10 DEMOCRACY AT WORK | 19 JANUARY 2020 >

Unconvincing arguments DID THEY REALLY SAY THAT? CHECKLIST Now that the formal announcement has been made, the full story can be told of all THE BJP’S NEXT CHALLENGE: RAJYA SABHA the ways the bureaucracy tried to prevent the creation of the office of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and the Department of Military Affairs (DMA); and how the n Where: In the Rajya Sabha where with 83 seats is expected to suffer after the BJP’s stunning Prime Minister weighed in. out of 245, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does victory in the last Assembly elections. So the The outgoing Chief of Army Staff Gen. Bipin Rawat was to have become the CDS. not have a majority on its own. Ordinarily, this Samajwadi Party’s tally in the upper house might He was to retire on December 31. The CDS was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on wouldn’t have mattered given that the party has a go down further. Intriguingly, there is no clarity on CHATTERBOX Security on December 24. Top bureaucrats kept advising the PM to rethink the pro- network of friends, visible and invisible. But in the the seats from Jammu and Kashmir which was posal because of the “disquiet” in the bureaucracy. The retirement age of 65 and fraught political atmosphere in the country today, downgraded to a Union Territory and is under parity between the CDS and the cabinet secretary were presented as manifestations being at the mercy of friends who have their own President’s rule right now. of this disquiet. It was also highlighted that unless the gazette notification was issued agendas is not a secure place to be in. Therefore, n How: The Rajya Sabha elections are held before December 31, Gen. Rawat could not progress from army chief to CDS in a the government would like to ensure it has a indirectly on the basis of an electoral college seamless manner. degree of autonomy of action in the upper house. comprising MLAs from each state Assembly. MLAs In response, PM Narendra Modi told officials he wanted it done the next day. n When: As many as 69 MPs will retire from the don’t vote for seats — they vote for candidates Whatever the sense of disquiet, no bureaucrat was brave enough to disobey the PM. upper house this year: 51 in April alone. Not much based on preference. The more state Assemblies in will change in the BJP’s favour because in the which a party is in power, the more will be its A new fan interim, some states in which they had a majority representation in the upper house. “Mamata Banerjee is the chief minister of West n Deepika Padukone has an unlikely admirer: Former foreign minister K Natwar Singh! Bengal and not the leader of the entire country. are now with the Opposition. In Maharashtra, What it means: While the BJP will continue to be Singh writes that Padukone did no wrong by visiting the Jawaharlal Nehru University At least she should understand her constitutional where seven MPs retire, the BJP will have to exert the single largest party, its hopes of getting a (JNU). He says: “I have never met Deepika Padukone, nor have I seen any of her duties." itself to ensure its tally does not fall, now that the majority in the upper house have been dashed by films. From time to time, I have seen her photographs in magazines. By any standards, Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, in New Shiv Sena-led opposition alliance is in power. In a rash of recent Assembly election losses, she is a stunningly beautiful lady.” Delhi on January 16 (11 seats up for grabs), the Opposition especially in big states like Maharashtra.

Soon thereafter, the BJP lost Jharkhand. The Ramakrishna Paramahansa — all paths no mat- OPINION fact that the BJP government was not working ter how contradictory they may appear — all lead for forest rights of the tribal people did not help. to the same goal. The next generation that pro- MICHAEL POMPEO No one is complaining about electronic voting duced Gandhi, Tagore and Azad practised the machines (EVMs) any more. It seems voters in cosmopolitan version of Hinduism and Islam. are casting their ballot on clear economic The idea of living with, accepting and learn- issues in many states. The forthcoming Delhi ing from diversity is an integral part of national ‘Have re-established election will test the idea of India once again. identity that cannot easily be challenged. It is the people of India who are batting for this idea When we attempt to study “the crowd” in the of India — cherished by the founding father deterrence but it’s demonstrations going on all over India, we and inscribed in the Constitution drafted find there is little in common among it. It is under the leadership of Dr. Ambedkar. These not the Navnirman movement; nor is it the spontaneous protests devoid of political cal- not everlasting’ Naxalbari uprising. There are young people culation and expressing the will of the people from (relatively) wealthy families as well as hold substantial promise for the people of was a young soldier back during the Cold War. You can have the middle class and the poor. There are India. Those very persons for whom the the greatest army in the world, but it doesn’t matter if you Muslims protesting as well as Hindus. How Constitution was made wish to abide by it. Iare not prepared to use it to achieve your strategic objectives. do you read it? They foresee the threats posed by an alterna- As one of your scholars here, Victor Davis Hanson, said, These current protests are neither tive idea of India.

