Bush wants 'lasting partnership' with India

The Times of India ^ | SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2004 01:29:21 PM | IANS

[VinayFromBangalore]

WASHINGTON : US President George W Bush has greeted India on the occasion of its Republic Day, pledging to build a "lasting partnership" between Washington and New Delhi .

"We are grateful for India 's support in the global coalition against terrorism, and together we can continue to advance peace, freedom and opportunity for all people," he said in a message to the Indian American Associations of National Capital Area, which organised the 55th Indian R-Day celebrations in Beltsville , Maryland , near here.

Bush said for many years the US and India "have been committed to transforming relationships between our nations".

He said the anniversary of India 's R-Day provided an opportunity to recognise the many important contributions that "Indian Americans have made to our society".

"These proud citizens have enriched our culture through their industry and talent, and contributed to the diversity that reflects our founding ideals."

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his message recalled the "deep-rooted association" that non-resident Indians have with their mother country and said their contribution to American society and the catalytic role they were playing in strengthening India-US relations were a matter of "great joy and satisfaction to all of us".

The Indian American Associations of National Capital Area is an umbrella organisation of several Indian associations in the greater Washington area that collectively celebrated Republic Day.

Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh presented the keynote address.

Leading Congressman from Maryland Steny Hoyer, a Democrat from Maryland , and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans Joe Wilson , a Republican from South Carolina , who were present on the occasion, made brief remarks, vowing to work towards improving Indo-US relations and also noted the contribution of Indian Americans to the enrichment of American life.

They paid tribute to the Indian American community for its strong family values, respect for tradition, hard work, commitment and professional excellence.

Several US lawmakers, including House of Representatives Speaker J Dennis Hastert, a Republican from Illinois , also sent their good wishes on the eve of India 's R-Day.

Hastert also lauded the role of Indian Americans, saying their contributions to the US have proven to be invaluable.

Republican Frank Pallone, a Democrat from New Jersey and founder member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, said: "I know that this 55th year of the Indian Republic will witness an even stronger India that lives up to its great commitment to democracy."

Senator Paul Sarbanes, a Republican from Maryland , calling the celebrations of India 's R-Day a "historic event", said: "I look forward to our continued close working relationship on issues concerning the two great democracies of America and India ".

[dogbyte12]

Translation: More jobs leaving the USA and heading to Bangalore.

[FirstPrinciple]

India's role in the war on terrorism? Who are we kidding? I suppose we should just be overlooking Indian army's acts of terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir.

[1rudeboy]

A possible alternative, since you don't have one, is to declare war on India right away. /sarc

[sully777]

All of my Indian friends are extremely conservative. They also await the day they get the signal from Dubya to obliterate the Pakis and all moslems "for the good of the world."

My guess is that India, and Indians in this country are one of the most enthusiastic participant groups in war on terror. But their participation cannot be outwardly advertised. My Indian friends are also some of the most patriotic Americans I have come across.

[BenLurkin]

Ping

[FirstPrinciple]

My problem is with the Indian govt, not Indians in this country or Indians in general. Many of the expats have left the country because of the govt as well.

[Tribune7]

Thanks for the post Vinay.

[sully777]

I see your point about Indian gov't which is an unusual organism by any standard.

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

Translation: More jobs leaving the USA and heading to Bangalore.

Bingo.

Translation: Big Business Wins.

[KantianBurke]

bingo. Bush's statement translated simply means "you'll get more jobs and don't worry about any opposition. All I have to do is show a pic of me in a flight suit and they get weak in the knees."

[joesnuffy]

Do not be unequally yoked

[joesnuffy]

We either import slaves to this country or ship jobs to slave host nations...
Middle class America is on the chopping block

Goal of both Republican elite and Democratic elite

One if by land two if by sea
three when they come by Washington DC

[swarthyguy]

Boy, ignorance and certainty in one package.

Terror in pUnjab was by khalistanis financed from America and trained in Pakistan. That's over. Khalistan is Kaput.

Half the Khalistanis were Pakistani jihadis.

Kashmir? Read anything since over a decade ago.

The terror is from Jihad, Bush's buddies in Saudi, not from India.

[FirstPrinciple]

I support freedom fighters anywhere. If Khalistan wants to be independent and Kashmir wants to be independent, then they should have the right to do so. India is a strange union of states with different ethnicities and religious practices. Even each state has a different language. Kind of like Yugoslavia, except the differences are more pronounced. If Punjab thinks it has nothing in common with India and is tired of supporting the rest of the Indian states with its agriculture output, then it should have the right to choose its own destiny. Same for Kashmir, which should not have been part of India in the first place. Keep ad hominems at a minimum, please.

[FirstPrinciple]

I disagree. We should be upholding human rights of everyone, be its Americans or innocent Moslems in any part of the world. The problem with India is that if you disagree with the govt, you get labeled as a terrorist group. Freedom of association is not readily available in India.

[swarthyguy]

Punjab is not just Sikhs only.

You seem to think that a significant portion of Sikhs seek Khalistan. They don't. The idea's dead. Even the Pakistanis don't care.

The current governor is a Sikh himself.

The issue of Khalistan is dead.

Kashmir? Well, It's been thrashed about often, but "shoulds" are pretty irrelevant in history.