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Mr India on Capitol Hill

Mr India on Capitol Hill

Author: PN Tiku
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: January 26, 2001

The India caucus in the United States Congress, primarily responsible for promoting Indo-American relations may have to shift its perspective with the coming in of the new Republican President George W Bush.

The Indian caucus, a 150-member strong body, the biggest of its kind in the Congress is a bi-partisan body which includes the Congressmen from both the Democratic and Republican parties.The caucus has played a key role in reordering Indo-US relations over the past one year that has witnessed back-to-back summit visit by President Clinton and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

With the change of guard at all the three top positions, the presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives, the overwhelmingly pro-Democratic policy calls for a reorientation and a shift in thrust in keeping with the new government's policies. Liberal Democrat Jim McDermott, who heads the caucus now, is regarded as one of the most active members of the Congressional caucus. Gary Ackerman, Democrat who was co-chair of the Congressional caucus, was personally involved in the vexatious issues like terrorism, granting of H1-B visas and promoting trade relations. Ackerman had thus earned the title of Mr India on Capitol Hill because of his indefatigable efforts on behalf of the Indian Americans. The Republicans have picked up Edward Royce, who is known for his bi-partisanship which the Congressional analysts have said would come in handy in a deeply divided House.

Triggered by the growing Indian-American influence, many members of the Congress have begun to take on active part in the activities of the India caucus. A growing number of Congressional members, including Edward Royce, have become aggressive flag-bearers for closer relationship between the two largest democracies. Royce believes that India, and not China or Pakistan, can be the closest ally of the United States in the long run.

The India caucus has also some prominent Congressmen like Larry Pressler, Frank Pallone, Sherrod Brown and Republican co-chairman Bill McCollum, who unitedly faced pro-Khalistan acolyte and Pakistan's unwavering ally Dan Burton, who had threatened to introduce amendments to the Foreign Operational Bill seeking to cut off all US assistance to India.

However, despite the positive overtures by the new government, it remains to be seen whether President Bush will be inclined to scale down, sustain or perhaps enlarge the Clinton administration's initiatives on issues of concern to the two countries. Outside the nuclear issue, the India Caucus has promoted greater commercial ties. This has happened because India is seen as a major growing market for US goods and services.

So far the Republicans appear more focussed on India as a growing regional, economic and military power, being a strategic counterweight to China. Apparently it seems, Bush will consider it necessary to engage India over the present American policy, which may not be easy to reverse.

The question therefore is how far the India caucus can change the mind-set of the Bush administration and be able to further expand avenues for bilateral economic linkages and follow the "Clinton-Vajpayee Vision Statement."

The India Caucus will, therefore, play its role of being the conscience keeper of the Indo-American relations. A visit by four India Caucus legislators led by Jim McDermott ahead of the installation of Bush is an clear indication that India will continue to receive Bush administration's prime attention.

However, the Caucus can succeed only when it has the administration's support. That is possible only if they have a perfect rapport with the Department of South Asian Affairs.

There is already a controversy on who will assists Colin Powell in handling the South Asian department. The likely choice of Shirin Tahir-Kheli, the Pakistani-American diplomat, has run into controversy partly owing to her ethnic origin and anti BJP remark.

James Clad, another aspirant for the post, has been promoting a new approach to the future of Indo-American relations. James Clad has said that the idea is to take India out of the traditional sub-continental box.

Indian Human Resource Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi is reported to have attended James Clads think-tank seminars at George Town University, and the reports of the seminars have been submitted to the new President.

It would be interesting to watch the India Caucus help develop new avenues for bilateral economic linkages and come up with renewed perceptions on global financial and trade issues. This is notwithstanding the fact that US sanctions still continue to be a hurdle in our bilateral relations. President Bush is, however, committed to removing trade restrictions, which need to be pursued by the India Caucus. In view of India's strategic role and political maturity, it would be in the interest of the USA to build on the existing relationships and lift the sanctions on India. Only in that case can it win over India as a economic and political ally.
 


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