One Take | ‘Diplomatic Strike’ Against Canada: Modi’s Int’l ‘Show of Strength’ Will Work Back Home in 2024 LS Polls

Just as the campaign was heating up before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was giving the opposition parties, who too were confident of a comeback, a run for their money, came the news of surgical strikes by India in response to the killing of the Indian Army jawans.

A senior opposition leader, who is no more, had told this reporter: “The campaign is over for us. Indians will always back a party that looks strong. Patriotism is an invincible weapon and we will be defeated.” The prediction came true and the BJP won with a thumping majority.

In fact, in 2014, the “weak prime minister” tag for Dr Manmohan Singh and the many acts of terror clicked for Narendra Modi. He was able to sell the dream of a safer and stronger India to the voters.

His image of being a strong PM continues to work for Modi. Plus, the increase in the global stature continues to be the USP of the Modi regime.

As we head towards another Lok Sabha election, all eyes are again focused on the international scene and India’s standing. Even more so with the fracas between India and Canada over the Khalistan issue.

INDIA-CANADA STANDOFF

Canada PM Justin Trudeau had to hear some strong words from the PM and he went back with a huge issue at hand. He has now lost his goodwill in India and Canada. Supporting pro-Khalistani elements back home is a political and survival compulsion for Trudeau. However, this is India’s “zero tolerance zone”.

India has talked tough and geared up global support in favour of India’s stand on the issue. Countries namely the United States and United Kingdom (UK) have begun to see India’s point. Not just this, international platforms such as the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) summit are being used to convey India’s strong stance.

STRONG-ARM TACTIC

This works ahead of the Lok Sabha polls too. Once again, the BJP will push the Canada issue and India’s strong-arm tactic to make the point that India will never allow anyone to jeopardise its national security, even if the countries concerned are powerful and influential.

The BJP knows very well that the Congress cannot afford to disagree on this, as it has lost one of its prime ministers to Khalistani elements.

In Punjab, this standoff with Canada has got the Sikhs worried as their livelihood depends on Canadian dollars. However, the BJP has calculated that the larger cause of India is more important.

For the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is aware that a compromise for the sake of Punjabis won’t help nationally.

Nation first. And the “lal aankh” to Canada will bring electoral dividends to the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.