VIVEK : Issues & Options Magazine - May - June 2014

In this issue

Two major developments on the domestic and international fronts have taken place since the publication of our last issue.

On May 16 came a historic electoral verdict wherein the world’s largest democracy voted for a single party majority Government in over two decades. For the first time, a person born after the country attained independence and belonging to humble origins came to occupy the top post in what was clearly seen as a quest for change, a dream for development and an assertion of identity by the majority community which has hitherto felt neglected and frustrated by the minority vote bank politics pursued by most political parties.

NDA.02 has begun its innings on a positive note reaching out to neighbouring countries with which India has shared uneasy ties over the last decade, taking harsh though unpopular economic decisions in the nation’s long term interests, bringing in efficiency and accountability in the work culture and functioning of the Government machinery and a strong emphasis on delivery.

The crisis in Iraq, the not so encouraging Monsoon and very high expectations of the people are among the immediate challenges before the Narendra Modi Government. The nation by and large has responded positively to the bold steps so far and one sincerely hopes that the Government obtains the desired results that would enable India to scale greater heights in all its endeavours.

On the international front, the Iraq situation following the success of the Islamist ISIS is a matter of deep concern both to India and the international community. Apart from apprehensions about oil supplies and hike in fuel prices as also safety of Indian nationals (many of them have been safely brought back to the country), the far reaching implications of growing Islamism on the Indian sub continent cannot be ignored.