India Abroad - Collector's Issue by India Abroad

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Letters to the Editor......................................A2 People...............................................................A3 Immigration..................................................A15 Business........................................................A11 Magazine.......................................................M1

Pages: 20+52=72

Friday, June 10, 2016 Vol. XLV No. 37

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COLLECTOR'S ISSUE

Where does the US-India relationship go from here?

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LETTERS

How did Yogita Desai die?

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

The parents of Yogita Desai, the 12 year old girl from a drought-struck village in Maharahstra who died fetching water.

Where are we going?

n ominous cloud is gathering over the United States-India relationship (Senators critical of India days before Modi’s visit, India Abroad, June 3). Senators are becoming increasingly critical of India’s human rights violations, her records of human trafficking, continued gender violence, and her lingering silence on rampant discrimination and persecution of minorities and religious freedom issues. All this is shaping up just before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US to address a joint session of Congress. For a long while, India had almost taken it as a given that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee would be sympathetic to India’s cause (along with her neighborhood concerns), and to her renewed mission of socio-political emergence on the Asian theatre. However, this time the Committee is extremely

read the tragic report on Maharashtra’s drought (They died fetching water, India Abroad, May 22). I agree with the reports that put the blame squarely on federal and state governments for their tardy response. It is not too late to execute remedial measures to salvage the drought-stricken areas. Also, being a doctor, I was appalled after reading the report of 12-year-old Yogita Desai’s preventable death. A post mortem in her case would have revealed, more than likely, the cause of her death yet it was conveniently not stressed on by the physician and denied by the family for unknown reasons. I need to emphasize here that in India post mortems are often denied by the immediate family on religious grounds or on some sort of unknown fear factors of doing harm to remains of the dead. We need to educate the masses that it is essential to have post mortems done in all cases of unexplained and accidental deaths — it will have the benefit of revealing the true cause of death. Dr Isufali Kundawala Richardson, Texas bitter towards India, and, under its Chairman Senator Bob Croaker (Republican-Tennessee), who might be entertaining a higher office soon should the Republican nominee Donald Trump win in November, is in no mood to give Modi any major concession now or in the foreseeable future. US-India ties through the Obama looking glass may not be realizable any further — at least not in Trump’s erratic attempts. Obviously, India would be deadbeat in that equation. But one may contemplate the alternative: What if Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders wins the Presidency instead? Could India continue to count on her good fortune? Perhaps not. Even if Clinton wins the Presidency, she would be forced to act away from her political center to a significantly left-of-center that Sanders and his delegates have been aiming for to reshape the Democratic Party. As India’s first PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru quipped, ‘Facts are facts and will not disappear on account of your likes.’ And this is the fact-sheet of India — visible to all. America knows India has nowhere to go but stay tethered with America; anything else would be a wishful thinking. And the dreadful thing about it is India is truly helpless now with or without America for the first time. Saumen Sengupta Utica, New York

The idea of India

read carefully the cases put forward by Hema Karunakaram (#Don’tEraseIndia and the conflation of religion and politics, India Abroad, May 20) and Sankrant Sanu (‘India’ out, ‘South Asia’ in. How academics ill serve us, India Abroad, May 20) for and against downplaying India and elevating South Asia in the California school curriculum. Yes, the political boundaries of India have been changing since antiquity, the most recent was Partition with the seceding North West India declaring itself as an Islamic State and east Pakistan following few years later. The truncated India declared itself to be a secular State. Since Partition, however, India’s Muslim population has multiplied many fold while in Pakistan and Bangladesh the numbers and status of Hindus have reduced to a dismal level. The motive behind erasing India’s name and identity and substituting South Asia is confusing. India as a geographical entity and India as an idea, as a dynamic and constantly evolving as well as a seeking, exploring and absorbing human endeavor are not the same. Among all the empires, crusading and proselytizing forces, India stands as an exception as ‘empire of the spirit’ evidenced by its impact far beyond its borders. Long live, India! Mukunda Rao Tampa, Florida

Great interview with Dr Venugopal @MyMothersUnni about his #memoir /life in India Abroad @cdivakaruni Houston, Berkeley, Kolkata

We reserve the right to edit Letters to the Editor.

It was truly a treat indeed... @nyindianff @IAArtsCouncil watched several of them though wanted to watch all of them. Twas a huge treat under one roof! @DebRoyChandi Fremont, California

PEOPLE India Abroad June 10, 2016

On point

MATTHEW HOLST/GETTY IMAGES

hat Varun Ram is a rising star on the basketball court was evident for everyone during March Madness last year, when he made a game-saving steal and secured a win for the Maryland Terrapins against the Valparaiso Crusaders (India Abroad, April 17, 2015). But with a perfect 4.0 GPA, he has been collecting accolades off the court too. The physiology and neurobiology major at University of Maryland who is now pursuing a Masters in Supply Chain Management at UM’s Robert H Smith School of

Last year, Varun Ram was named Maryland’s inaugural Big Ten Medal of Honor award winner for male athletes, which recognizes both academic and athletic excellence.

Business was named to the Big Ten All-Academic Team — comprised of student-athletes in at least their second year at an institution who have earned a varsity letter and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher — in March. Varun followed that up with one award for academics and another for Athletics at the 2016 Terps Awards last month. He scooped up the Geary F Eppley Award for being the male student athlete with the highest GPA at UM and the Charles P McCormick Award for the senior from the state of Maryland contributing the most to athletics.

Mitra’s next move

hat do you do when you win a Pulitzer for breaking news? If you are S Mitra Kalita, the managing editor at the Los Angeles Times, when that Pulitzer was won, you look for the next challenge. And for Mitra that involves moving to CNN and, back to New York. ‘In her new role as vice-president of Programming, Mitra will lead CNN Digital’s efforts to creatively share its journalism and storytelling across an ever-exploding array of platforms,’ CNN said in its announcement. ‘She will oversee the News & Alerting, Special Projects, and Mobile & Off-Platform teams. Mitra will be based in the Big Apple and report to Editor-in-Chief Meredith Artley.’ In introducing Mitra, CNN mixed things up with a Q&A, and she had this to say about her job title: ‘The success of our journalism rests on two important factors: how good is the story and how good is the distribution. How adaptive are we to different devices and different platforms? How accessible, relatable, intimate, S Mitra Kalita authoritative? Technically, I will oversee the homepage, alerts, projects and planning, mobile news and off-platform partnerships and initiatives. But really, I see this job as one that collaborates across departments, time zones and mediums to maximize the reach of our journalism.’ Asked why CNN, Mitra — who has previously worked with Quartz,

Star volunteer

The Wall Street Journal, Mint and The Washington Post — said, ‘The future of journalism is not prose or video, a graphic or shareline. The future of journalism, like its past, rests on the power of a story. CNN’s plans for digital expansion recognize that we need new ways, of gathering, telling and delivering. There’s already a very strong foundation. Metrics on share-ability often show local TV stations beating newspaper content. Why? Because reporters are on the ground and their work tends to be fast and written conversationally… when news happens, you turn to CNN. That is incredible reach, but it also represents incredible opportunity for further engagement.’ Mitra also spoke about how she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do than journalism, her guilty pleasures, and then our favorite bit — her morning reading list. ‘Before news meetings, I look at the New York Times, Reuters and, of course, CNN,’ she said. ‘Less frequent but important reads: The Economist, The New Yorker, New York magazine, The Atlantic, India Abroad, Univision, Harvard Business Review. I am a big fan of email newsletters, such as Quartz, the Skimm, Lenny Letter, Harvard Chief Digital Officer Perry Hewitt’s Friday 5, Race/Related from the New York Times and the American Press Institute.’ Thanks, Mitra :)

r Anil Shrestha, a Fresno State plant science professor has received The President’s Volunteer Service Silver Award — the nation’s premier volunteer award, recognizing Americans making a positive impact — in recognition for his community service. The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation started the awards program in 2003. It is managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service and Points of Light, an international nonprofit that inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action to change the world. ‘Shrestha teaches classes at Fresno State in plant health, plant science, biometrics, weed science, pest management and crop productivity,’ a Fresno State statement said. ‘His primary research is in integrated vegetation management in agricultural and non-agricultural systems.’ And for the third consecutive summer he is in Nepal to volunteer in his academic specialty. ‘I consider myself very fortunate to be able to share my skills, knowledge and experience in a developing part of the world that is fending off a looming crisis of uncertainties in agriculture and food security,’ Shrestha said in a statement. For the next two months in Nepal, Dr Shrestha will help teach a graduate course on herbicides and the environment and direct graduate students’ thesis research at the Agriculture and Forestry University. He will also collaborate with scientists from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center based in Nepal, Bangladesh and India and the International Rice Research Institute based in the Philippines, and help develop a training module to sustain cereal cropping systems in South Asia. ‘It is important for agricultural scientists to work globally,’ Shrestha added. ‘Invasive weeds further challenge the sustainability of agriculture and the environment in Nepal. I am honored to represent Fresno State in the noble cause of sustaining global food security to an area that’s also recovering economically from a massive earthquake in 2015.’

