Bangladesh shows why Modi Govt must junk party politics & excessive religiosity in our neighbourhood

#nationalinterest
The fundamental construct of India’s neighbourhood policy still needs to be what Vajpayee postulated, Manmohan Singh embraced and Modi energised. It’s just that we need to junk domestic politics and excessive religiosity while acquiring much humility and a renewed respectfulness towards our neighbours. Watch this week's #NationalInterest with ThePrint Editor-in-chief Shekhar Gupta.
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[ziahossain]

In Bangladesh the country was ruled by a Tyrant for last one decade and there was no democracy. Killing, torture, abduction etc were very common which compelled people to rise against the Tyrant. Our people to people contact should increase and build mutual trust

[sudip_curiousmind]

Why do you say India-Pakistan divide is because of ideology? Its because an Islamic Pakistan can't sleep easy with a predominantly Hindu India next door. It may sound harsh but the truth is Pakistan isnt bothered by our success (or lack of it), its by our sheer existence.

[rabeldusting]

As a Bangladeshi, I feel that Indian policymakers have two gaps of understanding or problems. Firstly, an attitude of dominance which stems from the Chanakya principle that pushes you to make your neighbouring countries eternally dependent on you. This principle encourages India's undue interference in the domestic affairs of the neighbouring countries, which the people of those countries consider as threats to their sovereignty. Unfortunately, the Indian people do not agree that the interferences are unjustified. The Indians in general consider that India has the right to do anything to ensure its security, no matter if it jeopardises the sovereignty of the neighbouring countries. With Bangladesh, the Indians tend to play the politics of gratitude for the support during the liberation war of 1971. Of course, we Bangladeshis are grateful to India for the support and assistance during our liberation war. But that also benefited India, a win win situation for both. Could India afford today if there were two Pakistans on two sides and nuclear wireheads are pointed from its eastern flank as well? What else we have to pay and how long we have to pay to show the gratitude to India. We have given India road, railways, and river transit across our landmass and in return, we have not achieved anything from India. We put up with undue tariff and non-tariff barriers imposed by India that hinders our access to Indian market (although Indian products enjoy unhindered flow to our market). We tolerate the unilateral withdrawal of water by India from 54 trans-boundary rivers including the Teesta and the Ganges. We also put up with the killing of our citizens in the borders. And finally, India has been overtly supporting the most unpopular Awamileague government for the last 15 years which is in power by rigging the elections and oppressing the opposition with the most brutal manner. India is unwaveringly supporting a puppet government which is rampantly corrupt and incredibly oppressive. Installing the puppet Hasina government India has exerted its dominance against us which have made our people extremely agitated. Secondly, the Indian policymakers seem to be apprehensive about the rise of Islamists which is also futile. As a Bangladeshi, I can assure that the radical Islamists do not have any strong foothold in Bangladesh. The Jamat Islami (the Indian policy makers are so obsessed with this party) do not have more than 5 percent of the total votes. They could not possess more than 3 seats in any parliament election. Yet the Indian media is so vociferous about the rise of that party. Indian media is also making commotions on the oppression against the minorities after the fall of Hasina. This is absolutely non-sensical. Followed by the fall of Hasina, the houses of Awamileague leaders were targeted and vandalised. The Hindus those who were Awamileague Ministers, MPs, leaders and activists and cohorts of Awami oppression for the last 15 years were the victims of those attacks. Now, if you enjoy the fruits of power for the 15 years you must pay for it after the fall of the dictatorial rule. In my locality, a Hindu awamileague leader was accused of quite a few gang rapes and at one incident he along with his gang had snatched a Muslim lady from her husband and brutally raped. The incident happened 5 years earlier. No one in the locality could raise voice against him. Because he would kill them. However, after the fall of Hasina he fled. The agitated mob burned down his house and business. But Indian media gave it a communal colour. This sounds so ridiculous and self-contradictory that the party in power of India is inclined to extreme Hindutva and India opposes the rise of any such party in other countries.

As a common man, I also oppose the identity politics based on religion. But you cannot indulge double-standard. I can say that we are ready to talk to our Indian brothers and sisters and initiate mutual exchange of opinions/dialogues. But whenever anything goes against India, or there is any criticism of India we are tagged as Madrasa educated extremists by Indians although I am a university teacher of Bangladesh graduated from the US.

