Dr Manmohan Singh,
Prime Minister.
New Delhi.
Dear Prime Minister,
The visit of US President George W. Bush to India is an important event. In today’s world, the US is regarded as the most powerful nation and an interaction at the highest level will have a bearing on the course of foreign policy and economic development of our country.
The Bharatiya Janata Party welcomes the visit of President Bush to our country. We believe it provides an opportunity for US policy-makers to understand the importance of India in the world and appreciate our concerns.
It is regrettable, however, that the agenda of the visit has been clouded in unnecessary secrecy. The Government has not cared to keep the premier Opposition party and the National Democratic Alliance in formed. Since national interests demand that foreign policy be bi-partisan, we consider this lack of transparency a major lapse of the Government.
Keeping in mind the importance of the visit and larger national interests, the BJP would like you raise some vital issues concerning the well-being of India.
• Cross-border Terrorism:
Despite the repeated assurances of President Pervez Musharraf, cross-border terrorism has not abated in Jammu and Kashmir. On the contrary, the infrastructure of terror in Pakistan is now being used by jihadi groups to also commit acts of terrorism in the rest of the country. The attacks on the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the pre-Diwali bomb blasts in Delhi and the killing of a scientist at the Indian Institute of Science campus in Bangalore are some recent examples.
The BJP would like you to impress upon the US that a war against terrorism cannot be successful if one of the so-called partners in this battle is insincere in its commitments.
• Proliferation of Nuclear Technology:
The involvement of Pakistan and particularly its top scientist A.Q. Khan in establishing an undercover nuclear bazaar has been well documented. Yet, Pakistan has steadfastly resisted international pressure to bring the rogue scientists to book. The BJP believes that Pakistan is the lynchpin of this illegal trade in nuclear technology. This has a bearing on India’s national security and we will urge you to impress upon the US the need to apply diplomatic pressure on Pakistan and its military-nuclear establishment.
• Biotechnology and Cooperation in Agriculture:
The livelihood of the vast majority of Indians which is also ecofriendly depends on agriculture. Indo-US cooperation in agricultural technology is necessary for India to achieve a Second Green Revolution which will particularly benefit small and marginal farmers. Agro-technology can be used to fight rural poverty.
We urge you to forcefully take up with the US the need to share the benefits of its progress in biotechnology with Indian farmers. Liberal technology transfer from the United States to India and to Indian farmers to enhance productivity and yields. We also urge you to impress upon the US that protectionist policies, including non-tariff barriers, are preventing Indian farmers from accessing the US markets.
• Visas and the Exchange of Skilled Professionals:
India has substantially liberalized investment procedures for American Companies in key sectors like insurance, telecom, energy and real estate. These measures have enabled American Corporations to access the huge Indian market. It is only fair that the US in turn liberalises its visa regime for skilled Indian professionals in software, legal, accounting, medical and other professions. We also expect you to express India’s indignation over the harassment and humiliation faced by Indian scientists in securing visas for work-related travel to the US.
Mr Prime Minister, you are aware of the controversies surrounding the US President’s visit. We understand that you will discuss vital issues that have a bearing on the country’s national security and energy security. When negotiating these issues, we will expect you to be mindful of the parameters of the national consensus.
• No Indo-US understanding on nuclear matters will be acceptable unless they factor the dynamics of a credible and effective nuclear deterrence as determinded by us and preserves India’s status as an independent nuclear power.
• We are concerned with suggestions that the US could play a mediatory role in resolving India’s conflict with Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir. I would like to remind you that the national consensus is quite clearly against any third-party mediation and the redrawing of national boundaries.
We expect you, Mr Prime Minister, to unflinchingly uphold the sovereignty and dignity of India.
With warm regards.
Yours sincerely,
RAJNATH SINGH, President, BJP.
Prime Minister.
New Delhi.
Dear Prime Minister,
The visit of US President George W. Bush to India is an important event. In today’s world, the US is regarded as the most powerful nation and an interaction at the highest level will have a bearing on the course of foreign policy and economic development of our country.
The Bharatiya Janata Party welcomes the visit of President Bush to our country. We believe it provides an opportunity for US policy-makers to understand the importance of India in the world and appreciate our concerns.
It is regrettable, however, that the agenda of the visit has been clouded in unnecessary secrecy. The Government has not cared to keep the premier Opposition party and the National Democratic Alliance in formed. Since national interests demand that foreign policy be bi-partisan, we consider this lack of transparency a major lapse of the Government.
Keeping in mind the importance of the visit and larger national interests, the BJP would like you raise some vital issues concerning the well-being of India.
• Cross-border Terrorism:
Despite the repeated assurances of President Pervez Musharraf, cross-border terrorism has not abated in Jammu and Kashmir. On the contrary, the infrastructure of terror in Pakistan is now being used by jihadi groups to also commit acts of terrorism in the rest of the country. The attacks on the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the pre-Diwali bomb blasts in Delhi and the killing of a scientist at the Indian Institute of Science campus in Bangalore are some recent examples.
The BJP would like you to impress upon the US that a war against terrorism cannot be successful if one of the so-called partners in this battle is insincere in its commitments.
• Proliferation of Nuclear Technology:
The involvement of Pakistan and particularly its top scientist A.Q. Khan in establishing an undercover nuclear bazaar has been well documented. Yet, Pakistan has steadfastly resisted international pressure to bring the rogue scientists to book. The BJP believes that Pakistan is the lynchpin of this illegal trade in nuclear technology. This has a bearing on India’s national security and we will urge you to impress upon the US the need to apply diplomatic pressure on Pakistan and its military-nuclear establishment.
• Biotechnology and Cooperation in Agriculture:
The livelihood of the vast majority of Indians which is also ecofriendly depends on agriculture. Indo-US cooperation in agricultural technology is necessary for India to achieve a Second Green Revolution which will particularly benefit small and marginal farmers. Agro-technology can be used to fight rural poverty.
We urge you to forcefully take up with the US the need to share the benefits of its progress in biotechnology with Indian farmers. Liberal technology transfer from the United States to India and to Indian farmers to enhance productivity and yields. We also urge you to impress upon the US that protectionist policies, including non-tariff barriers, are preventing Indian farmers from accessing the US markets.
• Visas and the Exchange of Skilled Professionals:
India has substantially liberalized investment procedures for American Companies in key sectors like insurance, telecom, energy and real estate. These measures have enabled American Corporations to access the huge Indian market. It is only fair that the US in turn liberalises its visa regime for skilled Indian professionals in software, legal, accounting, medical and other professions. We also expect you to express India’s indignation over the harassment and humiliation faced by Indian scientists in securing visas for work-related travel to the US.
Mr Prime Minister, you are aware of the controversies surrounding the US President’s visit. We understand that you will discuss vital issues that have a bearing on the country’s national security and energy security. When negotiating these issues, we will expect you to be mindful of the parameters of the national consensus.
• No Indo-US understanding on nuclear matters will be acceptable unless they factor the dynamics of a credible and effective nuclear deterrence as determinded by us and preserves India’s status as an independent nuclear power.
• We are concerned with suggestions that the US could play a mediatory role in resolving India’s conflict with Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir. I would like to remind you that the national consensus is quite clearly against any third-party mediation and the redrawing of national boundaries.
We expect you, Mr Prime Minister, to unflinchingly uphold the sovereignty and dignity of India.
With warm regards.
Yours sincerely,
RAJNATH SINGH, President, BJP.
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