Love could be an answer, but Police need to up their game

On Monday the CII organised a business conference at the Taj Delegation travelled all the way from India, met with the High Commissioner in India House before participating in a panel discussion at Taj Among topics of discussion were the ongoing UK-India FTA, upcoming B20 (as part of G20 summit agenda) recalibrating important policies specifically in sustainability, aerospace, cybersecurity, energy enhancement, food security, procedural agriculture, AI etc between UK and India

It also made a special mention of the India meets Britain Tracker 2023, that the Grant Thornton published in association with CII recently The Tracker identified the top fastest-growing Indian companies in the UK as measured by percentage revenue growth year-on-year

The Tracker also included Indian-owned corporates with operations headquartered or with a significant base in the UK, with turnover of more than £5 million, year-on-year revenue growth of at least 10% and a minimum two-year track record in the UK, based on the latest published accounts filed as of 31 March 2023, where available Turnover figures have been annualised where periods of less or more than 12 months have been reported

The report also highlights the top Indian employers – who through their UK subsidiaries employ more than 1,000 people in the UK

From 13-17 June, the new Secretary General of FICCI, Shailesh Pathak was also in London, Warwick and Birmingham, as part of the India-UK Forum of Parliamentarians 2023 The delegation comprised of Indian MPs and key FICCI delegates

Climate and technology investments were among key topics for an G20 meet last week as UK International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell held high-level discussions in India, including with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar

The UK-India relationship has many factors to celebrate at this point The diaspora, famously known as the living bridge, won many accolades at the recent King Charles’ Birthday Honours List More than 40 Indian origin people have been honured by the King, as well as Bob Blackman MP, who stands as a voice of the Hindus in London

But certain immigration rules and lack of safety measures towards migrants have hurt the very core of the UK-India partnership With Suella Braverman banning family members joining international students is posing a doubt on the intention to re-build a relationship based on trust At the same time Indianorigin youngsters knifed on the streets and at flatshares, questions a first world country’s ability to keep its own people safe (see P1)

More than 200 young people in West Yorkshire were the victims of knife crime in the space of two years The figures were released by West Yorkshire Police through a Freedom of Information request, the Telegraph and Argus reported In 2021, 104 victims were under the age of 18; 80 in 2022, and 32 by the end of March this year These were offences that involved the use of a "sharp implement" and where it was specifically stated the victim was stabbed or cut and injured

The government cuts have affected the Police staffing and street patrolling, but also what affects the force is the lack of awareness due to absence of community representation and diversity in their organisation

Murdered Grace Kumar’s mum at a vigil said “look after each other, be kind to each other and don’t have hate in your hearts ” The world will be so much better with no violence and only love, but as the reality is, youngsters can form their safety networks supporting each other, but the State apparatus responsible for their safety cannot repeatedly fail them

Timely action helps Gujarat face cyclone Biparjoy bravely

Early warnings, accurate identification of vulnerable areas and timely evacuations helped Gujarat avert major casualties from cyclone Biparjoy, which battered the Gujarat coast last week Biparjoy, which means 'calamity' in the Bengali language, hit the Gujarat coasts with wind speeds of up to 125 kmp, blowing roofs off houses and uprooting trees and electricity poles In 1998, a major storm in Gujarat caused around 4,000 deaths, according to reports, while in 2001 close to 100 people died when an extremely severe cyclone named Tauktae hit the state

Despite the severe storm originating in the Arabian Sea and making landfall in the coastal districts of Kutch and Saurashtra, Gujarat’s advanced planning and proactive measures ensured minimal damage and, most importantly, zero loss of life The state government exhibited a steadfast commitment to proactive disaster planning, leaving no room for negligence or shortcomings Every department, agency, district guardian minister, and chief minister Bhupendra Patel himself worked in unison, dedicating their full efforts to combat the storm

