A decision without forethought (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: International Relations
Prelims level: Citizenship Amendment Act
Mains level: Impact of Citizenship Amendment Act on India’s foreign policy

Context:

• The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019 has had huge consequences on both the domestic and foreign policy front.

Impact on international relations:

• In India, widespread protests that began in the Northeast are now raging across the country.
• On the international front, soon after the protests broke out, two Bangladesh ministers cancelled their visit to India, the Japanese Prime Minister postponed his visit to the country and the annual India-Japan summit was cancelled.
• India’s ambitious development plans and strategic diplomacy, the question that arises is whether the Central government factored in the ramifications of the CAA on India’s Act East Policy and its potential side effects on the country’s relationship with foreign stakeholders heavily invested in the Northeast.

Repercussions on various fronts:

• For India with ASEAN nations, the Northeast is also the springboard for India’s engagement with Southeast Asia.
• This is precisely why New Delhi roped in Tokyo to fulfill its ambitious plan of expanding its global footprints via development in the Northeast.
• As part of its Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy, Japan has been investing in the Northeast in a big way.
• Tokyo decided to invest ₹13,000 crore in different projects in the Northeast. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is actively engaged in building Northeast road network connectivity, water supply projects and economic modernisation of the region.
• It will be financing the construction of India’s longest bridge between Dhubri in Assam and Phulbari in Meghalaya.
• Japan has contributed official development assistance loans for the North East Road Network Connectivity Improvement Project.
• Private Japanese organisations are also financing a host of developmental projects in the region.
• It is but natural that the CAA protests and Internet shutdowns in the region would have come as a huge shock to Japan and its investment plans in the region which hinge on stability and a business-friendly environment conducive.
• The government could have done well to analyse how such a decision would affect the economic development of the Northeast.
• Japan has a rethink on these development projects, will it do so keeping in mind only the Northeast or the rest of India too?
• JICA is involved in various big-ticket infrastructure projects in Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Odisha, etc.
• The volatility of the Northeast can possibly be a setback to the collaborative efforts between India and Japan in providing an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• As being a development partner, Japan is also a member of the Quad, which came into existence to counter Chinese economic prowess and unlock India’s potential in the Indo-Pacific. \
• Most importantly, when Kashmir is already volatile, for India has difficult to afford to open another frontier of vulnerability in the Northeast.

Viewed with suspicion

• India has been described as the “Internet shutdown capital of the world”.
• Senior political leaders are under detention, Parliament is passing laws to grant religion-based citizenship to migrants of selected countries, and the youth of the country is out on the streets protesting.
• The Indian economy is already going through a rough phase and the loss of investor confidence will only add to our woes.

Conclusion:

• At the global level, India has always been respected for its diversity and inclusive character.
• It is because of parochial decisions like the CAA that India will now join the rank of nations which are viewed with suspicion because of their political and economic climate.
• Instead of being on an expansion mode, thanks to the government India will now be on an explanatory mode.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), consider the following statements:
1. Integral Coach Factory (ICF) is a manufacturer of rail coaches located in the neighbourhood of Perambur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
2. It was established in 1940.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) None of the above

Ans: A
Mains Questions:
Q.1) The government’s decision to implement the CAA has thrown the Northeast into turmoil and shaken investor confidence. Will this not shake investors’ confidence and dent the ease of doing business in India? Comment.