The government’s decision to extend a billion dollar loan to Bangladesh shows India’s diplomacy has finally come of age. As the major power in the region, India has to be magnanimous and offer to help out her neighbours. Instead, we have been niggardly and the Chinese have taken advantage of this, and are signing up all manner of deals in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and other countries.
In the case of Nepal, many years ago, when the power ministry was quibbling over the price that had to be paid for the hydro power generated there, the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao intervened to hike the price significantly, arguing that the extra money would help cement relations between the two countries.
The government must show similar maturity when it comes to countries such as Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Allowing more imports from these regions will not make such a difference to our domestic industry, but will go a long way in creating a pro-India image.
If India is able to win hearts in Bangladesh, apart from what it means in diplomatic terms, it may also help reduce the opposition within Bangladesh for supplying its abundant natural gas to Indian companies.
Rajinder Gupta, New Delhi
Readers should write to:
The Editor, Business Standard,
Nehru House,
4, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi 110 002,
Fax: (011) 23720201;
letters@bsmail.in
