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'Why be obsequious before Clinton?'

Message Board posts are edited slightly

Name: M K Sudarshan
Email: sudarshan@alghanim.com
Message: During the recent Clinton visit to India, the Indian press and TV media went overboard in projecting it as a glamorous event.

When Bill and Chelsea expressed some delight in having feasted Indian, tandoori, kabab cuisine at the "Dum-pakht" and "BukhAra" it was drummed up as great news! Chefs immediately went to the media to proudly proclaim that their recipes having whetted presidential appetites will soon adorn the White House banquet tables too!

To the best of my knowledge no one ever in the USA went ga-ga over, say, a visiting Indian president or prime-minister relishing American beaf-steak or turkey! Certainly, nowhere ever was it media "wave" that McDonald's burghers are served in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan thanks to a President who visited America!

Why is the Indian media highlighting these silly things? Yes, one should be gracious in one's hospitality to the visiting leader of a great nation like America, but where is the need to be so effusively gushing and obsequious?

Sudarshan

Name: mayur
Email: mayur-cool@usa.net
Message: i think clinton's visit was purely for his own pleasure,not ours.he fooled us to believe that he was coming to give a new dimension to indo-us relations.true,he did sign the vision statements, but its all on paper.he should have visited india much earlier.

Name: siddhartha
Email: sgigoo@yahoo.com
Message: india spent millions of rupees to do up the roads and environment just to impress the us president. why? why does it need a us pres' visit to clean the environs and tighten the security.

the clinton visit was just a visit. it could not have done any more good other than on the diplomatic front. it can't solve kashmir and terrorism.

words can't solve terrorism. actions can. indian politicians are too suceptible to international opinion. pakistan is not. that is why it succeeds in its missions.

india needs to forget diplomacy and deal with pakistan directly and in sterner actions. we must adopt 'an eye for an eye' tactic if we want to win. kill the terrorists instantly.

Name: Abhay Tawase
Email: abhayt@hotmail.com
Message: Well, I don't think that this visit was very successful for India in long terms. On the other hand, it was very successful for America. By this visit, America has made sure that India will never go out of its control.

All politicians, industrialists and small businessman are thinking that due to this visit India is going to do great in coming years...

But they all are in dreams.. The fact is they are far away from the truth.

Why do I say so?

(A) Political Scene

1. American president talked in tune with India's viewpoint. However, he has not promised anything about Kashmir issue. He has assured that America is not going to support Pak in case of war. But no concrete steps are promised to stop violence and terrorism. He has not even promised whether US will take serious action against Pak and declare it as terrorist country.

2. This is because America's political interest lies in the fact that Indo-Pak tension remains as it is.

3. Indian MPs were so eager to meet him and touch him that he must have noticed that most of the Indian politician's mentality is to bow down against America.

4. He made happy many Americans having their origin in India.

(B) Technology & IT

1. About $4 billion worth of investment was announced when he was in India. Most of this amount will be invested in IT.

2. This figure isn't really any significant figure for American economy having potential of trillions of dollars.

3. Even though many brilliant Indians work for American companies and that Indians run many of these, India is too late to enter IT industry. Remember the fact that American Indians are AMERICANS. So, what they earn is America's.

4. Today, very few Indian companies are internationally recognized. How many S/W products are developed in India? How many are able to compete in terms of core technologies? Can w

Name: Gautam
Email: gangulis@vsnl.com
Message: I want to respond to Imran Nazir's question:when will India and Pakistan ever become friends?

Indians and Pakistanis are basically brothers.(If you doubt this,meet your counterpart abroad.There immediately forms a rapport that sets you apart from others).When brothers fall out over parental property, relationships become bitter, even murderous. It is impossible to say whether we will ever become friends. That day will only come when the PM of India President/CE of Pakistan is going to sell a compromise agreement to his people, and vice versa.As long as each side decides to pursue its goals by hook or by crook, that day will never come.

On the other hand,as long as there are people around like Imran,who ask this simple question,we can never lose hope.

Name: VJ
Email: VJ_100274@hotmail.com
Message: This is Kalyug going on. Come on, What are we doing, expecting promises to be delivered by someone who represents a nation without history(mediocre one) and and ofcourse we should not forget that hi guys chair was ones rattled by none other than someone like an intern as he was not able to control of himself

Name: Yogi Datta
Email: datta@eisa.net.au
Message: Sir, Left parties are nothing but a bunch of third rate baboons. Just look at Congrss. A spent force, dirty rat trying to roar under that Italian widow. Can prosperity come without the goodwill of USA ? India has not lost any friendship with Russia. Russia will always be India's no 1 friend.

My advist to BJP is - Do not give up nuclear weapons. Do not make the mistake Indira Gandh made after fist detonation. Take Kashmir by force. Pakistan will not use nuclear weapons as they know that even the land of Pakistan will eveporate. But it is a question of guts. Can these geriatrics in Indian parliment have any guts to stand up. I dont think so. Even cockroach countries like Australia can lecture Indians. Yogi Datta.

