The real handicap.

"US President Donald Trump 'no longer has plans' to visit India later this year for the Quad Summit, the New York Times reported." "According to the NYT, during the June 17 call, Trump once again claimed credit for ending the escalation and mentioned that Pakistan planned to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize," but "Prime Minister Modi firmly told Trump that India does not and will never accept any mediation in its conflict with Pakistan, Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistry said." India Today. "The White House has privately urged European nations to replicate US sanctions against India by halting all oil and gas imports from the country over its continued purchase of Russian crude." BT. But China imports more Russian oil than India, so why no tariffs on China? China is a huge market for US companies. If the Indian economy grows at 7% per year, it will take 25 years to catch up to China. But, China will have grown even larger by then. Also, China controls supply chains which the US needs, wrote Devina Mehra. "As the trade war between China and the US escalates," "slapping reciprocal tariffs on Washington is not the only way Beijing has been able to retaliate. China has also imposed export controls on a range of critical rare earth minerals and magnets, dealing a major blow to the US." BBC. Trump backed down. "Despite short-term friction with New Delhi over the ongoing tariff war, the US cannot afford to alienate India," because, as a democracy, India acts as a counterweight to China and Russia, said election strategist Vimal Singh. Indians get delusional because they forget that the US has a huge embassy in Delhi, and consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai, and US diplomats regularly send news and analysis to Washington. They will have noted, "The response of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to charges of voter list manipulation by Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi suggests that there may have been massive fraud in the electoral processes." DH. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has introduced the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025, which will allow "governors of states and lieutenant governors of Union territories to sack a chief minister or any state minister if they are detained in jail for 30 days, even if not convicted." The Wire. Which means, unelected officials appointed by the government can dismiss an elected politician after jailing her/him for 30 days on trumped up charges by subservient investigative agencies controlled by the Home Minister. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was jailed for five months without any proof of wrongdoing. BBC. "The Modi years have been filled with high-voltage optics: hugs with world leaders, diaspora rallies in Madison Square Garden and Wembley, carefully choreographed images of 'India rising'." "Yet beneath the showmanship lies a disturbing reality: India's strategic depth and credibility are eroding," wrote Manoj Kumar Jha. And hence, "The political costs to PM Modi if he compromises on trade will be unendurable," wrote Mihir Sharma. Mr Modi's real handicap is that he wants to hang on to his post forever while Trump is in his second term and cannot run again. Mr Modi has to repair ties with the US without appearing to surrender while Trump can continue to turn on the thumbscrews. Not surprising, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC has hired a second lobbying firm and "signed a $75,000 monthly retainer contract for three months with Mercury Public Affairs starting August 15." ET. That is $225,000 of taxpayer money. The problem now is how to mollify Trump without appearing to. Square the circle, as it were.