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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.

Gearing Up

The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti is girding itself for a decisive display ahead of the forthcoming civic elections across Maharashtra by using infrastructure as both a sword and a shield. Across Mumbai and its satellite cities, the state government has unveiled a raft of initiatives that promise to reshape urban life while consolidating political advantage. Chief among them is the Slum Cluster Redevelopment Scheme (SCRS), a sweeping plan to transform Mumbai’s sprawling shanties and decayed structures into modern, sustainable housing clusters.


The SCRS targets contiguous land parcels of at least 50 acres, where slums account for a majority of the area. Implementation rests with the Brihanmumbai Slum Rehabilitation Authority (BSRA), which will either lead the redevelopment directly, enter joint ventures, or invite private developers via tender. The scheme provides incentives for larger landowners and integrates slums within environmentally sensitive zones, with vacated land earmarked for public facilities and retail projects. Flexibilities in building density like allowing the Floor Space Index (FSI) to exceed standard limits signal the government’s willingness to accommodate displaced residents while promoting real estate investment.


Infrastructure is being deployed as a political instrument. The inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), slated to open commercially in December is a prime example of this strategy. The NMIA is designed as India’s first fully digital airport, boasting AI-enabled terminals, online baggage handling, and integrated multimodal transport links. With a projected capacity of 20 million passengers initially, and 155 million at full build-out, the airport promises to generate over two lakh jobs across aviation, logistics, IT, hospitality, and real estate. Such mega-projects are expected to reinforce the image of the Mahayuti as a government capable of delivering large-scale modernisation.


Other policy decisions complement these high-profile projects. The Urban Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Policy 2025 seeks to embed circular economy principles in 424 urban local bodies, treating and reusing water for industry and irrigation. The Maharashtra Gem & Jewellery Policy 2025 aims to attract Rs. 1 lakh crore in investment and create half a million jobs, while doubling exports in the sector over the next decade. Urban mobility will see a green push through the allocation of land for an e-bus depot at Amravati. Even traditional sectors such as textiles benefit, with subsidies and regulatory support for private spinning mills, aligning industry incentives with electoral messaging. By delivering visible change in housing, transport, employment, and urban infrastructure, the alliance, especially the BJP, seeks to neutralise opposition narratives and cultivate loyalty among a politically crucial urban electorate.


That said, ambitious infrastructure projects often take years to materialise, leaving the electorate to judge political intent rather than tangible results. Nonetheless, elections will be fought on the ground of bricks and mortar as much as on ideology. The BJP certainly visualises itself as the architect of the city’s future. If infrastructure can indeed translate into votes, Maharashtra’s civic polls may offer a masterclass in the politics of urban spectacle.


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