THE HINDU

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 7

Mumbai
Opinion

All eyes are now on the Indian Ocean region It’s raining tickets for turncoats
In Telangana, the BRS is facing the brunt of defections

W
hile the Indian assistance would be extended cooperation with India, and
government’s gratis to Maldives. This comes incremental progress is taking
focus from when 88 Indian military place. But they display a ‘studied plus Lok Sabha seats very se-
January 2021 was personnel, deployed with the host ambiguity’ when it comes to STATE OF PLAY riously. It is now focused on
fixed on the Indo-Pacific with a nation’s consent to operate interpreting China’s behaviour and winning every MP seat in Te-
sustained endeavour to strengthen humanitarian flights of three the long-term motivations driving Ravi Reddy langana. The party has so far
the Quad, policy attention has Rajiv Bhatia aviation platforms, has been it. The geographic distance of the ravi.reddy@thehindu.co.in named 15 candidates. It has gi-
shifted back to the Indian Ocean is replaced by a civilian group. European nations from China ven tickets to many turncoats,

T
since October 2023. Of course, the Distinguished Fellow The strategic contestation gives them a sense of security. he Congress, the Bha- even as party loyalists continue
Indo-Pacific strategy covers both Gateway House, is a between China and India is They should re-examine the rat Rashtra Samithi to wait impatiently for an op-
the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but former ambassador intensifying. Much of China’s trade fundamental tenets of their Asia (BRS), and the Bharati- portunity. The BJP has accom-
when danger deepens, the and the author of and energy supplies pass through strategy. But will they, given their ya Janata Party (BJP) are all modated leaders from the BRS
immediate neighbourhood ‘India-Africa the region, so its case for security excessive preoccupation with the fielding turncoats to improve in Mahabubabad, Zaheerabad,
matters more than distant shores. Relations: Changing for its supply routes cannot be conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza? their chances in the Lok Sabha Peddapally, Adilabad, and Nal-
Horizons’ dismissed. But what is worrisome Recent interactions with European elections. However, the party vel to instil confidence in them. gonda, which has upset long-
The policy shift is its strategic intent to create an officials and scholars generate that is facing the brunt of these The only solace for the BRS standing leaders in the party.
The Maldives, with Mohamed adverse environment for India’s limited hope; therefore, the task to defections is the BRS. was the decision of Telangana Turncoats are also expected to
Muizzu as President, seems to be security by turning the country’s persuade them must go on. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) pre- be announced for two more
heading on a collision course with neighbours against it. A clear Defections galore sident and former IPS officer seats — Warangal and Kham-
India. Despite New Delhi’s pattern is emerging behind India’s other options In the 2019 elections, the BRS R.S. Praveen Kumar to join the mam. The party has so far re-
patience and diplomatic tact, Male Beijing’s quest for naval bases in The government has other options won nine Lok Sabha seats, fol- party. Last week, the BRS and tained only three sitting MPs —
continues to deepen its embrace Djibouti, Kyaukphyu, Gwadar, and too. First, India needs to convey a lowed by the BJP with four, and BSP announced an alliance af- Union Minister G. Kishan Red-
of China. In contrast, Sri Lanka Hambantota. This, combined with clear message to its strategic the Congress with three. But ter Dr. Kumar met with Mr. dy (Secunderabad), national
showed greater sensitivity to the nearly four-year-old border partners that while it is conscious today, five BRS MPs — B. Venka- Rao. This came as a big relief general secretary Bandi Sanjay
India’s security concerns by standoff, which has defied a of its Indo-Pacific responsibilities, tesh Nethakani (Peddapalli for Mr. Rao as the BRS was Kumar (Karimnagar), and
imposing a year-long moratorium diplomatic resolution, has meant it prioritises the Indian Ocean SC), B.B. Patil (Zaheerabad), P. hard-pressed for a candidate in Dharmapuri Arvind (Nizama-
on foreign research ships, the two nations continue to region. Second, a critical audit of Ramulu (Nagarkurnool SC), Pa- the Nagarkurnool SC consti- bad). The BJP does not seem
including Chinese ones, to its confront each other as the Indian Ocean Rim Association sunuri Dayakar (Warangal SC) tuency, where the sitting MP particularly worried about
ports. Last month, India’s SAGAR adversaries. (IORA) and the Colombo Security and G. Ranjit Reddy (Chevella) had crossed over to the BJP. whether these turncoats will
policy produced a valuable India has been facing a “bully” Conclave (CSC) is needed. While — have already defected to oth- When the BSP leadership re- stay with it in the event of its
dividend as the Prime Ministers of in a very “determined manner,” IORA is underperforming and has er parties. While Mr. Venka- portedly forced the State unit loss in the elections.
India and Mauritius inaugurated a observed India’s defence secretary become too amorphous to be tesh, Mr. Dayakar, and Mr. Ran- chief to call off the alliance, Dr. Meanwhile, the Congress is
new airstrip and a jetty in the recently. He spoke not only of the effective, the CSC faces the danger jit Reddy have crossed over to Kumar quit and joined the BRS riding high on the massive sup-
Agaléga Islands, boosting border situation but also of the of losing a key member, the the Congress, the other two and is now set to contest from port it had received from the
Mauritius’s capability to curb Indo-Pacific where “a pivotal Maldives, if the island nation’s have defected to the BJP. Mr. Nagarkurnool. SCs and Scheduled Tribes in
illegal activities in its vast moment” was being witnessed. partnership with China deepens. Patil was named a BJP candi- Dr. Kumar hails from the in- the Assembly elections. While
Extended Economic Zone. India and the U.S., he underlined, It may be time for New Delhi to date from Zaheerabad a day af- fluential Madiga sub-caste it is giving tickets to strong can-
Both the Western Indian Ocean were key stakeholders in the encourage the creation of a new ter joining the saffron party among the SCs, who form at didates from the party, the
littered with island nations and the Indo-Pacific region. Cooperation mechanism with the objective of and Mr. Ramulu’s son, P. Bha- least 10% of the Dalit voters in Congress, too, is not averse to
Northern Indian Ocean stretching helps them in addressing the bolstering maritime security and rat, has been chosen as the Telangana. The total SC popu- giving tickets to leaders from
from the Arabian Sea to the Suez strategic competition with China. optimising the potential for the BJP’s Nagarkurnool candidate. lation in the State is 18%. Par- rival parties. Buoyed by its im-
have become active geographies Collaboration in underwater Blue Economy. This group could Sensing the deepening cri- ties have always tried hard to pressive performance in the
again. The gradual regionalisation domain awareness has been comprise four nations from the sis, party supremo K. Chan- attract the votes of the Madigas Assembly elections, the party
of the Israel-Hamas conflict, as identified as a key goal in dealing neighbourhood (India, Sri Lanka, drashekar Rao announced the ahead of the polls. Earlier last is keen to establish its domi-
reflected in the attacks by Houthi with the “emerging” threats. Bangladesh, and Myanmar) and BRS’s first list of candidates for year, Prime Minister Narendra nance in the State.
rebels on international shipping, Besides the U.S., where do the four island states (Mauritius, four Lok Sabha seats. The Modi attended a rally organ- While the Congress is fight-
has now led to a massive drop in U.K., European Union, France, Seychelles, Comoros, and names included two sitting ised by the Madiga Reservation ing from a position of relative
transits through the Suez Canal. and Germany stand as far as Madagascar). The ninth seat may MPs — Nama Nageswara Rao Porata Samiti leader, Manda confidence since five of its six
The diversion of ships to the Indian Ocean rivalries are be kept for the Maldives if it (Khammam) and Maloth Ka- Krishna Madiga, who wields guarantees have already been
longer route around the Cape of concerned? Geographic proximity adopts a sensible policy. This vitha (Mahabubabad). Had he considerable influence in the implemented, the BRS, which
Good Hope adversely affects all to the region demands that they group can be named the ‘Indian not acted in time, the two lead- community. But the rally did was strong just five years ago,
nations in the region, big or small. Both the take a clear line on China’s Ocean Cooperation Organisation.’ ers would have mostly left the not benefit the BJP in the As- seems to be fighting in desper-
The new chain of developments Western Indian activities. While they are Third, Foreign Affairs Insights & party, say sources. sembly elections. ation to prevent more fissures
is set to expand the Chinese Navy’s Ocean and the concerned about Beijing’s illegal Review ranked the Indian Navy the But the BRS remains wary of in the party. The BJP is trying
footprint in the region. Its broad claims in the South China Sea, seventh most powerful in the the intentions of its remaining Upsetting leaders within to induct as many leaders from
Northern Indian
objective is to assert dominance. they must see that a similar kind of world. As India aims to become MPs. Mr. Rao and BRS execu- Meanwhile, the BJP too is busy the rival parties so that it can
With the Maldives as a willing Ocean have assertiveness and hostile intent is the third largest economy, it tive working president K.T. Ra- inducting leaders from other better its 2019 tally. It looks like
partner, Beijing lost little time in become active building up in the Indian Ocean should find new budgetary ma Rao have been holding parties. The State leadership the outcome will depend to a
announcing a new agreement geographies too. Each of these players seeks resources for its Navy to make it meetings with leaders at the seems to have taken the Cen- considerable extent on the per-
under which unspecified military again closer economic and security the third or fourth strongest. parliamentary constituency le- tral leadership’s aim of 400- formance of the turncoats.

