In the second half of March (i.e. a month before the actual election process begins), in the midst of the pre-election situation in India, which is monitored more or less regularly by NEO, an event occurred which unexpectedly provoked a rather loud (and negative) international reaction. Of course, the fact of holding parliamentary elections in a country whose role in the current global political processes is becoming more and more prominent cannot but be the subject of external attention.
What we are talking about here is the arrest of the Chief Minister of the National Capital Region, Arvind Kejriwal. He is also the leader of the Common Man Party (AAP-The Aam Aadmi Party), which he founded in 2012. “The Common Man Party” (its Hindi acronym for the English transcription of its name is AAP). As one of the many “regional” parties in India, the latter is showing considerable success at various levels of the electoral process. According to Indian pundits, it is not unreasonable for it to claim the status of a national party in due course.
In opposition to the current ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the AAP, together with the oldest party, the Indian National Congress, and a number of others, forms the basis of the pre-election bloc with the telling name of INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), which will compete with the same BJP for victory in the forthcoming elections.
Commentaries in the Indian media on the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal point out that, for the first time in India’s modern history, the head of one of the country’s highest administrative bodies is behind bars. This was due to his repeated failure to comply with notices to appear before the investigating authorities to answer questions relating to the case of malpractice in the wine trade in the area under Arvind Kejriwal’s jurisdiction.
It should be noted that this decisive (and apparently forced) step by the law enforcement agencies came at a time when the domestic political situation has deteriorated in an unprecedented manner on the eve of the forthcoming elections. The leaders of the opposing political groups are fighting in the public and rhetorical space, as they say, “on the edge of the foul”, using any excuse to do so. The arrest of one of the opposition leaders was, of course, no exception.
The author of this article does not, of course, give his own assessment of this event and everything that followed in the process of the aforementioned internal political struggle, but only presents some necessary facts.
But in today’s global world, there are forces that have taken on the heavy burden of “policing political mores” (even though no one asked them to do so), which do not overlook any cases of “violations” of the latter. What is remarkable, however, is that the “violators” are overwhelmingly those who are not included in the (vague) list of “democracies”. Moreover, there are some very dubious countries in this respect, such as today’s Ukraine.
However, the work of the police “apparatus” has been dysfunctional for a long time, which in this case manifested itself in the form of accusations against some internal plan of action of the country, which is extremely important from the utilitarian-political point of view. Moreover, it is referred to (not without reason, we note) as “the largest democracy in the world”. We are talking about the negative remark made by a certain employee of the US State Department in connection with the arrest of A. Kejriwal.
It should be noted that this is not the first blunder in Washington’s general course of building almost allied relations with India. Earlier, similar remarks were made about the situation in Kashmir and the amendments to the Indian Citizenship Act adopted in March 2024. It should be noted that the latter, even at the stage of their introduction (four years ago), gave rise to serious sectarian unrest. There are signs of something similar happening today.
In such circumstances, one would stand aside and not interfere in the affairs of others. But no, and in the recent scandal between India and Canada (which almost led to a rupture in relations between them) over the murder of a certain functionary of the Sikh separatist movement on the latter’s territory, the US intelligence services “shone”.
And every time an Indian elephant, with its ears flapping loudly, raises an indignant and trumpeting diplomatic voice, it has to mumble something “official-explanatory” in response. In the case of A. Kejriwal’s arrest, which, we repeat, was commented on by a State Department employee, the Official Spokesperson for the Department, Matthew Miller, played the role of “clarifier” on 28 March.
In general, there is nothing but hypocrisy here. On the territory of the “police” state itself, the main candidate for the presidency is being suppressed by all possible means (including the same prosecution).
It is curious, however, that this time there were hardly any willing to “condemn” along with Washington, even among its allies. With the notable exception of Germany (as well as an official representative of the UN Secretary General, whom we will leave without comment).
However, given the confusion in the system of state administration in today’s Germany, no less than in the US, it can hardly be said that the “concern” expressed on behalf of the Foreign Office in connection with a particular domestic event in India reflects the opinion of the entire German government in this case. Not to mention the people of the country, who are probably not even aware of the existence of such a “problem”.
Be that as it may, it is now represented on the international stage (apparently for some sins already committed) by a champion of the fight against “climate change” who skilfully jumps on a trampoline. Through the efforts of its ministry, the FRG was the only country on the European continent that found it possible to support its overseas “big brother” in his obvious interference in India’s internal affairs. Which, we repeat, is emerging before our very eyes as one of the most important participants in the current stage of the “Great World Game”.
One can only sympathise with the current (“traffic light”) German government led by Olaf Scholz, which is trying to somehow follow the national interests of its own country. In particular by maintaining a personal relationship of trust with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi.
In this context, it seems appropriate to quote the author’s interpretation of a sensational (“overheard”) conversation between senior officers of the Bundeswehr, which apparently contained a specific message of warning to the Russian Federation. It went something like this: “We inform you that in Ukraine some of our allies, such as the French and the British, are shooting at you on the ground, in the air and at sea. They are pushing us as well, but we are still holding out”.
In general, the addressee was already more or less aware of this, but thanks for the testimony, as they say, from the “other camp”. Considering the way the “friendly family of Western countries” has treated Germany’s most important infrastructure project in the Baltic Sea, such an “information leak” can by no means be called a betrayal.
Especially since the painful operation on the parasitic boil on the body of Europe, in the person of the same Ukraine (not the only one in the post-Soviet space, but the largest), is being carried out for the common benefit of all Europeans. Including (perhaps first and foremost) the Ukrainian people itself, if the part of it that is beyond the reach of the Kiev regime remembers the period under the rule of the clowns as a terrible dream.
Incidentally, we should note the diversity of the latter, among whom there are also pathetic imitators (“restorers”) of one of the largest mass movements of the first half of the XX century (which is generally remembered first and foremost by them). But, of course, it is not the notorious “fascism” that is at the heart of the Ukrainian people’s current troubles, but another aggravation of a specific disease called “Mazepovshchina”. Which, once again (as 300 years ago), is being used by some of the world’s leading players for their own benefit.
Be that as it may, with joint efforts and for the common good, it is necessary to roll back the Ukrainian project, the fruit of many years of myth-making and simply ridiculous fantasies, as well as unscrupulous international political games. It has proved to be completely unviable and is poisoning the life of the entire European continent. This should be taken into account by those potential mediators in the Ukrainian conflict who sincerely seek its peaceful resolution.
This includes pro-Russian India, which once again wants to get through the upcoming election cycle, which is extremely important for it, without any major upheavals.
Vladimir TEREKHOV, expert on the problems of the Asia-Pacific region, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”