Hillary Clinton was visiting India in 2012 to persuade Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Govt. to stop buying oil from Iran as USA had imposed sanctions due to possibility of nuclear weapons in Iran; wherein she expressed her reasons and objections to our MEA of the time, Mr. S.M. Krishna. India was one nation, which was extremely defiant on accepting these sanctions especially for importing oil. Dr. Singh had devised an ingenious way of keeping USA, Iran happy to balance India’s crude oil requirement. Dr. Singh had opened Iran Govt.’s account in UCO Bank and the payment was made in rupees into that account. India had cut all import-export ties with Iran due to sanctions except India was importing crude oil from Iran.
Iran could convert Indian currency to Dollars for buying (imports) while making payments to other countries (whosoever wished to trade with them or was allowed with them) and could not repatriate money. Modiji also followed up on this idea. We are using this example to understand the role and responsibilities of External Affairs Ministry. MEA or the State Department primary responsibility remains to protect interests of the nation diplomatically and also maintain friendship with other countries and they have allocated huge number of resources to keep it working round the year, every year.
It was not the case, that Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State (MEA equivalent in USA) was also issuing directives to oil refiners in India to stop buying oil from Iran. MEA interacts with MEA or with permission of MEA if it reaches to business community, trade purposes like Modiji’s visits to Facebook HQ or Tesla’s factory.
Modi is a man with vision. No Prime Minister of India had ever interacted with citizens directly through social media. Modi is amongst the top followed global leaders on Twitter and in India as well, he ranks at the top even if compared to celebrities. Modi may be uneducated or a poser with fake degrees but he understands the power of social media. For record, Modiji has 65+ million followers on Twitter. 30% or 60% of the followers are fake, that’s not up for discussion at this point.
We know as a politician, he is scared to undertake a Press Conference but that remains his choice and as citizens, we cannot force our will on our Prime Minister. He is most regularly found behind a Teleprompter in his office twice or thrice a week and social media, which is open 24 x 7. There have been complaints from citizens, which have been addressed by PMO by directing the relevant department and officials to look into the matter at the speed, never thought possible to be done in India. Of course, as Prime Minister, he is carrying India’s image in the world, so we know his egregiousness for camera to be clicked or video graphed shoots the charts compared to any political leader in the world.
Our PM is known as the hugger in the international diplomacy or by international media. The way he piles on every State Head is little embarrassing for India as a nation but then his electorate seem to believe it as diplomatic victory, so he is carrying on with his disconcerting behavior. In Indian parlance, hugna refers to the biological function.
Evidently there has been massive surge in cases on Article 19 of Indian Constitution in Supreme Court post 2014. We wont even mention the gargantuan number of Internet shutdowns in India in last six years. In early 2020, Supreme Court had held Right to Internet is a Constitutional Right under Article 19 as Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression and the Govt. needs to adhere to the provisions of the Article 19 while implementing Internet shutdown. Such similar freedom in America is referred to as First Amendment Rights of every citizen, rather it is much broad than only Right to Speech and Freedom of Expression.
Rihanna tweeted, Why aren't we talking about this? #farmersprotests with a link to the Internet shutdown at protests. But the catch here, she has 100+ million followers on Twitter. Not to mention, the make shift activists and the porn stars also activated with this tweet.
A private citizen of Barbados residing in USA tweets with a question on protests in India and the MEA from GoI is activated to issue an official statement. Quoted here:
“The Parliament of India, after a full debate and discussion, passed reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector. These reforms give expanded market access and provided greater flexibility to farmers. They also pave the way for economically and ecologically sustainable farming. A very small section of farmers in parts of India have some reservations about these reforms. Respecting the sentiments of the protesters, the Government of India has initiated a series of talks with their representatives. Union Ministers have been part of the negotiations, and eleven rounds of talks have already been held. The Government has even offered to keep the laws on hold, an offer iterated by no less than the Prime Minister of India.
Yet, it is unfortunate to see vested interest groups trying to enforce their agenda on these protests, and derail them. This was egregiously witnessed on January 26, India’s Republic Day. A cherished national commemoration, the anniversary of the inauguration of the Constitution of India, was besmirched, and violence and vandalism took place in the Indian capital. Some of these vested interest groups have also tried to mobilise international support against India. Instigated by such fringe elements, Mahatma Gandhi statues have been desecrated in parts of the world. This is extremely disturbing for India and for civilised society everywhere.
Indian police forces have handled these protests with utmost restraint. It may be noted that hundreds of men and women serving in the police have been physically attacked, and in some cases stabbed and seriously wounded. We would like to emphasise that these protests must be seen in the context of India’s democratic ethos and polity, and the efforts of the Government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse. Before rushing to comment on such matters, we would urge that the facts be ascertained, and a proper understanding of the issues at hand be undertaken. The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible.”
A massively popular black singer residing in America (though she is global star) has tweeted on an issue in India. Gone are the days, when our MEA was overwhelmed with letters to the sovereign India from across the globe for allowing such a massive protest against Govt. which is peaceful. Anna Hazare protest won accolades for the nation (the Govt. and the people) across the world. It was kind of record in the world for the sheer size of the peaceful protest. In a functional democracy, people are always protesting against Govt. Govt.'s actions are not always reachable to every citizen.
Rehana Begum as some or the other Godi (lapdog) media channel must have brought the Muslim angle to her name. Don’t doubt, she must have already been called Congress worker or paid by Congress, She has waged war against India or it is an attack on sovereignty of India. India as a nation, was not even as embarrassed after Chinese occupation in Galwan Valley or setting up of village by China on Indian side as compared to six words question with a hashtag.
Our Govt is so used to photo shoots and photoshop and staged video drama, they assumed #Rihanna - a pop star, to be a head of state and responded to her tweet with an official statement from MEA. MEA role and responsibility does not entail issuing official statements fulfilled with obduracy to private citizens of Barbados residing in USA with First Amendment Rights.