Name: Vivek Mishra
Email: pallavivek@usa.net
Message: It is important to realise that we are indeed living in a unipolar world and therefore a good rapport with the uncle (Sam) is the real politik of the day; perhaps the uncle also realises that its time to change its traditional attitude towards South Asia; what better can be the time for the visit of the american premier !

Name: Amit Kharb
Email: kharb@hotmail.com
Message: Maybe the Indian Public should take lessons from US which elected a dynamic and young leader like Bill Clinton. The younger generation is one that is responsible for upliftment of a country, and it is time that some consideration is due to them, by providing reasonable representation in government.

Name: ajit kavishwar
Email: kavishwar@vsnl.com
Message: In view of split Russia it is required to be friendly with USA.

Mr.Bill Clinton by this time should have understood India's growing potential in IT & also the capacity to sustain inspite of US embargo!

US & India should jointly fight against Bin Laden & finish the terrorism!

Name: atul bachan
Email: abachan7@rediffmail.com
Message: i am sure the goverment's eyes have been opened seeing what president clinton has said on the nature of a democracy we indians have a misunderstood the word democracy we take it for granted we keep fighting on irrelevant issues it's time we learnt that success ,prosperity,are linked with determination to work hard and be far sighted the visit will hold no significance if the benefits are reaped only by the rich it should percolate down to the grass root level bringing about the much needed freshness of new ideas and straightening the backbone of our primary agricultural orinted economy

Name: k. kumar
Email: 091960@usa.net
Message: India cannot develop without the big brother, USA. Most of the IT stuff is with the USA. Say for example, USA bans all IT relations with India, the Indian economy will collapse right there. Of course, the economy of USA cannot maintain the same tempo without Indian support. It's mutual.

Name: Sushil Agrawal
Email: sushilagrawal@rediffmail.com
Message: We should not forget our old friends Russian but Now we can not do without having excellent relations with USA.So we should be happy about Clinton's visit to India and we should look forward to new era of Us-Indo relations.

Name: Sridhar Raman
Email: shriya@hotmail.com
Message: 1)No change in the life of comman man.

2) Roads and places cleaned will be spit and made dirty as soon as possible

3) Bussiness man will see slowly the hype dying down

4) Goverment will declare it a Grand sucess and begining of New Indo-US Relationship

5) Opposition will shout it was a waste and we should be neutral and tilt towards USSR

6) Swadeshi movement people using vidheshi goods will lecture on ill effects of western culture on india

7)The event will fade from public memory soon

Name: nagarjun kumar
Email: nagarjung@indiatimes.com
Message: our politicians should learn from clinton the behaviourin public. we almost forgot that he is the president of USA.He made us so comfortable behaving like a any ordanory citizen

Name: Ravinder Singh
Email: ravigandoak@excite.com
Message: India cannot make big strides in all round economic progress without help of U.S.A.

Name: Thomas
Email: wspring@eaze.net
Message: A question that Indians might ask themselves: Why did the American President's visit occur only at the "fag-end of his career, when all he could do was play tourist?"

Clearly, the answer is that he was not inspired to visit earlier. People are inspired to visit and improve relations with those who are important to them. Apparently, India has not been important to the U.S. for many decades. The reasons for that are not at all obscure, and are rooted in India's dismal record of economic performance.

However, given that Clinton wanted to visit India, albeit at the end of his term of office, India still had much to gain from it: it was an excellent opportunity for India to display itself to the world, at the relatively modest cost of playing host - the cost of security, white paint, and if one wants to be fussy about it, bushels of tandoori chicken.

Does India want to complain about this nearly free publicity, or does it want to showcase its strengths? Does India want to tell the world that it is a worthy business partner, that it is a good place for investments, which will in turn be protected by rule of law, and whose value will not be eroded by social or political instability?

The government of India, I believe, had the right idea, and did quite well. It brought the business sectors of the two countries together, and exposed the visitors to representative social programs, without compromising important principles of national security. If, through the eyes of President Clinton, the world got a glimpse of a vibrant democracy and increasingly free economy at work, the visit was of great value.

Even the seeming inconsistency of President Narayanan's speech at the banquet was effective. Playing "good cop-bad cop" is indeed a valid strategy, in which the U.S. Secretary of State and President constantly engage (guess who the bad cop is). In any case, it sends the message that India cannot be taken for granted, and that good will must flow both ways.

The verdict on President Clinton's visit: a success for India, and not a costly one.

What remains to be done is to capitalize on the largely beneficial outcomes of the visit: help bring to fruition all of those business agreements that were signed in India, remove obstacles to business, including tariffs, and show generous willingness to talk with Pakistan, while remaining firm on territory and terrorism.

In the long run, India must focus its attention on the economy, education and the environment. That, however, is the subject of another letter.

In the mean time, we continue to watch India with interest and affection.