“Deterrence is hard to establish and easy to lose.” ILLUSTRATION BY BINAY SINHA like the Navnirman movement What do we know about And let’s be honest. For decades, US administrations of led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) spontaneous, leaderless, both political parties never did enough against Iran to get the nor the Maoist revolt in organiSation-less movements? deterrence that is necessary to keep us all safe. The JCPOA Naxalbari. What was common to Is Indian democracy and the itself — the nuclear deal — made things worse. It enabled all these movements was political Indian state resilient and flexible that regime to create wealth, it opened up revenue streams leadership. And, there were par- enough to absorb this challenge? for the Ayatollahs to build up the Shiite militia networks, the ties behind these movements. In We do not know much about very networks — the very networks — that killed an American the case of the movement led by RAHUL MUKHERJI spontaneous leaderless move- and imposed enormous risk at our — to our embassy in Rahul Mukherji has previously taught at the National University of Singapore, Jawaharlal Nehru JP, his towering and uncompro- Professor & head of department ments like the ones described Baghdad. Rather than blocking those efforts, the deal put University in , Hunter College — City University of New York and the University of Vermont mising Gandhi-like presence was of political science, South Asia above. One would worry that Iran on a clear pathway to a nuclear weapon as well, some- (USA). His two most recent books include Globalization and Deregulation: Ideas, Interests and a pole star. Institute, Heidelberg University these causes may not last in the thing President Trump began his remarks by saying would Institutional Change in India and The Oxford India Short Introduction to the Political Economy of Today’s women and youth absence of political parties and never happen on our watch. Reforms in India. Here, he discusses contemporary political issues with Aditi Phadnis are openly expressing themselves leadership that naturally gives So what did we do? We put together a campaign of diplo- in favour of an alternative idea of inclusive shape to social movements. matic isolation, economic pressure, and military deterrence. India. Muslim women in Shaheen Bagh, many There is a positive side too. Political calcula- The goal is two-fold. First, we wanted to deprive the regime of them housewives devoid of high academic tions that drive parties do not always reflect cit- of resources, resources it needs to perpetrate its malign activ- ‘Voters casting ballot credentials, could teach scholars a lesson or two izen needs. Opposition parties are sometimes ity around the world. And second, we just want Iran to behave in political representation. They are saying that confused regarding whether or not this overt like a normal nation. Just be like Norway, right? (Laughter.) the Muslim in India is an Indian who will not support for the millennial idea of India will Diplomatically, allies and partners have joined us. They tolerate the status of a second class citizen. It is boomerang against them. After all, there could are today patrolling the Straits of Hormuz alongside of us in an affront to Indians if they have to produce be a silent majority that might vote the BJP with the Persian Gulf to stop Iranian attacks on shipping. Let us on clear economic special certificates to prove their identity under even greater fervour if it buys into Hindutva not forget how many ships the Iranians pulled from the straits the threat of NRC. Once upon a time the slogan nationalism as a harbinger of long-term over the past month. was “quit India” today it is “hum dekhenge” (we progress for the majority population of Hindus. Germany, France, Italy have all put travel bans on a com- will see!) and “kagoj amra dekhabo na” (paper, In this respect, it is truly remarkable that the pany called Mahan Air. It’s an Iranian airline that ferries mil- issues in many states’ we shall not show!). people of India are leading the polity where itary — Iranian military assets and weapons to the battle zones. The protests in Jamia and JNU have turned political parties often fear to tread. Was the con- Argentina and the United Kingdom have both now into nationwide campaigns. There are a number stitution, after all, not about: We the people? declared Hizballah a terrorist organisation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stormed back tistics are not a matter of fact. The prime min- of causes to struggle for. If higher education can The people of India have not only challenged And you have seen finally, too, the economic pressure that to power in 2019 — despite poor economic ister and his colleagues pretend that all is well. be free in Germany why not in India? Who will the ruling dispensation with the constitution, we have put in place to cut off roughly 80 per cent of the performance, a badly managed slowdown and Often statistics are sought to be hidden from take care of the poverty-stricken and talented they have also opened the eyes of the leadership Iranian oil revenues. We are determined to get at that last 20 high unemployment — on the back of the public gaze. But citizens must worry, when youth who must contribute to the country’s that sits in the Opposition. per cent, too. nationalist appeal. Is it all catching up with