Modi Should Relook Panchsheel
The year 2014 marks the 60th anniversary of the PanchsheelTreaty. The Sino-India agreement signed on April 29 1954, codified for the first time Jawaharlal Nehru’s virtues or principles for peaceful coexistence between nations. These principles enshrined in the agreement were later the founding blocks of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at Belgrade in 1961 and also went on to become the cornerstone of India’s foreign policy.Panchsheel included:
- Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
- Mutual non-aggression.
- Mutual non-interference in each others internal affairs.
- Equality and co-operation for mutual benefits.
- Peaceful coexistence.
For decades, South Block’s strict adherence to the Panchsheel has caused Indian foreign policy to become non proactive and stagnant. India has been unable to retain its influence even in regions and countries where it enjoyed considerable popularity.
As Narendra Modi takes over the reins of the administration, its imperative he redefines Indian foreign policy to ensure that India can face modern challenges while also profit and grasp opportunities that present it self.
Five areas where South Block should immediately focus its attention on:
1. WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) AND CHALLENGES:
The new government will most certainly face its stiffest diplomatic challenge from the developed nations at the WTO table. To ensure India’s economic recovery, improving trade especially exports is important in order to address the current trade imbalance.
Modi during a televised interview for ‘Aap ki Adalat’, expressed shock at the way essential resources like coal get exported at low prices while power plants remain at below average capacity production across India, only for coal to be imported back at a much inflated prices to feed these plants.
At the WTO, USA has filed 14 cases against India citing violation of trade policies, patent laws and for denying fair market access to US manufacturers.
US companies recently objected to clauses in the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission (JNSM) which calls for solar panels and other components to be sourced from domestic manufacturers only. JNSM aims to produce 20 Giga Watt of solar power by 2022 and is valued at over Rs 1000 Crore.
The US and Europe also ardently oppose subsidies given to Indian farmers, labelling them as anti-competitive and against the concepts of free and fair trade. India’s food security act which seeks to stockpile food resources to insulate the public from sudden price hikes is also under scrutiny by developed nations, who consider hoarding and stockpiling as counter productive to fair pricing for imports.
India faces maximum number of complaints for patent law violations. As a signatory to the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), India is under obligation to ensure that international patents are respected and not violated in the country.
In 2013, the Supreme Court of India refused to patent Swiss pharmaceutical multinational Novartis’s cancer drug Gleevecin India citing terms under the Indian patent laws. This decision allowed Indian generic drug companies to continue production of Gleevec at affordable prices for the general public. The EU and the US opposed the verdict as a step backwards for free trade.
Trade most certainly has to be mutually beneficial, however to label a developing nation’s efforts to protect its market, industries and people from predatory dumping of goods and services cannot be termed as anti-competitive, especially when developed nations are not willing to share resources or technology to help developing nations.
2. ARTICLE 245(2) AND CrPC 188 FOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:
On 20th May, as Modi addressed the Central Hall of Parliament, he vowed that the current government will work for the poorest of the poor Indian, aiming to improve their condition and ensure their right to a life of dignity.
No where else is there an urgent need for the Indian government to get involved than in the Arabian Gulf where nearly 6 million Indians reside, more than 85% of them from poor rural backgrounds, working and living under harsh conditions and denied access to legal recourse for wage and employment settlements.
Many are involved in a cycle of repetitive debt, where they borrow money or mortgage homes to purchase a visa, only to spend their hard earned income on repaying these high interest debts by the time their visa period expires.
Setting up of legal aid offices and engaging with Indian social workers to help improve the conditions and provide timely assistance of those in distress should be a priority.
Article 245 clause 2 of the Indian constitution states that “No law made by Parliament shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it would have extra territorial operation”. Implying that the Indian Parliament, can pass laws to take necessary measures to ensure that Indian citizens are protected and not harassed, even when they are outside the country.
Section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) under the Indian Penal Code states that:
- Any crime committed by an Indian citizen outside India, and
- Any crime committed by a non Indian citizen on an Indian registered ship or aircraft
Will both be considered as crimes committed in India and can be tried at any court across India.
Section 188 also empowers the Indian Police to initiate investigations against crimes committed outside India, as long the victim or suspect is an Indian citizen, without the need of Central government approval.
Though laws are present to ensure that basic rights are safeguarded, the necessary infrastructure and political will is missing to ensure its fruition.
3. ENHANCE INDIA’S SOFT POWER:
Soft power as a concept refers to covert, less evident tools such as ideas, brands, products, habits, food etc which help attract, co-opt, persuade and influence social and public opinion without public or political lobbying.
It’s important to distinguish here between a covert military operation which is considered as a sub unit of hard power and soft power. Soft power engages with the local populace and helps influence their habits and thinking.
