How Does The West See India's Poll Results

For months Western media and think tanks were busy in dissecting the possibility of a consecutive third term in power for India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and its possible negative consequences--in their view--about backsliding of democracy in India, erosion of institutional independence and rising majoritarian tendencies and more. The outcome of the world's largest election may not have been on the expected lines for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP since it fell short of majority on its own in the lower house of parliament but Prime Minister Modi is going nowhere. He is all set to take office for the third time on Sunday, albeit at the head of a multi-party coalition. So, will Modi 3.0 be any different than the previous two terms? This is certainly unfamiliar territory for Modi. For over two decades, he has headed governments with full majority, first as chief minster of Gujarat and then as prime minister in the last 10 years.
Modi 3.0 suggests he may have to curb his instincts, accommodate demands from fickle allies on domestic policies but one aspect in which the new government is likely to continue its previous approach is in the foreign policy space.
A former ambassador said the impact on foreign policy would be minimal. Modi has the numbers and the initiatives over the last decade will continue. He also made the point that “India’s stature has been enhanced because of this election result, concerns about human and minority rights would have quietened, India at the end of the day is a functioning democracy.”
Chandrababu Naidu of the Telegu Desam Party or for that matter Nitish Kumar of the Janata Dal (United), are not known to comment on foreign policy issues. But Naidu transformed Hyderabad into an IT capital and is known to enjoy a good equation with the US tech and business community. The West needs India as much as India needs its technology and investment? To understand how Washington DC and European capitals look at the election outcome in India and how are they likely to approach a Modi third term, Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale on this week's special Edition of Simply Nitin, spoke to Richard Rossow, Wadhwani Chair in U.S. India Policy Studies at the the Center for Strategic and International Studies and well-known India observer and Velina Tchakarova, a Vienna-based commentator and analyst who especially focuses on Russia, China, Europe and India

[@MastiKaHathi]

If you are looking for acceptance from the West, well you are not going to get it. Even if you become their colony once again, you're not going to get their validation. As far as Democracy goes, keep an attitude that India is better democracy than any western country. And we are a better democracy in reality.

[@viswanathanseshadri1047]

Well said. Infact I am surprised why Sh. Nitin Gokhale wants our elections certified from the West.

[@Kaushiknaath]

So good to know that others are thinking the same thing 🙂

[@jayanthlaxman9188]

Democracy ? When you can BUY an MLA or an MP ?

[@arunjetli7909]

@@jayanthlaxman9188 and the US A is clean? You must be an qbsolutely ignorant being

[@MastiKaHathi]

@jayanthlaxman9188 Not just MLA or MP but you can be bought as well. Most people can be bought. Including in western countries.

[@sidpal2626]

Why do we care about western views? Do you think US, UK or France would care about Indian views for their elections?

[@arunjetli7909]

slave mindset McCauley is always ve

[@jatinpatel1224]

Given the interference of these EU and US in Indian elections, Indians have every right to support Republicans in USA and Right wing parties in Europe.

[@anunrealproduction1438]

If in western eyes the emancipation of Muslim women is religious intolerance then Bharat should double down.. which Western country does not have a register of citizens.. which Western country does not have a uniform civil code.. which country has a WAQF board..

[@gbhatia9809]

The US democracy is very defective. It is widely influenced by the Lobby System, NGOs, armament lobby, corporate honchos, Media Moguls & motivated think tanks which only give US Congresspersons exalted & arrogant importance about themselves rather than the true picture. No wonder, following collapse of USSR in 1991, the US failed miserably to successfully lead the world as the sole surviving super power even for one decade. Its interventions faced spectacular failures in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, SCS & Ukraine is on the cards. Economically US has slipped under the clutches of Communist China. On his 1st day on Jan 20, 2021, Joe Biden sat down at his desk in the Oval Office & with a stroke of pen within seconds, without batting an eyelid, signed like an Emperor a stack of hard bound booklets one after another called his executive orders reversing the 4-yr policies & work of his predecessor. It reflected poorly to the rest of the world. The US has become a 4-yr forward & 4-yr reverse gear country, a fickle country with no accountability & no continuity of policy. Moreover, Biden didn't condemn black lives matter riots & looting on the US streets but rather tacitly supported them by blaming policies of Donald Trump. His comments to the black radio host Charlamagne in May, 2020 that if you are black & do not vote for him, you are not black showed that he tacitly encouraged divisions in the US society for votes. Declaration by election authorities that voting irregularity were of no consequence as to alter election results added fuel to the fire & attack on the Capitol was the eventual outcome. That 197 Republican Congressmen, an overwhelming majority voted against the Impeachment motion against Trump & 147 Republicans voted against certifying the election result even after attack on the Capitol shows genuine feeling about the neutrality of the elections. US has to restore credibility of its democracy. It needs lot to learn from Election Commission of India.