the onion prices and joblessness are at an all-time well-being? Should academic institutions be President Rouhani himself said that we have denied the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) now? Are street high, the government is only withholding sta- autonomous or should they be ruled by a par- Do established political parties need to change Iranian regime some $200 billion in lost foreign income and demonstrations on diverse issues a tistics and praising itsown performance. Many ty-state reminiscent of ones in many former the way they mobilise in the face of investment as a result of our activities. This is money that manifestation of economic discontentment? who voted the BJP now feel the pinch, be it communist and authoritarian regimes? spontaneous protest? Just when they thought would have in large measure gone to support the very activi- Economic discontent is a background condi- construction work, delayed MGNREGS pay- The manner in which recruitment, appoint- they had cracked the social media tool? But the ties that would have put you and your fellow citizens at risk. tion that is adding fuel to the fire of student ments, or factory or corporate job losses. It is ments and the fees in JNU were sought to be story seems to have gone beyond. And you can see it, too. The Iranian people are increasingly movements and other spontaneous move- noteworthythat 250 million Indians went on managed — along with caricaturing it as an ene- Political power has batted for all kinds of ideas angry at their own government for stealing their wealth and ments. To JNU, Jamia, Aligarh, and various strike on January 8. Many students who are my of the nation — it was clear that JNU was — such as those that produced the Hindu rate for the sake of violently spreading the regime at enormous other university campuses have now been now opposing the government would have also the target of the ruling dispensation. If JNU is of growth, as well as, those that led to the most cost to them. added the IITs and IIMs — the issue of eco- voted the BJP thinking that the prime minister such an evil institution, then one must also remarkable growth surge. India suffered sub- On the military side, we’ve warned the Iranians repeatedly nomic distress cannot be underestimated. would deliver on his long-standing promise: acknowledge the two alumni in the cabinet and stantial poverty and governance challenges. In — I’ve done so personally myself — that an attack that took Onion and vegetable prices that have driven a Sab ka saath, sab ka vikas (with everyone for numerous civil servants who run the country, response, politics and the state unleashed the American lives would not be tolerated. surge in the consumer price index, joblessness, their development). apart from its profound contribution to the life rights-based approach to compensate the poor. And they tested us, as they had tested previous adminis- even the worry that banks may put a limit on The strategy of distracting citizens with of the intellect. Not only is the current Nobel Politics was leading from the front, reading the trations as well many times before. Past laxity had embold- withdrawal, is bringing Hindus and Muslims Pulwama, Balakote, Citizenship Amendment Prize winner an alumni, scholars in JNU have aspirations of the poor and of those who create ened them. together on the platform of economic distress. Act (CAA) and the NRC has begun to contributed to the way India has debated its wealth for the country. But on December 27th, at Soleimani’s direction, we changed Prashant Kishore of the Janata Dal (United) was boomerang in the face of poor governance. The problems, and some even hold chairs in the That politics is missing today. On the one that. On the 31st, Iranian-backed militias attacked our embassy the first to point out that the National Register BJP is losing state-level elections when just a world’s renowned universities. hand Hindutva nationalism seeks to alter the in Baghdad and we changed that calculus for them. of Citizens (NRC) will divide India on a class few months ago it seemed that the BJP would The idea of India is much deeper than what millennial idea of India, while on the other, the The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said it perhaps basis because of the transactions costs associ- sweep the country. At that time, Mr. Modi went political parties with anointed leaders can imag- upholders of the dominant millennial tradition best. Had we not taken that strike against Qasem Soleimani, ated with the NRC. After all, did not the Assam all the distance to bat with the idea that nation- ine. For example, Swami Vivekananda, the who can contribute to the inclusive character our leadership — the recommendation that we made to NRC leave a lot of Hindus out? al- and the state-level elections should be held patron saint of the Indian renaissance, contend- of India so prominent in its federal character, President Trump — we would have been “culpably negligent” If the economy had been in a better shape, at the same time. Was India going to turn into a ed that the Indian tradition was so inclusive that seem to have lost the verve to lead from the had we not made that recommendation, imposed a significant the protests could be muted. It is possible that kind of “hybrid democracy” like Bangladesh Hinduism was not just about toleration but front. The people could lose