New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the world by storm when he invited the heads of Saarc governments to his swearing-in ceremony.
The PM, who is working ceaselessly to revive a failing economy, is also giving a new thrust to India’s foreign policy.
In the past 30 days, one can get a fair view of Mr Modi’s diplomatic moves, with his focus on a “Look East” policy.
At this juncture, Japan and China have emerged as Mr Modi’s main target areas to take this policy forward.
The recent terrorist strike at the Indian consulate in Afghanistan, failed to derail initiatives launched by both Mr Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
On Sri Lanka, it is clear that the PM is in no mood to succumb to TN pressure.
Mr Modi’s influence, however, seems most evident in bringing about a sea change in the governmental work culture.
Yet controversies too have dogged Mr Modi in the past 30 days.
The first spark was lit by MoS Jitendra Singh, who said the process to repeal Article 370 of the Constitution had begun.
Then HRD minister Smriti Irani was embroiled in a controversy over her educational qualifications.
The move to increase the use of Hindi in governance was also not very well-received.
A controversy erupted as some NGOs, particularly Greenpeace, were targeted over their overseas funding.