[@indradebpal9067]

Very well written compilation on state of affairs in USA.

[@Kaushiknaath]

True I wish we don't have to be over friendly to them. India should maintain a distance.

[@changchaw1]

This guy is real good. Tracks INDIA very very closely.

[@Balharbor28]

What is so important about what the west thinks about the result of the election.

[@singularsink]

What childish questions, even now we need validation from the West? why? why? Why even do we expect the colonizers will acknowledge India's democratic fabric? Did they themselves demonstrate those qualities? Most of them even today has monarchy for goodness sake! US has 2 party system slightly better than autocratic one party China! Most of these are predominantly White ethnic and Christian culture, what expertise they have to comment on India's democracy? We have much richer democracy regardless of how much flawed that is, stop seeking validation from the West.

[@arunjetli7909]

Th icons of the west are ignoramuses Kant thought that only whites could do, he never investigated to find out that all modern mathematics From zero to the number system to negative numbers , to infinite series were invented by black Indians. The next is the imperialist thug J S Mill still loved in India what a sham “ liberal democracy” he supported the massacre of thousands of Indians in 1857. We all know about Churchill, and Charles Dickens .these morons are never questioned by The europhillic sycophants

[@natta3636]

Nitiin should challenge their perceptions by asking for concrete examples on Democracy back sliding? Instead of accepting their blind belief of superior western values as Gospel truth ( which itself is a fallacy). Thanks.

[@Kaushiknaath]

I had same feeling but let them be arrogant one day their time will also be over 🙂

[@nitingokhale184]

It is not about validation but getting the western analysts’ view on why most commentaries are now silent on how they get Indian democracy wrong

[@Kaushiknaath]

Regards 🙂 I know that you are educating us about unfiltered western perspectives. Since these individuals were, I suppose, friendly towards India, we can easily understand what others on the opposite end of the spectrum think of us. Making decisions for the betterment of India will require us to endure and conquer several obstacles; no government will ever find it simple 🙂.

[@BM-cz5uz]

Those following mainstream media were shocked. Alternative social media were on the right track.

[@ShivShankarRama]

This was brilliant ❤

[@weber85]

Without even seeing the video I am embarrassed to see that title of this video. We don't need any opinion of the west. Instead you should have made a video on how west has interfered in our elections. Also make a video with Indian guests and western hosts on how they see western elections in future then I will think about seeing the video.

[@gautamganguli1221]

I agree broadly,But we need to know the opinion of the West not for validation, but for preparation of the attitudes so we are not taken unawares.

[@ThunderLightStrikes]

StratNews Global is the best channel for credible opinion.

[@sridharv.n.5274]

I am an admirer of Mr Nitin Gokhale, especially for his defence related podcasts. However, I am disappointed with this one. There is absolutely no need to seek the opinion of the Europeans or the West. It is as if we are seeking their validation; very unfortunate. It is also contradictory to seek their certification on one hand and then find faults with their biased analysis.

[@sandeepsaxena8266]

Main reason for western interference/ negative commentary about state of democracy in India is that we seek their validation. Citizens in India enjoy more rights and freedoms than citizens in America!! But we don't comment on their functioning of democracy. India as country should decide, either take criticism and give back criticism to them whenever required, this expectation that we don't talk about you so you should do the same won't work.

