The ever-efficient Union Minister for External Affairs, Ms. Sushma Swaraj has been in news for all the good reasons lately. Three years into the Government’s tenure she has become one of the most popular and loved faces in the current Cabinet and it has seen her transformation from a politician to a statesman.
All this while, Sushma Swaraj was seen like someone who would do her job in silence but her latest speech in the Parliament ripping apart the Opposition even as those who failed at such top positions in the past questioned her gave us a glimpse into her combative mode.
It is a true account of how India’s Foreign Minister can bring down her opponents on a day of her own choosing with the help of facts, arguments and flamboyance. If her past speeches where she came down heavily on the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with regard to the graft charges or replying to the distasteful and crass comments made by corruption convict Laloo Prasad had a fiery touch to it this speech of hers was more of a calm point-by-point reply to the already weak arguments made by the Opposition being further demolished by the respected Minister. In the following sections, we discuss the contents of the speech, debunking the myth of India’s international isolation under the Modi Government and explain how it was equally effective in combating her opponent even though not equally aggressive in intent.
Debunking the poor neighbourhood relations myth:
Opposition leader in Rajya Sabha, Anand Sharma along with other members of the Opposition had raised questions against the Government’s ability to manage relations with India’s neighbours in light of the Dokhlam standoff and continued hostilities with Pakistan. To this, the Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj gave an elaborate reply explaining how India has been acting as a responsible neighbor and strengthening relationships with its neighbour citing the prompt help extended by India when a massive earthquake struck the Himalayan nation of Nepal and again when Sri Lanka was hit by massive floods. She also explained how India not only invited the heads of SAARC Nations during the swearing in ceremony of the present Prime Minister but also help one-on-one talks with the SAARC Nations.
With this the Foreign Minister busted some of the myths regarding India’s weak relations with its neighbours that are being purposely spread by a frustrated Opposition. She also questioned the Opposition leader Anand Sharma as to why he was not at all concerned when issues like Hambantota and Gwadar Port actually arose during the UPA tenure due to the abject failure of the previous Government to counter Chinese influence in the region.
Hostile Relationship with Pakistan:
With respect to the deteriorating relationships with Pakistan Sushma Swaraj explained how India had a clear roadmap of engaging in peace talks but took a harder stance only after the Prime Minister of Pakistan glorified terrorism in Kashmir after which India made it clear that bilateral talks cannot go hand in hand with terrorism.
Doklam standoff:
She also brought the Opposition in general and the Congress in particular on its knees with reference to the Doklam issue questioning the Congress as to why its Vice President Rahul Gandhi preferred to understand the Chinese viewpoint by meeting the Chinese diplomats instead of requesting the Government to clear the air and then confront the Chinese.
India’s strong International presence:
Answering the hollow claims of India’s global isolation put forth by the Opposition, Sushma Swaraj hit the Opposition where it hurts the most by comparing Nehru’s and Modi’s Foreign Policy and arguing that while Nehru’s policies helped him enhance his own image PM Modi’s efforts have helped in enhancing India’s image. Then she went on explaining how India has managed to make friends out of even competitors like the US and Russia and has managed to ensure that both of them are on India’s side. She also cited the example of Israel and Palestine and how India has helped to maintain good relations with the warring Nations and is being constantly seen as a potential mediator for the long standing territorial claims between the two countries even as the minority appeasers within India continue to criticize warm relations with Israel.
Conclusion:
We have known Ms. Sushma Swaraj to be a flamboyant and aggressive speaker going hammer and tongs against her opponents. This time we saw her in a different avatar but she was as effective. In the process we saw a perfect blend of handling aggression with responsibility and using the Temple of our democracy to clear the air regarding certain hollow yet serious allegations leveled by the Opposition with the sole motive of getting political mileage.
Full Video of the speech:
