India has effectively avoided a predicament similar to that of Bangladesh by averting foreign involvement meant to destabilize the nation. Despite attempts by outside powers to create instability, India’s government has taken aggressive measures to ensure that the nation remains a haven for democratic values.
The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, has announced that a committee headed by the adg ADG of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Eastern Command of the Indian Army has been established to keep an eye on the situation along the borders between Bangladesh and India. To guarantee the security of Indian citizens, Hindus, and other Ethanic minorities residing in Bangladesh, the committee will collaborate closely with its colleagues in Bangladesh.
Experts have evaluated the steps the government is taking to address these issues.
Experts have evaluated the steps the government is taking to address these issues. The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) senior fellow Abhijit Iyer Mitra attributes the avoidance of any harm to India’s robust foreign policy and stringent control over funding to non-governmental organisations abroad. He draws attention to the fact that organizations with vested interests, such as Omidyar and Hindenburg, have been purposefully critical of India; but, the government’s firm stance has kept them from doing any harm.
Expert in political economy and foreign policy Pramit Pal Chowdhury notes that since 1971, Hindus in Bangladesh have been the victim of deliberate attacks motivated by both political and religious factors. He compares the methods employed by the Pakistani army during the 1971 genocide, which resulted in the purposeful eradication of the Bengali intelligentsia, to the deliberate targeting of Hindus in Bangladesh. These old grudges have fueled the turmoil that has recently occurred in Bangladesh, adding to the region’s already high level of instability.
Incidents like the Farmer’s Agitation in recent times have demonstrated the capabilities of Indian authorities to handle these kinds of situations. The Indian government resisted foreign attempts to harm the nation’s reputation and sway public opinion, including those of American pop singer Rihanna and environmentalist Greta Thunberg. Instead, it grew stronger and more resilient. Most people concur that India has become a more powerful nation dedicated to maintaining democratic principles and safeguarding national security since Prime Minister Modi took office.
