George washington university's elliott school of international affairs, Private university in Washington, D.C., United States

If the world ever decides to expose the dark secrets of the CIA, where will you hide your face, Uncle Sam?I often feel that America, being a large country, tends to carry major concerns from around the world. Meanwhile, we, on the other hand, keep worrying about unnecessary concerns, which is why we have a saying: Chinta se chaturaai ghate, dukh se ghate shareer! (Worry affects wisdom and sorrow weakens the body!) Have you ever seen America getting weaker? Even when it is engaged in war, its economic reserves continue to grow because America’s concerns stem from its own shrewdness! Its intelligence dictates when it is time to focus on a new concern, and it promptly adopts a new one.Its latest concern revolves around our intelligence agency RAW, that is Research and Analysis Wing. The US has a federal commission on international religious freedom. It has released the International Religious Freedom Report 2025, stating that the situation of religious freedom in India is continuously deteriorating. It claims that religious minorities are being targeted abroad and holds RAW responsible, recommending sanctions against it. The report also references the alleged failed assassination plot against separatist Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The Indian government has repeatedly stated that it has nothing to do with this matter, but who will convince America of this? Who will explain to them that their own country is deeply divided between Black and White communities? That there is a significant gulf between Catholics and Protestants? They fail to see their own wounds but try to meddle in others’ affairs in a malicious attempt to spread discord! When I see such actions from the US, I am reminded of some lines from Padma Bhushan Raghupati Sahay aka Firaq Gorakhpuri’s poem titled ‘Dollar Desh’:Duniyabhar ko barbaad kare,Duniyabhar ka nirmaata bhi,Duniyabhar ka vidrohi bhi,Duniyabhar ka nij bhraata bhi!Duniyabhar ko bhookha maare,Duniyabhar ka annadaata bhi,Duniyabhar mein khairaat kare,Duniyabhar par lalchaata bhi!Duniyabhar ka vyaapaar mitaakar,Khud vyaapaari ban baitha,Sachchi jhoothi moorat gadhkar,Duniya ka pujaari ban baitha!I may not use as harsh words as Firaq Sahab, but there is no doubt that all these attempts to defame India serve only one purpose: To create division within Indian society and prevent our democracy and economy from progressing. Why is there a continuous effort to stir controversy by targeting Adani or Ambani? At one point, India contributed 25% to the world’s GDP, but the British looted and left us in ruins. However, we rebuilt ourselves through sheer resilience and today stand as the fifth largest economic power. In the coming years, we will become the third largest economic power. Perhaps this is something neither America nor others can digest. How can we forget that foreign forces have instigated numerous riots in our country in the past? And such attempts continue even today. America should introspect and reflect on how it provided economic aid to Pakistan for years, and that very money was used by Pakistan to spread terrorism in Kashmir. When Indian student Ranjani Srinivasan supported Palestine, her visa was revoked. But when Gurpatwant Singh Pannun sits in America, openly spewing venom against India, you look at him as your citizen? Why this discrimination?If I ever get the chance to meet the US President Donald Trump, I would certainly ask him: Mr President, America parades itself as the champion of human rights, yet why were our people sent back handcuffed? Why our great scientist and former President APJ Abdul Kalam, former commerce minister Kamal Nath and Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan were forced to strip during airport security checks? What exactly were you trying to prove? That you are the boss? That you are the world’s supreme authority? No one denies this. But culture teaches us that the tree laden with the most fruit bends humbly. If you are powerful, your responsibility should be to help the weak, share your experiences and enable them to stand on their own feet!Pointing fingers at RAW is unacceptable, Mr President! We are followers of peace and non-violence, and we take immense pride in how National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has strengthened RAW. Our thousands of years of civilisation stands as testimony that India has never attacked anyone -- neither militarily, nor culturally, nor religiously. We are a nation that worships rivers, trees, animals and all forms of life. Our guiding philosophy is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. But let’s be clear that this does not mean we will tolerate threats or violence against us. This is the India of the new era, Mr President!However, I also wonder whether all these actions could be part of a conspiracy against Trump himself? Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump share a very close relationship, and the latter himself would never resort to such an action. It is possible that certain forces within the US, who seek to weaken him (and there is no shortage of such institutions in America) are responsible for these actions. But let me assure you that this will not affect India in the slightest. This is the new India!The author is the chairman, Editorial Board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha.

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