As Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Indian community in Kyiv last month, one of the men greeted him saying, “Ukraine aapka intezaar kar raha tha (Ukraine was waiting for you).” Modi quickly replied, “Ab main aa gaya hoon (I am here now).”
This conversation shows PM Modi and India’s seriousness to put an end to the Ukraine-Russia war.
After coming to office for the third time, Modi went on two bilateral visits, one to Russia and Austria and the other to Poland and Ukraine.
MODI’S MOVES TO HELP PRAVASI BHARATIYAS
India, which projects itself as a voice of global South, has a duty to not just raise the issue of countries from Global South seriously impacted due to the war, but also to achieve a solution to end the crisis. A huge population of Indian origin lives in Europe and the US.
This population wanted PM Modi to speak to both sides. By visiting Ukraine, PM Modi not only satisfied countries from Global South, but also won hearts of millions of Pravasi Bharatiyas staying abroad.
The Indian diaspora is the most respected group in Europe and the US are often subjected to a changed viewpoint as they belong to a country which purchases oil from Russia. This is mostly the case in Ukraine where Indians are respected, but during conversations and meetings people often hold Indians accountable. Modi’s visit to Ukraine has given ammunition to all these Pravasi Bharatiyas.
THE BALANCE
India also wants to come out of the western tag — ‘self Interest over human tragedy’. PM Modi has silenced all his critics once and for all by visiting Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the war, India had opted for neutrality and early resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. Modi told Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that India was not neutral, but on the side of peace.
Modi not just visited Kyiv as formality but also extended an invite to Zelenskyy to visit India.
After concluding his visit, Modi also called US President Joe Biden and briefed him about his visit to Ukraine and also dialed Russian President Vladimir Putin to exchange his thoughts over the ongoing conflict.
India’s constant efforts to sit on the global high table and resolve issues of global significance top the agenda of PM Modi in 3.0. Interestingly, this comes at a time when India is batting for UNSC reforms, trying to position itself as a worthy member in the future who prioritises ‘human interest’ over self-interest and can deal with complexities of the world with empathy and great understanding.
