 
MAR 1 - Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who received
US President George Bush at the New Delhi airport in breach
of protocol, was reportedly frisked by American agents
before he was allowed to approach the US president.
The media was kept out of sight and hence could not see the
incident, but BJP vice president and member of parliament
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi later told the media that it was an
insult and humiliation for the nation to allow foreigners to
check the Indian prime minister in his own land.
Meanwhile, the staff at the Mahatma Gandhi’s
memorial at Rajghat in New Delhi were upset when US security
personnel took their sniffer dog on the pathway around the
Gandhi samadhi.
Three US security personnel, accompanied by a sniffer dog,
took a couple of rounds of the black marble structure,
leaving the staff fuming with anger but helpless.
The staff said that this was the first time that a dog was
brought so close to the memorial. The normal practice was to
check and clear the area with a deep penetrating
minesweeper. It was done this time as well, they said.
They however turned down the US personnel’s request for
repeating the exercise, minutes before the arrival of US
President.
In line with the rules governing Rajghat, Bush and his wife
Laura took off their footwear and walked to the black
granite memorial in just their socks.
A few steps away from the gate, on the right side, stood a
mango tree planted by Bush's father who had visited the
place as the US vice president in 1984.
Not every body had good things to say about his visit to
Gandhi tomb. "George Bush is terrorizing the world. It is
shame that he is paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi, the icon
of peace. Bush is making a mockery of the entire non-violent
ideology by promoting violence all over the world and
visiting Rajghat (where the Mahatma's memorial is located)
at the same time," said A R Geelani, Professor of Arabic,
from Jammu and Kashmir, settled in New Delhi, according to
rediff.com.
The US has agreed to allow import of Indian mangoes.
For several years, Indian mangoes have been facing non-trade
barriers such as sanitary and phyto-sanitary (plant health)
measures from the US side. "We are looking forward [to]
Indian mangoes," Bush said in his public address to the
country on Thursday.
There are no news reports available on the internet however
that suggest that Bush and or Laura Bush enjoy eating
mangoes, Mexican or whatever.
Meanwhile, the Indian side is finalizing plans to address US
farmers' market access concerns on pulses, beans and peas
and almonds.
The Indian step that could benefit the US the
most is a relaxation of India's specifications for wheat
imports.
Imports of fruits and vegetables from India to USA
are also expected to be cleared during Bush's visit. But
civil nuke deal is up in the air in spite of last minute
intense negotiations.
A
recent survey found that 71 percent of the Indian population
had a positive opinion of the U.S., up from 54 percent three
years ago; another study published in India last Friday
concluded that 66 percent of the nation see Bush as a friend
of India. |
