Foreign ministry dabbles in domestic politics, draws flak

NEW DELHI: Even the hitherto apolitical MEA has not remained untouched by the government's idolisation of late saffron ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya. Many Indian missions across the world -from London to Moscow to Port of Spain -held events late last month to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Upadhyaya, who was an important leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.

While the missions celebrated his birthday with gusto, MEA even launched an ebook on Upadhyaya calling it Integral Humanism. According to the official BJP website, Integral Humanism, a doctrine developed by Upadhyaya, is among the guiding precepts of the ruling party and was first presented by Upadhyaya in the form of four lectures delivered in Bombay on April 22-25, 1965.

In a foreword to the readers, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj compliments MEA officials for their efforts in ferreting out some “pearls'' from the thoughts of Upadhyaya to publish the e-book. She further says that the e-book will prove to be useful for both national and international leaders.

Recalling his contribution to the “Kashmir movement“ and “Goa liberation movement'', the e-book says Upadhyaya kept the issues of freedom movement alive in Indian politics an “gave his entire life for the integration of India“. To many though, the in troduction to Upadhyaya is laced with not-so-subtle political undertones as the e-book says that “only the party , BJP, developed by him became the political alternative''.

The e-book published by MEA's XP (external publicity) division is now facing criticism from several former foreign secretaries for what has been described by some as MEA's unacceptable venture into domestic politics.TOI spoke to a former foreign secretary who said that by its very nomenclature, the external publicity division is not supposed to dabble in anything which is even remotely connected with domestic politics.

The retired top diplomat suggested that e-book was published at the behest of the political leadership as it fits neatly into government's attempts to lend an exalted status to Upadhyaya. “I don't believe MEA would have done anything like this on its own. These things are best left to the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations),“ he said, on condition of anonymity as the issue is politically sensitive.

The e-book lends itself to criticism on account of bad English. In the introduction, the e-book further says that “the democracy of the country'' required a capable opposition. “Bharatiya Janasangh emerged as a strong Opposition in the first three LS elections. He made full preparations so that with time this Opposition becomes alternative (sic),'' it says.