DNA Edit: Foreign Minister destroys Cong’s argument of inaction

Whoever takes on Sushma Swaraj in a debate does so at his or her peril. And this is just what the Congress party has found out to its cost. In a recent press conference, the External Affairs Minister not only outlined the Centre’s achievements on the foreign policy front, but was able to show just how much the NDA accomplished in just four years as opposed to the UPA in ten years. From visiting 186 out of the 192 UN members to rescuing over 90,000 Indians in distress, Swaraj showed just how active the government had been. Dismissing charges that the government conducted just ‘Twitter diplomacy’ Swaraj also pointed that not only had her efforts been appreciated by Indians across the globe but also that the elitist mould of foreign policy, carried out by previous governments, had ended. 

Through Twitter, Swaraj said that ministers were accessible, able to articulate their vision and goals clearly, and respond to people’s concerns in a much faster way than the UPA ever could. The External Affairs Minister’s statement deserves all the more credence because even her critics will acknowledge that she and PM Narendra Modi have done a wonderful job on the foreign policy front. Apart from the India-US civil nuclear deal, then PM Manmohan Singh and his party were able to perform little of note on the foreign policy front. And even though Singh signed the deal, not even one megawatt was added in nuclear power for India. 

Then, the government was seen as ‘soft’ on China with huge trade imbalances and constant forays by Chinese troops across the LAC during Singh’s time. During PM Modi’s tenure the rules of the game changed. Not only did our PM bluntly tell Xi Jinping about Chinese troop incursion into Ladakh – while the Chinese President was visiting India - but ensured India stood up to China in Doklam. This was something China had not witnessed before and a new respect for India has come about as a result. As for Pakistan, the PM has scored many firsts. Despite inviting former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif for his swearing in, despite agreeing to ceasing of offensive operations during Ramzan, the PM’s tough action has shown Islamabad that India could not be taken for granted. 

Apart from the ‘surgical strikes’, the PM has not shown any desperation to make history by wanting to make peace with Pakistan. This was the fault of other PMs. Atal Bihari Vajpayee opened the Delhi-Lahore bus route and got Kargil, PM Manmohan Singh again reached out to Pakistan and the response was the Mumbai attack. In contrast, PM Modi, and the External Affairs Minister, have indicated no talks until terror ends — a message that looks like it is finally getting through to Pakistan. Also, the increasing understanding by the US of India’s concerns with a $10 million bounty on Hafiz Saeed is a huge achievement as finally India has managed to convince the world that Pakistan harbours terrorists. 

Before Modi, the world remained doubtful or indifferent to India’s claims. There is much more that the NDA needs to achieve but the Congress will know that with the PM and Swaraj at the helm, foreign affairs is something that they cannot attack the government on without exposing their own inaction. The Grand Old Party which anyway has been reduced to ‘minority status’ in Indian politics would be best advised to get their own house in order first and accept that 2019 is beyond them.