Dr Anil Shrestha in Nepal.

COURTESY: FRESNO STATE

Ankush Kumar Bahl

Sameer Patel

Maestros in the making

s assistant conductors at the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, respectively, Ankush Kumar Bahl and Sameer Patel are steadily making a name for themselves. In recognition of their work the Solti Foundation has chosen them as recipients — along with nine others — of the Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award. The Solti Foundation was established in honor of Sir Georg Solti, one of the most important conductors in 20th century music. In making the announcement, Penny Van Horn, Solti Foundation US Board Chair, said, ‘The mission of the Solti Foundation US is to identify, support and promote emerging young American conductors as they launch their classical careers.’ Ankush, who was discovered in 2009 by former New York Philharmonic Music Director Kurt Masur, is a past winner of this award. He has just completed a four-year tenure at the National Symphony Orchestra and also made recent appearances with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Orchestre National de France, the National Opera Orchestre de Nancy, the Copenhagen Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Indianapolis Symphony. This season, he will expand his international presence with debuts in Canada, Mexico and South America. Sameer, a 2011 Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Scholar, spent three seasons as associate conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic before heading to the San Diego Symphony. He is now aiming to be the music director of the Fresno Philharmonic (India Abroad, January 2016) as one of the six finalists, chosen from a worldwide pool. We can’t wait to hear more from Ankush and Sameer.

NEWS & COMMUNITY

Raja Krishnamoorthi gets the ultimate endorsement in his bid for Congress — from President Obama. Aziz Haniffa reports.

aja Krishnamoorthi — the Democratic nominee for the open-seat race in the 8th Congressional District of Illinois, which includes west and northwest Chicago suburbs — has received the mother-of-all endorsements. President Barack Obama has weighed in for him. ‘As the son of immigrants who worked their way into the middle-class, Raja understands both the challenges facing America’s working families and the opportunities their work makes possible,’ Obama said. ‘I know he’ll fight hard in Congress to create more good jobs, empower more Americans to start businesses, and help working families afford to put their children through college.’ “That’s right — this is the big one man!” an elated Krishnamoorthi, 42, told India Abroad. The New Delhi-born attorney, entrepreneur, and lifelong progressive, who served Obama as issues director in the President’s successful US Senate campaign in 2004 when he helped shape policy proposals that Obama embarked on in federal office, said in a statement, ‘It only seems like yesterday that the two of us ate dinner in my childhood home in Peoria before his historic rise to the US Senate and the White House.’

India Abroad June 10, 2016

‘This is the big one man!’

Raja Krishnamoorthi and Barack Obama in the former’s childhood home in Peoria in July 2002. Krishnamoorthi is president of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc, small businesses that sell products in the national security and renewable energy industries. He is co-founder of InSPIRE, a non-profit that provides training to Illinois students and veterans in solar technology. He resides in Schaumburg with his wife, Priya, a physician, and their three children.

‘Trump may not understand, but diversity is something we should be proud of’ RITU JHA

everal Indian Americans attended Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ town hall in Palo Alto, California June 1 . “I am proud to support Senator Sanders,” United States Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Democrat-Hawaii, told the gathering, adding, “I resigned as vice chair of the DNC (Democratic National Committee) because I knew what was at stake in this election.” “As a soldier and a veteran, I know how important it is to have a commander-inchief who exercises good judgment and knows when the military is necessary to defeat those who threaten our safety and the security of the American people,” Gabbard, who has served in Iraq, said. “People support Bernie Sanders’ foreign policy,” Gabbard told India Abroad, “he has the good judgment that is necessary to be our commander-in-chief, defeat our enemies and keep us out of counterproductive interventionist wars.” Appearing on the Asian-American and Pacific Islander panel with Sanders was Aparna Shah, who came to the US at age six from India. She presently serves as executive director of the Oakland-based nonpartisan group Mobilize the Immigrant Vote. Shah asked the Senator for his views on immigration since federal officials have announced a 30-day surge plan on deportation, targeting women and children. “I tell you from the bottom of my heart what makes this country extraordinary is in

US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, second from left, speaks at the event in support of Democratic Presidential hopeful US Senator Bernie Sanders , far right. fact our diversity,” Sanders said. “Donald Trump may not understand, but diversity is something we should be proud of.” “I will end current deportation policies,” he said. “We need to move on comprehensive immigration reform with 11 million undocumented in this country. If Congress does not do its job, I will use the executive powers of the Presidency.” A Bangladeshi American Muslim woman in the audience asked Sanders what he would do to help young Muslims cope with the growing racism and Islamophobia. “We are going to bring our people together. That’s our strength and we should be very proud of it. We will not allow Donald Trump and his friends to break our unity,” he said. On the sidelines of the meeting, Shah told India Abroad how Bangladeshi deportees

recently went on a hunger strike. “People come here for a better life,” she said. “They come here because there is no more opportunity in their home country, whether they are Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani.” “The town hall meeting provided Senator Sanders a good opportunity to hear the voice of our AAPI Silicon Valley community,” Rishi Kumar, Council member, City of Saratoga, told India Abroad. “Senator Sanders genuinely cares, listens well, He will listen to the concerns of our community and do his best to address them,” noted Kumar, a board member of the California Democratic Party’s Asian Pacific Islander Caucus who has endorsed Sanders. “I truly believe Senator Sanders’ responses resonated with the audience. The Asian-American community has a huge hand in the th-

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riving Silicon Valley economy; it’s about time we took some political leadership as well.” “Senator Sanders did well in having this dialogue with our community, reinforcing the important role we play as a community here. I hope it becomes a model that is replicated time and time again by many other candidates running for office,” he added. Also present at the town hall was 10-yearold Sri Srinivasan, a 5th grader who said she wanted to meet Senator Sanders. “I would love to meet Hillary Clinton,” Sri said, “but I got the opportunity to meet Bernie. Since I am a girl, my natural instinct would be to support Clinton, but I want to wait and see.” Asked if there was any question she would like to ask Sanders, Sri said, “Wouldn’t it help America to thrive better if he and Hillary Clinton joined hand before the (California) primary?” “We are big-time Bernie supporters,” her father Venkat Srinivasan, a senior IT professional who’ll vote for the first time, told India Abroad. “I am more attracted to Bernie’s economic policies than Clinton’s. Earlier, I supported Clinton, but this time it is Sanders. He is more liberal and understands the policies on cost cutting. He is different.” Gyan Tiwary, chief executive officer of a San Francisco consumer electronics hardware company, is registered as an independent. Not sure who he will vote for yet, he said, “I am just exploring what he (Sanders) is all about. He seems like a good candidate.” Also present at the town hall was Zahra Billoo, who works for a non-profit organization. “I support Bernie Sanders because he is the best option we have. His positions on civil liberties, Islamophobia, and our endless wars gives me hope that we can do things differently and better than the status quo in this country,” she said. “As an American Muslim, I have been especially appreciative of his campaign’s outreach to our community in this otherwise toxic election cycle.”

India Abroad June 10, 2016

NEWS & COMMUNITY

RITU JHA

he man who terrorized the University of California, Los Angeles campus June 1 — killing his professor and himself — was identified as Dr Mainak Sarkar, June 2. It was revealed that Sarkar, 38, had left a trail of evidence revealing that he had killed a woman — later revealed as his wife — in Minnesota before driving to Los Angeles and killing the professor who mentored him. Sarkar came loaded with two legally purchased semiautomatic pistols and extra magazines shot the professor multiple times inside a small office in UCLA Engineering IV building before taking his own life. He had a third target, another professor who is safe, on his ‘kill list.’ The spokesperson of the Los Angeles Police Department, the first responders to multiple calls of shots fired on the UCLA campus the previous morning, told India Abroad that the police found a note near Sarkar’s body, which led to further investigation and the discovery that he had listed three targets. It was the note — which according to the police’s statement in the media, listed his home address in Minnesota and asked someone to ‘check on my cat’ — that led the police to the list with names of the targets on it and the deceased woman. The LAPD spokeswoman said, “It carried the name of the professor that died, Prof William Klug. Sarkar was his former ME PhD student, and another professor we are not naming. The female (on the list) found later on (was) deceased with a gunshot wound.” The Brooklyn Park Police, Minnesota, told India Abroad that, working with LAPD, they went to the scene when asked for a welfare check. Upon arrival on the Pearson Parkway, residence, they found one adult female deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. The police confirmed that the woman was shot prior to the UCLA event. “It’s still an open investigation and this is a murder-suicide case,” said the LAPD officer. “We are not releasing more information.” They did not release the name of the woman, but CBS’s Minneapolis station, WCCOTV identified her as Ashley Hasti, a student at University of Minnesota’s medical school. The police also did not confirm the woman’s relationship with Sarkar. But based on Hennepin County Clerk’s Office records, WCCO reported they were married in 2011. Sarkar’s Facebook page — since scrubbed from the Internet — carries photos with her, but their relationship status and what triggered her murder was unclear at press time. Sarkar’s animosity for Klug, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, P RAJENDRAN

India Abroad June 10, 2016

The man who terrorized UCLA

PATRICK T. FALLON/REUTERS

DAVID BAILEY/ REUTERS

however, was shared publicly. In a blog post in March — again scrubbed from the Internet, but retained in a cached version — Sarkar had ranted about Klug, listed as his advisor for his thesis, ‘Coupled Cardiac Electrophysiology and Contraction using Finite Element.’ ‘William Klug, UCLA professor is not the kind of person when you think of a professor. He is a very sick person. I urge every new student coming to UCLA to stay away from this guy,’ he wrote. ‘I was this guy’s PhD student. We had personal differences. He cleverly stole all my code and gave it another student. He made me really sick.’ He had added, ‘Your enemy is your enemy. But your friend can do a lot more harm... Stay away from this sick guy.’ A UCLA spokesperson told India Abroad that it was too early for them to respond to

Police officers conduct a search at the University of California, Los Angeles campus after it was placed on lockdown following reports of a shooter on campus, June 1. The victim was Professor William Klug, inset.

