India remains committed to working with Bangaldesh, says PM Modi

"My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. 

India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted as 84-year-old Yunus took charge of violence-hit Bangladesh.  

These words from renowned pro-Hindutva protagonist Modi are significant as many see big strategic and diplomatic setback to India and Modi personally after his friend and a key strategic partner in South Asia Sheikh Hasina had to give up power in Bangladesh and flee the country that was paradoxically founded by her father Mujibar Rahaman. 

Yunus will be the chief adviser in the interim government tasked by an army-moved decision with holding fresh elections in Bangladesh.  

The minorities, especially Hindus, have faced attacks in the Islamic nation after a violent uprising led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.

Muhammad Yunus, Nobel laureate, returned to Bangladesh from Paris where he was undergoing medical treatment. 

The economist's name was recommended for the role by student protesters who led the protests against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Modi's statement comes at a time when his government has indulged in a major controversial decision by piloting a Bill that is allegedly "attacking the faith and religion of the minority Muslims". 

According to Congress leader K C Venugopal, "Allowing non-Muslims to be members of the Waqf Board is an attack on the Muslim religion and their faith".

The charge has been denied by the government spokespersons and ministers. 

“We are not saying that people of different religions should be made a part of the Waqf board; we are saying that a Member of Parliament should be a member. Now, if the MP is a Hindu or Christian, then what can we do about it? Now, if an MP is a Hindu or a Christian than then what can we do," said the Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.

Hailing from Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India, the Minister himself is a non-Muslim and also a non-Hindu.

The new Bill United Waqf Act Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) was referred to an all-party Joint Parliamentary Committee by India's Parliament on Aug 8.

The developments in Bangladesh has triggered debates on multiple fronts and on more issues than one.

While strategically, the developments in Bangladesh and ouster of a 'secular' leader Sheikh Hasina is likely to give an upper hand to fundamentalists Jamait group, in India former foreign minister Salman Khurshid, a Muslim, said what happened in Bangladesh could happen in India as well.

Of course, a number of BJP leaders slammed Salman and accused him of spreading the cause of a chaotic politics.

There are other points of debate. One, the ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was a formidable 'wall' against Islamists that fell down due to machinations.

The reservation 'Protest' has been only exploited by certain unscrupulous elements including foreign players - a veiled reference to China and Pakistan, - is one refrain. 

From the Indian point of view, the Bangladesh crisis - of course is a setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the politics of friendship he developed with Hasina. 

Therefore, now its a big challenge and also an OPPORTUNITY to perform and turn the table on the prophets of doom.

But there are words of utmost cautioning. "The greatest challenge for Modi 3.0 is not creating jobs, getting investments, aiming for a $5-10 trillion economy. It is to protect, defend and insulate India from the storms raging in the region and the world," said renowned security analyst Sushant Sareen.

He wrote: "If he (Modi) manages to do that, the economy will thrive. But if we are dragged in (and there will be efforts and pressure to drag us in) or if we disturb our own equilibrium then we neither get an economy nor stability. We need wisdom and need to pipe down to build our strength rather than stupidly and prematurely declare that we are a global power". 

He cautioned: "Meanwhile brace yourselves for a roller coaster ride next few years. Choose your  enemies carefully and choose your friends even more carefully. Remember enemies don’t stab you in the back, ‘friends’ do".

"The arrogance and isolation of power prevents leaders from having an ear to the ground, and losing the feel of the ground," he added.

Various factors have forced PM Modi and his government now to refer the controversial Waqf Board bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

On the Bangladesh front though Hasina was a friend of India even during Congress rule, Modi cannot turn his back on her. But keeping a personal protection to Hasina is one thing.

New Delhi has to walk cautiously and ensure smooth diplomatic relationship with the new and presumably interim administration in Dhaka.

Of course, it has offered assistance to Bangladesh to bring back normalcy.  

It goes without stating PM Modi -- within months of electoral setback in summer polls - is now facing an increasingly unstable neighborhood. 

The anti-Sheikh Hasina supporters both in Bangladesh and in the west will set their own anti-India play into motion. 

"Barring Bhutan, all India’s neighbors are currently facing political turmoil and the situation is expected to get worse in future. The only option that India has is to insulate itself from cross border challenges through better security and advance intelligence apart from tackling the fifth columnists within," says an article in 'Hindustan Times'. 

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