U.S. lawmakers seek to honour Modi with address to Congress

[Kompromat]

Never trust republicans. They are Taliban without the beards.

 

[jaunty]

Never trust republicans. They are Taliban without the beards.

When it comes to foreign policy there is not much difference between republicans and democrats, just like there is not much difference between BJP and Congress. That's how a mature country operates. This is not a republican/democrat issue, both are on the same page here.

 

[JanjaWeed]

wow.. what a turnaround! First they ignore Modi... then they laugh at Modi... then they ridicule Modi... then they fight Modi... & at the end they surrender to Modi!

 

[Levina]

wow.. what a turnaround! First they ignore Modi... then they laugh at Modi... then they ridicule Modi... then they fight Modi... & at the end they surrender to Modi!

And finally they decide to "honor" him.

 

[JanjaWeed]

And finally they decide to "honor" him.

Modi had to withstand the onslaught by the powerful of US administration. US (especially Hilary Clinton group) tried to get Modi till the very end by using various clandestine means. But Modi stood tall & weathered the attack very well. It would be interesting to see how Hilary Clinton handles Modi, should she again try her luck in US presidential election. Just today I was listening her latest interview with Burkha Datt. Sounds like she is still bitter about Modi's win.. & was trying to be as sober as she could & choosing her words very carefully while giving her POV about India's new PM.

Maybe this will give an idea about the kind of contradictions that still exists within American hierarchy.. & the kind of witch hunt initiated by the prospective president of USA.

Obama quietly reverses Hillary’s ‘get Modi’ policy

 

[wadi79]

Republicans also 'honored' the Taliban in the White House.

Were those the 'good' taliban or the 'bad' taliban? Pakistan has also been close to Taliban in the past - I think it was one of the 3 countries to have recognized the Taliban govt. in Afghanistan. So I guess Pakistanis are just like the Republicans.

Mr. Modi's first overseas visit was to Bhutan. The first heads of state to visit India during his tenure were the SAARC countries - so I guess that quite shows where his priorities are - and also those of leaders in the neighbourhood.

 

[Reviewer21]

Truth burns. Just because Modi is elected doesn't mean that he ain't mass murderer. American democrats are not likely to host Modi anytime soon.

Well by mass murderer what did Jinnah do at the time of independence isn't he to be accused for the deaths at the time of independence?

 

[Yaduveer]

What a U-turn???

U.S. lawmakers seek to honour Modi with address to Congress

Sat Jun 21, 2014 12:20am IST

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi, once denied a visa to enter the United States over massacres of Muslims, is expected to receive the honour of addressing a joint session of the U.S. Congress during a visit to Washington in September. (dont know if any other Indian PM has been honored this way??)

California Republican Ed Royce, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote to House Speaker John Boehner on Friday and asked that he invite Modi to address a joint session of the House and Senate during his trip.

"In every aspect – whether it be in political, economic or security relations – the United States has no more important partner in South Asia," the letter said. "It is not an overstatement to say that the U.S.-India relationship will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century."

Boehner's office did not immediately announce a response to the letter, which was also signed by North Carolina Republican Representative George Holding. Congressional aides said they expected an invitation would be issued to the Indian leader.

The administration of President George W. Bush denied Modi a visa in 2005 under a 1998 U.S. law barring entry to foreigners who have committed "particularly severe violations of religious freedom."

In 2002, when Modi had just become Gujarat's chief minister, more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots in the state. Modi denied any wrongdoing. India's Supreme Court ruled in 2010 he had no case to answer.

President Barack Obama congratulated Modi on his election victory in mid-May and invited him to the White House.

The United States, which sees India as a natural ally and potential counterbalance to China in Asia, is eager to expand business and security cooperation with the Modi government.

However, the relationship has failed to live up to that billing, due to bureaucratic and regulatory obstacles in India to expanded business ties and a political dispute over U.S. treatment of an Indian diplomat accused of mistreating her nanny, which some analysts blamed on a lack of policy focus by the Obama administration.

Foreign heads of states and heads of government have been invited to address joint meetings of Congress since the early 1800s, normally to underscore their countries' close allegiance with the United States.

The last such address was South Korean President Park Geun-hye's more than a year ago, on May 8, 2013.



(Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

Enlighten yourself !

 

[OCguy]

I know its hard for India and Pakistan to understand why we keep relationships with both parties, since taking sides seems like a natural action.

But I believe the same is true for all personal, business, and political relationships, in that it is advantageous to be friendly with someone who is also friendly with an adversary. Pakistan an India are able to influence and effect each other through indirect channels via USA, China, Russia.

An example with my country would be how Russia is/was able to do the same with Washington and Tehran, acting as a go-between. Although Putin has for some reason decided that relations with the West had grown far too strong, I hope this all passes and constructive bilateral actions can resume.

Hosting the leader of one country is in no way disparaging the leadership or people of that country's adversaries.

 

[Levina]

Enlighten yourself !

Lol

Sank you!!!

 

[TejasMk3]

That article..notice how it nicely shifts most of the blame for the relationship failing to our side., and then gives a vague "some say americans too are to blame" at the end.

This is damage control, nothing more. They will still hate the guy, he is already busting their method of stalling progress and applying soft control on policies (ngos).

 

[AugenBlick]

@levina
Full letter

 

[Levina]

@levina
Full letter

Cool!

Thanks for sharing it here.

 

[A1Kaid]

One congressman out of 435 wrote a letter of invitation and Indians are jumping...

 

[Levina]

One congressman wrote a letter and Indians are jumping...

Oopsie!
No letter was written to our neighbor's leader and they're jealous.