Analysing Modis trip to Dhaka and what lies beyond
Kumkum Chadha
Food and fruits seem to be the flavor of the week in India. There is a controversy about fast food, eggs and beef on the one hand and about security men deployed to guard mangoes and litchis at a Chief Ministers official residence in one of the northern states here.
At the political level, it is about Prime Minister Narendra Modis current visit to Bangladesh. The spotlight is on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sharing stage with two Prime Ministers in Dhaka: Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Shiekh Hasina respectively.
The question being asked is: Why has Modi chosen Mamata and not the other three Chief Ministers to accompany him, given that Assam Meghlaya and Tripura are also partners in the land swap deal? There are no straight answers except political interpretations.
Even Indias Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar was, when asked about this, somewhat evasive during his interaction with the Indian media earlier this week. He told journalists that he was not aware of any Chief Minister other than Mamata Banerjee going to Dhaka during Prime Minister Modis two day visit.
Mamata is not the best of friends with Modi. If anything, there is more acrimony than camaraderie between them. She was among the few not to have met him for well over a year of his taking over as Prime Minister. Yet she cooperated on the LBA when the Modi government brought the Constitutional Amendment in Parliament. It is but interesting that both the TMC and BJP were in the forefront opposing the legislation when the Congress led UPA was in power. That the Congress neither took Bangladesh seriously nor Mamatas objections is another matter. Modi was just the opposite. Apart from doing enough groundwork and approaching the TMC with a financial package for her LBA nod, Modi was clear that if he would go to Bangladesh he would, armed with the gift of the LBA. His ministers, particularly Sushma Swaraj, worked overtime to pave the way for a smooth sail of the land deal in Parliament. That is why when the Government is going to town with the fact that there was not a single voice of dissent, it fits in.
International commitments apart, for Modi it is also a question of credibility and image: something crucial in his scheme of things. Delivering on the long-standing promise gives Modi an edge and projects him as a doer rather than a Prime Minister helpless at the hands of a volatile Opposition.
The conclusion of the LBA also changes the complexion and dynamics of the two-day visit. From a rewind the two countries would be on fast forward mode, ever keen to take up new initiatives and partnerships. With Modi at the helm Bangladesh, like many others, can hope for getting things done rather than their eternally remaining in the pipeline. Modi did, in less than a year that governments before him could not in forty years. The LBA was signed in 1974.
Unlike the past, the Modi government has brought Indias immediate neighbours on the radar. Under previous governments, except for Pakistan no other neighboring country was in the reckoning. In this context, India implemented the big brother theory in toto giving a go by to smaller and comparatively unimportant countries be it Nepal, Bhutan and even Bangladesh. That could be the reason for the LBA taking longer than it should have given the Manmohan Singh Government did not give it the importance or priority it deserved.
Modi has not only changed that but sent a sure signal that India will pursue a Neighbourhood First policy. Therefore when Sushma Swaraj told the Indian Parliament that India would act as an elder brother instead of playing big, it resonated the Modi governments policy.
It is in line with this sentiment that Modi has zeroed in on Mamata Banerjee to share stage when there is an exchange of Instruments of LBA Ratification leaving other Chief Ministers out.
For one, it is to send a message that had it not been for Mamatas cooperation, the LBA would be stuck. The other, and more important, that the spotlight on Mamata would help pave the way for resolution of an equally contentious issue namely sharing of the Teesta waters. This certainly is the big next on the agenda of Indo Bangladesh
relationship.
That Mamata is an egoist is a given. Equally, she is childlike who can be cajoled with a smile. Modi, by singling her out and making her share stage with two Prime Ministers on an historic occasion, is massaging her ego and opening channels for a productive conversation on water sharing: an issue that is likely to figure during Modis Bangladesh visit.
Teesta, as the Indian Government had earlier stated, will not happen during Modis current visit. But the way could be paved. Therefore it is necessary to keep Mamata in good humour and attempt to create a rapport between her and Modi to facilitate negotiations between her governments and Modis before Bangladesh can get the share of water it is demanding.
The possibility of a change in the quantum of water that is being demanded by Bangladesh is a strong possibility if Bangladesh wants Mamatas nod on the issue.
Bilateral issues apart, within India food is in the news. Food and fruits. Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar has posted security guards to protect mangoes and litchis. If allegations of his political rival have content, Kumar has deployed armed policemen to protect over 100 litchi,mango and jackfruit trees to prevent its present occupant and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to pluck and eat them. While Kumar has denied knowledge of this, Manjis supporters have alleged that the cops have been asked to account for each and every fruit plucked or falling naturally. Manji has refused to vacate the CMs bungalow even after demitting office some three months ago. Leave alone savoring mangoes, Manjhi says he is not even allowed to look at these fruits.
As against this, another Chief Minister is involved in an egg-controversy. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has turned down a proposal to serve eggs under the governments Integrated Child Development Services or ICDS as they are commonly known. He has made it known that as long as he is Chief Minister he would not allow eggs to be served. Dubbed as a sentimental issue, given that the Chief Minister, like many BJP leaders, is a vegetarian, the assertion has raised hackles of activists who allege that the Chouhan is imposing his food preferences on others. Add to this the fact that eggs are protein rich and an excellent option for malnourished kids. Chouhans suggested substitute of bananas and milk do not match up.
Chouhan is not alone in the no eggs crusade. He has, for company, crusaders like the Jain community who say that consumption of eggs have side effects. Likewise on non- vegetarian food their contention is that when kids eat non vegetarian food, their sensitivities die. While Chouhan is banning eggs, one among Modis team, Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, has advocated eating beef. He is backed by another minister Sarbananda Sonowal, also from the north east, who said that beef curbs in the north east would sow seeds of dissonance, as it is a common staple among many communities. Rijiju had earlier said that he eats beef and nobody can stop him.
The issue had raised hackles after Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, another Union Minister and a Muslim, had said that those who cannot do without beef can go to Pakistan. This follows the campaign for a nationwide ban on cow slaughter spearheaded by BJP and likeminded parties. Several state governments, where the BJP is in power, have banned cow and bull slaughter. Others have made its sale a non bailable offence.
Add to that the two minute noodle Maggi been taken off the shelf for high levels of lead in it, and the government has enough on its plate. Therefore while Modi can enjoy the hype and adulation by Bangladesh, there is a lot he needs to address
back home.
The writer is a senior Indian journalist, political commentator and columnist of The Independent. She can be reached at: ([email protected])
