Visit India, 55 congressmen urge Bill Clinton

A record number of 55 Congressmen, belonging to both the Democratic and Republican parties, have urged United States President Bill Clinton to visit India next month to participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of its Independence.

The plea was contained in a joint letter, copies of which were made available to the media in Washington on Friday night by Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone, founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, which had initiated the move.

''There is no doubt in our minds that a visit by an American president will improve and strengthen relations between the world's two largest democracies,'' it added.

Even otherwise, they felt a visit by an American president to India was long overdue.

Jimmy Carter was the last US president to visit India in 1978. Unlike Ike Eisenhower and Richard Nixon, two previous presidential travellers to the subcontinent, Carter did not club his visit to India with a stop in Pakistan.

Pallone, who personally secured the signatures of 54 fellow law-makers, said he was hopeful that Clinton would be making a trip to India in the next few months if it was not possible to go there in August.

"I know the president considers India's Independence to be an important milestone in terms of the promotion of democracy in South Asia and throughout the world,'' Pallone said, adding, ''This letter shows the support of members of congress from both parties for the president to make this historic trip.''

Among the signatories were India Caucus Co-Chairman Bill McCollum (Republican), House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt and House International Relations Committee Chairman Benjamin Gilman and its Asia-Pacific Sub-Committee Chairman Dough Bereuter (both Republican).

They said the visit would further improve and strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and India.

Pallone on Friday spoke in the House of Representatives against the amendment to the foreign appropriations bill adopted last week by the Senate easing restrictions on the US economic and military aid to Pakistan.

He vowed to organise opposition to the provision at the House-Senate conference which will adopt the final version of the legislation before referring it to the president for approval.

''I am afraid that we are rewarding Pakistan for acquiring nuclear technology and delivery systems, as well as providing arms and training to rogue nations and terrorist groups,'' Pallone added.

He said he was concerned about the effect that this provision could have on the fragile peace process that Prime Minister I K Gujral had initiated in South Asia.

''Any actions that disrupt the strategic balance in the region could set back the progress that has been made in the past few months, while elements within Pakistan who oppose the trend towards improved relations with India could exploit this policy change for their own ends,'' he added.

Pallone called for ending the pro-Pakistan tilt that existed in US foreign policy.

''I find it interesting that when India allegedly deployed Prithvi missile, the United States quickly denounced the development. Yet, when Pakistan continues to develop its nuclear programme, with the aid of the Chinese, we turn the other way. In fact, we reward them with trade," he remarked.

He said, ''If we desire peace in South Asia, we must work equally and fairly with all countries of the region. This amendment does not do this''.

The Senate amendment adopted on July 17, seeks to allow resumption of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation funding, International Military Education and Training, Trade and Development Assistance and democracy building programmes in Pakistan.

UNI