US and India: A tale of two ‘coups’  

The Military

US: President Trump made an attempt to politicise the US Military. Days before January 6, 10 former Defense secretaries—including Mark Esper, who had been forced out of his office for insufficient loyalty—felt compelled to issue an unprecedented public letter reminding Defense Department officials of their oath to uphold the Constitution.

INDIA: The top brass of the Indian Army are already ‘more loyal than the King’ and the Prime Minister and the ruling party have spared no effort in politicizing the defence forces. The PM is fond of putting on military uniform, not allowed to civilians otherwise, and mingle with troops. And the CDS has no issues in attending overtly political or religious ceremonies.

Communications

US: President Trump discredited mainstream media that was critical of him, described them as enemy of the people and used media platforms like Fox News, Newsmax, OAN and social media platforms to sway public opinion in his favour. Trump directly messaged 88 million people who followed his Twitter account. He used social media to reinforce messaging, justify actions and mobilise supporters with lies and half-truths.

INDIA: The Indian Prime Minister uses the Radio, TV, personal Apps and social media platforms to amplify his messages. Unlike Trump he has not addressed a single press conference in seven years and BJP’s use and abuse of the social media are on record. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, it is now known, have done the bidding of the Government and allowed the ruling party a free pass. TV channels spend more time questioning the opposition than the Government.

The judiciary

US: With the help of Republican lawmakers, Trump stacked federal courts with what he kept calling “his judges.” He successfully pushed through the appointment of three new Supreme Court justices ahead of the presidential election. He made his expectation clear that if the Supreme Court had to settle an election dispute, then “his justices” would tilt the verdict in his favor.

INDIA: In India too, the Government has refused to accept recommendations of the Supreme Court collegium, stacked the judiciary with committed judges and co-opted even Chief Justices of India with Rajya Sabha membership and appointment as Governors. Inconvenient judges have been transferred from one High Court to another or banished to smaller states.

Government institutions

US: President Trump installed acting officials in crucial national security positions and made it clear that personal loyalty was the primary factor for candidate selection. He removed Mark Esper after he lost the election. Attorney General William Barr resigned in the same period amid rumours he would be sacked for failing to declare massive election fraud. Trump wanted officials in place in January 2021 who were entirely beholden to him and likely to support his efforts to stay in power.

INDIA: This is exactly the pattern followed in India. Hand-picked loyal officers including such misfits as Nageswara Rao to head the CBI were installed in top positions. Agencies like the IB, RAW, ED, CBDT, NIA, CRPF, Election Commission of India, CAG, even Universities are headed by loyalists.

The legislature

US: Trump claimed that more than 74 million Americans who voted for him last November supported ‘his’ Republican Party. At the January 6 rally preceding the storming of the Capitol, Donald Trump Jr. even referred to the GOP as the “Trump Republican Party.”

INDIA: Although BJP received 37.4% of the votes polled in the general election of 2019, the PM boasts of being elected by ‘125 Crore’ Indians. The ruling party has been bypassing Parliamentary scrutiny. Legislations are not referred to Parliamentary committees; discussion and divisions are not allowed, ordinary Bills have been introduced as Money Bills, Bills and amendments have been introduced at the last minute, rules and conventions have been flouted; far-reaching decisions, budgets and Bills have been approved without deliberation.