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Shadow Waltz

India, the US and the dance of the alleged deep state

Published : Tuesday, 17 December, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 432
Rajeev Ahmed
In geopolitics, where alliances are crafted with the precision of a master weaver at a Dhakai loom and rivalries simmer like a pot of bhuna khichuri (a rich, mixed dish of rice and pulses) on a rainy day, a new act has taken the stage. This time, the drama is between India and the United States-not on the bright alpona (a Bengali folk art of painting colorful patterns and symbols on floors and walls) of overt diplomacy but in the shadowy alleys of a "deep state" conspiracy. Earlier this week, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pointed its finger with the flair of a baul(a wandering minstrel) singer mid-performance, accusing the U.S. State Department and its mysterious "deep state" collaborators of trying to destabilise India. And as with any good political Jatra Pala, like Nawab Sirajuddaula, there are villains, heroes, and plenty of subplots to keep the crowd hooked.

The trigger for this political drama? A French media report claiming that the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) receives almost half its funding from the U.S. State Department and George Soros-the global financier often cast as the antagonist in such tales. According to the BJP, this funding is not mere patronage but part of a grand, covert agenda. It's as if Soros and the U.S. were playing the role of the cunning village matchmaker, stirring trouble while pretending to keep the peace.

But the plot thickens! The OCCRP recently published explosive stories about India's alleged use of Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to snoop on dissenters and unearthed dirt on industrialist Gautam Adani, who happens to be as close to Modi as pantabhat (a little fermented rice) is to ilishmaachhbhaja(a classic fish fry dish). The BJP sees these revelations not as investigative journalism but as a well-scripted shakunichhal-a sinister ploy to tarnish Modi's government. Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition, is also dragged into the fray, accused of being a pawn in this international chessboard. In this scene, the BJP insists that the deep state is out to keep India under a diplomatic leash, much like a meddling elder trying to control the village council.

The irony, though, is as rich as a bowl of mishtidoi (a local yogurt). India and the U.S. have spent years nurturing a warm friendship, with Biden hosting Modi at grand state events akin to a nobannoutshob (a Bengali harvest festival) celebration. However, behind the diplomatic pithas(local rice cakes made with new harvests), there's an undercurrent of irritation. While Biden and Modi exchange pleasantries, investigative organisations funded by U.S.-linked entities churn out reports critical of India's democratic health. To the BJP, this isn't a coincidence-it's a classic sinister ploy. On the surface, the U.S. is wooing India, but beneath the calm waters, the deep state is allegedly planting traps.

Consider the dual nature of this relationship. While Washington rolls out the nakshi kantha (a local embroidered quilt of Bengal) of trade deals and defence pacts, it quietly funds investigations that expose India's vulnerabilities. For the BJP, this feels like a mejajgorom (high temper) moment: how can you call us a partner in public while poking us with a stick behind the scenes? It's a relationship reminiscent of two neighbours sharing paan (chewing betel-rolls) and gossip, only to later accuse each other of stealing the goru (cow).

However, there's an undeniable charm to this so-called deep state. While the BJP portrays it as a meddling force, one could argue it's the unseen gram-er morol (village elder) keeping everyone in check. Take the Adani controversy: if OCCRP's reports expose corruption, isn't that a win for transparency? And the Pegasus scandal-if it curbs state overreach, shouldn't that be seen as a safeguard for democracy? Ironically, the very "conspiracies" the BJP denounces might also serve as chhayabondhu (shadow friends), forcing governments to introspect and improve.

For the U.S., this balancing act is nothing new. During the Cold War, it played doitochoritro (dual roles), supporting regimes while covertly undermining them. In South Asia, Washington has historically juggled alliances with countries like Pakistan while critiquing their policies behind the scenes. In this latest natok (a drama plot), India is simply experiencing what so many others have before-a warm embrace on one side, a sly nudge on the other.

At the heart of this golpo (a story) lies a curious truth about the deep state: it destabilises yet stabilises, undermines yet strengthens. Its power isn't in grand gestures but in the subtlety of its actions-funding investigations, nudging narratives, and leaving just enough room for plausible deniability. For nations like India, dealing with this requires not just diplomatic skill but a clever touch to discern legitimate criticism from conspiratorial machinations.

Ultimately, whether or not the U.S. deep state is truly scheming against Modi, the BJP's claims reflect a broader reality: in our interconnected world, politics is never confined to national borders. Every dossier, every leaked document, every investigative report carries the potential to shift narratives and unsettle governments. And while the deep state remains an elusive figure in this news, its ability to quietly shape global events is undeniable.

So here we are, watching this loko-nattyo (village drama) unfold. The BJP is sharpening its rhetoric, the U.S. is brushing off accusations, and the rest of us are left wondering whether this is a tragedy, a comedy, or just another chapter in the eternal melodrama of global politics. Whatever it is, one thing's for sure: this Jatra Pala isn't ending anytime soon.

The writer is an Editor of Geopolits.com



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