Examples of India’s soft power include Yoga, Bollywood movies, Indian ethnic wear, cuisine etc.
Soft power helps build up positive sentiment for India amongst the public, which can be tapped and used in our favour even if the governments make anti-India stands. It involves NGO (Non-Government Organization) activities in other countries and financing them to achieve desired outcome.
British Broadcasting Company (BBC) is an example of British soft power.
India with its rich history, heritage and culture, has made little investment to enhance its image abroad and doing so is now imperative in the 21st century diplomatic battlefield.
4. STRATEGIC DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY ALLIANCES:
Strategic alliances are a need of the modern era, considering the highly unstable neighbourhood India finds herself in. Though India enjoys strategic relations with many nations such as Russia, USA, Japan, Australia etc, the need to maintain and enhance the level of co-operations is essential.
Farkhor Air base in Tajikistan, stands as an example of a strategic military alliance, where India operates an airbase stationing a squadron of MiG 29 fighter jets.
India is rapidly upgrading her diplomatic status with Afghanistan and Iran at the moment. Though relations between India, Iran and Afghanistan have been cordial, all three face similar threats to their internal security from Pakistan, raising an opportunity to cooperate and address a common problem.
Though India enjoys cordial relations with most nations, strategic alliances are necessary to act as a deterrent for anyone considering to attack or attempt to destabilize our nation.
5. ENERGY SECURITY:
Security as a concept is no longer restricted to merely defence or border security, but has grown to encompass food security, cyber security, financial system security, internal security and energy security.
India has backed out of two major gas pipeline projects the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline and the TAPI (Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline, citing security reasons considering the pipelines travelling over Pakistan.
This makes it more urgent for the new government to move ahead and authorise the SAGE (South Asian Gas Enterprise) pipeline. The SAGE envisioned in 1985 is an underwater gas pipeline from Oman to India across the Arabian Sea. The pipeline today is enlarged to also include Iran, Qatar and the UAE joining in to supply gas to India.
A steady and reliable supply of gas will help India improve power production, establish fertilizer industries and generate employment for people. The underwater pipeline also bypasses threats from Pakistan and makes it a more secure investment.
One can only speculate about what policy decisions and changes will be made by the new government. However considering the resounding mandate handed to Narendra Modi by the general public, many would hope he tries to outdo himself and be bold in taking decisions to ensure that the idea of “Ek Bharath Shrestha Bharath” becomes a reality.
- See more at: http://www.theindianrepublic.com/tbp/modi-relook-panchsheel-100037334.html#sthash.MHquhDtM.dpuf
Modi Should Relook Panchsheel
The year 2014 marks the 60th anniversary of the Panchsheel Treaty. The Sino-India agreement signed on April 29 1954, codified for the first time Jawaharlal Nehru’s virtues or principles for peaceful coexistence between nations. These principles enshrined in the agreement were later the founding blocks of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at Belgrade in 1961 and also went on to become the cornerstone of India’s foreign policy.Panchsheel included:
- Mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
- Mutual non-aggression.
- Mutual non-interference in each others internal affairs.
- Equality and co-operation for mutual benefits.
- Peaceful coexistence.
As Narendra Modi takes over the reins of the administration, its imperative he redefines Indian foreign policy to ensure that India can face modern challenges while also profit and grasp opportunities that present it self.
Five areas where South Block should immediately focus its attention on:
1. WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) AND CHALLENGES:
The new government will most certainly face its stiffest diplomatic challenge from the developed nations at the WTO table. To ensure India’s economic recovery, improving trade especially exports is important in order to address the current trade imbalance.
Modi during a televised interview for ‘Aap ki Adalat’, expressed shock at the way essential resources like coal get exported at low prices while power plants remain at below average capacity production across India, only for coal to be imported back at a much inflated prices to feed these plants.
At the WTO, USA has filed 14 cases against India citing violation of trade policies, patent laws and for denying fair market access to US manufacturers.
US companies recently objected to clauses in the Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission (JNSM) which calls for solar panels and other components to be sourced from domestic manufacturers only. JNSM aims to produce 20 Giga Watt of solar power by 2022 and is valued at over Rs 1000 Crore.
The US and Europe also ardently oppose subsidies given to Indian farmers, labelling them as anti-competitive and against the concepts of free and fair trade. India’s food security act which seeks to stockpile food resources to insulate the public from sudden price hikes is also under scrutiny by developed nations, who consider hoarding and stockpiling as counter productive to fair pricing for imports.
India faces maximum number of complaints for patent law violations. As a signatory to the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), India is under obligation to ensure that international patents are respected and not violated in the country.
In 2013, the Supreme Court of India refused to patent Swiss pharmaceutical multinational Novartis’s cancer drug Gleevec in India citing terms under the Indian patent laws. This decision allowed Indian generic drug companies to continue production of Gleevec at affordable prices for the general public. The EU and the US opposed the verdict as a step backwards for free trade.