Mainak Sarkar killed a woman, identified as Ashley Hasti, inset, at this house in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. They police found her body June 2.

the media on the case or share information about Sarkar, but shared their thoughts on Klug, who was only 39. ‘Klug, a beloved and committed scholar, conducted life-saving research that also involved colleagues from UCLA’s engineering, science and medical faculty,’ UCLA said. ‘He specialized in computational biomechanics and the mechanics of biological systems, such as cancer cells.’ The university added that Klug had been a member of the UCLA community since his days as a graduate student, from 1998 through 1999, when he earned a master’s degree in civil engineering. He went on to earn a doctorate from Caltech and then returned to UCLA as a faculty member of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. Klug was promoted to full professor in 2015.

Was this a hate crime?

avinder Singh had his gas station robbed often, and each time did his bit to fight back. But May 30, around 4.30 pm, while outside his Power Gas Station on West Market Street in Newark, New Jersey, he was shot in the chest, and declared dead at the nearby University Hospital. His son Jatinder told the media then that it appeared to be a hate crime and that Davinder may have been targeted as he was a Sikh. ‘My dad came out to get some fresh air and the male came up to my dad, pointed a gun and shot him point-blank,’ he was quoted as saying in the report. ‘There was no struggle,

no confrontation. I don’t know what else it could be other than a hate crime.’ When India Abroad contacted Jatinder at the gas station, he declined to expand on his view that his father was a hate crime victim. “I’m not ready to talk about it,” he said. “Me and my family want some privacy right now.” According to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Fenelly, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Task Force is investigating the case, but did not say if it was being investigated as a hate crime.

What we know about Mainak Sarkar

He said on LinkedIn he graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur in 2000 with a degree in aerospace engineering. He worked at Infosys, Bengaluru, before moving to the US to work as a research assistant at the University of Texas. He joined Stanford University for a masters in aeronautics and astronautics in 2005. He worked at a bank in Minneapolis around 2009 before returning to school for a PhD. At UCLA, he worked as a teaching assistant for undergraduate courses in mechanical engineering. For his PhD, he took courses in fracture mechanics, computational, solid mechanics, finite element analysis, theory of shells and plates. He earned his PhD in mechanical engineering in 2013. After UCLA, Sarkar worked remotely as an engineering analyst for the Ohio-based rubber company, Endurica LLC, until August 2014. The Bengali Association of Minnesota which hosts a Durga Puja near Pearson Parkway, told India Abroad that they couldn’t spot Sarkar on their guest list. Other reports suggest that he was not socially active in the community. In the building he lived in while at UCLA residents remembered him as a quiet man who never spoke. Veena Kedila, president of the PAN IIT Chapter So Cal, did not recall having seen Sarkar at any event. She said, “Killing is never a solution to anything as so many facts get buried with it as the right people are no more there and also (because) such action is not setting good example for upcoming generations.” Tsu-Chin Tsao, chair, department of mechanical and aerospace engineering, said, ‘This is a terrible moment. We lost a professor who cared a lot about his students and who was on a very positive trajectory.’ At press time, there was no immediate evidence that Sarkar committed other crimes, but investigators were trying to piece together his actions in the days before the murdersuicide, particularly his drive from Minnesota to LA. The police said they were looking for his car, a 2003 gray Nissan Sentra, with Minnesota license plate 720KTW. ‘Everybody tries to look for a reason for this... There is no good reason for this,’ LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told KTLA. ‘This is a mental issue, mental derangement, but it was tied to a dispute over intellectual property… UCLA says this is absolutely not true. This is the workings of his imagination.’

According to Katherine Carter, director of public Information at Essex County Prosecutor's Office, the investigation is still active. “We cannot confirm it is a hate crime,” she said. “However we have not ruled it out. We also have not ruled out the possibility of a robbery attempt” Neighbor Mattie Griffis heard the shot, but thought it was a firecracker, till Singh’s brother came out screaming and asking for help, she told ABC News. The store was not robbed, and the police earlier stated they had a possible suspect in mind. Davinder, 47, who locals knew as ‘David,’ was cremated at Rosehill Crematory in Linden, New Jersey.

India Abroad June 10, 2016

NEWS & COMMUNITY

Kaavya Valiveti, Berkeley’s top graduating student The pure math student, who is headed to MIT, is now ready to take on the challenge of a PhD and gender bias in STEM, Ritu Jha discovers.

or Kaavya Valiveti, a math major graduate of 2016, receiving the University Medal of the University of California Berkeley — given to the most distinguished graduating senior on campus — is a celebration of the values and ideals that her family and teachers have instilled in her. The medal recognizes outstanding scholarship, public service and strength of character. “I viewed this award more as recognition of those who’ve supported me throughout the years,” Valiveti, 21, tells India Abroad, referring to her family — her father Radhakrishna is an electrical engineer and mother Natana, a financial planner, musician and artist —and the Berkeley mathematics department. It’s an acknowledgement she also made in her commencement speech, noting that her parents and her math professor not only helped her feel that she, a woman, could pursue mathematics, but even Kaavya Valiveti received inspired her to do so. an honorable mention for Valiveti, who doesn’t the Alice T Schafer Prize, remember at what age which is awarded by the she developed an interAssociation for Women in est in math, but says Mathematics to the most that for as long as she outstanding US female can remember her love math undergraduate. for the subject has only She has a near-perfect deepened, tells India GPA of 3.99 and plays the harmonium and the Abroad, “Yes, even in cello. the United States, gender bias is big in STEM.” Though, as the topic of the gender disparity in STEM becomes more openly discussed — as it has been in the past few years — she is optimistic that it will improve. “I must also say that girls growing up in Indian communities across the US are not faced with the same barriers to joining STEM as girls in other communities. In fact, from my observation, several Indian-American girls are actively encouraged to join STEM and so many ultimately have fantastic careers in STEM, which I believe is something for the Indian-American community as a whole to be very proud of,” she adds.

orn in Ottawa, Canada, Valiveti came to the United States in 1998, first settling in Texas and then moving to California. Asked if U C, Berkeley was her first choice she says, “Berkeley was definitely one of my top choices, along with Stanford University and a few of the east coast schools.” And its math department as well as the facts that her older brother also went there and that it was conveniently close to home helped her make the final choice. “After four years, I feel even more strongly that Berkeley is such a fantastic, vibrant place that has so much to offer everyone, and given the chance to make my college decision again I would undoubtedly make the same choice,” she says. Valiveti, armed with an award of $2,500 received with the University Medal and the National Science Foundation and Norman Levinson Fellowships, will now be going to MIT to earn her PhD.

“I am still not sure what exactly my PhD will be about,” she says. “I have finished my undergrad with a feel for the flavor of different areas of math, as well as a sense of which areas I seem to like more, like analysis, mathematical physics. But I would still like to explore more and broaden my knowledge for the first few years at MIT before deciding what I would be writing a thesis on.” Valiveti has said that it was linear algebra that hooked her on pure math. ‘By her senior year, she was surpassing all expectations,’ Berkeley News says, adding that UC Berkeley math professor Marc Rieffel, who taught her in his graduate course on Banach Algebra, had said, ‘She was working on the same level as top second-year graduate students on material close to the research frontier.’

Asked about it, she says, “Linear algebra is not really one of the main, active areas of research these days. It is more a branch that intersects with most other branches of modern mathematics. One needs to be well-versed in this tool to approach most areas of research.” “I am most interested in a subject called analysis, its interactions with algebra and geometry, as well as mathematical physics,” she added. “I am currently not working on any research, but am just trying to deepen my understanding of some topics in those subjects in preparation for grad school.” Valiveti has spoken openly about the difference math made to her life, pulling her out of the depression and anxiety that plagued her in high school and building her confidence. But asked if she has any one inspiration in this journey so far, she says she finds inspiration not in just one person, but in all of the incredible people she encounters daily. “I see in so many people the spirit of humanity and our tremendous capacity to do great things and make tangible changes in our society,” she elaborates. “I hope to one day become a professor doing research in mathematics full-time, but at the same time still very involved in the community service and outreach projects I am in now (she has been involved in tutoring disadvantaged Latino students in Oakland and Berkeley and raising money to improve an underfunded rural elementary school in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, among others), hopefully, at a larger scale.”

‘This is the big one man!’ 3Page A4 ‘A few gray hairs later, that dinner table conversation continues as we are focused on standing up for the middle class and working to make sure that we come together as a country instead of casting stones and insults at our fellow Americans.’ Asked how it came about, Krishnamoorthi told India Abroad, “It’s just one of those things, where we had been communicating with the White House, and they thought this was the right time. The timing is perfect, and we couldn’t have asked for a more generous statement from the President. We are very, very happy.” Noting that, “the statement came directly from the White House,” he said the endorsement would be a major boost to his fundraising as he prepares for the November general. “It will help us in mobilizing resources, (but) we have to work really hard to follow through and maximize our ability to mobilize the generosity of our community.” In this regard, he reiterated that although all of the polls, punditry and reports believe that he is shoo-in, “I believe we have to work doubly hard in this very strange political year to ensure that our voters get out, that our message is received — and that message is very simple, how do we grow and strengthen the middle class. Period. End of story.” And the President’s endorsement, he felt, helped reinforce that message. “For a President, who puts working families first on his agenda, to endorse someone like myself, who’s also trying to do the same thing — it just reinforces the message,” he said. “I definitely think that we are aligned on many issues regarding working families, and I believe that the most important thing that unifies us, is our belief that we have to grow and strengthen the middle class. And, that’s been the mission of my campaign to put this issue front and center, and I believe that the President agrees on that particular issue as well.” He added, “I am confident that if we do everything in our power to get that message through, it’ll resonate with people.” Asked if there was any chance of the President getting out to Chicago to campaign with him, Krishnamoorthi, said, “That might be a little difficult given that he had so many responsibilities, but you never know how these things play out.” A senior Democratic Party source concurred, telling India Abroad that the President getting out to Chicago in person was unlikely, “although not an impossibility.” “The President’s first priority is making sure that we have a Democrat in the White House after he leaves,” the source explained. “So, from a political standpoint the President is going to be campaigning in a lot of battleground states — places like Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida and so forth. He may not have time to go out to safe Democratic states like Illinois, where we are very confident that Raja will win big and make for a great Congressman in working for the middleclass of this country.”

rishnamoorthi has the support of the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, including in terms of matching funds. He said, “The House leadership is supporting me… Individual members have donated to my campaign; they are having a fundraising reception for me next week in Washington, DC. I feel very gratified to have their support, and it will definitely make a difference.” He has also won endorsements from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, US Senator from Illinois Richard Durbin, former Senior Advisor to the President David Axelrod and from the new main newspapers in the area, The Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times. Krishnamoorthi registered a big win in the Democratic Congressional primary in March, defeating the state senator. He polled 57 percent of the votes, routing State Senator Mike Noland (29 percent) and Deb Bullwinkel (13 percent). In the November 8 general elections, Krishnamoorthi now faces Republican Peter DiCianni.

NEWS & COMMUNITY

India Abroad June 10, 2016

‘Our communities will redefine security for themselves’

Family is still family: One video features Kamlesh and Harcharan Bagga, who are among the parents who have supported their gay son.

YOUTUBE.COM/NATIONAL QUEER ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER ALLIANCE

In pursuit of acceptance

National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance launches campaign to crack cultural barriers that make a discussion about non-normative sexual orientation possible within the family. P Rajendran reports.

CORKY LEE

Pastor Danilo Cortez was well-versed with his own church amily is still family. That is the argument the railing against the LGBT community, and after conversations National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance with a lesbian college student, decided to learn more about makes in a new set of television ads running this the people within it. Concluding in 2013 that these were not month, and which aims to crack the cultural barthe monsters they were made out to be, he discussed his riers that make a discussion about non-normachange in views with his son Drew, who told him that he himtive sexual orientation possible within the family. self was gay. The ads, presented in English, Hindi, Chinese (Mandarin But when Drew said that if he had a pill to stop him being and Cantonese), Vietnamese, Japanese and Tagalog, has pargay, he would take it, Danilo was horrified. He said that if he ents talking about the need to support their lesbian, gay, had such a pill he would not give it to Drew. Couching his transgender, trans, queer, intersex or asexual children. argument in religious One of the ads has the faterms, he said that if God ther of one person who made him that way, he had came out, Vinita Chaudhano need to change. ry. Speaking in English, Lakshman Kalasapudi, a with Hindi subtitles runmember of the South Asian ning below, Vinay Chaudhlesbian and Gay Associatiary said, ‘Too often our sons on, described his own diffiand daughters are shunnculty coming out to his pared, ostracized, discriminatents, who did not warm up ed against in our commuto the admission. nity. I’m proud of my child. “Some things you have to I’ve always been proud of accept,” he said. my child. It’s time to take a He said his mother had stand and really support adjusted to the new reality your children, my children, enough to edit for him an and our children. Share article he was writing in Teyour story of love and lugu about the difficulty acceptance for lesbian, gay, involved in coming out. bisexual and transgender Sasha W, organizing dichildren.’ rector, NQAPIA, told India Another video, in Hindi NQAPIA Executive Director Glenn D Magpantay, center, with those who spoke at the conference: from left, Joanne Lee, Marsha Aizumi, Tevn Ith and Abroad about her own diffiwith English subtitles, has Pastor Danny Cortez. culties being gay and South Kamlesh and Harcharan Asian. While she got a lot of acceptance in high school, she Bagga speak of a similar need to stand by people like their said that, growing up in California, all the visible LGBT faces son, who is gay. were white. “People don’t understand that being LGBTQ was Glenn Magpantay, executive director of NQAPIA, said that possible in a non-white woman,” she said. the LGBTQIA community seen in the media is not as diverse She remembers telling friends about the need to bring her as it really is. family around and being told, ‘Just let them go. Be proud of Joanne Lee, the mother of two adopted trans teens, Avi and what you are.’ Skyler, described her own problems accepting her children’s She said that, given her background, it was not possible to sexual orientation. And then Skyler, depressed and disapreject her family. It just needed more patience, she said, trying pointed, among other things about the lack of family support, to explain the worry the family felt. committed suicide. Now Joanne now hopes to travel across “There’s fear among South Asians about racism. Many come the country arguing for these children. from countries where fear is familiar,” she said, and quoted as Breaking down at times, she told the people at a press conevidence one of the points family members made to her: ‘You ference of her bewilderment: “I didn’t understand what it was have enough going against you; don’t add this.’ to be transgender. From Skyler, I learned what it meant.”

n May, during the Asian Pacific Heritage Month, organizers with the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance and its member organizations hosted a #RedefineSecurity Week of Action to highlight the harm caused by legalized profiling on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity by local and federal law enforcement. The events will engage participants across the country in reimagining safety in Asian and Pacific Islander communities, and push back against police presence at LGBTQ events this month. The events were held in Boston, Chicago, Bay Area, Seattle, Washington, DC, New York and Los Angeles. ‘Our communities will redefine security for themselves, without law enforcement agencies that routinely profile and harass South Asians and Muslims as terrorists, Southeast Asians as gang members and LGBTQ API people as targets for harassment,’ Sasha W, organizing director, NQAPIA, said in a press statement. ‘Transgender people, especially transgender women, are routinely subjected to violence. As LGBTQ APIs, we are in solidarity with all Black and Brown people who experience profiling from police, from ICE, and from all state agencies.’ The week of action also aimed to challenge LGBTQ API communities to rethink policing around events they organize. While policing means violence to some API people, it means safety to others, especially those who are lighter-skinned or upper middle class, a release said. ‘If I, as a mixed East Asian person who rarely experiences racial profiling, invest in a form of ‘safety’ that relies on policing and surveillance, it hurts Black and Brown folks,’ said Sam H of Invisible to Invincible. The release said many law enforcement agencies are exempt from federal guidelines that protect people from profiling. It pointed out that in 2014, an executive order from President Barack Obama created the Priority Enforcement Program, which detains and deports people profiled as a danger to national security. The FBI’s Countering Violent Extremism program profiles Muslim youth. Together, these and other programs normalize and legitimize violence against LGBTQ API communities, and all communities of color. Joythi Chand, a member of the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, remembered how her home was broken into and her laptop and notes stolen, soon after which a suspect coalition member who came to her home hinted that Chand needed to take more violent measures against the police. Chand concluded the woman was trying to get her to incriminate herself. Maya Jafer, a transgender female, spoke of years of being profiled, and questioned about her last name, Hussain, under the assumption she had some link to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. ‘By the time I got my citizenship and gave up my Indian citizenship, I was traumatized by the US system,” she said, arguing for a need to redefine security and stop profiling immigrants. Sasha W, an organizing director for NQAPIA based in Los Angeles, spoke of being regularly stopped by the Transportation Security Administration, being led away to be patted down separately on her last trip to New York. She said she knows that such insistent checking ‘because of my queer, non-conforming, South Asian body, I am seen as a threat.’ ‘These agencies must be held accountable for their biased immigration and criminal justice systems that have been inflicting violence and trauma on API communities,’ said Boston QAPA Steering Committee member Kevin Lam. ‘Especially queer and transgender API communities.’ — P Rajendran