(If and only If but it is) The statement itself may not be so embarrassing for our nation but the contents humiliate the entire being of our country. What does MEA think that Supreme Court of USA will issue contempt notice? Will Rihanna be investigated by FBI, IRS or Homeland Security?
The former President of USA had arguments with reporters in live telecasts and with founder of Twitter on Twitter, where he never shied away from expressing his thoughts. Nor did he curb the rights of media or people to question him on anything and there were no Federal Govt. notices slapped on people for airing opposite/different view from the President.
MEA is lying about the fact that it was passed after full debate and discussion in Parliament as per the procedures, which procedure entails voice voting without hearing the concerns (let’s call them invalid, but they have right to raise and we may or may not hear) of all MPs, just because the presiding Chairman was getting late for lunch amidst the pandemic.
MEA is also lying about the fact, that it is small section of farmers, may be they did not take reference from Ministry of Agriculture, the protesting farmers grow the staple crops of India, wheat and rice, which this small section accounts for 80% and 40% in production, which amounts to 20% of the total agricultural (including horticulture) output in India. More than a million people sitting on roads in the harsh winters, the weather for which that farmer prays for over 2 months is a small section.
The most embarrassing part of the statement arrives in second paragraph wherein the MEA is entailing the details of violence on January 26th, 2021. MEA is issuing the Statement as if it is representing India and the sinister inches of indulging arrogance measuring upto 56 separately. Ministers are elected by people to whom they are supposed to represent. The stubborn stiffness of the mention of the number of meetings only sheds light on how fragile the ego of PM is resurrected within the Govt. against the very own people for whom, he is Prime Minister.
MEA is bad mouthing its own people for giving mileage to the image of PM or what is the objective (I don’t know), certainly it shows our great nation in a very poor light. Whether the violence was insurrected by people, whether its intelligence failure of our Govt; whether it was good or bad by the people or the Police, even if people are wild/unruly, whatever may be the question, it ultimately boomerangs on the Govt. and the country. The fluidity of thoughts amongst the citizens cannot be chained in a box. In a democracy, Govt. is made by the people, for the people. Here the MEA statement has completely obliterated the citizens of India and the Govt. by treating them as two separate entities. MEAs job is to show/project the whole nation as one entity to the world, irrespective by default.
As a citizen, I would have understood had it been issued by any other Ministry but MEA under Mr. S. Jaishankar. Our Govt. under Modi has given us the worst Cabinet in India since independence except for MEA. We discuss Nehru like everybody knows him personally but look at his Cabinet, every member’s name is capable of building a stand alone political party on its own. The only Minister in the Cabinet who has some clue to the job, he has been given. Home Minister is also good to some extent but then he is seasoned criminal with charges of tadipaar.
MEA’s statement standalone is not only a testament of what we have become as a Nation. The tweets and comments on Rihanna’s tweet, which has shown at least 10 times more activity than a normal tweet of hers, is the real image of Indians represented by India. Rape and death threats by citizens of India and name calling our own citizens as Terrorists for which our Govt. is not taking any action.
MEA is only trying to quick fix the wounded incarcerated ego of our PM but in the process they have damaged the self respect of a nation. The Govt. of India followed it up with a Troll campaign. Everybody knows our Govt. is a massive PR agency with our PM as the social media evangelist. They are good at it courtesy of their legacy from their political party. We as citizens have done little to keep the fragile ego of our PM together.
The Govt. of India declared WAR on the popular singer with 100+ million followers. The troll campaign was organized by recruiting the influencers from Bollywood and Sports fraternity with #IndiaTogether; when MEA’s statement has already separated the people and the wounded ego of Govt. The Influencers troll regiment may have been assured of all immunity from CBI, NCB, ED and IT raids. Let’s hope Rhea Chakraborty tweeted 100 times on the topic. The sellebrity trollers did not attack but defend the sovereignty of our nation, which has been stabbed by MEA; who have already been defined by MEA in the last line of official statement; and Govt. separately following it up with #indiaagainstpropaganda.
None of the sellebrity trollers paid homage to 160 martyred farmers who are protesting on road. Its their choice whether they choose to or not. None of the sellebrity trollers brought the attention to Shaheed Sardar Gurtej Singh of 3rd Punjab’s Ghatak Platoon got Vir Chakra on 26th January 2021 for his heroics at Galwan Valley. His father Virsa Singh is a marginal farmer with 2 and a half acres in Mansa district participated in #farmersprotest at Singhu border.
How the PM humiliated India in international diplomacy with his slogan at Howdy Modi is an understatement with the MEA’s statement and the troll campaign from sellebrities organized by our Govt., who practically behave like a digital marketing agency, wherein influencer outreach is more important than citizen outreach.
Vir Das tweeted, As a nation....We are literally becoming that uncle who beats his wife, is cruel to his kids, never stops yelling at his family, and then has his pride hurt when people from other houses hear the commotion.
But to complete its analogy; MEA under this situation is the wife.
The wife here is that Govt. machinery, who also protects her husband if he is questioned. Kids are the Bhakts, who praise their father if somebody asks father.
The tweet which asked, Why aren't we talking about this? 6 words from a private citizen of Barbados has rattled the foundations of the Govt. of India to ensure everybody is talking about this. Whether India stands for truth or #Indiaagainstpropaganda is the question, which can be found in Umbrella;. P.S. Umbrella does not mean the one Kangana Ranaut carries when she meets our PM.
When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out 'til the end
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
Perhaps our Govt. under Modi along with his Troll Influencers are forever saying:
I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed
Get along with the voices inside of my head
You're tryin' to save me, stop holdin' your breath
And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy
