Indian Opportunity In US-China Chill

US Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor’s visit to India prior to taking formal charge coincided with President Donald Trump significantly ratcheting up the trade war with China by imposing an additional 100 per cent tariff. The US action came in response to China’s decision to restrict export of rare earths and processing technology. It marks a new low in ties and raises doubts about Trump’s likely meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea later this month. Though the international situation, including in the immediate neighbourhood, remains challenging for India, the turn of events may offer room to manoeuvre despite Trump’s propensity to be swayed by transactional considerations.

At a time when it is looking to stare down China in a tense trade war, it is not useful for the US to heighten discord with India. The word is that considerable progress has been made in the India-US trade talks and an announcement, possibly after the Bihar election results are out on November 14, is on the cards. As long as China’s relations with the US remain unsettled—and it does seem that this might be the case for some time—Beijing has little incentive to raise the ante with India. China continues to reach out to India providing an opportunity for concrete progress over demobilisation of troops on the borders and predictability in exports of critical supply-chain materials to India. China mostly tends to view India through the US lens with relations improving when it feels the need to counter American influence. The turmoil caused by Trump’s actions may possibly induce China to consider relations with India in their own right.

Tharoor Waits for A Response

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, often at odds with the party leadership, has proposed a political path that differs from BJP’s rightwing policies and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc’s identity politics. So far, there has not been much of a reaction, even from Congress leaders who were part of the G23 group that strongly differed with Rahul Gandhi. Tharoor says his formulation of “radical centrism” is not esoteric and looks beyond ideological divides. His argument that Congress’ narrative is not moving beyond the already converted has merits, but is unlikely to change anything in the party.

Save Deepavali from Experts

The Supreme Court has indicated it will take into account public sentiment and evidence that pollution due to firecrackers on Deepavali is transient while considering the Delhi government’s plea to permit “green” fireworks. This has predictably annoyed ‘experts’ who dominate opinion columns. The argument that de-legalising only drives a market underground is often trotted out while making a case for contentious issues such as recreational drugs. But not so for Deepavali despite the evidence that the ban is widely violated. It does seem the term ‘expert’ is highly abused in the public sphere.

Omar as Fitness Icon

Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has completed the Delhi Half-Marathon in 1:53:35, which is a very creditable achievement as he ran the challenging course at a very decent clip. Abdullah is no doubt a chip off the old block but differs significantly in habits from the senior Abdullah who loves to tuck into good food and was never known for an athletic lifestyle. Omar is shrewd enough to harp on regional identity and statehood but is able to come across as a ‘modernist’ at the same time. The Delhi run will stand him in good stead with younger voters.

Chirag’s Winning Hand

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has played his cards well. Though aligning with the RJD-Congress alliance was not an option, Chirag kept a distance from JD(U) and wrested 29 seats for his candidates in the Bihar election. In the 2020 Assembly election, LJP-RV won just one seat but in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party won all five seats it contested. While Chirag has managed a few extra seats, BJP is happy he is within NDA tent and JD(U) will not have to worry about LJP-RV hurting its nominees.

Mumbai Metro Scores A Hit

The new Mumbai Metro Line-3 has opened to an appreciative public response. As celebrities flock to post selfies, some of them are being reminded of their opportunistic opposition to the Aarey car shed. Mumbai Metro chief Ashwini Bhide, who is also additional chief secretary to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, explained that the Uddhav Thackeray-led government’s decision to shelve the Aarey shed affected the very feasibility of the new Aqua Line. In 2019, swayed by misplaced activism and hopes of gaining support of the chattering classes, the government had nixed the Aarey shed.

Pakistan Trumped in Afghanistan

US President Donald Trump is eyeing the Pakistan-Afghanistan “war”, having declared that this might be the eighth conflict he could defuse. Clearly, Trump views being passed over by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee a temporary setback. It will be interesting how Pakistan reacts to Trump’s offer. Endorsing Trump’s claims in the May 7-10 conflict with India was one thing, but accepting a US role in a country it conceitedly considers its “strategic depth” is another.