India Abroad June 10, 2016

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NEWS & COMMUNITY

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Fifth year of Sikhs at Chicago Memorial Day Parade

A CORRESPONDENT

he Sikh American community of Chicago participated in the 146th Chicago Memorial Day Parade May 28 with a float, flags, posters, banners and a walking unit to honor and commemorate the contributions of Sikh soldiers in World Wars I and II. This marked the fifth year of the community’s participation in the parade. Sikh soldiers were part of the British-India Army and fought in France, Belgium, Italy, Israel and many other battle fronts. In the two World Wars, 83,005 Sikh soldiers died and 109,045 were wounded while fighting for the Allied forces. ‘The spectators cheered, saluted, and thanked the

Sikh contingent. Ironically, Sikh Americans are currently struggling to be allowed to serve their country in uniform due to their articles of faith, beard and turban,’ said Rajinder Singh Mago, one of the organizers of the Sikh float, said in a statement. Chicago-land Sikh Americans also participated in another Memorial Day Parade in Itasca Illinois, and Memorial Day observance ceremonies at the Hoffman Estates Veterans Memorial cemetery site and at the St Peter Lutheran Church in Schaumburg Illinois. The Chicago Memorial Day Parade, started in 1870, is considered one of the largest Memorial Day parades in the nation.

Lakshmi Kode Sammarco receives YWCA honor

St Louis Hindu Temple brings medical services to those who can’t afford it A CORRESPONDENT

he Hindu Temple of St Louis, Missouri, organized a health fair at the Mahatma Gandhi Center in the city last month to provide medical check ups to all those who may not be able to afford medical services due to insurance and medical coverage problems.

Snapshots from the health fair at the Mahatma Gandhi Center, St Louis.

People of diverse nationalities and cultures from all over St Louis availed themselves of the free consultancy and tests provided by over 25 physicians and specialists, supported by technicians and over 30 volunteers. “We had 254 participants and 170 people had laboratory tests,” Dr G V Naidu, chairman, humanitarian committee, told India Abroad in an e-mail. “The extraordinary

Another stint for Sachin Dev Pavithran, Obama’s new appointees

resident Barack Obama has reappointed Sachin Dev Pavithran to the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board, a key independent government agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities. Created in 1973 to ensure access to federally-funded facilities, the Board is now a leading source of information on accessible design. Pavithran was first appointed to it as a member in 2012 and has served as Chair since 2015. He is also program director, Utah Assistive Technology Program, Center for Persons with Disabilities, Utah State University and has more than 15 years of experience as a consultant in developing, testing, and training users of assistive technology

service provided by SSM Health Services contributed greatly to the successful completion of the event.” The services provided ranged from blood pressure examination, physical examination by primary care physicians and dental examinations to blood sugar testing and diabetic consultation, vision and hearing tests, EKGs, and bone density tests.

and accessible Web sites. Obama has also appointed Manjit Singh, co-founder, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, as a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and

Neighborhood Partnerships. Meanwhile, the US Senate has confirmed the nomination of Deven J Parekh, to the Overseas Private Investment Corporation board of directors. The government’s development finance institution, OPIC mobilizes private capital to help solve critical development challenges. Parekh, a managing director at Insight Venture Partners and a major fundraiser for Obama’s Presidential campaigns, had been nominated by the President in 2014.

r Lakshmi Kode Sammarco — the first female coroner in Hamilton county, the first radiologist elected coroner in Ohio and the first Indian American elected to political office in Hamilton county — was among the eight Cincinnati-area women who were awarded the 2016 YWCA Greater Cincinnati Career Women of Achievement last month. YWCA Greater Cincinnati, which has served the community since 1868, reaching out to more than 35,000 women and their families each year through programs in crisis intervention, health and wellness, education and training, youth services, and recognition and advocacy, chooses the winners based on collective career experiences, vision and leadership skills and their contribution to entrepreneurship in the private and public sectors. After listing her many firsts, Dr Sammarco’s citation noted, ‘But those firsts pale in comparison to the dramatic improvements she has made in the coroner’s office since her appointment and subsequent election to the post in 2012 — and to her unceasing support of law enforcement, crime victims and families’ members whose loved ones’ deaths she must investigate…’ Described by colleagues as ‘a public servant who makes citizens believe in government again,” Sammarco is credited with improving the facilities, technology, laboratory and reputation of the coroner’s office, as well as increasing the number and responsibilities of women who serve as physicians and scientists in its crime lab.’ ‘A native of India and mother of two, Dr Sammarco has worked tirelessly to educate the community about child abuse, the growing dangers of drugs, and domestic violence against women and children.’

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Modi comes to Washington COLLECTOR'S ISSUE

MAGAZINE India Abroad June 10, 2016 The International Weekly Newspaper

WHERE DOES THE US-INDIA RELATIONSHIP GO FROM HERE?

ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES

MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

WILL MODI’S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS TRANSFORM THE US-INDIA RELATIONSHIP AS RAJIV GANDHI’S 1985 SPEECH DID, ASKS

AZIZ HANIFFA. The President referred the day before yesterday, in language of significance, to my visit as a voyage of discovery of America. The United States of America is not an unknown country even in far-off India and many of us have grown up in admiration of the ideals and objectives which have made this country great. Yet, though we may know the history and something of the culture of our respective countries, what is required is a true understanding and appreciation of each other even where we differ. Out of that understanding grows fruitful co-operation in the pursuit of common ideals. What the world today lacks most is, perhaps, understanding and appreciation of one another among nations and people. I have come here, therefore, on a voyage of discovery of the mind and heart of America and to place before you our own mind and heart.

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

Eagerly awaited: T he major highlight of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fourth visit to the United States within two years of his tenure will undeniably be his address June 8 to a joint meeting of Congress, only the sixth Indian premier to do so since India became independent in 1947. Modi is once again in DC at President Obama’s invitation, which followed their interaction during the Nuclear Security Summit in March in Washington. Their working summit on June 7 at the White House, according to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, ‘will highlight the deepening USIndia relationship in key areas since the President’s visit to New Delhi in January 2015.’

This time around, it will be Modi’s remarks on the state of the US-India relationship — akin to a President’s State of the Union address to Congress — that will take pride of place during his visit. Administration and diplomatic sources acknowledged in conversations with India Abroad that a couple of formal announcements are likely following the President and prime minister’s summit — in probability, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement and Westinghouse Electric’s decision to go forward with the construction of six nuclear reactors in Andhra Pradesh as a manifestation of the commercialization of US-India nuclear deal that

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JAWAHARLAL NEHRU October 13, 1949

*** The United States of America has struggled to freedom and unparalleled prosperity during the past century and a half, and today it is a great and powerful nation. It has an amazing record of growth in material well-being and scientific and technological advance. It could not have accomplished this unless America had been anchored in the great principles laid down in the early days of her history, for material progress cannot go far or last long unless it has its foundations in moral principles and high ideals. Those principles and ideals are enshrined in your Declaration of Independence, which lays down as a self-evident truth that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It may interest you to know that, in drafting the Constitution of the Republic of India, we have been greatly influenced by your own Constitution. The preamble of our Constitution states: We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens: Justice, social, economic and political; Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; A rare photograph of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru addressing the US House of Representatives.

USEMBASSYNEWDELHI

MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Modi’s magnum opus has been in limbo for nearly eight years. These negotiations have been going on for years and the formal announcements are not expected to be anything dramatic, but simply a formalization during the summit in addition to both leaders reinforcing their rapport and camaraderie. This may be the last time during Obama’s Presidency that these leaders will meet and hence these sources agree that Modi’s address to the more than 530 members of the US Senate and House of Representatives is the much looked forward to event.

*** The objectives of our foreign policy are the preservation of world peace and enlargement of human freedom. Two tragic wars have demonstrated the futility of warfare. Victory without the will to peace achieves no lasting result and victor and vanquished alike suffer from deep and grievous wounds and a common fear of the future. May I venture to say that this is not an incorrect description of the world of today? It is not flattering either to man’s reason or to our common humanity. Must this unhappy state persist and the power of science and wealth continue to be harnessed to the service of destruction? Every nation, great or small, has to answer this question and the greater a nation, the greater is its responsibility

to find and to work for the right answer. India may be new to world politics and her military strength insignificant in comparison with that of the giants of our epoch. But India is old in thought and experience and has travelled through trackless centuries in the adventure of life. Throughout her long history she has stood for peace and every prayer that an Indian raises, ends with an invocation to peace. It was out of this ancient and yet young India that Mahatma Gandhi arose and he taught us a technique of action that was peaceful; yet it was effective and yielded results that led us not only to freedom but to friendship with those with whom we were, till yesterday, in conflict. How far can that principle be applied to wider spheres of action? I do not know, for circumstances differ and the means to prevent evil have to be shaped and set to the nature of the evil. Yet I have no doubt that the basic approach which lay behind that technique of action was the right approach in human affairs and the only approach that ultimately solves a problem satisfactorily… This is the basis and the goal of our foreign policy. We are neither blind to reality nor do we propose to acquiesce in any challenge to man’s freedom from whatever quarter it may come. Where freedom is menaced or justice threatened or where aggression takes place, we cannot be and shall not be neutral. What we plead for and endeavor to practice in our own imperfect way is a binding faith in peace and an unfailing endeavor of thought and action to ensure it. The great democracy of the United States of America will, I feel sure, understand and appreciate our approach to life’s problems because it could not have any other aim or a different ideal. Friendship and co-operation between our two countries are, therefore, natural. I stand here to offer both in the pursuit of justice, liberty and peace.

“

Equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity of the Nation; In our Constituent Assembly do hereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution. You will recognize in these words that I have quoted an echo of the great voices of the founders of your Republic. You will see that though India may speak to you in a voice that you may not immediately recognize or that may perhaps appear somewhat alien to you, yet that voice somewhat strongly resembles what you have often heard before. Yet, it is true that India’s voice is somewhat different; it is not the voice of the old world of Europe but of the older world of Asia. It is the voice of an ancient civilization, distinctive, vital, which, at the same time, has renewed itself and learned much from you and the other countries of the West. It is, therefore, both old and new… But however the voices of India and the United States may appear to differ, there is much in common between them.

Speaker Paul Ryan and Republican Congressman Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the driving force behind making event this a reality — helped by the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, George Holding, North Carolina Republican, and Dr Amerish ‘Ami’ Bera, California Democrat — are pulling out all the stops to welcome Prime Minister Modi to the Capitol. Before his address to Congress, Modi will be welcomed by the Congressional leadership comprising Speaker Ryan, House Minority and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate

Ninety percent of the investment of our economy is financed from our own resources. But the economic and technological help received from our friends was extremely important. US economic assistance was of great help to us, especially in the 60s. American scientific and technological assistance played a crucial role in helping to bring about the Green Revolution. To your scientists and technologies and to the American people, I should like to say that the people of India will always be grateful.

“

*** The peoples of India and the United States are not allies in security strategies, but they are friends in larger human causes — freedom, justice, and peace. Members of Congress, the American revolution asserted the rights of man. Liberty and equality were inscribed on the banner of history. These powerful concepts were to change the direction mankind was to take. But peace, which brings happiness, eludes us. Is it because we have frozen the world in the mold of the 18th century? Tagore, our great poet, spoke of the ‘idolatry of geography.’ Nationalism, untempered by the vision of human brotherhood, is an inadequate framework for peace. Should we not strive, each in one’s imperfect manner, for a new Commonwealth based on the revolutionary developments that have not ceased since your Republic was founded? Even though we are not economically or militarily powerful and you are, this is a task that beckons us all. This noble enterprise will in a profound sense be the fulfillment of your Revolution.

Minority Leader Harry Reid. Immediately after the prime minister’s address to the joint meeting, Ryan will host a rare luncheon with an expanded Congressional leadership, including chairpersons of influential House and Senate Committees. Royce will then host a VIP reception as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee along with Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the co-chairs of the House India Caucus and the Senate India Caucus, co-chaired by Senators John Cornyn, Texas

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Rajiv Gandhi followed in his grandfather, Nehru’s footsteps, responding to an US overture that followed decades of the Cold War. A glaring omission in that time was Indira Gandhi, who was clearly snubbed by the Nixon administration.

RAJIV GANDHI June 13, 1985

“

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*** I have been elected prime minister of India at a time when our nation stands poised for a new surge of growth. Our leaders in the past 30 years have established firm foundations on which we have now to build. India is an old country, but a young nation; and like the young everywhere, we are impatient. I am young, and I have a dream. I dream of an India — strong, self-reliant, and in the front rank of the nations of the world in the service of mankind. I am committed to realizing that dream through dedication, hard work, and the collective determination of our people.

TERRY ASHE/THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Eagerly awaited:

3M5 Republican, and Mark Warner, Virginia Democrat. Administration and Congressional sources acknowledged the possibility of Modi’s address being attended by Vice President Joe Biden and Cabinet officials including Secretary of State John F Kerry, Defense Secretary Dr Ashton Carter, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzer and Energy Secretary Dr Ernest Moniz, senior administration officials and senior military leaders. The Indian-American community — which has been lobbying their lawmakers to invite Modi to deliver such a joint address, including during his first visit to Washington as prime minister in September 2014; that didn’t pan out because Congress wasn’t in session — are excited over what is expected to be a historic speech and the passes to attend and be part of history has become a hot ticket. Consequently, lawmakers, the majority of whom are allowed to grant only a single pass, have been hard pressed to acquiesce to the overwhelming demand by their influential constituents, many of whom have been regular and large contributors to their campaign coffers. Expectations from lawmakers, considering that there was a unanimous bipartisan consensus — notwithstanding their stark divisions on party lines, despite it being an election year and the ferocious primary on both sides — to cast aside their differences and come together since India is now considered almost a foreign policy ally, to invite the charismatic Modi were also high. Lawmakers would like to hear what the Indian leader has to say vis-à-vis the bilateral relationship, from trade and investment to foreign policy coordination on security, defense, counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing, to regional and international affairs and how America’s rebalance to Asia and India’s Look East policy could acquire congruency, particularly where China looms large. In an exclusive interview with India Abroad last month, Royce predicted that Modi’s address to this joint meeting would afford him an unprecedented forum, the likes of which were absent during his previous visits to the US. Modi, Royce said, would have the extraordinary opportunity to speak to all of America about the new and emerging India and how the US could further partner with India. “This address,” Royce told me, “will serve as a sign of the deep and extremely important and strategic relationship between the US and India — a relationship that has to be further strengthened and the bonds of friendship between our peoples further enhanced.” “It is also an opportunity to remind our countrymen here in the US, remind all Americans that our partnership in defense, in nuclear power, and in renewable energy and space exploration, as well as growing counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing cooperation to counter the continuing threat in the region that impacts both of our countries, is very strong thanks to our shared values,” Royce added.

“I know these are themes the prime minister will probably address,” he said. For his Congressional colleagues, Royce predicted, “This is going to be an opportunity to hear from the prime minister of the new India and the progress made in the last two years during his tenure and the growing cooperation and collaboration between the US and India in several areas, including areas that would have seemed implausible a few years ago.”

Senate India co-chairs Cornyn and Warner also joined the chorus in welcoming Ryan’s enthusiastic invite to Modi, saying, ‘Speaker Ryan’s decision to invite Prime Minister Modi to address Congress demonstrates the growing commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between US and India.’ ‘As a key security partner with a flourishing economy, a thriving relationship with India presents tremendous opportunities to re-

ach our joint economic and strategic goals… Modi’s visit presents an opportunity to energize e fforts to improve bilateral ties between our two countries,’ the Senators noted. In April, both Senators introduced bills directing the Obama administration to develop a strategy to obtain membership status for India in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and to advance US-India defense, requiring the President to take steps to codify India’s status as a major defe-

P V NARASIMHA RAO May 18, 1994

We had the unique opportunity of shaping the history of the post-war world, a history which could have offered the peace dividend to all, east or west, north or south, by enabling countries to attain their full potential by giving their peoples the better lives they deserved but which they had been deprived of for ages. Then came the Cold War. That great opportunity seemed to be slipping through our fingers even as we tried to hold it in our hands. Today we have to worry about the fingers... Being transient, term-bound representatives of our peoples, you and I have neither the time nor the need to review what we do not wish to repeat. It is the future we have to think about — in fact, worry about. And, of course, the fingers. The fingers are simply democracy and development. From my own personal experience, I have no doubt that this is an extremely difficult combination and equally essential, in India’s view. India has undertaken the first steps to shaping of our history for the next generation. After decades of centralized economic policies, India recently embarked on a reform program designed to modernize our economy, liberalize trade and realize our economic potential. We welcome private investment and competition and encourage free-market growth. As a result, India is becoming globally competitive, and the standard of living of her citizens is gradually on the rise. The momentum of these reforms will carry India into the next century as the single largest free market in the world… The impact of the changes in India has had a profound effect on Indo-US economic relations and has benefited both countries. American firms have been in the forefront of forging a new economic relationship. India’s vast domestic market, huge educated, skilled and semiskilled workforce, sound financial institutions and time-tested and democratic system offer tremendous investment opportunities for forward-looking companies. In shaping our history for the next century, we must look ahead to greater trade between nations. *** Indo-US relations are on the threshold of a bold, new era. We have seen unprecedented cooperation in a number of areas. Most recently, Indian forces patrolled alongside US and UN forces in Somalia. We share common interests in addressing global environmental crises, combating international terrorism, and stemming the tide of international narcotics trafficking. In these areas, the United States and India have worked closely together. Yet there remain areas where further cooperation is warranted. Export controls and technology, while once a useful means for controlling weapons technology, now hinder developing countries in their efforts to improve the lives of their people. Much of what is termed as dual technology in fact has vital applications in a modern civilian society. Many special materials and complicated computer processes found in missile control systems are also found in hospital intensive care units and global telecommunications systems… As India stands poised to contribute to global prosperity and peace in the next century,

