Modi's visit to Russia
By Justice Markandey Katju
Many people wonder what is the purpose of Indian Prime Minister Modi's visit to Russia?
All country's rulers know that after 4th June 2024 Modi has become a shadow of his previous self, with his BJP winning only 240 seats in the Lok Sabha, which makes it a minority government, surviving on crutches provided by its NDA allies..
America, UK, Germany, France, etc know this well, and saw no point in inviting him ( though they enthusiastically welcomed him in his first two terms as PM )
In fact the USA has raised its concerns over Modi's visit.
As for Russia and Putin, they too know what has happened in India after 4th June, but they need more allies apart from China, so they warmly welcomed him, though this was just for show, fully knowing that embracing a scarecrow means nothing.
But what willl Modi get from this visit ?
He probably thinks it will restore his image as an international figure, or even a Vishwa Guru, though this will really be for home consumption, as foreigners fully know all that has happened after the recent parliamentary elections.
Modi feels more comfortble in trips abroad, rather than visits to places in India, as duing the latter he may be asked uncomfortable questions about rising unemployment, skyrocketing food prices, appalling level of child malnutrition ( every second child in India is malnourished, according to Global Hunger Index ) etc, which before 2024 with his brute majority in the Lok Saba he did not have to answer.
But if he thinks that by these gimmicks he will become the old Modi with the 56 inch chest, he is living in La-La-Land.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court. These are his personal views.)
He probably thinks it will restore his image as an international figure, or even a Vishwa Guru, though this will really be for home consumption, as foreigners fully know all that has happened after the recent parliamentary elections.
Modi feels more comfortble in trips abroad, rather than visits to places in India, as duing the latter he may be asked uncomfortable questions about rising unemployment, skyrocketing food prices, appalling level of child malnutrition ( every second child in India is malnourished, according to Global Hunger Index ) etc, which before 2024 with his brute majority in the Lok Saba he did not have to answer.
But if he thinks that by these gimmicks he will become the old Modi with the 56 inch chest, he is living in La-La-Land.
(Justice Katju is a retired judge of the Supreme Court. These are his personal views.)
