Why RSS has picked one group of India’s former ambassadors over another https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egmCN48LMi8 Jyoti Malhotra asks why the Forum of Former Ambassadors, which is in close touch with the RSS, is embarrassed about its affiliation and what the differences are with another group of retired Indian ambassadors, including former National Security Advisor Shiv Shanker Menon and former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran
https://theprint.in/opinion/global-print/indias-retd-diplomats-divided-on-modi-foreign-policy-rss-has-picked-team/673467/ India’s retired diplomats are divided on Modi’s foreign policy. RSS has picked its team
The big difference between Forum of Former Ambassadors of India and the Constitutional Conduct Group is that the RSS seems to take a keen interest in one...The big difference, of course, between FOFA and CCG is that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) takes a keen interest in the former. Senior and powerful RSS leaders like Krishna Gopal and Dattatreya Hosabale, the number-two man in the organisation only next to Mohan Bhagwat, have addressed FOFA meetings. While Chandra Wadhwa, RSS functionary in charge of the RSS’ ‘vishesh sampark’ or ‘special initiatives’ project, and India Foundation trustee, is the only non-ambassador who regularly posts RSS documents on the Forum’s WhatsApp group.
What critics of PM Modi’s foreign policy are ignoring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egmCN48LMi8
Those faulting the Modi government’s foreign policy as if there are serious departures from the past miss the clear continuities in key areas under the UPA and the NDA governments. The BJP government under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee made India nuclear, engaged the US government in strategic discussions to resolve the nuclear issue, which eventually led to the India-US nuclear deal under PM Manmohan Singh’s government.
The dialogue with Pakistan broke down under the previous government and the impasse endures. ..
Where PM Modi has imposed his thinking and personality more markedly at the international level is in the active wooing of the Indian diaspora. He has been able to galvanise them with his oratory and his message of confidence in India’s future. PM Modi has also promoted India’s soft power and its cultural and religious heritage as a tool of foreign policy which his predecessor did not. In 2014, the UN declared June 21 as Yoga Day annually. The new areas he has explored, such as leveraging our cultural soft power, are add-ons to a basic continuity, not diversions from it.