Is India's foreign policy being reduced to the Prime Minister? Most of the records of Narendra Modi's foreign tours are about his personal life. Modi, who coined the word "Melody" by combining his name with that of Italian Prime Minister Meloni, recently gifted her "Melody chocolates" and named them "Melody Diplomacy". While Modi's awards have drawn praise from one side, they have also drawn ridicule from the other. The proof mistakes in the medal awarded to Modi in Seychelles seem to support the allegation that many countries award prizes on request. Although it was not said to be a cooked up matter, the Seychelles government later explained that it was a mistake made when it was made in haste to be presented on stage. While previous prime ministers have taken media reporters with them, the observation that Modi is bringing cameramen suggests that the focus is on image-building. Questions have been raised in Norway and Australia about Modi not holding a press conference. The extra security requested by India has reportedly hampered the freedom of movement of locals in New Zealand to an unprecedented extent. A group of Indians protested when Modi was welcomed in Melbourne. Later, it was reported that around 30,000 people had arrived from India on chartered flights to raise slogans for Modi. The expensive celebration program at the stadium also drew criticism from Australians. Such news does not make an impression on us. Good impression is not made by outward appearance, but by shoring strength in the core.
True, foreign relations are not always stable. In place of the old non-alignment, small issue-based groupings have gained prominence today. One cannot be blamed for being part of interest groups like BRICS without siding with any power or remaining neutral – even then, one should be able to uphold one’s own uniqueness and dignity. Our relationship with China and the US is not one of equality. The Foreign Minister himself has publicly said that we, a relatively “small economy”, cannot confront an encroaching China. When three Indian sailors were killed in a US attack in the Gulf of Oman, we could not register a protest. The Economist magazine has described India as “a country in a world of chaos" caught unawares. Parliamentary debates do not include important issues of foreign relations. The Prime Minister, who receives personal visibility during foreign tours, does not explain the achievements of those tours to the media. Instead of the old practice of opening heart to the country, the emphasis is on increasing his grandeur in foreign countries. On the one hand, while pressure is mounting in the US to drop the corruption case against Adani, the rating of a common man’s passport in India is falling. The Indian passport, which was ranked 76th in the global index when Modi came to power, has plummeted to 125th place by the time he has completed 12 years.
We seem to care more about fabrications and image. India once had a high position among the nations of the world. That is because our foreign policy was guided by strong anti-imperialist and humanitarian values. Today, our Israeli inclination does not allow us to speak out against the Palestinine genocide. As Justice Muralidhar, an Indian who prepared the UN report on Israel's actions against children said, we are obliged to act accordingly when there is clear evidence against Israel. But we are indifferent. There are reports that the US Vice President has threatened the nations of the world not to attend the funeral of the Supreme Leader of Iran. India did not send a high-level delegation anyway. India has become a country that has lost international relevance during a serious global crisis. As political analyst Sushant Singh points out, it is not only a shame that India is nowhere to be found in international decision-making circles; it is also a shame that no one even notices that absence. We need to return to our old values to regain our lost ground.