The USA and India are two of the world's largest democracies. With the USA being the oldest democracy and India being the largest democracy, a comparison between the leadership style of two nation is natural. Both the countries had some historical baggage that the current leadership, namely Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi, is trying to reduce to make the nation great. Both the leaders are facing strong opposition from the media, resistance from a section of masses, in-fighting from within their respective parties, and biases from bodies that are supposed to be neutral such as Justice branch, criminal prosecution branch, and intelligence agencies.
Let's look at what these leaders are trying to do and maybe come to a conclusion that maybe just maybe "we the people" are our own enemy and are standing in the way of our own progress. Let's look at the similarities between the initiatives these two leaders are taking as they are strikingly similar.
- Manufacturing - Trump is trying to cut the dependency on China by bringing manufacturing back to the USA. Modi is doing the same through his "Make in India" initiative. India produced its first 100% made in India luxury train (known as Train 18). Huawei is building the world largest manufacturing plant for cell phones in India. ISRO (Indian space agency) has made great strides in developing and building cryogenic engines for rocket launches.
- Tax Cuts - Mr. Trump has reduced the corporate income tax and personal income tax. Mr. Modi is doing the same through rationalization of sales tax (known as GST bill) and keeping the personal income tax same resulting in working class having more discretionary income at their disposal.
- War on Terror - Mr. Modi was talking about organized terrorism in the United Nation long before terrorism was recognized as a problem. Trump has effectively decimated ISIS and has cut the aid to Pakistan as it was realized by both the countries that Pakistan has become a rogue nation. India also is going methodically and killing terrorists that are present in the nation. In fact, one of the least understood aspects of the demonetization was to choke the money supply to these organized terrorist outfits.
- Emphasis on Infrastructure Development - Both countries are taking concrete steps to improve infrastructure. Modi has made more progress in terms of providing electricity and hygiene facilities to all cities and villages along with adding, and at an exponential pace if I may add, to the rail and road network, combined with mass transit system deployment and bringing internet to all the villages. in 2018 all the villages have electricity and the effort now is to have all houses electricity. From a hygiene perspective, Modi is constructing 100 million toilets (yes that is 100,000,000!) across the nation. The USA is lagging behind on this aspect due to heavy debt that has been amassed by previous administrations but the intention is there.
- Border Security - Mr. Trump can't be more vocal about border security. Modi also has taken steps in controlling the Chinese expansionist in the North and North East sector of India.
- Energy Independence - Both Mr. Modi and Mr. Trump are striving towards energy independence and the results are showing. The USA is on a robust path to becoming the net exporter of energy thanks to Trump approving projects that were gathering dust, opening up drilling in previously banned sites and negotiating with leaders to import energy from the USA. Mr. Modi is taking the route of increasing the power generation capacity through the use of renewable energy such as solar energy and by cutting the energy consumption through replacement of old technology with LED technology.
- Medical Care Revamp - Medical care costs in the USA have risen so fast that they are now the second largest item in the household budget. Second only to the rent. Trump is taking steps to make the health care more affordable whereas Modi has now provided access to health insurance to the 50% of the poor citizens at no cost.
- Illegal Immigration - Trump is trying to deport the illegal immigration and instituting a process for merit-based legal immigration. Modi is also now creating a registry of illegal immigrants and trying to secure the borders which are largely open currently.
- China - Both the leaders have recognized that China is not their friend and are taking a tough stand against China including military stand (e.g. The USA is taking a tough stand on the South China Sea, whereas India took a tough stand on Dokhlam encroachment). Neither the USA nor India had taken any stand against China until the time Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi took the helm of the nation.
- Focus on Elimination of corruption - How can anybody forget Mr. Trump's campaign promise and slogan of "Drain the Swamp". Mr. Modi is doing the same by bringing charges against industrialists and political leaders who are engaged in corruption. Some key political leaders (e.g. State PM Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav) are already serving jail terms and some (e.g. Sonia Gandhi) are on bail while the prosecution is proceeding with the case. It is a matter of time before the justice is served.
On the lighter side, both the leaders are fed-up with the fake news and use Tweets to communicate with the masses, both the leaders like rallies and talking to masses, both the leaders are frustrated with partisanship that exists in the political arena that takes precedence over national interests and both the leaders work long hours!