MICHAEL VAZ, Merces
Whenever our Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a visit to the US two things revisit my mind unceasingly. I recollect those days when the US government under Barack Obama refused to grant him even a visitor’s visa to that country when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Many good thinking people had taken umbrage to this undemocratic attitude of the US administration since Modi was the constitutional functionary of the Union of India. Not surprisingly, when inconsequential issues try to take the better of decency in governance, such is the fallout as we often encounter in diverse domains.
Importantly, that was short-lived for as destiny willed it, Modi ascended the pedestal of Parliament to be the Prime Minister of India and the US had to bite the dust and it invited that same man who was ignored with impunity earlier.
Equally significantly, the other issue that draws my mind whenever Modi plans a visit abroad is the restlessness that creeps in the minds of some people who are too keen in counting his foreign visits as if he is going on a sight-seeing trip, failing to savour the fact that by his every visit abroad India stands to gain in different parameters.
Let us focus our attention on the current visit of Modi to the US. We are aware that there was an eerie displeasure in India that with the swearing-in of Donald Trump as the new President of the US, the relation between the two countries might suffer. However, that seems to have been set to rest as there has been concurrence on a number of issues.
India’s main concern always is on the role of Pakistan in abetting terror particularly against our country. During this visit, India and the US have jointly held Pakistan for supporting terror outfits and further asserted that they will fight in the elimination of global terrorism. In another significant move, Pakistan was asked to nail the culprits of the various cross border terrorist attacks initiated in Pakistan.
Equally commendable is the support extended by the US for India’s permanent membership of UN Security Council and also our early membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. That apart, Modi’s interaction with the global technology giants in the US created positive atmosphere for increasing their commitments with India.
