By Dilip Cherian
The public execution Wednesday of Sujatha Singh, now former foreign secretary, hours after Obama’s departure, was the bitter aftertaste that remained in some Delhi circles. There is no doubt that, after the high of being at the airport with the boss to receive Obama in place of Sushma Swaraj, the sudden dispatch of Sujata Singh’s came as a shock to bureaucrats.
But it was quickly made up by the fact that Subramanyam Jaishankar, who flew in from the Obama country, was named as the replacement. He is eminently suited and has been tipped over the years for this top job. Modi clearly has signalled that, after Obama’s departure, the focus is going to be China.
The Obama visit itself was a Modi show all the way. Dilli was abuzz and on high alert even before Air Force One landed. Barack Obama had barely gotten off his plane in New Delhi when Modi, breaking with protocol, greeted him and the First Lady on the tarmac and got into a warm “distinctly non-Presidential” squeeze with the US President. Much was made of the fact that Obama is the first American president to attend the annual Republic Day parade, as also the two summits between heads of government within four months.
Much of the public focus was on the breakthrough in the nuclear energy logjam, renewal of defence agreement and some progress on trade. But, China featured a lot in the private discussions between Obama and Modi. Interestingly, the external affairs ministry, where big change has now happened, did not have much of a role in the event. The only imprint that stayed in the minds of those who followed the visit keenly was that of the Prime Minister and his friend “Barack”.
The last time the MEA was in “control” was when it organized the visits of several foreign dignitaries for Modi’s swearing-in ceremony barely nine months ago. Since then Modi has clearly led from the front on decisions especially those relating to foreign policy. The “bromance” was much in evidence during the At Home reception for the US President hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Though the official host, he seemed lost as the invitees had eyes only on the Obamas, and Modi’s sartorial choices!
The hoopla aside, there are still some hoops to jump through. The much expected deal on Climate talks did not happen, and businesses are still cautious and wait to see trade barriers lifted. But there was a sense of a diplomatic dance between Modi and Obama, tip-toeing around the contentious issues, but stepping in tandem on matters they agree on. Modi, clearly, has more to gain from the visit and at least his party has gone to town claiming success for this diplomatic “coup.”
BJP leaders probably have more practical considerations such as influencing Dilli’s voters in these last few campaigning days to vote for Modi and his development plank in the upcoming assembly elections. Their optimism is understandable, though the cynical Dilli voter, unlike the rest of India, possibly may not have been impressed with the Obama visit. After all, they had to suffer the consequences of the unprecedented security measures that restricted freedom, leaving large parts of the capital unapproachable for harried commuters.
The grey, cold and wet weather hovering over the Republic Day was also a dampener, even as troops, tanks and cultural floats filed through the heart of New Delhi during the two-hour-and-more long parade. There are growing calls later to review not just the calendar of events in the Republic Day parade but even the necessity of displaying weapons and military capabilities in a modern democratic nation. More of that, later.
That debate will revive at next year’s Republic Day parade, but Modi’s tryst with President Obama will resonate for a long time if results show up soon. This is perhaps the biggest gain from the week that was, one that Dilli heaves a sigh of relief from.
