It is instructive to note how India is engaging high dignitaries like President of India in enhancing its global profile abroad. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi steers the ship of India’s diplomacy in tandem with India’s no-nonsense Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and his deputies, Constitutional dignitaries like the President of India, the Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar and the Speaker of Lok Sabha Om Birla and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Shri Harivansh have been playing a very significant role in promoting ties and friendship with various countries in their own inimitable ways. At a time when India is bidding for the membership of UNSC, India needs to reach out to countries canvassing their support. Certain pattern is discernable in India’s global diplomacy conducted by high political dignitaries. In accordance with his policy of neighbourhood first’, Prime Minister Modi prioritises outreach to the neighbouring countries and countries in India’s extended neighbourhood and the two major countries-USA and Russia. It is through perseverance and proactive policy that India is regaining significant diplomatic space from the Chinese influence in India’s neighbourhood and in the Indian Ocean Region in littorals like Maldives and Mauritius. While Dr S Jaishankar engages in difficult dialogue and parleys preparing the pitch for summit meetings, Prime Minister Modi clinches the final outcome at the highest political level. In this exercise of diplomatic outreach, high dignitaries like the President of India, who is the head of the State is not unnecessarily burdened with onerous diplomatic issues commensurate with exalted constitutional position. At the Parliamentary level, the Speaker of Lok Sabha and deputy Chairman Rajya Sabha engage the institutions like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) to create awareness and explain India’s stance on global issues. The recent visit of President Smt. Draupadi Murmu to Portugal and Slovakia eloquently demonstrates her diplomatic acumen and sagacity.
President Smt. Draupadi Murmu Cements Ties with Portugal and Slovakia (Rup Narayan Das – Vivekananda International Foundation)
Related articles
