I stand with Jayapal, and I am glad her colleagues in the House did too."
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| Chai - Modi and Obama: Jan 2015 |
In September 2019, Harris was more vocal, stating: "Kashmiris are not alone. We are all watching. So often, when we see human rights abuses ... the abuser will convince those that they abuse that nobody cares and that nobody's watching."
In the last six years of the Modi regime, critics say, India has diluted its commitment to the principles that upheld the rights of religious minorities. In 2019, Modi was given a second term to run the world's largest democracy. But political rivals, including Congress and communists, said India's march toward Hindu majoritarianism is a near-fatal situation for Christians and Muslims.
Regular media reports from across India highlight the arbitrariness and high-handedness of law enforcement agencies against religious minorities.
"There is hope among India's minorities that once the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris duo comes to power, some of the wrong policies of the American government toward immigrants and Muslims will end. This will have an impact in India too," said Ilyas Qureshi, Congress leader in Gujarat.
India houses 180 million Muslims in a country of 130 billion people. Christians are a negligible 2.3 percent, forming the second-largest minority.
However, insiders in the ruling BJP and those involved in foreign policy say that the Modi government will undoubtedly reach out to Washington soon after the election.
ends
Kanwal Sibal, former Foreign Secretary, says, "We should not give too much importance to the role a future Vice President of the US would play in terms of formulating foreign policy.
Not only that a large number of Indian Americans have hailed the move, in India too - foreign policy experts and Indian politicians have reacted to the episode with much excitement. But importantly, the emphasis is also because there is more than just academic discussion on what will be Kamala's role once she is made a Vice President of the US.
This debate gains currency at a time when the "right-wing Hindu nationalism" under Narendra Modi has been growing
from strength to strength.
Kanwal Sibal, former Foreign Secretary, says, "We should not give too much importance to the role a future Vice
President of the US would play in terms of formulating foreign policy. In the US, foreign policy is prerogative of the President
and other institutions including the Pentagon".
"Biden himself is very experienced in terms of India-relationship," he says adding "Kamala Harris has been selected
(as a candidate) for a variety of reasons in order to mobilise votes of the Blacks and Minorities. So there has been
clear domestic calculation".
Echoing the same spirit, leaders in the ruling BJP also say "nobody in India" should expect her to walk into the White
House and take key decisions on India.
Left to her image, Kamala Harris, the daughter of Indian mother and Jamaican father, has been very vocal
in the past against Prime Minister Modi's Kashmir policy.
Under President Donald Trump, the US almost turning a 'blind eye' to Indian government's policy towards
religious minorities has certainly suited the BJP and Prime Minister Modi. Will all these change?
On August 5, 2019, the Modi government guided by his party's electoral promise and jingoism of neo-hardline
Hindutva cult, had abolished a constitutional provision that gave Muslim-stronghold Kashmir autonomous and
special privileges.
"Kamala Harris is a strong supporter of Human Rights and the rights of Kashmiris. She opposes bullies
like Modi and (India's hardliner Home Minister Amit Shah). Half South Indian, Kamala is the best choice for
VP. Wishing them success in November," tweeted one Tony Ashai, whose Twitter profile describes him
as a 'Kashmiri-American Architect and Designer'.
However, another missive went saying, "She (Kamala Harris) is the favorite candidate of those who want to
break my ancestral homeland of Kashmir away from India. Kashmir is the seat of Hindu spirituality. I can't
support any candidate who goes to bat for Kashmiri terrorists".
India's suave External affairs minister S Jaishankar had cancelled a meeting with US lawmakers, including Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal last year. Harris had then backed her colleague. “It’s wrong for any foreign government (India)
to tell Congress what members are allowed in meetings on Capitol Hill,” she has said.
Some experts feel nevertheless the 'strategic realities' of a strong Indo-US tie that is prevailing would continue and
any incoming regime in the White House -- either under Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Biden will have to
navigate the same manner.
Virendra Sachdeva, BJP leader in the party's Good Governance cell, told UCA News - "Even if Kamala Harris becomes Vice
President, the Indo-US bond will be hardly affected. Any American government has to deal respectfully with
India and our Prime Minister Modi. We had good ties during Barack Obama and it only improved when Trump took
charge of White House".
"Modi has always run a carefully choreographed and planned diplomacy. Do not forget even as Gujarat Chief Minister,
Modi visited China and the dividends were reflected in trade and investment. Even if there is a change of regime in the US,
the Indian leadership will handle it well with matured diplomacy".
But it nevertheless goes without stating that Kamala Harris has strongly opposed the Modi government's decision
to take direct control of Kashmir. When progressive American lawmaker Pramila Jayapal — a Democrat — introduced
a US House resolution urging India to uphold human rights vis-a-vis Muslims in Kashmir; Harris had tweeted - "I stand with Jayapal and I am glad her colleagues in the House did too".
In September 2019, Harris was more vocal stating: "Kashmiris are not alone. We are all watching. So often, when
we see human rights abuses... the abuser will convince those that they abuse that nobody cares,
and that nobody's watching".
In the last six years under Modi, his detractors say India has diluted its decades old commitment to values and principles
that upheld rights of religious minorities. In 2019, Modi was given a second term to run the world’s largest democracy and political rivals including Congress and communists said India's march towards Hindu majoritarianism is a near fatal situation for Christians and Muslims.
There are regular news items across different parts of the country of arbitrariness and high handedness of
law enforcing agencies against religious minorities.
Therefore, many say it remains to be seen whether a Democrat-regime in the White House in the US will
change all these.
Obviously, according to Gujarat Congress leader, Ilyas Qureshi, "There is hope among India's minorities
that once the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris duo comes to power, some of the wrong policies of the American government
towards immigrants and Muslims will end. This will have impact in India too".
He further says, "Trump and Modi both triumph with their anti-Muslim rhetoric ; that is why
I believe substantial Indian Americans and specially Muslims will vote for Democrats this year".
India houses 180 million Muslims in a country of 130 billion plus population and in fact the number is more than 170 million Pakistanis.
Others also say by backing Modi and even 'ignoring Delhi riots of 2020'; Donald Trump had only
supported 'right wing nationalism' of the BJP.
The Republican regime and President Trump himself lauded Modi as a man working for religious freedom. But it was a big let down as Trump did not even condemn the Delhi violence in February and attack those who dare run the risk of being branded as traitors.
Modi & Hindutva forces may get wake up call from Biden-Kamala Harris election ??
However, insiders in the ruling BJP and those involved in foreign policy making say - certainly the Modi government will reach out to her once she is elected and seek to influence her.
Of course, there is a strong refrain among Indian experts that Kamala Harris will be a "much more proactive Vice President" than any of her predecessors including Joe Biden himself in the recent past.
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