Good for India
We can expect Truss’ premiership to benefit us, given her tough stance vis-à-vis China
The mainstream media loves to lambaste and lampoon Rightwing leaders. Their shortcomings are magnified a million times and achievements shrunk in similar proportions. US president Ronald Reagan was ridiculed as a trigger-happy cowboy who mistook world politics for the Wild West; George Bush Jr was the butt of jokes among journalists; and Donald Trump was not just continuously mocked but also viciously maligned. In our own country, BJP leaders are often denounced not for what they say or do but for being what they are, for their political beliefs. So it should not come as a surprise that even before she took oath as British Prime Minister, Mary Elizabeth Truss began attracting uncharitable comments from political analysts. Perhaps this has something to do with her identification with Margaret Thatcher, the legendary British PM who, along with Reagan, brought down the Soviet Union. Thatcher, by the way, was another hated figure among the liberal establishment which is increasingly being infected with all manner of Leftist viruses. Truss has already been called a political chameleon; she has been depicted as a leader whose stand on any issue is a function of expedience, not of principle. Once she was a Republican, favouring the abolition of monarchy, but now she, as a Conservative leader, seems to have discarded her antipathy towards monarchy. She opposed Brexit, but eventually went for it. All politicians, even great statesmen, change their views and give considerable concession to pragmatist policies, but Rightwing politicians are slammed more than others. Truss is no exception.
Third woman Prime Minister after Thatcher and Theresa May, Truss has promised to cut taxes and deal with a growing energy crisis. A massive economic crisis greets Truss, with inflation at 13 per cent, the highest in four decades, and projected by Goldman Sachs to climb to 22 per cent. Deutsche Bank has warned of the risk of a balance of payment crisis. The fiscal situation is also tight. Against this backdrop, Truss’ insistence on no new taxes and less regulation will help, because it will help the economy. From India’s perspective, her term should be good. She is likely to soon sign the comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) with India. India is convinced of that. Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said the “Diwali deadline is not going to be missed. Mark my words.” Also, Truss is quite tough on China. In a speech earlier this year, she said, “China and Russia have spotted an ideological vacuum and they’re rushing to fill it. They are emboldened in a way we haven’t seen since the Cold War. As freedom-loving democracies, we must rise up to face these threats. As well as Nato, we are working with partners like Australia, India, Japan, Indonesia and Israel to build a global network of liberty.” Such an attitude will help India counter a bellicose China better. In a nutshell, we can expect that Truss’ premiership will benefit us.
Source: The Pioneer
