View-point

Respite from Disgraceful NDA Foreign Policy

Rajaul Karim Lashkar

"What does independence consists of? ... it consists fundamentally and basically of foreign relations. That is the test of independence. All else is local autonomy. Once foreign relations go out of our hand into the charge of somebody else, to that extent and in that measure you are not independent." - Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru (In Constituent Assembly in 1949)

Visionary statesman, as he was, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru knew the true essence of independence and little wonder he knew as well how to guard this independence in face of complex international situation demanding allegiance to either of the two warring superpowers during the height of the Cold War. Thanks to the genius of Pandit Nehru, India and indeed all the newly decolonised countries of the world got a formula in the form of the Non-Alignment to preserve their independence in foreign policy.

Non-Alignment remained the bedrock of India's foreign policy throughout the four decades of Congress rule. Predictably, this balanced foreign policy was not palatable to the US, and the then outspoken secretary of state of the US. (during Eisenhower Administration) John Foster Dulles declared Non-Alignment "immoral".

But fortunately we had at that time at the helm of the country statesmen who were too mature from the experience they gathered while sprearheading a non-violent freedom struggle (which itself has set standards of morality which should be followed by the world) to be guided by the dictum of any "superpower". And they were too bold to bow to pressure to become a satellite. That is the reason they had an independent foreign policy tuned to our national interest, and of course to our national ideals and principles as evolved through the glorious freedom struggle of India.

The essence of independence as defined by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is something which cannot change with circumstances and certainly not with every change in the dispensation at the Centre. But this is exactly the point which did not make any sense to the previous NDA dispensation. They were even unable to distinguish independence from satellitehood. In fact this is the main point of difference in the foreign policies of the Congress governments and the NDA govt. The cause of this difference is only too obvious to need any long elaboration.

While the Congress party, through its experience of spreadheading the freedom struggle of the country, has a profound understanding of the essence of independence (as clearly articulated by Pandit Nehru in his speech to the Constituent Assembly) the policy makers of the NDA dispensation did not have any such experience. They did not fight for independence. Hence it is not surprising that they do not know the essence of independence nor do they distinguish between independence and autonomy.

While improving the relation with the US is welcome, what was worrisome about NDA's foreign policy is that the NDA government was pursuing a policy of blindly supporting US policies without bothering to evaluate whether these policies are conducive to our national interest and national ideals. Take for example the case of proposed US National Missile Defence System (NMD). This NMD, which is a ploy by the US to establish a global hegemony and perhaps a global empire, is opposed not only by countries like Russia and China but also by America's traditional allies across the Atlantic. But unfortunately the NDA government had expressed its willingness to support this.

Another case in point is the US stand on the issue of global warming. Although all other major industrial countries accepted the Kyoto Protocol the US is opposed to it. It is even demanding that the developing countries should share the burden of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. And though this demand is clearly against India's interest, the NDA government did not protest against it only to appease the `natural ally'. There are numerous such instances to show that the NDA government was supporting, either openly or tacitly, US policies which are against our national interest or national ideals.

But what exactly the US has given in return of this Toadyism? Nothing worth naming. Instead of reprimanding Pakistan for its proxy war against India, it is praising it as a `Stalwart Ally' in the `War on Terrorism' and bestowing it with largesse. As if liberal economic and military aid is not enough the US has also given Pakistan the Status of a `major Non-NATO Ally". This speaks volumes about the achievement of NDA's foreign policy.

And this is nothing but one of the consequences of renouncing independence in foreign policy and becoming a satellite of a superpower. And this is exactly why our great leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi gave so much importance to strategic independence while devising foreign policy.

But it will be futile to expect dedication towards independence or any other national ideals from a regime whose decision makers neither had a positive role in India's independence movement nor any respect for the ideals and principles which inspired the leaders of the said movement. But the Congress party, which had to fight a long struggle to achieve this independence, will not allow anybody to barter it away. And it is heartening to see that the people of India have realized this and thrown out the NDA regime lock, stock and barrel in the last election and voted Indian National Congress to power. Now we can feel assured that the great foreign policy tradition set by such great leaders as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi will be carried forward by Shri Manmohan Singh under the guidance of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and India will be saved from the disgrace of becoming satellite of a superpower.

(The writer is spokesman of Assam Pradesh Youth Congress)