despite their toil, if cost on the regime for their bad decision. Hindu-Muslim polarisation would have been with no Opposition? assimilation as well. His remarks at the politics did not find a way of incorporating ...And Iran hit back, and we’re grateful that no lives were even greater in that case. This optimism of the ruling party was some- Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 was them. This is a serious challenge where the lost, and we will never downplay the seriousness of any attack To add fuel to fire, the government is behav- what overturned when it could not form the the boldest expression of the cosmopolitan view promise of social mobilisation must meet with on the United States or its forces. But judging from the type ing as if the dismal rate of growth, and the dis- government in Maharashtra. Maharashtra is an at that time. He articulated the Vedantic ideal politics that protects and uplifts the character and intensity of the strike, the regime certainly must now graceful unemployment and consumption sta- important state considering its size and wealth. lived and experienced by his Master Sri of our Constitution. understand what we will do if they ever again pose risk to American lives. If Iran escalates, we will end it on our terms. President Trump reinforced that deterrence when he gave a set of remarks this past week. And these days Iran is making noise about leaving the nuclear deal. ...And our sanctions will continue until the regime stops Saving lives: One drop at a time its terrorist activity and commits to never having nuclear weapons and permits a verification regime which can give the world confidence that that will not take place. Swarnami Mondal on a Bengaluru-based organisation Facebook for — across all the ...We have re-established deterrence, but we know it’s not 214 blood banks in Karnataka. The organisa- everlasting, that risk remains. We are determined not to lose that is creating a database of voluntary blood donors to tion is now mentoring blood bank techni- that deterrence. In all cases, we have to do this. cians on using this Facebook tool towards We have to do this to defend freedom and liberty around ensure timely supply and prevent wastage creating a larger community of donors. It has the world. That’s the whole point of President Trump’s work, also partnered with AIDS prevention society to make our military the strongest it’s ever been. he Lancet Haematology study, pub- million units of blood required annually. Even to come up with concepts to cut down We saw, not just in Iran, but in other places, too, where lished in November 2019, points out if 1-2 per cent youngsters begin donating blood wastage of blood during medical procedures American deterrence was weak. We watched Russia’s 2014 T that India tops the chart when it comes regularly, we can bridge this gap.” such as transfusion. Khoon has come up with occupation of the Crimea and support for aggression against to unmet blood needs and that the country How did Khoon begin its journey? 100 ml and 50 ml blood sachets for blood Ukraine because deterrence had been undermined. We have needs to rethink its estimation of how much “It all began with a blood donation camp, transfusion in new-born babies who need resumed lethal support to the Ukrainian military. blood it needs in order to match its but the USP of this blood donation less blood than adults. ...For years, too, China has restricted access for American demands. The study says, globally, camp was its theme setting,” says What challenges does Khoon face? products in its markets, while demanding access for their stuff India is battling a shortfall of 41 mil- Chethan, who is now studying for a Chethan says, “Blood donation as an ecosys- here. We’ve made clear that we’re going to have a fair and lion units, and demand outstrips B.Tech in mechanical engineering. tem needs more support. Blood donation, reciprocal trading arrangement with China. We’ll demand it. supply by 400 per cent; the overall The camp tried to keep the mood preserving blood and prevention of wastage I hope, here in the next handful of hours, we sign the first part global shortfall is 100 million units. light with a musical concert. The — all of these needs training, mentorship and of what will be a significant agreement which will improve Thousands of lives each year is turnout was above expectation and funding.” He further says, “We can eradicate the lives of American citizens, raise wages for citizens here at lost due to shortage of blood. they managed to collect quite a lot shortage of blood in the country only if home, and increase the economic relationship between our Bengaluru-based Chethan Gowda of blood. “We figured this way we youngsters come up, donate and mobilise two countries on a set of terms that work for both China and faced a similar loss when his THE OTHER could attract more young people to others too.” for the United States. teacher died due to shortage of these blood donation drives and we Khoon is a 44-member strong team now There is a second mission, too. China has stolen massive blood. He realised there was a lack INDIA organised several such theme- and it has over 350 registered volunteers. quantities of American innovation, innovation created at cam- of channel connecting the donors based camps since 2016. In four puses right like this one I’m standing on — everything from to the recipients