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Israeli Elections: Process, outcomes and what lies ahead

March 28, 2015March 28, 2015 - by India Writes Network

The campaign slogans showed a stark divide. Likud’s “It’s us or them” and Zionist Union’s “It’s us or him”, made the campaign personal and, as several media outlets called it, a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership. He has been in power since 2009, and the economy worsened and the peace process stalled. However, Bibi’s last-minute acrimonious campaign for right wing votes seems to have paid off.
By these elections, Israelis have shown that homeland security remains central. The peace process seems to be stalled yet again. Soon after the election results, PA official Erekat said that in light of Mr Netanyahu’s statements, it was clear that “there is no partner on the Israeli side”.
For India, the election results mean business as usual. The bilateral relations have been on an upsurge since the NDA government took over, which looks forward to buttressing ties on homeland security, defence (Israel is the third largest arms supplier) and agriculture. Israel has a robust high-technology agriculture research and implementation programme, especially suited to dry land agriculture (majority of Indian agriculture remains drought/ desertification prone). Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Israel last year after the warm exchanges between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Modi on sidelines of the UNGA meet in Washington last year.

Myanmar’s conflicts and its regional dimensions

March 28, 2015March 28, 2015 - by India Writes Network

The delicate relationship between Myanmar and China has once again been exposed following Myanmar’s air bombing on March 13, targeting ethnic rebels. Instead, the bombing killed five Chinese farmers in …

Bharat Ratna Vajpayee: Rejoicing across the political divide

March 27, 2015March 28, 2015 - by India Writes Network

It’s rarely that the president of India drives down to confer honours, but Atal Bihari Vajpayee is in a league of his own.
In a departure from protocol, President Pranab Mukherjee travelled to Mr Vajpayee’s residence at Krishna Menon Marg in Lutyen’s Delhi and presented India’s highest civilian award to the three-time prime minister of India, a living legend and the charismatic politician-statesman who towers above ideologies and partisan agendas.
A towering political personality, Mr Vajpayee, known for his dazzling oratory, formidable diplomatic skills, and political acumen, successfully led the first non-Congress government for a full five-year term. He headed the first NDA government as the 11th Prime Minister of India, first for 13 days in 1996, second time for 13 months from 1998-mid 1999, and then from 1999 to 2004.
For once, ideological and partisan bickering was out; there was rejoicing across the spectrum for the conferral of the honour on the leader-statesman who is fondly esteemed by his admirers as ‘Swadeshi Nehru.’
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who sparred with Vajpayee and his party many a time, hailed Bharat Ratna for Vajpayee, saying it is a “fitting recognition” to his wisdom, statesmanship and deep commitment to national interest.