Round The World
New Delhi, 3 July 2020
China Conundrum
COMMUNICATION COLLAPSE!
By Dr. D. K. Giri
(Prof. International Politics, JMI)
As the border stalemate with China continues,
communication seems to be breaking down. The whole world is gripped by COVID-19
and China, the latter’s belligerent expansionism that poses a threat to world
peace. Since Chinese troops trespassed into the LAC and 20 Indian soldiers were
killed on 15 June, the world is discussing India-China skirmishes. World
leaders have begun to react expressing their opinion and support. The United
States has initiated relocating its battle-ready troops to contain Chinese
aggression on its neighbours. Yet, at home, there is hardly any serious
communication among the stakeholders that include everyone in the country.
What surprises us the most is the Prime
Minister choosing not to mention China at all in his address to the nation on
Tuesday 30 June at 4 pm. Prime Minister Modi is known for his uncanny ability
to surprise people, including his adversaries. But surprises can be sweet as
they can be shocking. It was the latter the country experienced on 30 June. The
explanation put forth by some BJP supporters was that it was imprudent to talk
about China while negotiations are on. That is an absurd argument. No one
expects the details of counter-attacks on China or the terms of negotiations.
People would like and are entitled to know what is happening with China.
Without doubt, it is callous disregard for people’s
sentiments and rights to timely information on such a critical occurrence
involving our national security. When the Prime Minister addresses the nation,
he needs to choose his content. It is said, “Communication works for you, if
you work at your communication”. If anything that will prove detrimental to the
prospects of the current government, it is its poor communication, in fact,
lack of it.
In a democracy, communication cannot be one
way. That is precisely the case with our Prime Minister. He addresses the
citizens, as if a guru or priest gives a sermon. There are no questions to be
asked, no supplements or additions to the information shared. The essence of
democracy is a debate among the people by asking questions and
counter-questions in order to benefit from the collective wisdom. There is an
African saying, ‘Two minds are better than one”. Our Prime Minister may be one
of his kinds, who do not address press conferences. This is an incredible
practice in a democracy.
Let us recall the epithet Modi conferred on
the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He called him Man (maun) Singh meaning Mr Silent. But
these days, Modi’s silence on burning issues of national importance is
deafening. He is so garrulously communicative in whirlwind election campaigns.
To the media or people, he hardly talks, his Mann ki baat notwithstanding which is meant essentially for school
children.
What is worse, one is not expected to ask
questions. Even the Opposition is lambasted for questioning the government. Ironically,
it is the government which asks questions to the Opposition. Remember, the
ruling party President asking 10 questions to the Congress leadership on whatever
issue. We knew, in a democracy, when you are in the Opposition, you ask
questions, and when you are in government, you act and deliver. We are learning
a new principle of democracy under this government.
Parliament is not in session in these unusual
times. So the government should be constantly dialoguing with the Opposition in
all-party meetings etc. There was only one all-party meeting on China where the
Prime Minister surprised again. Contradicting all previous communications from
the MEA and MoD, he said, “there are no incursion into our land, no foreign troops
are on our territory”. The whole country, perhaps even the world, would have
been astounded with this statement. Why did our soldiers die? Who were they
fighting? What are our diplomats negotiating for? All these questions began haunting
us after his statement.
No amount of denials or explanations could
clear the confusion created by Modi’s statement. That bespeaks the quality of
communication. If the Prime Minister should not brief the country every now and
then, and perhaps he should not, where is the National Security Advisor? He was
seen dealing with Tablighi Jammat, and recent Delhi riots, which are the jobs
of Delhi police chief. This is where he should come and explain what is
happening.
Also, one is looking out for the first Chief
of our Defense Staff. This General is
known for speaking up on issues that did not concern him, on nature of
leadership etc. This is his domain. He has not been seen or heard. There are
many leaders and generals who have built the morale of the Army and the country
at the time of such hostilities. Remember Churchill, one of the heroes of the
Second World War, how he mobilised his men in the face of defeat, when his Cabinet
and the Generals were against carrying on the war against marauding Nazi Army.
But he got support from the people, as he was communicating.
Look at the TV debates. Most of it is
shouting and slanging matches, name calling and mud-slinging. In the face of a
national challenge like this, the country should be one in its resolve to fight
the enemy. Yes, we are one in backing our Army and the government. There is no
question of division of intentions. There could certainly be diversity of
opinion and strategy in dealing with the challenge. It is normal in a
democracy. But the debates are made binary and adversarial. The army card is often
thrown into debates to emotionalise the environment and demonise the opponent
as anti-Army and anti-national etc.
The major difference between India and China
is this that India is the biggest democracy, as China is the biggest autocracy
in the world. This precise distinctive feature will be responsible for India’s
survival and growth as well as the inevitable collapse of China. We need to
preserve this national asset. It must also be remembered that the hardware of
democracy is in pace, our software is weak, non-functional or in some cases non-existent.
This is where we must focus while taking on the Chinese.
Despite various viewpoints, caution by
conservatives, retaliation by hawks, and pro-active strategic steps by realists
in the confrontation with China, one thing is crystal clear, that China has to
be contained until it becomes a pluralist polity; it gives up lands it occupies
from other countries. It appears now to be a long-drawn fight. In this fight,
what is also clear is that the whole country will rally behind the government.
But the government must restore the communication lines and make them
operational. The lines lie in our country to various segments and go beyond to
our potential allies. It is communication that will win us this battle. –INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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