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FIFTY YEARS AGO MARCH 19, 1974

Grant of leave to MPs

during Parliament session
questioned
New Delhi, March 18: Can a Member of
Parliament be granted leave of absence from the
sittings of the House for attending to work
relating to his factory or constituency? The Lok
Sabha was faced with this question for the first
time to-day.
The question was posed by Mr. Hiren
Mukherjee (CPI), when the Speaker put before
the House the report of the Committee on
absence of members. According to convention,
the report is passed without discussion, but
Prof. Mukherjee raised some issues of principle.
He said that according to the report, two
members, whom he declined to name, had been
recommended leave for 57 days and 27 days
respectively for work relating to their
constituencies.
Another member had been recommended
leave for 59 days because of trouble in his
factory. These recommendations, according to
Mr. Mukherjee, were “intriguing.”
He said Parliament had made ample provision
for members to visit their constituencies when
the House was sitting.
“We are here not as delegates of
constituencies. We are representatives of the
people of India happening to represent a
particular constituency,” Mr. Mukherjee added.
He could not understand a member not
attending to parliamentary work, because of
trouble in some factory of farm. These were
symptomatic of the “decline and disarray”
which parliamentary life had reached.

A HUNDRED YEARS AGO MARCH 19, 1924

Agriculture in India
London, March 17: Lord Pentland presiding
to-day at the lecture by Sir Alfred Chatterton on
utilisation of India’s underground water urged
that the Government of India should come to
the rescue of the ryot and enable him to employ
increased water facilities resulting from the
latest scientific research. Sir Alfred Chatterton
pointed out that the future progress of well
irrigation in India depended on less expenditure
methods of lifting water. He mentioned that the
area under well irrigation had not increased in
20 years, while the area under state works had
increased by 50 per cent.
CM A BM-BME
YK