A conversation with Dr Vijaya Chauthaiwale

"Nepal mein kya chal raha hai?" (What is happening in Nepal?) Dr Vijaya Chauthaiwale started an informal conversation with Nepali journalists including yours truly.

At the side lines of international conference entitled "Manaskhand: Inevitability of Integrity for Internalizing Civilisational and Cultural Connectivity between Nepal and Bharat" in Dhangadhi this week, we got an opportunity to hold informal conversation with Dr Chauthaiwale who is the Foreign Department In-charge of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Pankaj Das, Nepal representative for Aajtak TV, had facilitated the conversation.

"Governments keep changing at the drop of a hat. We don't have stable government like yours," I replied. Dr Chauthaiwale became serious and said that only the stability of government can facilitate economic growth and development.

The conversation then shifted to India's newfound confidence under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The most expressive journalist in the gathering, Birat Anupam, asked Dr Chauthaiwale why India is so confident in world stage. Anupam said that he is especially impressed with India's Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar who has given befitting replies to the condescending westerners in different forums.

Dr Chauthaiwale pointed that a strong and stable government at the centre is reason for India's confidence. Under the able guidance of PM Modi, the government has carried out various initiatives to help the Indians at home and abroad as well as keep India's voice confidently in international arena.

PM Modi is a hardworking and caring statesman, Dr Chauthaiwale said. He gave the example of rescuing of Indians from foreign countries during the time of Covid-19 and Russia-Ukraine War. Even after midnight, Mr Modi would make a call to Dr Chauthaiwale or any other responsible officer to take updates about the rescue mission. With Modi's personalized and avuncular attitude, India was able to rescue Indian citizens without unfortunate incidents.

Mr Modi has instilled rigorous work ethic in the government, Dr Chauthaiwale said. All the central government ministers work at least 16 hours a day. Even the civil servants are up to the task. Dr Chauthawale gave an example to illustrate this point. Mr Modi had asked the government officers to open the bank account of 10 million Indians in which the social security benefits were to be deposited. The officers said that it would take around 10 years to achieve that goal. Modi gave them a deadline of 1,000 days. They took up the challenge and accomplished the task before the deadline! Dr Chauthaiwale commented that under visionary leaders like Modi, even the bureaucracy does its work efficiently.

As Dr Chauthaiwale put it, Modi is the biggest brand ambassador for India. He recounted an incident at Kenya when a local person asked him where he was from. When Dr Chauthaiwale said that he was from India, that person immediately said "Oh, Mr Modi". So, India is almost synonymous with Mr Modi but Dr Chauthaiwale said that the BJP doesn't think like that. He seemed to imply that unlike the sycophantic Congress party president DK Barooah in 1977 who coined the phrase "India is Indira and Indira is India", BJP takes PM Modi as a humble servant of the people.

Dr Chauthaiwale said that under Mr Modi and Dr Jaishankar's leadership, India has excelled in diplomacy as well. Dr Jaishankar has a very sharp mind and his oratorical skills are also excellent, Dr Chauthaiwale commented. He asks for all the updates and keeps in constant contact with Dr Chauthaiwale and other officers concerned.

Dr Chauthaiwale said that India's neutral position in Russia-NATO war has paid dividends. The westerners express dissatisfaction about India continuing to buy Russian crude at a discounted price. But they themselves have been buying Russian oil which is refined by India. Even Pakistan's former PM Imran Khan praises India's balancing policy, Dr Chauthaiwale said.

Talking about Pakistan, Dr Chauthaiwale said that India does not obsess with Pakistan like in the past. India has left Pakistan way behind. These days tackling the threat posed by China is more important than engaging in petty scuffles with Pakistan, Dr Chauthaiwale said.

He further said that Mr Modi has visited Nepal four times and this also shows how Nepal is important for India. Sometimes when a minor border issue flares up, it is swollen into a national issue and voices are raised. But Nepali people can rest assured that India is highly positive about Nepal, he added.

Keeping with the topic of India's relations with neighbours, the conversation then steered towards Nepal-India relations. One of the journalists asked that people-to-people relationship between two countries are excellent but why were there tensions at the political level? Dr Chauthaiwale commented that Indians have only positive feelings regarding Nepal.

He further said that Mr Modi has visited Nepal four times and this also shows how Nepal is important for India. Sometimes when a minor border issue flares up, it is swollen into a national issue and voices are raised. But Nepali people can rest assured that India is highly positive about Nepal, he added. BJP is trying to establish close relationship with foreign leaders and it welcomed Nepal's former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba to the party's central office in Delhi last year. This would also strengthen ties between two countries, Dr Chauthaiwale said.

Another journalist asked Dr Chauthaiwale about the rise of "alternative" parties in Nepal. Dr Chauthaiwale said that it is Nepal's internal matter and he does not want to comment on it. India will deal with these parties when they are in the government, he added.

The conversation took around 45 minutes. We journalists were impressed with Dr Chauthaiwale's easy-going attitude. He kindly consented to have a photograph with yours truly and even put his hands on the shoulder affectionately.     

Published on 20 April 2023