Gujral doctrine

We need to change the standards set by him

1. GUJRAL DOCTRINE PREPARED BY RIMA CHATURVEDI

2. PROFILE Served as India's Minister of External Affairs in the cabinets of V.P. Singh (5 December 1989-10 December 1990) and H. D. Devegowda (1 June 1996-21 April 1997 .  He went on to become Prime Minister in April 1997 and retained the foreign ministry (21 April 1997-18 March 1998 ). During his tenure as foreign minister, he adopted accommodative policy vis-à-vis India’s neighbours . Gujral’s policy of non-reciprocal accommodation led to the signing of a 30 year treaty between India and Bangladesh on December 12, 1996. In fact, the 1977 treaty on water sharing between India and Bangladesh (after extensions in 1982 and 1985) had lapsed in 1988 and negotiations could not succeed because of inflexibility on both sides .   He even ensured Bhutanese consent for digging of a canal from a Bhutanese river to augment the flow of water to Ganga and  showed his willingness to revise the controversial Mahakali treaty with Nepal which was received well in Nepal .

3. ESSENCE Essence of Gujral Doctrine:  The essence of Gujral Doctrine is that being the largest country in South Asia, India decided on 'extension of unilateral concessions to neighbours in the sub-continent'. 

4. GENESIS Genesis of the Doctrine:  Among other factors, these five principles arise from the belief that India’s stature and strength cannot be divorced from the quality of its relations with its neighbours .

5. APPLICATION APPLICATION OF GUJRAL DOCTRINE: 1. SHARING OF GANGA WATER WITH BANGLADESH. 2. FREEZING OF BORDER DISPUTE WITH PRC. 3. INCREASING PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CONTACT WITH PAKISTAN 4. CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES WITH PAKISTAN

6. CRITICS AND REMARKS Gujral was unable to bring about any change primarily because of his inability to “convert the foreign policy bureaucracy” firmly wedded to the principles of security, national interests and major power status at the global level, “to the basic art of friendliness”. It was also alleged that the foreign office was more comfortable with the language of “hegemonic power” than “ Gujral’s language of friendship and détente”.  Interestingly, however, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government (1998-2004) led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and and the United Progressive Alliance government (2004 - till date) led by Manmohan Singh have continued with Gujral’s foreign policy which laid emphasis on the need to have “a peaceful, stable and constructive environment in India’s neighbourhood ” which is being regarded as “vital for the goals of accelerated development for India and the region ”. REMARKS: NEED TO CHANGE FOREIGN POLICY