and awareness years, the NGO has collected over The road ahead genetically engineered crop seeds to self-driving car technol- around blood donation needed to be spread 87,000 signatories from all over India. Now we “Soon we want to create a similar network of ogy. They stole it. They didn’t have to invest or take risk. among youngsters. Chethan’s first-hand conduct six donation camps annually,” he donors for pets, specially cats and dogs. As of We’re making progress to make sure that the next part of encounter with blood crisis prompted him to says. Gowda donating blood at one of the camps now, there are only two Facebook groups work- the deal will improve on the IP protections that are in Phase start Khoon — an NGO which aims to resolve The initiative has successfully built a strong ing for this cause and many pets die due to One of the Chinese trade deal. blood shortage in India and motivates more database of over 4,000 donors in Bengaluru. arranged in Bhilai to bust myths around blood the want of blood. The plan is in process and people to donate blood — in 2016. The organisation spread its wings to the donation. this project will be done in collaboration with Edited excerpts from a speech by US Secretary of State, Michael Speaking to Business Standard, he says, “A Northeast in 2017, where a 24X7 blood helpline In 2019, Khoon stepped up its game in veterinary hospitals,” Chethan says. Khoon Pompeo at the Hoover Institute, Stanford University, California on The lack of awareness, incorrect information has been established. In 2018, Khoon forayed research and development and its area of also looks at creating training modules for Restoration of Deterrence: The Iranian Example, January 13 around blood donation in India are some of in Chhattisgarh’s Bhilai. Blood donation impact was North Karnataka. It partnered blood bank technicians in regional languages the main reasons behind us falling short of 3 camps and awareness programmes were with Facebook to implement the tool — in times to come. OPINION 11 > Volume XIII Number 44 MUMBAI | 19 JANUARY 2020

and the OECD has started discussions substantially escape the tax net. However, the very fact that large interna- Taxing the digital economy among its members. This is called the GAFA tax in French tional bodies are considering this, and There are several unusual aspects to discourse because it would directly affect major countries have imposed such taxes, this tax. For one, it is levied on revenue and Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple. It indicates that this has been a gigantic loop- Several corporate giants have benefited by avoiding taxes not on profit. It is also proposed to be appli- would also impact other companies small- hole for internet-based services. Indeed, cable to any entity that performs such dig- er in size. The EU reckoned that a flat tax the EU has spent several years debating ven as the US-China trade war France has started levying a digital tax ital services, regardless of its physical pres- across its member nations could generate such a tax before individual nations start- appears to have paused, another retrospectively with effect from January ence. The application of relatively high roughly ^5 billion in annual revenue. Since ed imposing it. But several EU nations dispute could be on the horizon. last year. Any entity providing a range of thresholds in terms of revenue is meant to the GAFA are US-based digital giants, the including Sweden, Finland, and Poland E This time, it could be the US ver- specified online services with revenues of insulate small businesses and start-ups. US government has naturally taken an have expressed reservations about this sort sus several major European Union (EU) ^25 million in France and global revenues The idea is to capture tax revenue from interest. Equally predictably, President of tax. But the OECD is even larger in terms nations, including France, Italy, Belgium, of ^750 million will have to pay 3 per cent companies that incorporate in tax havens, Donald Trump has threatened counter- of membership, and it has a bigger geo- The Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria and, of its French revenues under this new tax. and then supply digital services in large vailing sanctions on France, whose exports graphical spread and could suggest a tax even perhaps, the UK. The disagreement The services include “Provision of a digital markets without maintaining an official to the US are worth roughly ^25 billion. that was global in scope. Clearly, the con- centres on the levying of a new type of tax interface, targeted advertising, transmis- physical presence. Where physical exports Logically speaking, if the situation is not cept of such a tax is not going to disappear. on digital revenue. This may escalate into sion of user data for advertising are concerned, the EU’s laws on “inter-com- resolved, those sanctions would be extend- It remains to be seen if it morphs in format, a wider conflict, since the EU and the purposes”, and so on. The other nations munity acquisition of goods” mean that no ed to other EU nations with similar taxes, given American objections, but something Organisation for Economic Co-operation have either imposed similar taxes, or pro- VAT is payable, and profits, if any, are taxed and perhaps to the entire eurozone. Talks at akin to this is very likely to stay on the and