Daily Times

The Pew Research Centre, a nonpartisan American fact tank that conducts public opinion poll on a broad range of issues, recently released its poll report: “India and Modi: The Honeymoon Continues.” The poll results show that most of the Indians were upbeat about Narendra Modi’s leadership, especially the general direction he has provided for the country. They also see India playing a larger role in the world under his stewardship. The poll, administered through a structured questionnaire, covered a wide range of issues from how Indians view Modi’s leadership style to how the country needs to deal with the “Chinese challenge.”

More than half the respondents gave their unequivocal support to his handling of a range of domestic problems, which, inter alia, included helping the poor sections of society, tackling unemployment (both 62 percent) and dealing with corruption (59 percent) and his handling of terrorism (61percent). In addition, 56 percent of the respondents believe that he cares about people like them; 51 percent say he stands up for what he believes, and 49 percent say he brings people together and gets things done.

According to the Pew survey, a majority of the people in India was satisfied with the country’s direction, and had also expressed their satisfaction with the state of the economy under Modi’s leadership. There was a convergence of views on the satisfaction expressed over Modi’s handling of the various challenges facing the nation. For the first time, people felt that the world had started viewing India with admiration.

The critical acclaim for Modi’s leadership stemmed from the steps taken by him in improving the economy and also improving India’s image abroad. However, there is a large section of people who felt that he should give more priority to domestic issues like crime, corruption, lack of job opportunities, and terrorism, as they constitute a huge national issue for the country.

The only area where Modi was found wanting, and where he got a less than satisfactory rating was his inept handling of communal relations. Perhaps, there is a perception, especially among the minority communities in India, that because of Modi’s association to the Rashtrya Swayam Sangh, a Hindu nationalist organisation, he would only take care of the rights of Hindus and not people from other religions. Modi is now slowly changing this perception with his inclusive policy, where he wants to ensure that the benefits of economic development reach all sections of society, especially Muslims. In a recent conclave in Kerala, he encouraged all cadres to embrace Muslims. This is a much-needed and a positive move that will help in garnering support of his leadership from minorities’ communities.

India’s foreign policy under Modi: the China challenge: It must be said in all fairness that Modi tried his best to forge close relations with China by establishing a close bond with President Xi Jinping. However, there is a feeling in India that China is driven by its own self-interests and views India as a threat to its growing influence on the world stage. This scepticism is reflected in the survey, where 36 percent of the respondents expressed an unfavourable opinion of China.

Furthermore, a large section of people feel that China’s growing closeness with Pakistan may ultimately work against India’s interests. There is also a growing perception that China’s efforts to woo Pakistan is to prevent India emerge as a rival to China in the region. Although, both China and India have prevented any escalation at the border, but a large number of Indians feel that the recalcitrant approach of China in settling the territorial disputes may pose a serious threat in the future. China had attacked India in 1962 over the border disputes, and is holding large swathes of land in its possession. In spite of Modi’s bonhomie with the Chinese president, only 15 percent have expressed confidence in Xi Jinping.

The Pakistan challenge: About 50 percent of people interviewed were critical of Modi’s handling of Pakistan. Most of the people were of the view that as most of the terror originated from Pakistan only a military response would be the best option for tackling terrorism. China’s political, economic and military support to Pakistan was seen as a deliberate strategy to contain India.

However, after the surgical strike across the border – that Pakistan denies — Modi’s stock has gone up. Pakistan is in danger of facing isolation for its overt and covert support to terror groups. One development is that many renowned Pakistani newspapers have expressed concern regarding Pakistan cultivating terrorists against its neighbours. One paper went so far as to say that this strategy is self-defeating; as such the entire focus of the world has been diverted to the ‘state-sponsored’ terrorism instead of the Kashmir issue.

India’s international role: The survey also shows that 68 percent of Indians believe that India’s stock in the world has considerably gone up ever since Modi assumed office. Similarly, a vast majority is happy with Modi’s efforts to open up the Indian economy, which they feel would open new markets, and help the economy to grow at a faster pace.

Modi’s foreign policy has also come for praise. His efforts to forge relations with the US, UK, EU, and South East Asia have brought India closer to these countries. One testimony to the improved relations is the support India received for dismantling of terror camps in Pakistan – again something Pakistan denies. For the first time, there is a broader appreciation of India’s efforts to fight against terror.

Modi’s frequent foreign trips to improve relations with the US, Russia, the UK, France, Germany and other countries have been appreciated, as it was felt that it would improve India’s image abroad. One such effort has made the US to lift its embargo on India for the purchase of nuclear fuel and other equipment from the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

(To be concluded)

The writer is a freelance columnist and political commentator