S N Aiyer
2017 was indeed an incredible year. On all fronts, the country flourished. From hard power areas of International diplomacy to the areas of sports and culture, there is a sense of success in the air when one sees the inspiration, diligent dedicated effort and above all, patriotic fervor at the very top.
Political
Under the able leadership of PM Modi, several important political developments across the country showed that 2017, (like 2016, 2015 and 2014) once again belonged to the BJP. All through the year, in the widest possible exercise of franchise in the country, right from the lowest democratic level of the panchayats to the highest seat of the President of the country, success at all levels was captured by the party, writing history in the process. Even as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it obvious that 2017 continued to have his personal charismatic touch as before, politically the year saw the BJP eclipse the opposition on all fronts.
Above all, the Presidential elections held on July 17 saw Ram Nath Kovindji entering the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and also the ascendence of party stalwart and veteran from South India Venkaiah Naidu as the VP after the Vice Presidential elections held on August 5, 2017. These two posts together are being held for the first time by such long timers from the BJP, who have a proven track record of yeoman public service and excellent personal character and intellectual credentials.
Continuing its stream of wins all around, the BJP added a significant feather to its cap when it very easily managed to get its party President Amit Shah enter the Rajya Sabha this year. The elections held in India on 21 July and 8 August 2017 elected ten members of the Rajya Sabha, further reducing the seats of the opposition in the Upper House.
At the State level, BJP got the most prominent catch for the year in Gujarat, where the party once again formed the government with a substantial vote-share, though with reduced number of seats. Even before that during the year, of the various States which saw polls, in Goa, Uttarakhand and most importantly, in UP, BJP easily and in grand fashion, captured the public mandate. If winning in UP in February was the feather in the cap of Team Modi, Gujarat & HP in the latter part of the year were the jewel in the crown! Certainly this bodes well for the year 2018 ahead with crucial elections due across the country in many BJP ruled States and Karnataka. Meanwhile, Congress, after facing drubbings almost on all fronts, should be happy that finally it is successful in crowning Rahul Gandhi as the dynastic heir of the party and could show some spirit in Gujarat campaign.
It is this area where 2017 saw Bharat shine far more internationally than in the past in terms of exercising its strategic strength, be it in Doklam with the ever troublesome China or in Outer Space – an area where it is becoming stronger and assertive than ever before. Thanks to the prowess and scientific acumen of Bharat’s Space scientists, the ISRO achieved success after success in 2017. Its major feat was on 15 February when in a spectacular and unprecedented World Record, ISRO launched the PSLV-C37 rocket which put into orbit as many as 104 satellites from seven countries. Our Defence unit, the DRDO continued to make giant strides in its dominance of counter strike capability with the Nuclear-Capable Agni-IV Missile tested successfully on Jan 2. These efforts show that in the critical strategic areas, Bharat is poised for even more to come in 2018, as the scientific & defence community make the country proud of them, driving fear and respect in the hearts of the enemies.
International
2017 also saw Bharat glow with pride on the world stage with the elite export control regime ‘Wassenaar Arrangement (WA)’ deciding for the first time to admit India as a member. Experts see this as a highly significant move, expected to raise our stature further in the field of non-proliferation besides helping acquire critical technologies. The WA membership is also expected to build up a strong case for India’s entry into the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Significantly, China is not a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement. In June 2016, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), another key export control regime inducted Bharat as a full member. No doubt, these are highly strategic gains as Bharat emerges stronger and the world community recognise and concede our rightful claims. The road ahead in 2018 in this sphere, with India continuing to maintain its principled stand against the discriminatory NPT, indicates that the global fraternity will have to take further cognisance of Bharat’s impeccable credentials in areas vital & critical for upkeep of global peace and tranquility, even as Bharat asserts its foreign policy objectives, quietly, but surely.
Bharat’s unique position as a bridge between civilisations & cultures, regions & alliances was understood clearly as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) too inducted Bharat as a full-fledged member. PM and Foreign Minister Swaraj strengthened ties across a wide spectrum, with PM driving home Bharat’s ties with highly profitable State visits to Germany, Spain, France, USA, Netherlands and Myanmar and multilateral deliberations too, such as with ASEAN. No doubt, this will grow in 2018, as the ASEAN Heads of State are to visit New Delhi as State Guests for the Republic Day, a never before and well thought out gesture. This suggests a well-coordinated and concerted effort to project Bharat’s linkages as it soars as an economic power.
Economic
In fact, economic considerations, perhaps, dominated 2017 as a never before event occurred which will definitely shape the country’s future: introduction of GST on August 15. The ceremony was a milestone like the 1947 independence achievement, notwithstanding the criticism from the opposition parties. Although widespread fears of an adverse impact on the economy were fuelled by vested quarters throughout the year, these were allayed in November 2017 as Bharat’s sovereign rating was upgraded by Global rating agency Moody’s Investors Services for the first time in 14 years. This, it was widely reported, was done after “taking cognisance of the ongoing reforms such as the new Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime and the mechanisms for resolving bad loans and re-capitalise ailing public sector banks”. India’s rise in the World Bank’s “ease of doing business” index with just in 30 positions is certainly a leap forward. The statement of Moody’s also noted steps due for 2018, where it felt “a lot remains to be done such as fixing the GST’s implementation challenges, weak private sector investment and the slow resolution of banking bad loans”. Clearly, these will be the priorities in 2018.
(The writer is Delhi based political analyst)