Development (OECD) are looking at pose to do so soon with local variations on in the nation of incorporation. This enables Davos between the US treasury secretary table. The digital economy has benefited framing such taxes. This will be one of the revenue thresholds and defined services. free movements of goods and services and the French finance minister could from three decades of tax avoidance. largest areas of concern at the upcoming The EU hopes to have a uniform frame- across the EU but using such provisions obviate such a possibility. Attempts to bring it under the tax net could Davos Meet. work for such taxes in place by end-2020, also enables digital service providers to It’s unusual to levy a tax on revenue. lead to a trade war. China and the US push in West Asia How Indian IT can Beijing’s expanding footprint in this oil-rich region has set the stage for a competition with Washington drive global innovation

KESHAV MURUGESH digital economy by 2025 is actually well on target, which is likely to be 18-20 per cent of mid talks of a slowdown and a gen- the country’s nominal gross domestic prod- eral air of insecurity across global uct by then. A economies, India’s information technology (IT) and business process man- Skilling and scaling up agement (BPM) industry remains bullish As India paves its path to be a global eco- about driving growth through innovation nomic powerhouse, it is imperative to and skilling. Our ability to scale up these equip its working population with employ- efforts will be essential to the growth of ability skills. Today, India is one of the the sector across the world. youngest countries in the world with more India is set to lead a wave of optimism than 62 per cent of the population in the and innovation for industries world-wide. working age group (15-59 years) and more Its abundant intellectual and human cap- than 54 per cent of the total population ital will see it become a powerhouse of below 25 years of age. global innovation. That said, as a host of emerging tech- nologies change the future of work, the Think digital, think India IT-BPM industry faces massive disrup- The fourth industrial revolution that we tion. Of the industry’s four to five million are currently witnessing is being defined as employees, 1.5-2 million are expected to the new age of automation, driven by require re-skilling in the next four unprecedented technological advances. to five years. With the entire gamut of work activities Even though it’s the need of the hour, re- being increasingly automated, the impli- skilling is a gradual and steep learning cations for the global economy are mani- curve which is based on value creation and fold — the changing nature of work, job not a quantitative number. Businesses, roles being re-defined, and certain job roles workers and economies must finance and becoming redundant, leading to growth implement a re-skilling revolution as a crit- in new occupations and new roles. ical investment. The problem is too large to India continues to prove its ability to be handled alone, and needs a collaborative deploy digital at scale. The industry-level response. The role of the Indian IT industry India is steadily IT-BPM industry has stepped is to position India as a glob- working to up to the challenge, propelled al hub for innovation and co- become a pool of by Nasscom’s FutureSkills creation by imbibing the ide- market-ready initiative. The immediate ology of “think digital, think talent for the objectives include transform- India”. The aim is to drive the world at large, not ing 100 universities to supply focus towards emerging tech- just for domestic digital talent, and up-skilling nologies, digitally skilling tal- needs. Its ample an additional two million pro- US President Donald Trump with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He before signing the trade agreement with China at the White House on January 15, 2020 PHOTO: PTI ent and ensuring that the intellectual and fessionals by 2025. pace of transformation in the human capital will India is steadily working to HARSH V PANT would also entail a focus on America’s changing region- year. China was Iran’s biggest oil buyer prior to US sanc- country meets the global help it get there become a pool of market- al priorities in the Indo-Pacific. tions, but after that despite Iran’s attempt to convince standard. ready talent for the world at n more ways than one, the year gone by was annus Compared to Barack Obama’s pivot to Asia, Mr China to continue trading with Iran, there has been large, and not just for domestic needs. horribilis for the Chinese Communist Party and its Trump’s concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific has he- reluctance on the part of Beijing to violate the sanctions The six growth drivers I leader, Xi Jinping. From declining economic growth ld greater promise, even though a concrete policy appro- regime. The payment for Iranian oil is also geared The global digital transformation market is Overhauling the grassroots and a Belt and Road Initiative debacle to troubles in ach hasn’t fully materialised. But now, after the renewed towards paying Iranian debts to Chinese companies that expected to grow from $445.4 billion in Although industry leaders will drive inno- Hong Kong and Xinjiang, there were multiple fires that turbulence in West Asia, America will have to focus had invested in Iran’s oil and gas sector. 