NEW DELHI: Donald Trump took office in January this year for a second term as US president, amid high hopes for a stronger India-US relations. However, many of those hopefuls, who have been left disappointed thereafter, saw several of his policy decisions run contrary to expectations in both India and the United States.
Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta best represents these disappointed hopefuls and sections of people who misjudged Donald Trump by projecting their own ideological lens onto him, while overlooking his transactional, self-interested approach.
Gupta, who once called Trump a "hero", now thinks the US president has "lost his good sense".
Donald Trump sounded the death knell on the "American dream" of many Indians, to "Make America Great Again", as he signed a proclamation on Friday that will raise the fee for new H1-B visa applicants to a staggering USD 100,000, in line with what the Congress MP Manish Tewari described as "turning on the screws" on India.
This comes after the US imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods last month, and earlier this week dealt a blow to India’s trade and strategic ambitions by removing sanctions waivers from Chabahar port.
Gupta, who had organised prayers and havans for Trump’s victory in US presidential elections and even cut a cake on his birthday, once believed the US president shared Hindu Sena’s worldview.
Talking to
Timesofindia.com, Gupta said, "We prayed for Donald Trump's victory as he had pledged to eradicate 'Islamic terrorism'. We (Hindu Sena) also wish for the end of terrorism, Islamic terrorism, from the world, that is why we supported him in the US elections."
The Hindu Sena chief also thinks that in his first term (2016-20), Donald Trump did the job well as he "stopped the help that was given by the US to Pakistan, and on many other fronts worked shoulder-to-shoulder along with PM Modi."
However, Gupta is now "heartbroken" by the fact that Trump has increased closeness with Pakistan. "Donald Trump rose to power on the promise of fighting Islamic terrorism, yet today he has embraced Pakistan, a state long associated with it. This is deeply disappointing."
He now even suggests that the Indians, on a personal level, should not buy American products and "boycott America". Taking aim at the iPhone craze, Gupta said, "Just yesterday, people were in queues to buy the iPhone; they should be ashamed of it. What's the need for an iPhone? We should boycott American products, if they do not stay within their limits."
The Hindu Sena chief, however, is optimistic about the future and thinks that the situation with the United States may become better in the future. "The dispute with America are temporary, which can be resolved. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing regarding trade-related issues. I believe this matter will be sorted out soon."
When asked by the Timesofindia.com on what his group Hindu Sena will do on Donald Trump's next birthday, Gupta said, "We will pray to God for Trump's long life and a return of his good sense that he should again stand up against radical Islam and terrorism."
And what about cake? Gupta said that once Donald Trump returns to his "good sense" of fighting radical Islam, the Hindu Sena will "cut the cake again."
Until then, it remains a reminder of how easily hopes can be built, and dashed, on personal admiration for a leader whose politics are ultimately transactional and unpredictable.
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