Thomas

Name: Laxmish
Email: kklaxmish@hotmail.com
Message: "Kashmiris unhappy with Clinton visit: AFP"

I would like to lend my views on the above news title. After going thru the news published I would like to express my strong resentment for the title since it is NOT the KASHMIRIS, but the SEPERATISTS who are not happy with Clinton's Visit. Since I am an avid visitor to Rediff site, having recommended the site to lot of my friends, I earnestly hope that these mistakes will not be repeated in coming editions. I would also appreciate if the site does a damage control act on this issue. Thanx, Laxmish

Name: Vijay Iyer
Email: vijayriyer@yahoo.com
Message: Hi rediff visitors, My view points:

1. Industry : India is emerging as the global hub for IT solutions. This sector(IT) is goin to outperform every single sector (where we lack global technologies)in the coming decade . In fact ever since we missed the Industrial revolution, India has always been trying to catch up. The license-raj policies of erstwhile governments didint help our cause. The result: closed economy with no technology development which FORCED the Narasimha Rao government(dont give all credit to Manmohan Singh... India had foreign exchange which could have lasted only for one month!!) to open up the economy. Why am I saying all this? Because IT is a boon where we can increase our exports thereby earning valuable revenues which we can (potentially) pump into bettering our infrastructure! (roads,telecom,power) .. and then hopefully establish technology research institutes to reverse the brain-drain as Israel has done! So Clintons visit to India is welcome indeed. US companies want Indians and Chinese(they are infact better than us in technology skills, except they face problems in communicating in English!) to get their systems in place so that their business (thats what US is all about.. BUSINESS!) and systems in place and get ready for maintaining their numero-uno place in the world!

2. Political:

I dont see major advantages for India by this visit. Note Clinton has less than a year in office. One never knows whether it will be Gore or Bush. Republicans have a different point of view than Democrats(including how they view India).. So Clinton cleverly used his office position to get some Indo-US business partnerships in the technology without offering anything politically to India( ofcourse we are/were in no position to demand anything!) His statement against Pakistan is good enough at this point. :-)

3. Future%

Name: Girish Deshpande
Email: gdesh@hotmail.com
Message:What India and Indians need today is good relationship with US. India is compltely incapable of sorting out its own problems and we need US help on that. Especially on economic, defence and technological front. Let us all forget the stupid socialist idealogy that the past generation of India followed. Indians need to embrace American values like hard work, integrity, accountability, courage etc The values which have made America the greatest nation the world has ever seen.

Name: Kamal
Email:
Message: American Presidents visit was long overdue. Any meaningful ties wih US will have mutual benifits. I hope we make most of the opportunity of this century. A strong economy solves all other problems automatically. IndoUs relationship will have a positive effect on our already growing economy.

Name: Ramsundar Lakshminarayanan
Email: 4ram@ziplink.net
Message: I still don't understand why our External Affairs Minister accompanied the party to Rajasthan. The party had everybody and their mothers-in-law except Bill Clinton. Jaswant Singh has disappointed India. He has left his pride in Talbott's house. Shame on him. Our servile attitude has been proved.

Name: Ramana Murthy
Email: mantrapad@eth.net
Message: Now that he has gone off, the heat reduces. WHAT A FUSS WE CAN REALLY MAKE!! CTBT is an issue which we can decide for ourselves. For that we don't have to say: "Clinton .. Go Back!!

Name: Subhash Asar
Email: lgiasar@hotmail.com
Message: DON'T GET SENTIMENTAL

We should remember the following

(1)There is nothing to benefit from being on the "other" side, when even Russia wants to join NATO.

(2)USA makes friends or enemies based on its national interest. Hence we should ignore the extinct species like leftists to form a strong relationship.

(3)The people of this country have to shut up and speak in one voice. Unemployed Prime Ministers should stick to gardening. We have yet to find ex-Presidents or Prime Ministers of other countries unnecessarily opening their mouth.

(4)The government is responsible for economic well being of the citizens.Whether this is achieved through war or friendship, we should leave this to experts.

(5)Just because US has scolded Pakistan, there is no need to get excited and lower the guard.When there is war going on, it has to be fought.

(6)We as Indians should be less sentimental about US friendship.Its a simple give and take.Considering that US has more leverage it is possible that in order to lure them we may have to give more to start with -except on national security.There has to be economic concessions for them to invest. This will strength the leverage in future.

Name: Sachin Ekande
Email: justsac@usa.net
Message: His visit will definately be a positive move towards our relationship with the US. Not to forget that the US president has visited India after a long long time, and that too because India is emerging as an IT power all over the world. I am proud of my country and above all being an Indian.

Name: harvinder rajpal
Email: rajpalusa@hotmail.com
Message: clinton's visit to india is like making a strong base for a high rise building.this visit will be fruitful in future for india by his succesors.Americans see india for a most safe mecca for their bussiness than any other third world country.....!!!!!!.

Name: P AVenkatachalam
Email: pav@eng.us.my
Message: Clinton himself has seen what is happenning at Kashmir due to attrocities by PAK regime. Innocent 36 sikhs were shot down when Clinton was in the Indian capital. This would have given to him and to the entire world who is the badboy. In this way Clinton's visit is fruitful to India. OK Russia was our dear friend. Now Russia itself cannot solve its million problems. What they can do for India to solve Kashmir problem without American's antispport to Pak. So we need the support of both.

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