2017 to $2.28 trillion by 2025 at a com- vation and technological best practices, had to be doused. The Donald Trump Administration greater attention on the region. This will once again give The US has maintained its primacy in West Asia for pound annual growth rate of 24.3 per cent. ingenuity is a skill developed at the grass- changed not only the American approach towards China breathing space to China, which has continued to expand the last several decades and the Carter Doctrine, enun- Every country ought to take this opportu- roots level. There is a need to equip young but also the wider Western approach towards the coun- its military and economic profile in the Indo-Pacific. ciated by former US President Jimmy Carter in 1980, nity or threat (depending on how one sees Indian minds with the perspective, talent, try, by asking for a balanced relationship, using unre- Even in West Asia, where America is struggling to explicitly committed Washington to defend the oil fields it) most seriously. If leveraged well, you and resources to navigate a future marked lenting economic pressure. retain its relevance, China's footprint has been expand- of the Persian Gulf against external threats. Despite sig- increase your competitive advantage expo- by constant change. There is a shift from However, the first phase of a trade deal, which had ing. And unlike the US, it has so far managed to be on nals that Mr Trump might be going back on this decades- nentially; if not, the risk of being relegated STEM (science, technology, engineering finally been agreed to by Washington and Beijing in good terms with not only Iran but also the Arab Gulf sta- old doctrine, he has once again brought the debate on to oblivion increases by as much as 50 per and mathematics) to STEAM (science, December last year, was signed on January 15. It commits tes and Israel. China is not only among the top three de- America’s regional role to centre stage. And with China’s cent. What are the drivers to grab this technology, engineering, arts and mathe- China to buying $200 billion more in US farm products fence partners for Iran and its largest trading partner, but rise in the region, the stage might be set for a regional opportunity? matics). STEAM is not new, but the urgency and other goods and services over two years than it did it has also been expanding the scope of its bilateral enga- competition between the two. Against the backdrop of There are six digital technologies which to incorporate it in today’s time is critical. in 2017, before the trade war erupted. Yet, it leaves in place gement with Tehran. This resulted in China-Iran-Russia America’s recent actions, China’s power and influence in are primarily driving the industry’s growth Lots of hands-on learning opportuni- many tariffs in an attempt to continue to limit the sup- joint naval exercises near the strategically vital Strait of West Asia is likely to grow as it seeks greater responsibility — blockchain, immersive media, internet of ties are emerging in schools and institutes ply of Chinese goods to the US market. Hormuz in the Indian Ocean last month. China has pro- for securing its regional interests. things, cloud, robotics and intelligent all over the world, encouraging collabora- Earlier, just when Beijing would have thought it could vided the shield which has allowed Iran to continue to Yet, there is no evidence so far that China wants to automation. India leads developed coun- tion in learning and discovery, using sci- not get any worse for it, Mr Trump gave China a New Year develop its defence capabilities despite global sanctions. take on America’s role in West Asia. In fact, it would like tries such as the US, UK and Japan in ence and tech resources such as soft cir- gift by escalating a crisis in West Asia by giving orders to Beijing was quick to condemn the “military adven- to make sure that despite its rhetoric, it treads lightly in deployment of artificial intelligence and cuits, embedded video, game creation, target the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds turist act by the US”, which “goes against basic norms the region, especially as this moment presents another robotic process automation-based tech- data art, and more. Force, Qassem Soleimani. This resulted in the most sig- governing international relations and will aggravate ten- opportunity for Beijing to strengthen its power infra- nologies. Ours is one of the fastest-growing A consistent culture of innovation and nificant confrontation between the US and Iran in recent sions and turbulence in the region” even as Tehran structure, which has been growing weak over the past few internet economies, with more than 560 growth builds legacies of the future. years, dramatically heightening tensions in a region hoped China could “play an important role in prevent- years. Wars in West Asia have sapped American power million internet subscribers, of which near- Despite the chatter of austerity and con- already beset with multiple fault lines. ing escalation of regional tensions.” But Beijing has while emboldening China in the past. Beijing will be ly 540 million are mobile internet sub- servative business growth, proactive and In an election year in America, Mr Trump would shown only limited appetite so far in taking on the US hoping that history might once again repeat itself. scribers as well. To put it simply, 