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Romanticising US election results

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There has been a surge of romanticism in India over the US results

Something funny is happening in India in the aftermath of the US presidential election results. Critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are celebrating and taking potshots at Modi as if he has been beaten in an electoral battle. It won’t be long before some dumbhead suggested that Donald Trump lost because of his proximity to Modi.

The Shiv Sena has remarked that while the Modi government said Namaste Trump, the American people retorted with Goodbye Trump. Donald Trump was the President of the United States of America when the event was organised in India during Trump’s visit here. Were Indians not supposed to greet a visitor, ahead of state and government at that point? Of course, some Indians would rather felicitate terrorists, separatists and Maoists.

Trump presided over a robust US economy, and his initiatives led to a thaw in the relationship between Israel, the Arab world and the Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

India accorded a warm welcome to President Trump, but not as a private citizen Trump. It will surely extend a similar welcome to the new President of the United States, if and when he visits the country. Much is made of Modi’s friendship with Trump to take swipes at the latter. But Modi also bonded famously well with Barack Obama, with the two openly gushing about their friendship. Remember the famous tea event at Hyderabad House?

There has been a surge of romanticism in India over the US results. Joe Biden, who is expected to take charge in January 2021, is being hailed as a unifier, one who will reclaim the ‘soul of America’ whatever that means, and reverse all the malevolent policies of his predecessor.

As an Indian, I couldn’t care less about Biden’s philosophical leanings or his domestic political strategies. What I would watch carefully is how he, as President, crafts his narrative on issues that are of the paramount security interest to us Indians. Will his attitude towards terrorism that emanates from Pakistan and harms India, be soft or as firm as that of Trump? Will he seek to take a middle ground on the ongoing India-China border row or adopt a strong pro-India line that the Trump administration had taken? Will he, with his Leftist-liberal leanings, wade into India’s internal matters such as the abolition of Article 370 and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)? Will he harp on the supposed human rights violations in Kashmir and elsewhere in the country – a constant refrain of the India Left-liberal gang?

It is possible that Biden will pluck some of the low hanging fruits to gladden India. For instance, he could relax the H1B Visa rules. His supporters will pull out his old statements that demonstrate a favourable opinion about India. It is true that he played a significant role in the India-US civil nuclear deal that happened during the George W Bush tenure. It is also a fact that he has been a strong votary of deepening engagements between the US and India on matters of defence and strategic security. Now we have to see if he walks the talk as President.

Kamala Harris, the soon to be Vice President-elect. The media has gone to town with her Indian origins as if that is going to count in the way she perceives contentious issues.

On the global front, some people will be happy with Biden coming into the White House. The Pakistanis must be feeling relieved, for instance. The Trump Administration had made life miserable for both Islamabad and Rawalpindi, both verbally and in actionable terms. It had come down hard on Pakistan’s link with terror groups and imposed heavy sanctions. The Administration’s senior members had spoken strongly against Pakistan’s failure to curb terror activities that spread in the latter’s neighbourhood. Now, the Pakistani will be hoping that things will be back to the old normal with the Administration making loud proclamations but doing little substantially to punish Pakistan. We saw this happen during the Obama and the Bush reigns.

China too would be glad by the new occupant of the White House. Biden is unlikely to pursue with Trump’s belligerence towards Beijing, thus giving the latter room to further its deception on the world. But there is a caveat here. Even if Biden wants, he cannot completely ease the pressure the global realities today are different and China cannot be let off the hook.

One other country that will be pleased by the change is Iran. Biden may revive the nuclear deal, struck during Obama’s time, with Tehran. Sanctions may be partially lifted. This will give the Iranian leadership legroom to proceed secretly with their nuclear programme while outwardly professing to follow the agreement which calls upon Iran to halt the project.

Then there is Kamala Harris, the soon to be Vice President-elect. The media has gone to town with her Indian origins as if that is going to count in the way she perceives contentious issues. Merely because of her Indian roots, she is unlikely to be soft on India. On the contrary, sensitive to criticism that she would be biased because of her Indian connection, Kamala Harris could at times adopt a hard line, for example on matters of Kashmir.