Trade most certainly has to be mutually beneficial, however to label a developing nation’s efforts to protect its market, industries and people from predatory dumping of goods and services cannot be termed as anti-competitive, especially when developed nations are not willing to share resources or technology to help developing nations.
2. ARTICLE 245(2) AND CrPC 188 FOR PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS:
On 20th May, as Modi addressed the Central Hall of Parliament, he vowed that the current government will work for the poorest of the poor Indian, aiming to improve their condition and ensure their right to a life of dignity.
No where else is there an urgent need for the Indian government to get involved than in the Arabian Gulf where nearly 6 million Indians reside, more than 85% of them from poor rural backgrounds, working and living under harsh conditions and denied access to legal recourse for wage and employment settlements.
Many are involved in a cycle of repetitive debt, where they borrow money or mortgage homes to purchase a visa, only to spend their hard earned income on repaying these high interest debts by the time their visa period expires.
Setting up of legal aid offices and engaging with Indian social workers to help improve the conditions and provide timely assistance of those in distress should be a priority.
Article 245 clause 2 of the Indian constitution states that “No law made by Parliament shall be deemed to be invalid on the ground that it would have extra territorial operation”. Implying that the Indian Parliament, can pass laws to take necessary measures to ensure that Indian citizens are protected and not harassed, even when they are outside the country.
Section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) under the Indian Penal Code states that:
- Any crime committed by an Indian citizen outside India, and
- Any crime committed by a non Indian citizen on an Indian registered ship or aircraft
Section 188 also empowers the Indian Police to initiate investigations against crimes committed outside India, as long the victim or suspect is an Indian citizen, without the need of Central government approval.
Though laws are present to ensure that basic rights are safeguarded, the necessary infrastructure and political will is missing to ensure its fruition.
3. ENHANCE INDIA’S SOFT POWER:
Soft power as a concept refers to covert, less evident tools such as ideas, brands, products, habits, food etc which help attract, co-opt, persuade and influence social and public opinion without public or political lobbying.
It’s important to distinguish here between a covert military operation which is considered as a sub unit of hard power and soft power. Soft power engages with the local populace and helps influence their habits and thinking.
Examples of India’s soft power include Yoga, Bollywood movies, Indian ethnic wear, cuisine etc.
Soft power helps build up positive sentiment for India amongst the public, which can be tapped and used in our favour even if the governments make anti-India stands. It involves NGO (Non-Government Organization) activities in other countries and financing them to achieve desired outcome.
British Broadcasting Company (BBC) is an example of British soft power.
India with its rich history, heritage and culture, has made little investment to enhance its image abroad and doing so is now imperative in the 21st century diplomatic battlefield.
4. STRATEGIC DIPLOMATIC AND MILITARY ALLIANCES:
Strategic alliances are a need of the modern era, considering the highly unstable neighbourhood India finds herself in. Though India enjoys strategic relations with many nations such as Russia, USA, Japan, Australia etc, the need to maintain and enhance the level of co-operations is essential.
Farkhor Air base in Tajikistan, stands as an example of a strategic military alliance, where India operates an airbase stationing a squadron of MiG 29 fighter jets.
India is rapidly upgrading her diplomatic status with Afghanistan and Iran at the moment. Though relations between India, Iran and Afghanistan have been cordial, all three face similar threats to their internal security from Pakistan, raising an opportunity to cooperate and address a common problem.
Though India enjoys cordial relations with most nations, strategic alliances are necessary to act as a deterrent for anyone considering to attack or attempt to destabilize our nation.
5. ENERGY SECURITY:
Security as a concept is no longer restricted to merely defence or border security, but has grown to encompass food security, cyber security, financial system security, internal security and energy security.
India has backed out of two major gas pipeline projects the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline and the TAPI (Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) gas pipeline, citing security reasons considering the pipelines travelling over Pakistan.
This makes it more urgent for the new government to move ahead and authorise the SAGE (South Asian Gas Enterprise) pipeline. The SAGE envisioned in 1985 is an underwater gas pipeline from Oman to India across the Arabian Sea. The pipeline today is enlarged to also include Iran, Qatar and the UAE joining in to supply gas to India.
A steady and reliable supply of gas will help India improve power production, establish fertilizer industries and generate employment for people. The underwater pipeline also bypasses threats from Pakistan and makes it a more secure investment.
One can only speculate about what policy decisions and changes will be made by the new government. However considering the resounding mandate handed to Narendra Modi by the general public, many would hope he tries to outdo himself and be bold in taking decisions to ensure that the idea of “Ek Bharath Shrestha Bharath” becomes a reality.