| Donald Trump |
Let’s be brutally honest. When a former American President calls your nation a “hellhole” on a public platform, your gut reaction isn’t diplomacy—it is rage. But for the last eighteen months, as Donald Trump has repeatedly taken jabs at India, the response from New Delhi has felt less like a lion’s roar and more like a whisper. Or worse: silence.
This week, the internet exploded—not just because of Trump’s derogatory post about India, but because of what happened immediately afterwards. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the defection of AAP MPs, and news anchors debated political realignments, the real story—the insult to a billion-plus people—was buried six feet under.
So, what is going on? Is India really a hellhole? Why has the policy of “trumpeting” (pun intended) vanished? And why does the world’s largest democracy look so timid in front of the United States?
Let’s rewind. For the past year and a half, Trump has made derogatory remarks about India—on trade, on tariffs, on immigration, and now, with a post so vile it doesn’t deserve repetition. Every single time, the Indian establishment has responded with a clinical, almost robotic, “We are examining the matter” or “This is not the official stance.”
But here is the rub: In the past, India used the ‘Flying Geese’ doctrine. When a foreign power disrespected us, we shot back—often with wit, sometimes with sanctions, always with spine. That goose has been grounded.
Why? Because the BJP has perfected a dangerous art: Dictating the news cycle.
The moment Trump shared that derogatory post, the ruling establishment did not want you, the taxpayer, the voter, the aam aadmi, to look at the White House. They wanted you to look at the Parliament crossing.
You saw it. AAP MPs merging with the BJP was the headline on every major news channel. For 48 hours, the chyron screamed “Delhi Shuffle” while the insult from Washington gathered dust on the shelf.
Is it a coincidence that the merger happened exactly when Trump dropped his bomb? Not likely.
The BJP has always believed it controls the news cycle. If the people are upset about foreign policy failure, give them domestic drama. If the middle class is worried about the economy, give them a temple inauguration. The Raghav Chadha press conference—where he presumably would have asked tough questions about India’s foreign policy paralysis—was deliberately ignored. We didn’t cover it. We made jalebis out of the news.
Why? Because covering Raghav Chadha asking, “Why is the PM silent on Trump?” would break the spell. It would remind people that while we are busy fighting over political defections, the world is laughing at us.
Let’s address Trump’s terminology. Is India a hellhole?
No. Absolutely not. India is a chaotic miracle. It is the land of the UPI payments, the Mars orbiter, and the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. But let’s be fair—we have our hellish pockets. Poverty, pollution, and potholes are real. But to dismiss the entire civilisation as a ‘hellhole’ is not an opinion; it is a slur.
However, the slur stings only if you have self-respect. And that is where the problem lies.
For the last decade, the government sold us a story of Rising India—a Vishwaguru who doesn’t flinch. But when the bully from Florida spits on our turban, we look at our shoes. This subdued nature isn't diplomacy; it looks like fear.
Here is the uncomfortable truth that no news anchor will tell you:
The Economic Leash: America is still India’s largest trading partner. With the rupee under pressure and the need for American investment in semiconductors and AI, the government has calculated that a trade war with Trump is unaffordable.
The ‘Trump Factor’ for 2026: India is hedging its bets. If Trump returns to power in 2026, burning bridges now would be suicidal. The current strategy is Maunam Svedam (Silence is salvation).
The Distraction Doctrine: As you rightly pointed out, the BJP knows that the average Indian voter cares more about electricity bills and petrol prices than a tweet from Mar-a-Lago. By flooding the zone with AAP defections, they ensure that Trump’s post dies a natural death by Tuesday morning.
I am not writing this to bash a single party. I am writing this because the innocent public has been duped in the name of foreign policy.
We are told that ‘strategic autonomy’ means not reacting. But to a common man, strategic autonomy looks like cowardice. When you see a Canadian truck driver or a German MP insult India and we respond with a ‘strongly worded letter’, you feel cheated.
The scam is this: They want you to believe that ‘abusing back’ is not statesmanlike. But they forget that statesmanship without self-respect is just servitude.
Raghav Chadha’s press conference was important not because he is a saviour, but because he was asking the damn question: “Where is our voice?” By ignoring that coverage, the media proved they are lapdogs, not watchdogs.
Is India a hellhole? No. India is a great nation trapped in a bad strategy.
The policy of trumpeting is dead because the current establishment would rather win domestic headlines than international respect. The merger of AAP MPs to divert attention from Trump’s slur worked perfectly. They dictated the news cycle. And we—the public—fell for it.
But here is my plea to you: Don’t just watch the channel that makes jalebis out of politics. Read between the lines. When you see a distraction tomorrow, ask yourself: What foreign insult are they hiding today?
India doesn’t need a loud voice; it needs a courageous one. And until we demand accountability for this geostrategic silence, we will remain a sleeping giant who apologises for being woken up.
Jai Hind. But let’s keep it real.