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P V Narasimha Rao presented a newly liberalized India — an India in the middle of a revolution — in his speech. INDIA ABROAD ARCHIVES

we look forward to continuing our partnership with America and with the American people. *** We are now in the closing years of a century ravaged by war, made heroic by the scientific intellectual and creative attainments of man, and feeble by want and deprivation, and yet made strong by our collective capacity to identify solutions that had eluded us in the past… Lala Lajpat Rai, one of the great fighters for India’s freedom, had written of the ‘numberless American men and women who stand for the freedom of the world, who know no distinction of color, race or creed, and who prefer the religion of love, humanity and justice.’ The people of India count upon those numberless women and men of this great country to work together with them and with their representatives to realize the vision that our shared experience and practice of democracy have made possible and the responsibilities of our times have rendered necessary.

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Modi’s magnum opus address by a foreign leader this year, Congressional sources acknowledged. ut if the euphoria of Royce and his House colleagues, buoyed by the House India Caucus and the Senate India Caucus — the largest country-specific caucuses in Congress — was strongly manifest, last month’s hearing by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its scathing indictment of India on human rights, including that India had the highest num-

To more than a million and half from my country, America is now home. In turn, their industry, enterprise and skills are contributing to the advancement of American society. I see in the outstanding success of the Indian community in America, a metaphor of the vast potential that exists in Indo-US relations, and what we can achieve together. Just as American experience has been a lesson in what people can achieve in a democratic framework, India has been the laboratory of a democratic process rising to meet the strongest challenges that can be flung at it. In the half century of our independent existence, we have woven an exquisite tapestry. Out of diversity we have brought unity. The several languages of India speak with one voice under the roof of our Parliament. In your remarkable experiment as a nation state, you have proven the same truth. Out of the huddled masses that you welcomed to your shores you have created a great nation. *** For me, the most gratifying of the many achievements of Indian democracy has been the change it has brought to the lives of the weak and the vulnerable. To give just one figure, in recent years it has enabled more than a million women in small towns and distant villages to enter local elected councils and to decide on issues that touch upon their lives. Two years ago, while much of Asia was convulsed by economic crisis, India held its course. In the last 10 years, we have grown at 6.5 percent per year: that puts India among the 10 fastest growing economies of the world… We are determined to sustain the momentum of our economy: our aim is to double our per capita income in ten years — and that means we must grow at 9 percent a year. *** There are forces outside our country that believe that they can use terror to unravel the territorial integrity of India. They wish to show that a multi-religious society cannot exit. They pursue a task in which they are doomed to fail. No country has faced as ferocious an attack of terrorist violence as India has over the past two decades: 21,000 were killed by foreign-sponsored terrorists in Punjab alone, 16,000 have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir. As many of you here in the Congress have in recent hearings recognized a stark fact: no region is a greater source of terrorism than our neighborhood. Indeed, in our neighborhood — in this, the 21st century — religious war has not just been fashioned into, it has been proclaimed to be, an instrument of State policy. Distance offers no insulation. It should not cause complacence. You know, and I know: such evil cannot succeed. But even in foiling it could inflict untold suffering. That is why the United States and India have begun to deepen their cooperation for combating terrorism. We must redouble these efforts. ***

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ber of ‘slaves’ in the world (India Abroad, June 3) led by Committee chairman Corker, surely must be cause for more than heartburn in Delhi, because this is not the kind of issue India would want to become contagious in Congress. Aides to Corker and senior Democrats on the Committee, including the ranking Ben Cardin and Tim Kaine, said they would be closely following Modi’s remarks to see if he addresses these human rights issues and also

ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE September 14, 2000

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s speech happened in the years after India’s nuclear tests and the Kargil War with Pakistan and reflected all the changed circumstances.

reassure their concerns over India’s recent signing of a dozen agreements with Tehran, including developing Iran’s strategic Chabahar port. The Senators, the aides said, would likely bring up their concerns with Modi when they meet him at the reception hosted for the prime minister on Capitol Hill after his address to the joint session. ongtime US-India watchers, from a historical perspective, emphasized the L importance of Modi’s address to Congress and said they expected it to be as transformative of where the US-India relationship

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There was a time when we were on the other side of each other’s globes. Today, on the digital map, India and the United States are neighbors and partners. India and the United States have taken the lead in shaping the information age. Over the last decade, this new technology has sustained American prosperity in a way that has challenged conventional wisdom on economic growth. We are two nations blessed with extraordinary resources and talent. Measured in terms of the industries of tomorrow, we are together defining the partnerships of the future. But our two countries have the potential to do more to shape the character of the global economy in this century. We should turn the example of our own cooperation into a partnership that uses the possibilities of the new technologies for defining new ways of fighting poverty, illiteracy, hunger, disease and pollution. We believe that India and America can — and should — march hand-in-hand towards a world in which economic conditions improve for all. *** In this Congress, you have often expressed concern about the future contours of Asia. Will it be an Asia that will be at peace with itself? Or will it be a continent, where countries seek to redraw boundaries and settle claims — historical or imaginary — through force? We seek an Asia where power does not threaten stability and security. We do not want the domination of some to crowd out the space for others. We must create an Asia where cooperative rather than aggressive assertion of national self-interests defines behavior among nations. If we want an Asia fashioned on such ideals — a democratic, prosperous, tolerant, pluralistic, stable Asia — if we want an Asia where our vital interests are secure, then it is necessary for us to re-examine old assumptions. It is imperative for India and the United States to work together more closely in pursuit of those goals. In the years ahead, a strong, democratic and economically prosperous India, standing at the crossroads of all the major cultural and economic zones of Asia, will be an indispensable factor of stability in the region… Security issues have cost a shadow on our relationship. I believe this is unnecessary. We have much in common and no clash of interests. We both share a commitment to ultimately eliminating nuclear weapons. We have both declared voluntary moratoriums on testing. India understands your concerns. We do not wish to unravel your non-proliferation efforts. We wish you to understand our security concerns. We are at a historic moment in our ties. As we embark on our common endeavor to build a new relationship, we must give practical shape to our shared belief that democracies can be friends, partners and allies.

REUTERS

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nse partner of the US and provide them special privileges in defense trade under the Arms Export Control Act similar to NATO allies and Israel. Last month clones of these bills, introduced in the House by Congressman Matt Salmon, Arizona Republican, and Holding, passed unanimously on the House floor. Besides being the first joint meeting address by a world leader under Ryan’s Speakership, it is likely to be the only

MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Eagerly awaited: Modi’s magnum opus is headed in today’s world with the unraveling of partnerships in various areas globally, as was then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s address to Congress on July 13, 1985. Rajiv Gandhi was visiting at a time when India was perceived as a surrogate of the erstwhile Soviet Union and a State that always voted against the US at the United Nations. But much of Congress’ angst at the time melted away following the rapport that President Reagan and Rajiv Gandhi struck up, with many describing it almost in terms of a ‘father-son and best friends’ kind of relationship,. At the time the key lobbyist for India was Janki Ganju, who had earlier been a press officer at the Indian embassy in Washington, but stayed on for decades in DC till his death on May 29, 1995. Close to the Nehru family and fondly known as ‘Mr India, Ganju was instrumental in organizing Gandhi’s address to Congress in addition to

delivering a major address at the National Press Club. Indian ambassadors could not match the rich, high-calorie, carbohydrate-laden Kashmiri cuisine dinners Ganju, a larger than life Kashmiri Pandit, hosted at his home on Linnean Avenue, Northwest in uptown DC, which were attended by a cross-section of senior US lawmakers, diplomats, newspaper editors and publishers, and think tank heads. Ganju used all of these connections to coordinate one of the finest visits to Washington by any leader, which included a White House banquet hosted by Reagan with Hollywood celebrities thrown in for a good measure. Rajiv Gandhi didn’t disappoint, and the love affair between the US and India, post the Cold War, began. Although the State visits of Prime Ministers P V Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh also had all of the pomp and circumstance, their addresses to the joint session of Congress on May 18, 1994, September 14, 2000 and July 19, 2005, had nowhere the oomph of Gandhi’s speech.