90 per cent aggressive development is the safest and have made China a focus of his foreign policy achieve- directly, apart from defending the Iranian nuclear deal of the Indian population has access to smartest route to progress. ments, given that he has pushed his rivals also to and criticising American unilateralism. The writer is director of research at Observer Research Foun- mobile phones, half of which has access to acknowledge problems in the traditional American In fact, it has reduced its import of Iranian oil dra- dation, New Delhi, and professor of International Relations, the internet, one way or the other. The gov- The writer is group CEO, WNS Global Services, approach towards Beijing. A broader debate on China matically after the ending of US sanctions waivers last Department of Defence Studies, King’s College London ernment’s avowed vision of a trillion-dollar and chairman, Nasscom

> OTHER VIEWS Begin the healing process in Crime and impunity in sport Right to protest is at risk Kashmir, and also engage Pak SAI must take stern corrective action Bhim Army bail conditions puzzling This will help prevent the dispute A pay reduction of ~910 per unflinching on-court tem- A court rebuking the police ever, was Ms Lau’s reported month was the penalty a perament. for detention without suffi- observation that people were being internationalised Sports Authority of India These cases also bring into cient cause is becoming a rar- protesting on the streets (SAI) coach paid for being focus the lack of strict securi- ity in India. The additional because what should have For the second time since the government’s decision on Article found guilty of sexual harass- ty protocols at these year-long sessions judge at the Tis been said inside Parliament 370 in August last year, China raised the issue of Kashmir at the ment, according to an RTI camps. While there’s a strict Hazari court in Delhi, howev- was not said. United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday, response sought by The code of conduct for players, er, did just that. At the bail At the same time, once bail prompting a protest from New Delhi. In its response, the gov- Indian Express. Denying there are no dos and don’ts hearing of Chandrashekhar was granted, the conditions ernment said that Beijing should “refrain” from bringing a increments for a year was as for the coaches. Long drag- Azad, the Bhim Army chief attached to it appeared to be bilateral issue into the UNSC, and accused China of working at harsh as it got for a few other ging inquiries and some accused of inciting crowds puzzling. Not only was Mr Pakistan’s behest. India’s case rests on the 1972 Shimla accord, offenders who sexually dodgy acquittals have trig- during his dharna in protest Azad asked not to commit where India and Pakistan agreed to resolve the Kashmir issue abused young athletes left in gered talk of the SAI being against the Citizenship similar offences — none of bilaterally. China’s repeated raising of Kashmir since last their care and guardianship more concerned about its (Amendment) Act and the which has been established August, which includes an aborted attempt in December, is at residential sports camps image than the victims. This National Register of Citizens and no damage to public unconstructive and will impact the India-China bilateral rela- that churn out athletes, many injustice should rattle the at the Jama Masjid on property assessed so far — but tionship if it continues. It is also unlikely to push the govern- of whom go on to represent conscience of sports lovers December 20, 2019, the judge, he has also been asked not to ment, which has already defied several international calls India. The sports ministry, who will start demanding Kamini Lau, insisted that the visit Delhi for the four weeks from friendly countries, into lifting restrictions or rolling back under which the SAI func- Olympic medals this leap right to peaceful protest was before the assembly elections. its measures in Kashmir. must push for normalisation of ties with Pakistan as well as for tions, cannot escape the year without sparing a constitutional. Two points of It cannot be but disappoint- While China’s move may be unwarranted, it is yet another the lifting of restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir. Only when blame. It has been found to thought for the abusive sys- Ms Lau’s rebuke to the police ing that the court’s clarity reason for New Delhi to take heed of the continuing and all communications are restored, all political prisoners freed be too lenient on those who tems where the athletes learn stand out. One was her com- regarding peaceful protest unprecedented criticism of its actions in Kashmir. Nor can and added security restrictions removed can the real task of have inflicted life-long psy- to give up without a fight very ment that the police were does not appear to be reflect- India maintain the duality of insisting, on the one hand, that healing in J&K even begin. chological trauma on proven early in life. behaving as though Jama ed in the bail conditions. Kashmir is a bilateral issue and, on the other hand, rejecting all match-winners with exem- Masjid were in Pakistan. The bilateral talks with Pakistan. At some point, the government The Hindu, January 17 plary athletic prowess and The Indian Express, January 17 more important point, how- The Telegraph, January 17