M A I N   N E W S

Congress wants sanctions to go

WASHINGTON, Sept 14 — In a development having far reaching import for bolstering Indo-US ties, the American Congress today adopted a resolution unanimously imploring the Bill Clinton administration to lift the remaining sanctions against New Delhi. The sanctions were imposed following the underground nuclear tests by India in May, 1998.

The resolution brought to the fore the widespread desire among American Congressmen to put Indo-US relations on a firm footing. The development has its own significance. It provided an entirely new setting and atmosphere, different from that evidenced in the past, for the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, who was accorded the honour of addressing a joint sitting of the US Congress.

The hawks in the Clinton administration, however, appeared somewhat nonplussed by the resolution passed by the House of Representatives, giving the U S President, Mr Bill Clinton, a free hand to take Washington’s relations with India to new heights.

These American officials insisted on linking the lifting of sanctions, including developmental loans to India, and signing of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. With Mr Clinton’s term as President coming to an end in November, discordant voices on withdrawing the sanctions against India in the wake of Pokhran-II continued unabated.

They were unwilling to consider doing away with the existing measures which India believes were hindering the growth of economic and trade relations with the USA.

The officials were unbudging on non-proliferation issues and felt confident of getting India to sign the CTBT. In their opinion the key issue was to see that there was no further testing of armaments of mass destruction by any country.

The resolution, drafted by the Republican Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, Mr Benjamin Gilman, and strongly supported by the Democratic member on the Committee, Mr Sam Gejdenson, focussed on the USA and India working in close concert in the fight against terrorism along with enlarging the bilateral dialogue between the two countries during Mr Vajpayee’s four-day stay in the American capital.

“Both our governments are dedicated to the protection of the rule of law, democracy and freedom of religion. Our citizens share a fervent faith in these core values. It is also why India and the USA see eye-to-eye on so many regional concerns,” Mr Gilman said while piloting the resolution.

Mr Gilman referred to China’s hegemonic ambitions, Islamic terrorism spilling out of Afghanistan and Pakistan, the narco-dictatorship and Pakistan, the narco-dictatorship in Myanmar (Burma) and China’s illegal occupation of Tibet. These issues, he said, were of serious concern to both Washington and New Delhi.

He spoke of the July 31-August 1 mayhem in Jammu and Kashmir when terrorists gunned down 101 Hindu pilgrims. The massacre came two weeks after the largest Kashmiri militant group — the Hizbul Mujahideen — called for a ceasefire. The killings were apparently carried out to sabotage any attempt to peacefully broker a settlement to the Kashmir crisis.

“Such malicious, extraordinary violence reinforces my conviction that India and the USA must develop closer military and intelligence relationship. A special relationship is needed so that we can share our knowledge and skills in order to successfully confront our mutual enemies who wish to destroy the basic principles of our societies,” Mr Gilman said.

On his part Mr Vajpayee, while addressing the joint sitting of Congress, recalled that “in November, 1999, a remarkable event took place in the House of Representatives. By a vote of 396 to 4, the House adopted a resolution congratulating “India and my government on the successful elections completed in October 1999. This display of broad based bipartisan support for strengthening relations with India is heartening.”

Stating that it was a source of encouragement to both “President Clinton and to me, as we work together to infuse a new quality in our ties”, Mr Vajpayee said, “I thank you for the near-unique approach that you have adopted towards my country.”

The Prime Minister pointed out that those of you who saw the warm response to Mr Clinton’s address to the Indian Parliament in March this year would recognise that similar “cross-party support exists in India as well for deeper engagement with the USA.” — Hari Jaisingh

US Diary
PM: bipartisan approach must
From Hari Jaisingh

Washington, Sept 14 — During the 22-minute address to the U S Congress, Mr Vajpayee spoke in measured tone. The sentences were simple and short for making an impact. He laid great emphasis on the bipartisan approach for “infusing a new quality in Indo-US ties.”

Mr Vajpayee also spoke in glowing terms about the contribution of one and a half million people of Indian origin to the advancement of American society. He said “I see in the outstanding success of the Indian community in America a metaphor of the vast potential that exists in Indo-US relations of what we can achieve together.”

The Prime Minister received acclamation no fewer than 21 times. He received a standing ovation when he entered the House and after he had finished his address to the Congress.

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In one of the rarest of rare occurrence, there was an invocation by a Hindu priest, who spoke haltingly in English about the abiding message in the Vedas and other Indian scriptures. Venkatachalpathi Samudrala, a priest from the Shiva temple in Parma, Ohio, created history of sorts. The Lord, he intoned, sought peace for all and misery for none.

Christians protest outside US House

WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (PTI) — As Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was addressing the joint meeting of the US Congress here today, members of a Christian organisation held a demonstration outside protesting against the recent attacks on the community’s institutions in India.

Protesting members of the Indian American Christian Coalition of North America carried placards which read “Keep India secular”.

Speakers criticised the RSS and other Hindu organisations for allegedly inciting violence against Christians.