Source : SelfLook how foreign minister S Jaishankar goes round and round in trying to paint the Prime Minister’s visit to Ukraine as “historic” Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv conveyed the need to focus on dialogue and diplomacy to end the conflict with Russia. PM Modi shared many of the thoughts and substance of the discussion. We heard from President Zelensky about what his own views were on these issues. So it was a very back and forth discussion," the External Affairs Minister said. "To my mind, there was certainly information which we obtained here and I am sure we also perhaps brought up points and flagged issues," he said.
Jaishankar appeared relieved talking about other things, like justifying his boss hugging every leader. “In our part of the world, when people meet people, they are given to embracing each other, it may not be part of your culture but I can assure you it is part of ours. In fact, today, I think, I saw, Prime Minister (Modi) also embrace President Zelenskyy,” Jaishankar replied to a specific question by a Western reporter which mentioned in as many words about Modi’s embrace of Putin a few weeks ago.
The Godi Media made appropriate noises mimicking Jaishankar. Want peace ASAP, PM urges Ukraine, said The Times of India. No taking sides, said The Hindu. Historic visit, said India Today. India not neutral, on side of peace, said NDTV and The Hindu. A balancing act, said First Post. The Indian Express bent the most, saying, India lends Ukraine a shoulder.
We can keep believing all this and remain blind and deaf to truth. What is worrying is the abject lack of critical analysis of a prime ministerial visit in the not-so-distant past. Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao and Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to get briefings from senior journalists and editors accompanying them on foreign visits. I have been witness to it on more than one occasion.
The editors had the moral courage to write edits which took a critical look at these visits. The objective of the edits was not to assess the PM as an individual but as a leader representing the country; under scrutiny was how the PM’s visit enhanced (or not) the country’s bargaining power and international stature. These trips were never about hugs an designer clothes and display of jingoist nationalism before the Indian diaspora abroad and a lot more along such lines. Who came to pick the leader up, how warm the handshake was, the matter inviting to the Presidential of PM House for dinner, who all want to meet you, how the international press reacts, all these things matter because the visit is a significant means of putting the country’s foreign policy in motion. Each of these visits is of high significance to India and the world actors it was in sync with. It was about policies first. The policies’ success depended on the gravity of the personalities.
Now read what former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal has to say of the visit: Zelensky’s press comments on Modi’s visit were most improper. Chided India for buying Russian oil and fueling its coffers despite India repeatedly explaining its position over several months. Where was the need to again hector India on this? Said Putin showed disrespect to Modi during his Russia visit by bombing the children’s hospital in Kiev. This is cheap politics. Fundamentally rejected Modi’s peace bid by stating that India could be part of his peace plan but Ukraine won’t make compromises on principles or values. Worse, he said that the next peace summit could be held in India but he told Modi frankly that it could not be held in a country that had not joined the communiqué of the first summit. This is talking down at Modi. On his visit to India, he said he wanted India on his side and “not balancing between us and Russia”. This is not mature politics. It is entitlement politics and dictating policy to India. Modi went to Ukraine with the best of intentions.
Having said all that, remember that pictures and visuals are powerful. A segment of the Indian population, for instance, in poll-bound Haryana might be highly impressed seeing our Prime Minister hugging world leaders and reading articles about how he was mediating to end the war. That’s why a PM’s visit ultimately means different things to different people.
So, take it easy.