ESSENTIAL LINKS OF DIPLOMACY

‘kis important for the Union government to involve states—particularly those sharing cultural ties and shared resources with neighbouring nations—in foreign policymaking to ensure smooth and effective diplomacy

- DIPANKAR DEY

On September 16, Mayor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) received a message from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), denying him the necessary permission to attend a BRICS meet in Russia. It is reported that the Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim’s planned trip to Moscow to attend BRICS summit was denied clearance by MEA citing “political reasons”.

Due to the denial of permission by the Centre, Firhad Hakim will not be able to attend the BRICS summit in Russia next month. It is learnt that Hakim was invited to the international summit and was reportedly the only mayor to have been invited. However, reports claim that plans were afoot to send a KMC delegation prior to his visit since the civic body has lately been focusing on improvement of drainage system in Kolkata and for which the mayor wanted to borrow ideas about the management of such systems. The International Municipal Forum of the BRICS countries is an important platform for the exchange of experience and ideas between representatives of regional and municipal governments from the BRICS countries, as well as for building effective business communications with entrepreneurs from Russia and other partner countries.

Analysts believe that such a decision by the Union government only reflects the unhealthy relation which the Bengal government has with the former. Many claim that the Modi government decided to deny permission so that no random statements are made at the international forum that may show the Indian government in a bad light.