‘Snub’ to India? Obama calls Hu Jintao

thestatesman.net ^ | November 09, 2008 | Simran Sodhi

[Tailgunner Joe]

NEW DELHI, Nov 9: In continuation of the ‘snub’ to India, US President-elect Barack Obama today spoke to Chinese President Hu Jintao. Till now, Mr Obama has returned calls to 16 world leaders, including Hu, but as reported by The Statesman on 8 November, the “snub” to the Indian Prime Minister continues.

The Ministry of External Affairs however maintain that they are unaffected by Mr Obama’s call to the Chinese leader and points out that Mr Obama will call the Indian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in due course of time. Officials insist that too much is being read into these telephone calls and this is not an indication of the strength of Indo-US relationship which remains strong.

This, however, does not explain the fact that as of 8 November, when Mr Obama called the Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, the Indian government had maintained that Mr Obama was returning calls only to countries that were having of some military alliance with the US.

Officials in the MEA had particularly pointed out that both China and India had not received the call since both did not share a military alliance with USA.

This explanation no longer holds forth. But then the government seems to have no new answer for this latest development and embarrassment.

As President-elect of the US, Mr Obama’s first actions are significant since they indicate areas that will be the focus of his administration. The calls to his allies are understandable but the absence of a call to India is quite a snub, especially since India is today regarded as the balancing power to the rise of China in Asia.

In his conversation with the Chinese President, Mr Obama discussed major global issues of common concern, including the financial turmoil, with the Communist leader saying the two countries should “accommodate each other’s concerns” and appropriately settle “sensitive” issues like Taiwan. Mr Obama described China as a great nation, and said that China’s development and success meet US interests.

[SoftwareEngineer]

Martial,

I too have had similar experiences with some guy (and it ALWAYS a guy) making it a mission to convert the Hindus.

I have had my mouth agape as a total stranger tells this Ph.D Hindu guy, who is a staunch conservative, that “he is a heathen destined to burn in hell for eternity”!! This is someone he just met!!!

Whatever happened to keeping your thoughts in your heart till you get to know someone better. And secondly there HAS to be a better way to convert someone to Christianity.

I want someone to become a Christian (or Jew or Hindu or Sikh.. it does not matter) because they find POSITIVE things to like in that religion. Talk about the ministry of Jesus Christ. Talk about peace and love.

The salvation and hell stuff should come towards the end.

Just my opinion. This is how I would evangelize someone.

[MARTIAL MONK]

My feeling is this: Until I see the results in the Christian community that I see in the Hindu community, low divorce, strict adherence to religious precepts, low crime, high achievement and a hundred more, we have no right or reason to try to convert them. It is their religion and it works for them and I respect that.

If we are going to take them into the Republican Party, we should take them as Hindus.

[SoftwareEngineer]

Martial,

Agree a 100% with you. Well said!

[Niuhuru]

I hope not. I hope to G-d not. Rioting would be on a national scale and a lot of people will quite likely get killed.

Given how blacks have reacted with his becoming President, there would be bloodshed.