MODI GOVERNMENT AND ITS LOOK EAST POLICY

The year 2015 will be known as The Year of Foreign Policy. PM Narendra Modi since assuming the office as Prime Minister of India on 26^th May,2014 have taken many initiatives to revive or to initiate good foreign relations with many Asian as well as many northern first world countries. When it comes to the policies of Modi Government, it is more inclined towards the Asian Countries; as making economic tie-ups , maintain trade and commerce with these is more feasible and may help in maintaining inflation rate and growing the GDP(Gross  domestic Product).

Contrary to the negative perception which is grooming all around the country nowadays, the foreign policy of Modi government has been ‘vigorous and ingenious’.  Also by reviving the foreign policies it is stepping towards economic growth. In the era of globalisation and liberalisation, where countries are inter mingling with each other in every sphere i.e.  Economic, social, cultural and political; regionalism plays a vital role in trade, commerce, security, co-operation and Co-ordination. Most remarkable initiative by this government may be considered as focusing moreon the neighbouring countries and its ‘Look East policy’. He has made visits to Nepal, Bhutan and Japan and also hosted Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister of Vietnam in first few months of his government.

Some of the achievements of this government which  may be considered as landmark ones in terms of foreign policies are ‘India Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement’; ‘First ever visit to Mangolia by any Indian Prime Minister’; ‘Visit to UAE  in 34 years by any Indian Prime Minister’; ‘visit to U.S west coast or Silicon Valley’, ‘Introduction for the project  MAUSAM’. In coming years it may be forecasted that this government is going to make many more tie-ups either through bilateral or multilateral treaties to strengthen its ‘Make In India’ project and to let the Indian Market flourish worldwide.

India shares important relations with Nepal in bilateral trade, security relations and trade transitions which was started by ‘Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and security’ in 1950. This treaty also includes ,’neither government will tolerate any threat to the security of the other by a foreign aggressor’, and Indo-Nepal border will open for each other. Now Nepal has promulgated its new constitution and Indian immigrant Madhesis, the Janjatia nd the Tharus, who have been considered the disadvantaged groups felt that they were being left out. India has condemned this move and also demands for amendment in its new Constitution. Later on blockade was created around the border because of the movement started by the Indian origin Madhesis community which lead to the shortage of important materials in Nepal. Because of which Nepal has directly slapped India for this blockade which in recent times hampering the relation.

At the same time India has promised 1 billion financial aid to Nepal towards recovery and reconstruction of the quake hit Nepal. This aid is in addition to India’s ongoing economic development and cooperation programme with Nepal that means the total would be around 2 billion US dollar in next five years. During operation ‘MAITRI’, India provided financial aid worth 67 million US dollar to Nepal. All this policies will help to check china in long run was also kept by PM Modi.

PM Modi’s foreign policy towards Pakistan started on a good note when he called Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to Delhi on his swearing ceremony. But the tension along the international border and LOC make this government to cancel scheduled foreign talks and planned meeting between national security advisors. The strong message was put forward at the starting of his tenure that talks cnt’t go along with terrorist activities across the borders supported by Pakistan  which takes life of Indian soldiers on routine basis. Although over the shadow on talks Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Pakistan during Russian tour aggravated a chance resume talks which will solve many issues between the two nations.

During the current NDA government the bilateral trade risen to 7 billion US dollar with Bangladesh. Another big achievement which is achieved by the Modi government is the India Bangladesh Land Boundary agreement. Kolkata-Dhaka- Agartala bus service is started which will reduce the cost of transportation as well as reduce the time. This government has also involved in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal Corridor which will take the tie to a greater height. India’s Act East policy will start from Bangladesh and Modi government is wholly dedicated towards this policy. Although the Teesta river water dispute was not resolved by the current government as the Chief Minister of Bengal , Mamta Banerjee disrupted the tasks and the solution can’t be formulated until the 2017 assembly election of Bengal.

Many initiatives are also taken which will bring the resources to ‘Make In India’ . As the PM’S visit to Mangolia which was the 1^ST visit by any Prime Minister to Mangolia and also signed the memorandum of understanding for infrastructure development in Mangolia which will also built pressure on china, At the same time PM’s visit to Vietanam also started a next step in bilateral ties and raised the south china sea’s issue which will make India’s position on a stronger footing in Asia. Ties with Iran for supply of Uranium and with Russia on security sector which will help in ‘Make in India’ initiatives. Stronger ties with Japan and recent visit of Shinjo Abe make a boost to ‘Make in India’ .

As one year is a very short period to evaluate the impact of these policies in a vast country like India , policy transformation to every corner takes time. Since, after two decades India got a government with a single party majority. We have to wait and watch how much these policies will prosper India in near future.