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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.

Venue Politics

India is poised to welcome the Commonwealth Games (CWG) back after a fifteen-year hiatus, with Ahmedabad now recommended by the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board as the host for 2030. The final decision awaits ratification at the General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26. The announcement is being framed as a triumph as it will then mark the return of the Games return to India with Ahmedabad taking centre stage. Yet, behind the celebration lies a question: why Ahmedabad, and not a city with arguably stronger sporting culture?


The last CWG in India, held in 2010, were hosted in New Delhi, a city accustomed to large-scale events. Shifting the venue westwards to Gujarat is welcome as it breaks the Delhi monopoly, spreading both prestige and opportunity to another region. Ahmedabad has seen rapid urban transformation in recent years, with infrastructure investments, modern stadiums and improved transport connectivity. A CWG there would showcase these developments, signal India’s readiness for global sporting events and give a boost to the western corridor’s sporting ecosystem.


Yet it would be naïve to ignore the political subtext. Gujarat is the home state of India’s most powerful political figures – Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah - and while it would be cynical to suggest this was the sole criterion, it is hard to dismiss this aspect. Sporting decisions, particularly in India, have rarely existed in a vacuum free from politics. If the Games are merely to reinforce political narratives, the opportunity to make a more strategically sound choice could be lost.


Take Nagpur, for instance. Centrally located in Maharashtra, it has been quietly building world-class sports facilities for years. With stadiums, training centres and accommodations already in place, it arguably presents a more practical, athlete-friendly option. Central India also offers better geographical balance, allowing easier access for participants and spectators from across the subcontinent. Bypassing such options in favour of Ahmedabad risks reducing the Games to a showcase of political convenience rather than a celebration of sport at its highest level. While Ahmedabad has invested heavily in urban infrastructure, transport and hospitality, there is another vital aspect. Ahmedabad’s vegetarian reputation, a point of pride in Gujarat, raises practical questions for an event that will draw thousands of international visitors accustomed to diverse diets. So, will non-vegetarian fare be served, and if so, might that strike some as a curious contradiction?


Beyond domestic considerations, hosting the Commonwealth Games is a stepping stone in India’s broader ambitions on the Olympic stage. Ahmedabad’s candidature for the 2036 Olympics is already being floated, and the 2030 Games will serve as a rehearsal of sorts.


India’s Commonwealth Games decision will be remembered not only for the medals won or records broken, but for the message it sends about the country’s priorities. Expanding the Games beyond Delhi is a positive step. But the choice of Ahmedabad must be justified beyond sentiment or symbolism if sport is to remain meritocratic.

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