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.