Meanwhile, a defeated Trump is being painted as a monster, a demon who nearly devoured American values and ethos. It is easy to forget his achievements in such circumstances. He presided over a robust US economy, and his initiatives led to a thaw in the relationship between Israel, the Arab world and the Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE. There was relative calm in West Asia due to his hands-on approach. Of course, he did some things wrong too, like withdrawing from the climate change pact.

But no leader is perfect. Trump wasn’t, and neither were his predecessors. Biden will not, too. For now, it is too early to celebrate his victory. Let’s see what and how he delivers.

Note:
1. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

Rajesh Singh

Rajesh Singh is a Delhi-based senior political commentator and public affairs analyst

View Comments

  • It appears Trump is not going to concede. He has challenged the Election Frauds in US Courts.

    If the Courts hold the RIGGED ELECTIONS invalid & order fresh polls, that will be a peaceful solution

    On the other hand, if the Courts fail to deliver Justice, Trump may, if there is a provision in the US Law, declare Martial Law & continue as President.

    Both Joe Biden & Kamala Harris are strikingly corrupt, it would be very easy for Trump to fix these 2 nasty creatures & continue with his Presidency.

    • Dear Iyer,I support your views. In fact 3rd Nov 2020 US elections results were DECLARED by the campaigning media and the announcements were made by nearly 2800 TV channels and radio stations across USA and some parts of the world. Respective States are yet to be certify the results and they have to be accepted before 30th Nov 2020 by the House Senate. Further results were not officially accepted by the House Senate slated on 14th Dec 2020.

      The President elect meets the incumbent President on 14th Dec 2020 to chart out things starting from 14th Dec 2020 to 20th Jan 2021 on works done and to be done and the incumbent President has to change his Tie so as to enable President elect to occupy White House Chair and become the President w.e.f 21st Jan 2021.

      US Elections was REMOVE TRUMP at any cost. DEMS ruled States were full of electoral malpractice and nonsense.
      DEMS JUST HATE TRUMP MORE THAN THEY LOVE AMERICA
      Such a complicated and foul play elections speaks very poor about super power USA!!

  • Dear Sir/Madam,
    Good article. What the Indian Media has not observed is the growing clout of Indian American community in USA. We have contributed millions to both parties. Biden got lot more than Trump. Approximately 60% Indian Americans voted for Biden and 40% to Trump. 12 Indian Americans got elected to various state assemblies. We created History with Trump and ModiG rally in Texas which attracted 53 thousand people! Never happened in the history of USA for a foreign leader. ModiG had two more events one in Sanjose 25 K people and in NY 25 K people . It is not trump, it is ModiG interpersonal skills of management that attracts people. Many international leaders admire ModiG for this and this never happened to any other Indian leader,
    Trump is losing many states with a narrow margin and he has won more than 70 million votes ,a record for USA. Republicans still control Senate and supreme court has a conservative majority, More states are under Republican control whole nation is unhappy with china and and its export of dirty virus across the globe that has ruined economies and killed lakhs of people. Japan South korea Australia and many south east nations feel secure with India US cooperation in guaranteeing safety and security in the region.
    Mr Biden has already made speeches In favor of strengthening bonds with India and France UK and Russia want greater role for India at the UN. Biden will go with them As Indian Americans have influence in both parties and as we have a great external affairs ministry and Sri Jai shankarG, we should be ok Congress and shiv sena are sinking slowly. Sena has become Sonia sena and Maharashtrians who respected Bal Thackeray will dump Uddav. Up coming congress leaders will demand leadership role in the party and if the center can take action fast against looters like Sonia Vadra and Chidambaram, we can start a chapter in the history of Bharath.
    Dr Rangaesh Gadasalli

  • The left liberal cabal both in India and US are rejoicing the weakening of their Govts strong fight against expansioism and terrorism forgetting national and global security under the Democratic dispensation.

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