There is a general perception that in spite of his noisy rhetoric, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi couldn’t achieve what the US President Donald Trump has done within three months of assuming the most admired political office in the world.
With his formidable team comprising irrepressible tycoons, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy of Indian origin, Trump appears to be better assisted than Modi, who by his behaviour projects himself being dictated to his supporters in the industry instead of leading them.
A few weeks before exposing the details of the liberal distribution of millions of dollars as business loans to children aged 11 years or less, the Trump Administration has dared to challenge the corruption in the federal bureaucracy. Earlier, he had curtailed funds of the USAID across the continents, including some political leaders in India irrespective of their ideologie. It caused ripples in the American deep state. They were using these funds for promoting pro -US proxies in different countries.
Apart from the exposure recently made by the US federal agencies in the distribution of a whopping sum of USD 300 million to children, yet to be identified for what purposes and who were real beneficiaries of this loot.
Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has stopped nearly 400 million USD earmarked for funding studies regarding gender and related issues in Columbia University. For many, his action might undermine the decade-old approach of justifying sexual equalities and respect for the bisexuals. Even schools were asked not to question sexual choices among teenagers, especially those keen to solemnise same sex marriages. Trump has also stopped the free sale of marijuana and other toxic substances, thus challenging the drug lobby having a strong support base in various American state institutions.
Fortunately, for Modi, the Indian courts have refused same sex marriages, and he also has successfully transferred cash and financial assistance to millions of poor farmers and the tribal. It has earned him worldwide admiration, but in recent months, he appears to have lost his drive in pursuing the key agenda of his government, the anti-corruption drive. It is to be ascertained yet how Modi’s efforts to eradicate corruption have been stalled. It is also being asked why he could not hit the ongoing rampant corruption in the farming sector, where in the name of subsidies billions of rupees are siphoned off by local officials and politicians.
The difference between Modi and Trump appears to have become more pronounced in recent months; while Modi has lost his zeal against corruption during his current third term,Trump is full of energy and focused. Modi, however, also appears to have made the choice of basking under the patronage of the industrial houses of Ambani and Adani, seldom respected for honesty, while Trump has allies like Elon Musk and Ramaswamy, who have been challenging the crony capitalism being promoted by the weapon-manufacturing lobby. They are the new symbols of American capitalism, blended with corporate social responsibility and technology.
Diluting RTI: The recent exposure made by Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE under Elon Musk regarding the financial assistance to a 157-year old man to the tune of USD 36,000, has further exposed the rot set in the American bureaucracy. It has triggered the demand for more transparency in the regulatory systems in the US. On the other hand, Modi has failed to address even a single press conference since 2014, he is occupying the country’s highest executive office. His efforts to keep information safely kept in the government files against the corrupt and his continuous refusal to share the details with Parliament and media has undermined his image as a crusader against corruption. The investigation agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate and the department of income tax have also been kept out of purview of the Right to Information Act 2005. These Institution’s selective targeting against some politicians and bureaucrats has also undermined Modi’s image, and there is a suspicion that these agencies are also used against the officials refusing to surrender before the ruling party.
For many, Modi is no more serious against corruption. On the other hand, Trump’s vigorous campaign against corruption and wasteful expenditures of the federal government has brought him the position of a world leader genuinely committed to checking corruption and promoter of transparency in governance.
Within three months of assuming the coveted office of American presidency, he not only set up DOGE, but also exposed rampant corruption in the federal government, thus saving billions of US dollars.
In India, on the other hand, most of the political parties irrespective of their ideologies have just been indulging in the rhetoric of anti-corruption, but after assuming power they used to forget their promise of making government transparent and accountable, and were seen strengthening the corrupt systems eating the vitals of the Indian state. Modi, who initially had dared to streamline the system, but in recent years, especially after losing his majority in the Lok Sabha, appears to have succumbed to the political expediencies. It may not be surprising, because his party, BJP despite the rhetoric of honesty and nationalism seldom dared to pick up challenges, whether it is related to the country’s security or transparency in the governance.It may be recalled that the BJP president, Bangaru Laxman, was exposed for accepting bribes for an alleged defence deal in a sting operation. He was removed but his wife was fielded in the election as a BJP nominee.
Similarly, the Modi government has recently honoured L.K. Advani, with the country’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna despite his admiration of Muhammad Ali Jinnah as a secular political figure; Jinnah had led the partition of India on communal lines.
It appears that the BJP after losing the majority in the 2024 election having just 241 seats in 543-strong Lok Sabha, Modi’s anti-corruption campaign too has been diluted. Modi’s third term is a coalition under the banner of NDA, thus compromising his strong image of a leader committed to eradicate corruption.
A Lone Fighter: During the past three months since his inauguration on 20 January , 2025, in the White House, Trump has been asserting himself as a symbol of a democratic leader, who could challenge the well-entrenched corruption in his country’s vast federal bureaucracy. If compared with Modi,Trump has achieved much more against the deadwood within such a short period than his friend in New Delhi in power for more than 10 years.
Modi could have a strong ally in Trump, but he made a few unforgivable mistakes in recent months. During his visit to the US in 2024, Modi ignored Trump’s request for a meeting, when the latter was locked in a fierce battle for his political survival. Modi’s decision not to meet Trump or even make a phone call might have forced his American friend not to trust him any more. He could have met him to greet him for surviving two assassination attempts, while maintaining political neutrality.
Modi, however, cannot blame anyone for this faux pas. It is not only him, but the country has to face the consequences for Modi’s preference of subservient babus being given cabinet positions, who are advising him on crucial issues than a seasoned politician of his own party.
It is not surprising that these babus enjoying positions of power in New Delhi do not enjoy the respect ministers like Sushma Swaraj or other cabinet ministers enjoyed in the Vajpayee government enjoyed in Washington, New York and other world capitals.
Initially, Modi was an admired leader among the Indians in the US, but his inability to live up to their expectations has almost eclipsed his shine. Their disenchantment has further become palpable following the justification of the handcuffing and enchaining of Indians deported to India. A number of them confided to the Financial World that the explanation offered by India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jayashankar on the floor of the Rajya Sabha has not only hurt India’s image worldwide, but also it has undermined the pride of being Indians, who had been toiling hard to lead big corporations in the US.
There is a general feeling in India as well as in the US that unless Modi rediscovers his pride and potential, the country is going to suffer further, especially when a US President ignores Indian interests. For this, if necessary, he should not hesitate to get rid of babus in his cabinet, who have been projecting an India a land of 150 billion comprising mostly shameless or cowards. Modi has to realise that few Indians in India as well as abroad are ready to accept the logic of the country’s top diplomat, who should have resigned on his own instead of justifying the standard operating procedure of homeland security in the US for handcuffing Indians.
An Opportunity : If Modi agrees to shed off his image of a leader travelling across continents only to indulge in noisy or hyperbolic rhetoric, he should reinvent a substantial agenda to renew his ties with Trump. He has to remember that Trump had conducted programmes on television, and he cannot outwit him in media projections. However, with Trump’s support, he may succeed in tracking down thieves like Nirav Modi and his maternal uncle Mehul Chowksy, who had decamped with ten thousand crores by cheating the Punjab National Bank, but for this he has to be serious. Trump has already decided to hand over India Tahawwur Rana, the mastermind behind the Mumbai terrorist attack of 26-11 in 2008. If Modi shows genuine interest and political courage, these fugitives can be brought to justice in India.
For this, however, Modi has to reinvent and reassert his historical role, he had been promising his countrymen since occupying the apex.
Gopal Misra has been associated with national and international media. His books on journalism and geo-politics have been well-appreciated. Views are personal.
