Out of Russian Orbit?

 India may have enough reasons to disentangle itself from Russia‘s orbit, even while not embracing the West with undue warmth at this stage, but the truth is that the West is misinterpreting India‘s position. Ever since the Ukraine war began, it has been India‘s consistent position in all fora that war and violence must give way to negotiation and peace

“This is not the era of war” is what PrimeMinister Modi had told Russian President Vladimir Putin on 16 September at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The statement made western countries like America and France erupt in rapture. Further, reversing its earlier position of abstaining from voting at the UN on resolutions against Russia, India has voted twice ~ in August and September ~ for allowing Ukrainian President Zelensky to address the UN General Assembly (UNGA) virtually.

On 23 September, while addressing the UNGA, India’s External Affairs Minister Mr S Jaishankar articulated India’s position before world leaders in the most unambiguous terms. With the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov looking on, he said, “As the Ukraine conflict continues to rage, we are often asked whose side we are on. And our answer, each time, is straight and honest. India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there. We are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding principles. We are on the side that calls for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way out.” Before ending his address, he reiterated: “We believe and advocate that this is not an era of war or of conflict. On the contrary, it is a time for development and for cooperation…let us strive to return to the course of seeking peace, progress and prosperity.” All these elated the Western countries, which have not concealed their disappointment at India’s continued purchase of Russian oil at a discounted price even though they themselves have been buying Russian energy while continuing to arm Ukraine. They took these statements as indicative of a final shift of India’s position vis-à-vis Russia, reckoning this as India’s gradual coming out of the Russian orbit to begin its Western slide.