Thread by @shrikanth_krish

In the Spiegel interview @DrSJaishankar deviates from the positions of the Far Right

1 : He presents Kashmir crisis in secular terms, which can be "solved" through development

2 : He dates Indian nationalism to 20th cen freedom movement, instead of the hoary past (eg Gupta age)

@DrSJaishankar Both these positions in my view are mildly conservative positions for sure

But not the positions of the extreme Hindu Right

@DrSJaishankar For the Far-Right, Kashmir's problem is not one of lagging development, but a religious issue - which will persist as long as the region is Muslim majority

Jaishankar and the Modi administration is not taking that line

For them the problem is a tractable one. Solved through integration and economic growth

It does not entail ethnic cleansing

On the second point -

Jaishankar is explicitly acknowledging the freedom movement's role in generating an incipient nationalism

Instead of downplaying the struggle against the Raj, and focusing on the ancient Hindu roots of the Indian nation

Now I regard myself as a mild conservative, and do empathize with Jaishankar's articulation

Having said that the H-Right's take on these issues (which I voiced) is not without merit, in that the Kashmir solution may not be a tractable one through simple economic inclusion/growth

An alternative take could be -

The Modi administration does indeed concur with the extreme H-Right.

But instead voices a view that is more palatable to a large global audience

This takes us into Straussian territory of exoteric and esoteric readings

So on Article 370 revocation-

An exoteric view (voiced for global media / leaders) is - This is about opening up Kashmir. Integrating it. Furthering its development

Esoteric view (buried underneath): This is the first step to reclaiming the land for Hindus through resettlement

I am not sure what Modi's own personal views are

I think I have heard enough of him to believe he is not with the Far-Right on this completely

What he probably believes in is a mid-way house b/w the exoteric and esoteric interpretations

A midway house would mean -

Yes...integration and economic growth helps improve the lives of Kashmiris

But part of the project is also to make the land cosmopolitan through H-migration