Collaborations vital to national interest

September 18, 2024

NEW DELHI – The international situation has become more difficult in recent times due to the Ukraine and the Middle-East conflicts, as well as more recent escalations at both places. Closer home, the situation in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar in particular are a cause for concern internally as well as from the perspective of India’s relations with these countries. In this context, India should prepare well and remain alert to protect its national interests. We have seen from the experience of some of our neighbors as well as several other countries that relations among various important political parties should remain reasonably cordial.

In particular, it is important to emphasize that the relationship of the ruling party (or its close allies) with leading opposition parties should retain at least that level of understanding and cordiality as is necessary for them to cooperate closely on issues of wider national interest. A strong opposition which can restrain the government from any arbitrary exercise of power and check flawed decisions is the very essence of democracy. While the opposition should certainly continue to perform this role, there is room in democracy for a different role too, which is particularly important in these sensitive times. This is the role of the ruling and the opposition parties working with cooperation for protecting some important national interests and trying to evolve a consensus on important issues. For a satisfactory relationship of cooperation on issues of great importance to emerge, both sides must take important steps.

The government should ensure that there is no unfair victimization of opposition leaders or activists. It is no one’s case that merely being an