HVK Archives: Clinton warms to Vajpayee
Clinton warms to Vajpayee - The Telegraph
Seema Sirohi
()
March 28, 1998
Title: Clinton warms to Vajpayee
Author: Seema Sirohi
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: March 28, 1998
Contrary to conventional wisdom, 'the Clinton administration is
warm and upbeat about the new BJP-led coalition in New Delhi and
-is making a special effort to send a series of positive signals.
Formal messages of congratulations apart, officials appear
genuinely struck by the promise of the "national agenda" and
Prime -Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's first address to the
nation.
The US Congress too, is welcoming the new government and going
out of its way to chip away at the negative portrayal of the
'BJP. Congressman Frank Pallone, chairman of the India Caucus,
effusively noted that Vajpayee was once introduced by Pandit
Nehru as a future Prime Minister of India. He says he was
impressed by the BJP's "grassroots strategy". He saw the party as
neither chauvinistic nor fundamentalist in his opinion.
Senior US officials say they hope to rebuild the momentum in the
relationship and there is every Indication Washington and New
Delhi can work together towards the goal. "We do not expect any
downs in our relationship," said one official.
There is no apparent sense of concern about the BJP which has
been identified in the Western media and editorials as a "Hindu
nationalist" party. The officials, in fact, showed a discrete
sense of optimism about the BJP which may surprise the critics of
the party both at home and abroad.
The only dissenting note came from a commerce department
official, quoted in the Journal of Commerce, who warned that more
export controls would be clamped on India and Pakistan if either
took additional steps in the direction of nuclear weapons
development.
The warning was dismissed as premature by more seasoned observers
of Indian policies who Understand the "nuanced" statement on
nuclear policy by Vajpayee. His speech to the nation given
confidence to US officials that he intends to pursue a moderate
course on policy issues.
"The current Prime Minister has tremendous national standing and
regard among the Indian electorate," commented one official. The
Americans have made an effort to understand the BJP over the
years since its arrival on the national scene was anticipated for
sometime.
They do not consider the BJP a pariah and would not have been
alarmed even if it had got full majority on its own without the
hampering presence of the allies. rut the fact that it is a
coalition of diverse interests only bolsters the belief here that
no policy reversals, specially in the economic arena, can be
expected.
Whatever flutter the BJP manifesto might have created with its
somewhat belligerent tone on the nuclear policy, Vajpayee's
speech, appears to have calmed it down.
"Campaign documents in India have no more relevance than campaign
documents in the US," said one South Asia veteran.
The call by President Bill Clinton to Vajpayee was warm and' the
vibes good - so much so that an optimistic observer said the two
leaders could start talking on the phone. If such a relationship
does indeed develop, Clinton's trip to India - now expected to be
in November - could be just what the doctor ordered.
Another indication of how some important opinion-makers are
thinking about the BJP was given by Frank Wisner, former US
ambassador to India, who spoke this week about the party in
glowing terms. He called the BJP a "democratic party which will
protect and preserve democracy". He also decried the use of the
term "Hindu nationalist", saying it was simply a "nationalist
party".
Even though a strong and effective relationship with the US may
not appear on top of the agenda, Wisner said it was "nonetheless
a cardinal view" among BJP leaders. As ambassador, he spent
considerable amount of time developing ties with senior leaders
and discussing issues.
Although no longer in government, Wisner's views broadly reflect
the official assessment. An important player in Washington, the
omnipresent Wisner is now the vice-chairman of the American
Insurance Group, the largest insurance company.
Wisner noted the absence of some of the BJP's most controversial
ambitions from the agenda. "It is not about building the Rain
temple, it is not about a uniform civil code and it is not about
repealing Article 370," he said. "Vajpayee's speech was
extraordinary in trying to bind the people together in talking
about the existence of one god," he commented.
As for the BJP's attitude toward Pakistan, he said in every
meeting he had with Vajpayee, the latter had raised the prospect
of peace in South Asia. The friendly exchange of messages and
Vajpayee's appearance at the India-Pakistan hockey match was an
indication of the times to come.
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