Agnihotri's posting criticised

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 29. The appointment of Mr. B. K. Agnihotri as the Government's point man for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) has come in for sharp criticism by an organisation of overseas Indians in the United States.

In a letter to the President, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, the New York- based Indian National Overseas Congress has described Mr. Agnihotri's appointment as an attempt to ``saffronise'' the NRI community in the U.S.

The letter written by the organisation's president, Dr. Surinder S. Malhotra describes Mr. Agnihotri as a ``communally biased man'' who is ``a member of the Sangh Parivar and the RSS.'' Mr. Agnihotri's appointment, the organisation alleges is meant to promote the ``hidden agenda'' of communalising the NRI community. ``This appointment is a sublime message to NRIs to get into the hold of the VHP, RSS or Sangh Parivar if they wish to communicate with the embassy, consulate and the Government of India.''

In the letter, a copy of which has been sent to the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Congress president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, Mr. Malhotra points out the necessity of projecting India's secular profile in the U.S. ``This country (U.S.), like India is a pluralistic society; a mosaic of different religions, ethnicities and cultures, but at the same time is secular when it comes to governance, that is, it strongly believes in the separation of the Church and the state.''

A united effort by the Indian overseas community in the U.S. is contributing to the lifting of US sanctions against India, the letter asserts.

'Controversy irrelevant'

PTI reports:

Meanwhile, Mr. Agnihotri, termed ``unfortunate and irrelevant'' the linking of his appointment with his RSS background, but said he was proud of his association with the Sangh.

The only Indian to head an American law school, Mr. Agnihotri said he did not anticipate any problem in working along with the Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Mr. Lalit Mansingh.

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