Dilli Ka Babu: Modi prepping for Israel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Israel later this year. It will be the first visit by an Indian PM since the countries normalised relations in 1992. In the context of India’s growing ties with Israel, particularly under the Modi sarkar, this is being billed as an important moment that will expand bilateral engagement to new levels. Though the dates are still being finalised, observers say that it will take place sometime in June-July. To lay the groundwork for this historic visit, foreign secretary S. Jaishankar is going to Israel soon, one of many high-level visits that usually precede Mr Modi’s trip.

Apparently, Mr Jaishankar himself follows national security adviser Ajit Doval, who visited Jerusalem for two days recently. Likely more such visits will ensue, not just by two of Mr Modi’s closest aides, but also other senior babus, specially those dealing in defence matters. Curiously, the proposed itinerary of the PM does not include visiting Palestine, though MEA mandarins maintain that India’s Palestine policy remains unchanged.

Bihar babus up the ante

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has reportedly taken a tough stand on the stir by Bihar bureaucrats over the arrest of former Bihar Staff Selection Commission chairman Sudhir Kumar in connection with a job scam. But conflicting reports are emerging from the state. While the virtual “revolt” of IAS officers continues to gather steam, sources say that the state government is contemplating handing over investigation of the case to the CBI, in a bid to appease the furious babus.

But there’s another school of thought, which believes it’s only a matter of time before chief minister Kumar steps into the fray. For many days since the stir began after Sudhir Kumar’s arrest, the chief minister who is otherwise vocal and always takes a stand on every other issue, maintained a studied silence on the arrest of the IAS officer. Many consider this as another episode in the IAS-IPS turf battle. The CM however has spoken about the issue in the state Assembly. He assured an “unbiased investigation” by the state special investigation team. Curiously, he also mentioned “a landmark decision” on the IAS agitation to be announced soon, but did not explain what he meant by that. Stay tuned for updates.