Following a meeting called by CM, a remarkable evacuation effort took place, relocating over 108,000 individuals residing in high-risk areas During the evacuation process, special attention was given to the well-being of pregnant women, ensuring they faced no hardships Additionally, in cases where people became trapped despite evacuation, they were promptly rescued through airlift operations To effectively address the storm’s impact, a total of 19 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed across nine coastal districts, n a m e l y K u t c h , D e v b h o o m i D w a r k a , J a m n a g a r , M o r b i , P o r b a n d a r , G i r S o m n a t h , J u n a g a d h , R a j k o t , a n d V a l s a d

Furthermore, 12 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were assigned to seven coastal districts Before the cyclone struck, a comprehensive medical infrastructure was established in the potentially affected regions, with a total of 1,005 medical teams actively operating Additionally, to ensure adequate healthcare facilities, a substantial number of 3,851 critical beds were arranged in the areas at risk Furthermore, a total of 197 DG sets were assigned to these regions, enabling the provision of an uninterrupted power supply

To address the significant impact on the power supply caused by the cyclone, the energy department proactively took action A total of 1,127 teams were deployed across 3,751 villages in 8 districts, with an additional 889 teams on standby, ready to a d d r e s s a n y p o w e r - r e l a t e d i s s u e s t h a t m a y a r i s e

Simultaneously, the forest department efficiently responded to fallen trees in the affected districts, deploying a comprehensive fleet of 237 teams for their removal Furthermore, comprehensive measures were taken not only to ensure the safety of the people but also to safeguard the well-being of wildlife, including the lions and other animals in sanctuary areas

Recognizing the importance of infrastructure restoration, the roads and constructions department had readied 132 teams, equipped with essential machinery and equipment Prime M i n i s t e r N a r e n d r a M o d i h e l d a m e e t i n g a n d p e r s o n a l l y engaged with Chief Minister to gather updates on the preparedness as the storm approached the coast Immediately after the cyclone’s intensity diminished, the restoration efforts commenced with full force Within a few hours, a significant number of roads were reopened, and electricity was reinstated in numerous villages where the power supply had been disrupted Despite the challenging weather conditions, repair work persisted, ensuring Gujarat swiftly resumed its normal functioning

Modi- Biden bonhomie will strengthen India-US relationships

Having similar goals and interests, India and the United States' growing relationship is also influenced by the close bonhomie between their leaders President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are perfect examples of this phenomenon, since their cordial relationship strengthens the strategic alliance between the two countries America needs India's friendship to assert itself in Asia and to take on China's aggression India being one of the fastest-growing economies of the world as its GDP is expected to overtake Japan’s and Germany’s by 2028, India has the best soft power in the world, because of its diaspora The bosses of Alphabet, IBM and Microsoft are of Indian origin, as are the heads of three of America’s five top business schools In a testament to the success of Indian Americans, 70% of the wider American public view India favourably, compared with 15% for China

As India's population grows, more people will leave the country in search of lucrative jobs and to escape its ferocious heat Immigration laws in the wealthy world screen for graduates who can work in fields like medical and information technology, where there is a greater need for workers In 2022, 73% of America’s H1B visas, which are granted to professionals in "specialty occupations" like computer scientists, were captured by Indians Despite India's reluctance to adopt a more assertive posture regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the US is attempting to elevate the partnership in terms of trade and security ties Political changes in either country have undoubtedly had no impact on a 25-year effort to forge relationships India is a member of the Quad, a security alliance that also consists of America, Australia, and Japan

A m e r i c a i s p r o m o t i n g a n u m b e r o f d e f e n c e t r e a t i e s t o s t r e n g t h e n m i l i t a r y - t e c h n o l o g y c o o p e r a t i o n i n o r d e r t o increase India's hard power, some of which may be signed in Washington during PM Modi's visit The Biden administration believes that this would be the biggest turning point in the two countries' ties since a civil nuclear cooperation deal was signed in 2005

President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have invited PM Modi to make his first state visit to the US in June Both Modi and Biden need each other's support as the election season in both India and the United States draws closer in order to increase their popularity and win the polls