[uamrit]

Being a nepali, relationship with 'Hindu majority" Nepal is the biggest diplomatic failures of the Modi government. During his first visit every one loved him. We were like why our leader isn't like him but all changed after 2015 blockade which india still denies but we all in Nepal faced.

[daniyalamed]

From the comment section I can conclude that India is hopeless. Sometimes i feel bad for him. He probably feels like he is talking to a wall.

[ibrahimkhukon]

India should learn from what happening in Bangladesh. India shouldn’t support one specific dictator party or specific dictator leader like Sheikh Hasina and Awami League rather then should support people of the specific country. Although India didn’t learn and lost all of neighbouring countries support. India shouldn’t export BJP, RSS agenda to neighbouring country, it’s Won't work others countries.
Sooner or later India should understand this. Godi media propaganda Won't work anymore.

[Vagabond]

Our neighbouring countries deliberately ruin themselves to teach a lesson to India . - The Print

[sukhparhar]

The modi GoI since 2014 can't raise above level of Pracharaks & Empty Slogans. It's a mental capacity/ attitudinal issue.

[NiradGrover]

Great edition of NI. A strong power must be confident to the point that it doesn't consider humility and accommodation as weakness.

[muralikrishnanr]

I believe the National interest is not objective enough. Lot of challenges in the neighborhood are bcoz of Red Dragon and it activities. Narendra Modi has biggest challenge in front of him due to a very chaotic world today. I don't think previous 2 PMs had these critical scenarios. Indian Think tanks are getting popular. It will take time. I am not saying Modi is perfect, but I think the blame on him as victim hood is unjustified.
I feel Minorities in India are treated well and like being in India. Treating Minorities badly is not factually right. I challenge the Print to conduct a numerical study of the number of incidents in BJP ruled vs Non-BJP ruled states. The law and Order in BJP ruled states are much better. Look at WB for example.

[raihanalifaihan]

Nicely put....from Bangladesh. Hope it bring sense to the Indian government.

[surendrabarsode]

Why is Shekhar blaming Modi Govt for excess of the media? Indian foreign policy is responsible and accommodative for our neighbours.

[sinistermace]

This is one of your more candid videos in a while. Very nice to hear your thoughts on this subject. This was long overdue. Such a break from the nauseating vishwaguru, Amrit kaal narrative that has made public policy discourse almost non existent.
Thank you again for doing this.

[cixinx]

India needs new political thinking, a global approach, new political party or power. This oligarch and Hindutva driven leadership have created a hollowed statue. Nationalism is not going away from Hindustan but Mughal era harmony is still an anchor point, a bond across the borders.

[BharatThatIsIndia]

9:50 You are 100% right on this.
If our media coverage and social media warriors are destroying our national interest.

If you remember, Amit Shah using "Ghuspaithiya" remarks for Bangladeshi in parliament has created issues.
Modi government has controlled that afterwards and that was a good sign.
But they need to control der Camando Media and Social media warriors.

[dandmello]

Thankyou Shekarji..
Continuing to Listen to the foot-soldier's of 1980's India 🇮🇳 media's then..
Never .. to 2 mindset.
It was is and always be my 🇮🇳 then
Am happy that.. SOMEBODY is still around. For our great grand children's future ..
IN INDIA
Educative information that the young lacks.. in today's
❤Love

[orunabho]

What has CAA has to do with our Islamist neighbours?

Population of non muslims are decreasing since independence in these islamist countries, they are goibg where?

The fact of the matter is British India was partitioned on the name of religion, homeland of Indian Muslims. We sivided the land, but sidnt exchange the people.

Consequences is following. More suffering

[sfoggywinter]

It seems that these naked truths are quite hard to digest for some Indian viewers.

[Tushar-ouju]

Nobody wants a big bully neighbour . try to respect others, if you people want get one . loud and clear..

[hkpandey]

Bharat must never ever abandon our religiosity...its our indifferent, "kya farak padta hai" attitude towards Hindus in our neighbourhood that has led to their decimation in Islamist and other countries surrounding us...its time we demand same rights and security for Hindus in neighbouring countries, that we give Muslims and other religions in Bharat...
We can absolutely be uncompromising about the safety and wellbeing of Hindus in our neighbouring countries, while still being humble and respectful to them...
I strongly reject Couptaji's conjecture in this video report...