In this explosive episode of News That Matters, we draw a hard-hitting comparison between Nero’s Rome in 64 AD and today’s India in 2025. When Rome was burning, Nero was accused of playing the fiddle. Today, while India faces mounting internal and external challenges, our rulers appear more focused on image-building and PR than on solving real issues. On one hand, Pakistan has entered into a historic defense pact with Saudi Arabia, ensuring mutual support against external threats. This deal gives Pakistan not just political backing but also financial and military strength, directly shifting the balance of power in South Asia. At the same time, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on operators of Iran’s Chabahar Port, a project India invested in for decades to bypass Pakistan and connect with Central Asia. These sanctions directly hit India’s long-term strategic interests, while strengthening China and Pakistan. Yet, instead of addressing these pressing foreign policy challenges, the Indian government is busy with symbolic gestures—ordering schools to show the film Chalo Jeete Hain, based on Prime Minister Modi’s childhood, as a “source of inspiration.” Meanwhile, mainstream media highlights birthday wishes from Trump and flashy PR events like G20 as if they were major diplomatic victories. This episode exposes the widening gap between India’s foreign policy reality and the narrative sold at home. Is India truly a “Vishwaguru,” or merely a victim of propaganda and PR?