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By:

Akhilesh Sinha

25 June 2025 at 2:53:54 pm

India's multi-align diplomacy triumphs

New Delhi: West Asia has transformed into a battlefield rained by fireballs. Seas or land, everywhere echoes the roar of cataclysmic explosions, flickering flames, and swirling smoke clouds. et amid such adversity, Indian ships boldly waving the Tricolour navigate the strait undeterred, entering the Arabian Sea. More remarkably, Iran has sealed its airspace to global flights but opened it for the safe evacuation of Indians.   This scene evokes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's memorable 2014...

India's multi-align diplomacy triumphs

New Delhi: West Asia has transformed into a battlefield rained by fireballs. Seas or land, everywhere echoes the roar of cataclysmic explosions, flickering flames, and swirling smoke clouds. et amid such adversity, Indian ships boldly waving the Tricolour navigate the strait undeterred, entering the Arabian Sea. More remarkably, Iran has sealed its airspace to global flights but opened it for the safe evacuation of Indians.   This scene evokes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's memorable 2014 interview. He stated that "there was a time when we counted waves from the shore; now the time has come to take the helm and plunge into the ocean ourselves."   In a world racing toward conflict, Modi has proven India's foreign policy ranks among the world's finest. Guided by 'Nation First' and prioritising Indian safety and interests, it steadfastly embodies  'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' , the world as one family.   Policy Shines Modi's foreign policy shines with such clarity and patience that even as war flames engulf West Asian nations, Indians studying and working there return home safe. In just 13 days, nearly 100,000 were evacuated from Gulf war zones, mostly by air, some via Armenia by road. PM Modi talked with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian to secure Iran's airspace for the safe evacuation of Indians, a privilege denied to any other nation. Additionally, clearance was granted for Indian ships carrying crude oil and LPG to pass safely through the Hormuz Strait. No other country's vessels are navigating these waters, except for those of Iran's ally, China. The same strategy worked in the Ukraine-Russia war: talks with both presidents ensured safe corridors, repatriating over 23,000 students and businessmen. Iran, Israel, or America, all know India deems terrorism or war unjustifiable at any cost. PM Modi amplified anti-terror campaigns from UN to global platforms, earning open support from many nations.   Global Powerhouse Bolstered by robust foreign policy and economic foresight, India emerges as a global powerhouse, undeterred by tariff hurdles. Modi's adept diplomacy yields notable successes. Contrast this with Nehru's era: wedded to Non-Aligned Movement, he watched NAM member China seize vast Ladakh territory in war. Today, Modi's government signals clearly, India honors friends, spares no foes. Abandoning non-alignment, it embraces multi-alignment: respecting sovereignties while prioritizing human welfare and progress. The world shifts from unipolar or bipolar to multipolar dynamics.   Modi's policy hallmark is that India seal defense deals like the S-400 and others with Russia yet sustains US friendship. America bestows Legion of Merit; Russia, its highest civilian honor, Order of St. Andrew the Apostle. India nurtures ties with Israel, Palestine, Iran via bilateral talks. Saudi Arabia stands shoulder-to-shoulder across fronts; UAE trade exceeds $80 billion. UN's top environment award, UNEP Champions of the Earth, graces India, unlike past when foreign nations campaigned against us on ecological pretexts.   This policy's triumph roots in economic empowerment. India now ranks the world's fourth-largest economy, poised for third in 1-2 years. The 2000s dubbed it 'fragile'; then-PM economist Dr. Manmohan Singh led. Yet  'Modinomics'  prevailed. As COVID crippled supply chains, recession loomed, inflation soared and growth plunged in developed countries,  Modinomics  made India the 'bright star.' Inflation stayed controlled, growth above 6.2 per cent. IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas praised it, advising the world to learn from India.

Civic polls ‘circus’

Ticket-seekers unleash chaos, confusion and mayhem

Mumbai: The last day of filing nominations for Maharashtra’s first civic body elections since 2017 erupted into chaos, rebellion and high political drama across major urban centres, exposing deep fissures within almost every major political party.


