PM's address 'very well received'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, SEPT. 15. From all official accounts, the visit of the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, to Capitol Hill is being termed as a major success with the primary focus on bilateral relations and in what could be done to deepen the existing and developing cooperation between the United States and India.

For the record, it has been maintained by senior Indian officials accompanying Mr. Vajpayee that his address to a joint sitting of Congress was ``very well received'', something that became clear in the meeting with top lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate after the Congressional address.

No lawmaker harped on controversial issues in their separate or joint meetings with the Prime Minister even as there was the initial expectation that some recent developments in India, such as pressure on minorities, would be raised by the members of Congress. Apparently only one lawmaker called on Mr. Vajpayee to solve the problems in Kashmir and Punjab. But at a prayer rally on Capitol Hill, members of Congress are said to have sent a message to the Government in New Delhi.

According to the Indian American Christian Coalition of North America, Senator John Ashcroft in a statement had condemned the recent attacks on churches and called upon the Indian Government to stand up against this `religious persecution'. Others, such as Congressman Mr. Dana Rohrabacher, are said to have made the point that if India wants to be a friend of the U.S., it must first protect the rights of religious minorities, especially the Christians.

According to the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and National Security Adviser, Mr. Brajesh Mishra, the focus of Mr. Vajpayee's interaction with the House International Relations Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was on the bilateral front with ideas exchanged on how to deepen the relationship. Mr. Mishra pointedly remarked that the issue of sanctions did not come up in the meetings and that India would not plead for the lifting of sanctions. Terrorism came in for mention, but Pakistan was not discussed; and the point stressed was that aside from a sole Senator no one raised the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

In his short address to the India Caucus, Mr. Vajpayee referred to the fact that with four members seven years ago, the group has grown to over 120 members.

Mr. Vajpayee made direct references to Pakistan and terrorism in his address to the India caucus. ``We have noted with gratitude your support for India during last summer's intrusion by Pakistan army regulars in India's Kargil sector. And we have your efforts to block certain amendments. We share your commitment to promote democracy and protest its demise at the hands of military rulers,'' In prepared remarks he added later, ``We know that we are not alone in voicing our concern or in fighting the challenge of international terrorism''.

The Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Mr. Gary Ackerman, noted that there was a strong pro- India sentiment sweeping Washington.

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Section  : International
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