09-28-2008, 04:20 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Appalling assertion </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
PM can't say India deeply loves Bush
There is something sickening, if not plain outrageous, about the manner in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has chosen to register his gratitude to US President George W Bush. While Mr Singh may have reason to feel grateful towards Mr Bush -- he believes that his place in history has been ensured by the eagerness with which the American President has pushed the India-US civil nuclear cooperation agreement, which will generate billions of dollars of profits for American firms and tens of thousands of jobs for Americans facing unemployment -- there is no reason for a nation of a billion people to feel gratified. Indeed, the vast majority of Indians are appalled by the sight of their Prime Minister's obsequious genuflection at the altar of American power, not least because Mr Singh's reverential attitude betrays his deep, abiding and blind pro-US bias which does not find a resonance among India's masses. Mr Singh is welcome to declare his love for the US President and all things Americans, even if they militate against India's interests. That's his personal choice and reflects his true inner feelings fashioned by years of serving the West as a supine bureaucrat. But his choice cannot, in fact, it must not, extend to imposing his views on the people of India or seeking to speak on their behalf in so crass a manner. Hence, it would be in order to repudiate his assertion that <b>"the people of India deeply love" Mr Bush</b>. It would also be in order to categorically reject Mr Singh's presumptuous claim that all that Mr Bush has done "to bring our two countries closer to each other is something history will record". Mr Bush has no doubt contributed to the strengthening of Indo-American relations, but he has not done so for altruistic reasons. To his credit, in his comments on Thursday, Mr Bush has let it be known that American interest in India is guided by our emergence as a useful economic ally. He has been faithful to his primary responsibility: Guarding and promoting American economic policies and geopolitical strategies. Sadly, we cannot say that the Prime Minister has been equally faithful in either guarding Indian interests or promoting our rightful place in the 21st century world. His choice of words is not that of the leader of an emerging power but the tinpot dictator of a client state of America.
There is another reason why the Prime Minister's uncalled for and undiplomatic behaviour merits criticism. Pragmatism demands that India should have equally good relations with nations across the world. By declaring absolute fidelity and undying love for the US, Mr Singh has needlessly raised eyebrows in world capitals. It may not strike him, but the US is not widely regarded as a reliable partner or a benign power. Are we then being led into a situation where we shall be clubbed along with those nations that depend on American largesse for their survival and thus allow Washington to preside over their destiny with disastrous consequences? Such perversion of foreign policy must be resisted, if only to protect India's long-term interests. Meanwhile, for all his treacly declaration of love for the US and his public acknoweldgement of a personal debt of gratitude Mr Bush -- no, all of India neither loves nor feels grateful towards America -- Mr Singh has been deprived of the pleasure of signing the 123 Agreement. The deal is still making its way through the US Congress as restrictive clauses are added to American nuclear trade with India, making a mockery of all that Mr Singh has claimed and promised at home till now. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Now after returning back to India, Moron Singh will write a love song to Bush
<i>Likhe jo khat tujhe
woh teri yaad mein
hazaaron Green rang ke
Dollar ban gaye
sawera jab huya
to Bungley ban gaye
jo raat aayi to
Hotel ban gaye</i>
and how he will make full commitment to his love
<i>kasmei waade nibhaayenge hum
milate rahenge janam janam
dekhaa maine tuz ko to
muze ayesaa lagaa
barason kaa soyaa huaa,
pyaar meraa jagaa</i>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
PM can't say India deeply loves Bush
There is something sickening, if not plain outrageous, about the manner in which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has chosen to register his gratitude to US President George W Bush. While Mr Singh may have reason to feel grateful towards Mr Bush -- he believes that his place in history has been ensured by the eagerness with which the American President has pushed the India-US civil nuclear cooperation agreement, which will generate billions of dollars of profits for American firms and tens of thousands of jobs for Americans facing unemployment -- there is no reason for a nation of a billion people to feel gratified. Indeed, the vast majority of Indians are appalled by the sight of their Prime Minister's obsequious genuflection at the altar of American power, not least because Mr Singh's reverential attitude betrays his deep, abiding and blind pro-US bias which does not find a resonance among India's masses. Mr Singh is welcome to declare his love for the US President and all things Americans, even if they militate against India's interests. That's his personal choice and reflects his true inner feelings fashioned by years of serving the West as a supine bureaucrat. But his choice cannot, in fact, it must not, extend to imposing his views on the people of India or seeking to speak on their behalf in so crass a manner. Hence, it would be in order to repudiate his assertion that <b>"the people of India deeply love" Mr Bush</b>. It would also be in order to categorically reject Mr Singh's presumptuous claim that all that Mr Bush has done "to bring our two countries closer to each other is something history will record". Mr Bush has no doubt contributed to the strengthening of Indo-American relations, but he has not done so for altruistic reasons. To his credit, in his comments on Thursday, Mr Bush has let it be known that American interest in India is guided by our emergence as a useful economic ally. He has been faithful to his primary responsibility: Guarding and promoting American economic policies and geopolitical strategies. Sadly, we cannot say that the Prime Minister has been equally faithful in either guarding Indian interests or promoting our rightful place in the 21st century world. His choice of words is not that of the leader of an emerging power but the tinpot dictator of a client state of America.
There is another reason why the Prime Minister's uncalled for and undiplomatic behaviour merits criticism. Pragmatism demands that India should have equally good relations with nations across the world. By declaring absolute fidelity and undying love for the US, Mr Singh has needlessly raised eyebrows in world capitals. It may not strike him, but the US is not widely regarded as a reliable partner or a benign power. Are we then being led into a situation where we shall be clubbed along with those nations that depend on American largesse for their survival and thus allow Washington to preside over their destiny with disastrous consequences? Such perversion of foreign policy must be resisted, if only to protect India's long-term interests. Meanwhile, for all his treacly declaration of love for the US and his public acknoweldgement of a personal debt of gratitude Mr Bush -- no, all of India neither loves nor feels grateful towards America -- Mr Singh has been deprived of the pleasure of signing the 123 Agreement. The deal is still making its way through the US Congress as restrictive clauses are added to American nuclear trade with India, making a mockery of all that Mr Singh has claimed and promised at home till now. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Now after returning back to India, Moron Singh will write a love song to Bush
<i>Likhe jo khat tujhe
woh teri yaad mein
hazaaron Green rang ke
Dollar ban gaye
sawera jab huya
to Bungley ban gaye
jo raat aayi to
Hotel ban gaye</i>
and how he will make full commitment to his love
<i>kasmei waade nibhaayenge hum
milate rahenge janam janam
dekhaa maine tuz ko to
muze ayesaa lagaa
barason kaa soyaa huaa,
pyaar meraa jagaa</i>