From Mumbai to Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur, Nashik, Amravati and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, thousands of hopefuls denied tickets turned their rage inward - targeting party leaderships - in scenes rarely witnessed even during Assembly or Lok Sabha elections.


Massive uproar, slogan-shouting, heated confrontations or near-fisticuffs with local office-bearers, open threats of sabotage and dramatic last-minute defections marked the day when nomination filings closed across the state.


In several cities, frustrated workers laid siege to party offices and leaders’ residences, while others accused their own parties of nepotism, favouritism and even ticket “auctioning” for a staggering Rs 2-crore.


Shaken by the ugly mood of the grassroots cadres, local leaders in some civic bodies were forced to distribute AB forms secretly, with candidates reportedly summoned in the dead of night to avoid backlash.


The unrest cut across party and ideological lines but seemed more vicious within the MahaYuti constituents - the BJP and the Shiv Sena - and also the Nationalist Congress Party, which is contesting outside the alliance in several civic bodies.


A senior Congress leader from Pune described the unprecedented turbulence as a sign of “extraordinary political stakes” attached to local body control, noting that such upheaval was absent even during state Assembly or Parliament elections.


With civic bodies commanding massive budgets, local patronage networks and organisational control ahead of future Assembly battles, the denial of tickets triggered raw anger among field workers feeling sidelined in favour of family members, defectors and controversial figures, while their parties bedded with strange allies.


Goons, dons, gangsters poised to be civic Big Daddies !

Pune: Raising eyebrows, the NCP has fielded Jayshree Marne, wife of jailed local don Gajanan Marne - who was part of the police’s ‘Black Parade’ along with many other criminals and goons in Feb. 2024. Boasting Marne’s clout, his pictures with ex-CM Eknath Shinde and Parth (Ajit) Pawar in early 2024 had created a huge political storm.


The NCP has also given tickets to 3 prime accused in the sensational murder of an ex-corporator Vanraj Andekar in Sep. 2024. They are: Bandu Andekar, Laxmi Andekar and Sonali Andekar, who were granted special court permission to file their nomination papers amid tight police security.


Mumbai: In Mumbai, accusations of dynastic politics flew thick and fast. The BJP faced embarrassment after Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar’s family members - his brother Makarand Narvekar, sister-in-law Harshita Narvekar and cousin Gauravi Shivalkar-Narvekar - secured tickets.


There were red faces even in the NCP when multiple members of the Nawab Malik family – his brother Kaptan Malik, Bushra Malik and Saeeda Khan-Malik – got tickets.


The Shiv Sena (UBT) witnessed a mini-rebellion in its traditional strongholds of Worli and Mahim. Angered aspirants laid siege to ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray’s residence ‘Matoshree’ in Bandra. Several former corporators, Shakha Pramukhs and office-bearers have reportedly resigned, though there is no official confirmation.


A miffed Union Minister and RPI(A) President Ramdas Athawale also called up CM Devendra Fadnavis to express displeasure over getting a raw deal in the ticket distribution despite remaining loyal to the NDA for over a decade.


Parties cower over retaliation

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: In a dramatic development, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance collapsed at the last minute. A BJP worker attempted self-immolation by dousing himself with petrol but was stopped by police. Dejected activists stormed the BJP office, openly slamming local leaders. Women aspirants were seen crying, shouting and collapsing from exhaustion.


Denied a BJP ticket, ex-deputy mayor Lata Shinde crossed over to the Shiv Sena and was immediately rewarded with a nomination. After allegations were hurled that tickets were “auctioned” for up to Rs 2-cr, Minister Girish Mahajan promised an investigation.


Nagpur: The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance between Congress-NCP (SP) collapsed after barely 15 minutes of negotiations! NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh accused Congress of betrayal and later, his colleague Duneshwar S. Pethe claimed that the Congress back-stabbing will benefit the BJP, triggering sharp counter-allegations of “treachery” from Congress leaders.


Thane, Amravati, Nashik: Shiv Sena workers created ruckus in Amravati and Pune, while similar scenes unfolded in Thane, Nashik and several other cities. Unconfirmed reports suggest the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance has collapsed in at least 15-17 civic bodies, setting the stage for direct contests between allies-turned-rivals.

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