[@karamjitsinghnannar7408]

Very good programe

[@jovianjollity5244]

Thanks to Nitin Gokhale and SNG for this discussion. Regarding Rossow's point about states being given more autonomy, regional parties in some states like the TDP with Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh, are development-oriented in their focus. However, other states like the TMC in Bengal, or the DMK in Tamil Nadu, have been using undemocratic means ( intimidation of political opponents, etc) to stay in power and pander to their vote-banks. This has to be checked through corrective action by the central government before they become serious national security problems. Let's not forget that the members of the radical islamist group that carried out a bomb blast at a cafe (Rameswaram cafe) in Bengaluru recently, were able to transit through Tamil Nadu and hide in Bengal , (both of which have an ecosystem shielding such elements), before they were caught by the NIA. The DMK in Tamil Nadu is also reportedly getting into narco-traffic and money laundering through real estate and commercial film production, which is very concerning. One also knows about the increasing nexus between such radical islamist forces and the state government machinery ( particularly the police force) in states like Kerala and Bengal ( Bengal being a critical border state). Similarly in Punjab. One has also to be vigilant in Jammu and Kashmir. Velina Tchakarova's point about meshing the job-creations gap for the young population in India with the aging population of Europe, is a great point.

[@rexalexander4843]

avg voting in lok sabha elections '24 was 66%. who are missing voters?

[@joegeorge7868]

Thank you for this very important discussion.

[@YtMgk-hv6op]

Both Europe / west and India are facing similar challenges like rising left liberals and Islamists. ‘‘This resulting in threat to democracy and native culture. Also China challenge. Europe must first bring peace to Ukraine Russia conflict and integrate Russia into Europe . After all Russian culture is European. America and Russia should jointly secure Europe which looks weak now

[@biggpicture2930]

Why only 6 books ?

[@khalsa322]

Just came here to comment ‘‘ Who cares " ok bye

[@Nmax]

Screw the West India will industrialize and grow more powerful

[@Kaushiknaath]

I think the US subnational approach is risky and they are openly expressing this. As Velina stated in more gentle terms, I believe that the USA and Europe will continue to be vicious towards India. Western validation looks so fake to me now. My hope is that India-China relations would improve and India's reliance on the West will lessen. Listening to them non alignment and self reliance looks so important.

[@anirrbunbanerjee5718]

It's funny to hear that the commentator from US wants a direct relationship with states in India independent of the central Govt. which they never thought of during UPA (which also means a more direct influence in the internal matters of India via opposition Govt. in the states, more manipulation), while the EU commentator wants free access to India market because of its size and buying power while wants our educated and young people to slog for them as they have an aging population (which may sound like their old colonial slave trade practice just put in better words). Let's see if and how much of their wishes come true

[@bikramsen9952]

It completely beats me how these experts can discuss Modi , and his idea of India, without seeing the context of the RSS. Modiji has more than 40 years training in the RSS, and he subscribes, totally , to the RSS and it's ideology , both domestically and in it's world view. Modi thinks like the RSS. In fact he is the RSS. And the RSS is openly a religio - fascist organisation modeled on Mussolini and his fascist model. The contradictions between this mindset and what the world needs/ demands will be very interesting

[@prakashkr2214]

😂😂🤣.. What did Modi done in favor f Hindu? Nothing.. Did he free temple 4m govt control? Is that ur definition f secularism? I m atheist.. But I hate opposition.. India was never secular or liberal..

[@ravinayar4314]

What do you know about the RSS..please go to a shakha and talk to them..then spout bias..

[@lembubodoh]

You should ask the Chinese. If india needs progress, it must be colonised by the Chinese

[@user-sc7cb6gi8m]

Atvhap how does it i

[@sridharv.n.5274]

I am an admirer of Mr Nitin Gokhale, especially for his defence related podcasts. However, I am disappointed with this one. There is absolutely no need to seek the opinion of the Europeans or the West. It is as if we are seeking their validation; very unfortunate. It is also contradictory to seek their certification on one hand and then find faults with their biased analysis.