US Seeking to ‘Weaken’ Modi Politically Ahead of 2024 Election: Expert

There has been a “significant rise in anti-India activities” emanating from the US in recent months, which is meant to “politically weaken” Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Indian general election in April-May, an Indian think-tanker has told Sputnik India.

Dr. Anant Bhagwat, the Founder and President of Global Strategic Policy Foundation Pune (GSPFP), a think tank focussing on national security, foreign policy and communal harmony issues, that the Biden administration would favour a “more pliable” Indian PM than the incumbent.

“The US wants a more pliable India. However, under Prime Minister Narendra bhai Modi, India has stood firm on its national interest. We have refused to buckle under American pressure on the purchases of Russian oil,” Bhagwat highlighted.

He warned that the US might well be resorting to a “regime change” in India through various means.

In fact, federal minister Smriti Irani had also expressed similar concerns on regime change this year, while reacting to a comment from American-Hungarian billionaire George Soros, who said that he was expecting a “democratic revival” in India.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin lauded Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, stating that the Indian leader had been pursuing policies in India’s national interest without being “intimidated” by any pressure.

Speaking at the "Russia Calling" forum, Putin hailed Modi as the “main guarantor” of developing Russia-India ties.

‘Honeymoon Phase’ of India-US Relations is Over

Bhagwat further reckoned that the US wanted India to “fight its war” against China, adding that New Delhi has essentially refused to be part of Washington’s global strategy against Beijing.

“India has refused American mediation in its ongoing border fight with China. We are capable of resolving our dispute on our own,” Bhagwat added.

The Indian think-tanker warned that the US would be the “greatest beneficiary” out of a full-fledged war between China and India.

“The US has been trying to kill two birds with one stone. On the one hand, it has been seeking India’s assistance to weaken China in order to maintain its global hegemony. At the same time, it has been offering India military technology and scaling up its presence in the Indian market,” Bhagwat explained.

He claimed that the US was now faced with “hard realities” about India’s strategic autonomy, noting that New Delhi would always act in its national interest rather than being part of a US-led front against any other power.

“A democratic India growing at around seven percent annually and with the world’s biggest market could be a major challenge for the US’ hegemony in coming decades,” Bhagwat predicted.

“The honeymoon phase of India-US relations is over now. Since coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has overseen the revival of the Quad grouping as well as the signing of the defence-industrial pacts and the signing of all four foundational defence pacts,” the strategic affairs expert said.

Three of the four foundational pacts—General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA); Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA); Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA); Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)—between India and the US have been signed under Prime Minister Modi.

Biden Resorting to ‘Anti-India Activities’

Bhagwat expressed concerns over the apparent rise in “anti-India” activities emanating from the US in recent months.

He said that NGOs and media groups “bankrolled” by Soros were taking a lead in information warfare against India. Incidentally, Soros has also been one of the biggest donors of the Democratic Party and was seen as a crucial funder for Biden’s presidential campaign.

New Delhi on Sunday slammed an American media report claiming that it had sent a “secret memo” to its consulates in North America, calling for a “sophisticated crackdown” against pro-Khalistan separatists operating from the US and Canada.

Arindam Bagchi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson described the media report as part of a “sustained disinformation campaign” against India.

“The US is seeking to tarnish Bharat’s image through these media leaks, which are coming from the establishment,” Bhagwat said.

He listed several other instances where the US policy had a direct bearing on Indian interests.

the visit of US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Bloom’s visit to Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) in October. India protested the visit.

US efforts to “incite” anti-government protests in Bangladesh.

The condoning of terrorist activities of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist in India.

Bhagwat cautioned that such activities and “information warfare” operations would increase in the lead-up to the national election in India around April-May next year.

Anti-India Elements in US Left Disheartened by BJP’s Win in State Elections: Analyst

Binay Kumar Singh, a strategic affairs expert at New Delhi-based think tank the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, told Sputnik India that the “anti-India elements” in the US seeking to topple Prime Minister Modi had been left “disheartened” by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) electoral performance in the recent state elections

“The dream of elements in the American establishment who wanted to weaken Prime Minister Modi has been shattered after the recent state elections, which the BJP under PM Modi won resoundingly,” Singh said.

He said that it was “virtually impossible” for a “secret memo” to have been leaked. “It seems part of a misinformation campaign,” Singh stated.

He added that views of these anti-India entities operating in the US, be it think-tanks, US Congress members or lobby groups, shouldn’t be characterised as views of the entire American establishment of the people of the US.

“A large part of the US establishment is in favour of friendly ties with India.

He, however, warned that groups and media organisations bankrolled by Soros are a concern for India.

“They should be a concern for the US as well,” said the Indian think-tanker.

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