During his visit, PM Modi will also address a joint session of the US Congress for the second time, and it is indeed historic He will be one of the few foreign leaders, along with Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, and Volodymyr Zelensky, to address a joint session of Congress more than once He will meet CEOs and professionals to discuss business partnerships and opportunities, and also address the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Center, Washington DC The US president and the First Lady will also host Modi at a state dinner on June 22 Several thousand Indian Americans are expected to attend the welcome ceremony on the South Lawns of the White House

Meanwhile, leaders of India's leading opposition parties are meeting in Bihar capital Patna to develop a strategy for mounting a collective campaign against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 general elections

The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s what you’re made of.

Not the circumstances Unknown

Political Sketchbook

Alpesh Patel

It’s Kissinger Why India Does Not Rebuke Russia Over Ukraine

This past week He nry Kiss inge r pr ovided advic e to the US on rel ations wit h China But what would Kis singer a dvise on India-China relations? Of cours e there is little l ove l os t be twe en Ind ia an d Hen ry K is s ing er He s t ood be hind Pak is tan’s atroc ities in Banglades h and against India’s drive for dem oc racy The US Am bass ador, Blood, was rec alle d for pointing this out The NSA advised the US to send an a ircraf t carrier to thr eaten India over E Pakist an, but the USSR neutr alised the Americ an threat

Kissinger’s actions made the world more and more bipolar India would be closer and closer to USSR and US would be Pakistan’s funder in general and hand-maiden It was Kissinger who wrongly assessed that Indira Gandhi ‘suckered’ the Americans, but all the while it was Pakistan which for decades sucker the Americans which their subsequent NSAs and Presidents would admit

So what would the old man advise now on India and China relations all these years later? Given his pretty poor track record, you may not bother reading on

D r a w i n g u p o n t h e d i p l o m a t i c s t r a t e g i e s o f H e n r y Kissinger, it is likely that he would first acknowledge the deep-seated historical tensions and territorial disputes that underpin the relationship between India and China The two nations have clashed over their Himalayan border for decades, notably in the 1962 Sino-Indian War, and tensions have periodically flared up since then

Kissinger, who is known for his realist approach to international relations, would likely identify the strategic considerations for both India and China For India, balancing China's growing economic and military power in the region is a major strategic priority India also seeks to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty, especially in disputed areas like Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin

For China, its strategic interests lie in consolidating its regional influence, maintaining stability along its western border, and ensuring that India does not become a counterweight to its power in the region by aligning too closely with other major powers like the United States or Japan

Kissinger might then turn to the economic interdependencies between the two countries China is India's 2nd largest trading partner, and there is considerable potential for deeper economic integration Given Kissinger's instrumental role in normalizing U S -China relations through "ping-pong diplomacy," he might suggest similar cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts between India and China as a way of easing tensions and fostering mutual understanding

He would also likely advocate for increased engagement in regional multilateral organizations Both India and China are members of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Active participation in such forums provides opportunities for dialogue, builds trust, and can help manage disputes

Kissinger's policy of détente, which aimed at easing geopolitical tensions during the Cold War, might inform his advice on how to deal with the military and security concerns between India and China He could suggest confidence-building measures, such as maintaining regular communication between military commanders, establishing protocols to prevent border skirmishes, and seeking ways to limit the arms race in the region

Lastly, Kissinger's strategy of "triangular diplomacy" might come into play He might advise both countries to leverage their relationships with other major powers to create a balance that discourages aggression For instance, India could strengthen its partnerships with the U S and Japan, while China could do the same with Russia and Pakistan

In conclusion, the Kissinger-esque approach to improving India-China relations would likely involve a delicate balancing act: recognizing and managing strategic competition, harnessing economic interdependencies, promoting cultural exchanges, enhancing multilateral engagement, implementing confidence-building measures, and strategically using relationships with other major powers It's a complex and challenging task, but one that is essential for regional and global stability

The bottom line is, India’s current Foreign Secretary is far more masterful than Kissinger at doing all this and more