JAISHANKAR BLITZ
   Date :03-Oct-2019

 
A BLITZ of diplomacy is on in the United States, led by External Affairs Minister Mr. S. Jaishankar even as India seeks right platforms to explain in detail the logic behind revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a well-studied, well-timed, strategic outreach to foreign policy thinkers in the United States whose influence on issues pertaining to South Asia form the essence of Washington’s international responses. By engaging top think tanks, first in New York and now in Washington DC, India has chosen the opportune moment to sensitise the top brains about the need to dehyphenate India and Pakistan post the Kashmir move. It is in total contrast of the hoarse anti-India campaign launched by Pakistan which has found no takers in world community. India’s diplomatic ways have always been subtle and Mr. Jaishankar is leading from the front with his skillful negotiation tactics. The power of diplomacy lies in the choice of words and Mr. Jaishankar’s latest blitz is full of such narratives that will hold India-US ties in good stead. 
 
RBI’S ASSURANCE 
 
IN THE face of the crisis in the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC) Reserve Bank of India’s appeal to people not to panic, is reassuring. The apex bank has said that the country’s banking system is safe and stable and therefore bank customers need not feel alarmed over some recent incidents. Panic was reflected in the manner in which the banking indices slumped by 1.3 on Nifty. The RBI has termed these reactions as being triggered by rumours which should not be given credence. In the last few years events have taken place in the country’s banking system that have shaken faith in the system, especially because of some of the corporates’ tendency to dupe financial institutions by mindboggling sums of money. No doubt the Government and the RBI have been taking steps to restore faith in the banking system and extending every possible support, including infusion of capital and launch recovery process against defaulters, any fresh report of crisis anywhere is bound to create panic situation as in the case of PMC Bank.