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