Rao’s speech at the time was derisively described as ‘droning,’ and both Vajpayee and Dr Singh’s remarks — though substantive and coming at historic turning points in the USIndia relationship — were hobbled by poor delivery that had the prime ministers fixated on their speeches, hardly looking up except during the few instances of tepid applause. Come June 8, it will be interesting to see the reception to Modi’s magnum opus, not to mention the applause-worthy lines and the number of standing ovations it generates. One thing is certain – the event is a sell-out — and absolutely no need to fill the empty seating of absentee lawmakers that has occurred with some previous world leaders addressing a joint session, with their staffers, interns and pages. India Abroad Editor Aziz Haniffa, the dean and doyen of South Asian journalists in America, was present at Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh’s addresses to Congress.

MANMOHAN SINGH July 19, 2005

We admire the creativity and enterprise of the American people, the excellence of your institutions of learning, the openness of the economy, and your ready embrace of diversity. These have attracted the brightest young minds from India, creating a bridge of understanding that transcends both distance and difference between us. In addition to the values we share as democracies, there is also a convergence in our perceptions of a rapidly transforming global environment, bringing us much closer together than at any time in the past. Globalization has made the world so inter-dependent that none of us can ignore what happens elsewhere. Peace and prosperity are more indivisible than ever before in human history. As democracies, we must work together to create a world in which democracies can flourish. This is particularly important because we are today faced with new threats such as terrorism, to which democracies are particularly vulnerable… The very openness of our societies makes us more vulnerable, and yet we must deal effectively with the threat without losing the openness we so value and cherish. India and the United States have both suffered grievously from terrorism and we must make common cause against it. We know that those who resort to terror often clothe it in the garb of real or imaginary grievances. We must categorically affirm that no grievance can justify resort to

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terror. Democracies provide legitimate means for expressing dissent. They provide the right to engage in political activity, and must continue to do so. However, for this very reason, they cannot afford to be soft on terror. Terrorism exploits the freedom our open societies provide to destroy our freedoms. *** Democracy is one part of our national endeavor. Development is the other. Openness will not gain popular support if an open society is not a prosperous society. This is especially so in developing countries, where a large number of people have legitimate material expectations, which must be met. That is why we must transform India’s economy, to raise the standard of living of all our people and in the process eliminate poverty. India’s aspirations in the respect are not different from those of other developing countries. But we are unique in one respect. There is no other country of a billion people, with our tremendous cultural, linguistic and religious diversity, that has tried to modernize its society and transform its economy within the framework of a functioning democracy. To attempt this at our modest levels of per capita income is a major challenge. We are determined to succeed in this effort… The economic policy changes that have been made in India have far-reaching implications. They have liberated Indian enterprise from government control and made the

LARRY DOWNING LSD/YH/REUTERS

When Dr Manmohan Singh addressed the joint session of Congress, he spoke for an India that was seeing an unprecedented growth rate — one that made the world sit up and take note. economy much more open to global flows of trade, capital and technology. Our entrepreneurial talent has been unleashed, and is encouraged to compete with the best. We will continue this process so that Indian talent and enterprise can realize its full potential, enabling India to participate in the global economy as an equal partner. *** The presence of a large number of Indian Americans in high technology

industries here makes the US and India natural partners. It gives you confidence about India’s human resource capability. It also gives you an edge over your competitors in the ease with which you can operate in India. We are proud of what the Indian-American community have done in this country. I was touched, as were many of my countrymen, by the news that a Resolution of this House celebrated the contribution of Indian Americans to research, innovation, and promotion of

trade and international cooperation between India and the US. *** The field of civil nuclear energy is a vital area for cooperation between our two countries. As a consequence of our collective efforts, our relationship in this sector is being transformed. President Bush and I arrived at an understanding in finding ways and means to enable such cooperation. In this context, I would also like to reiterate that India’s track record in nuclear non-proliferation is impeccable. We have adhered scrupulously to every rule and canon in this area. We have done so even though we have witnessed unchecked nuclear proliferation in our own neighborhood, which has directly affected our security interests. This is because India, as a responsible nuclear power, is fully conscious of the immense responsibilities that come with the possession of advanced technologies, both civilian and strategic. We have never been, and will never be, a source of proliferation of sensitive technologies. *** As two democracies, we are natural partners in many respects. Partnerships can be of two kinds. There are partnerships based on principle and there are partnerships based on pragmatism. I believe we are at a juncture where we can embark on a partnership that can draw both on principle as well as pragmatism… My objective on this visit was to lay the basis for transformed ties between our two great countries. I believe that we have made a very good beginning… India is today embarked on a journey inspired by many dreams. We welcome having America by our side. There is much we can accomplish together.

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india abroad June 10, 2016

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

I TERMED 2015 AS THE YEAR OF CONSEQUENCE FOR US-INDIA RELATIONS. WE MARKED MANY MILESTONES IN THE PARTNERSHIP LAST YEAR. I SEE 2016 AS THE YEAR OF RESOLVE. RESOLVE TO IMPLEMENT THE AMBITIOUS VISION LAID OUT BY THE LEADERS.

WHEN HISTORIANS ONE DAY LOOK BACK AT THE GROWTH OF US-INDIA TIES, I THINK THEY WILL RIGHTLY VIEW THE PAST TWO YEARS AS THE MOMENT WHEN THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA CEMENTED AN ENDURING BOND OF FRIENDSHIP.

n January 2015, Richard Rahul Verma took over as the US Ambassador to India, the first Indian American appointed to the post. President Barack Obama arrived days after Verma presented his credentials to Indian President Pranab Mukherjee to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. In the months since, there have been several high-level visits — like Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s visit in April — and Congressional delegations to India. Verma has travelled to 21 of India’s 29 states to connect with ordinary Indians and his blistering pace shows no signs of letting up. On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fourth visit to Washington since he assumed office in May 2014, the ambassador discusses the US-India relationship.

What’s your take on the status of US-India relations two years into the Modi administration? I termed 2015 as the year of consequence for US-India relations. We marked many significant milestones in the partnership last year, including a shared strategic vision for the Indo-Pacific region, an understanding on nuclear liability, the first-ever visit by an Indian defense minister to Pacific Command, India’s instrumental contribution to achieving the Paris Climate Accord, a record $107 billion in bilateral trade, and most notably President Obama’s visit for Republic Day, the first-ever American President invited as chief guest. I see 2016 as the year of resolve. Resolve to implement the ambitious vision laid out by the leaders. This requires diligent work on part of the governments in both Washington and Delhi and resilience to overcome obstacles that may arise. President Obama and Prime Minister Modi have set a high bar for the partnership and we are on an excellent trajectory. When historians one day look back at the growth of USIndia ties, I think they will rightly view the past two years as the moment when the US and India cemented an enduring bond of friendship. Modi will be on his fourth visit to the US and will have his third working summit with Obama, which could perhaps be the last before the end of his presidency. What do you see as the legacy of these meetings and the perfect rapport they have developed vis-a-vis US-India relations at this time in their administrations and also going forward? Senior-level engagements are the new normal in US-India relations. This will be the President’s sixth interaction with the prime minister since 2014, and that’s on top of their many phone conversations. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has met with Defense Minister Parrikar four times in the past year, and they’ll be seeing each other again at the Shangri-La Dialogue. And the number of Assistant Secretary and above interactions, those are beyond count. These interactions not only speak to the strengths of personal relationships between our senior officials, but to the fact that the issues demand constant dialogue. From climate change to counterterrorism, as global leaders the US and India must work together on the most pressing

Richard Rahul Verma THE US AMBASSADOR TO INDIA SPEAKS TO INDIA ABROAD EDITOR AZIZ HANIFFA IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. issues of our time. But as the President has said before, it’s only natural that he and the prime minister are friends, given that our countries share so many deeply held values. A significant manifestation of Modi’s visit this time around will be his first address to a joint meeting of Congress, where there is so much support and bipartisan expectations for the continuing exponential growth of US-India ties. As an erstwhile Congressional staffer, both in the House and Senate, how significant is this address in terms of getting out the India story out to all of America and Americans? Congress has been and will continue to be an essential partner in advancing the US-India relationship. I’ve seen that first-hand over the past 20 years — there is broad bipartisan support for stronger US-India relations across the House and Senate. An invitation to address Congress is indeed a great honor. It is, by extension, an address to the American people as well, so the audience and the platform are huge. Prime Minister Modi’s address is an opportunity to highlight the very real progress taking place and expand upon former prime minister Vajpayee’s vision in his address to Congress 16 years ago: ‘The dawn of the new century has marked a new beginning in our relations. Let us remove the shadow of hesitation that lies between us and our joint vision.’ Of course, not everything is honky dory and the challenges

India Abroad June 10, 2016

ONCE UPON A TIME THE AMERICAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER WAS A SYMBOL THAT DIVIDED THE UNITED STATES AND INDIA. TODAY IT IS A CRITICAL AREA OF OUR COOPERATION, BRINGING OUR TWO NATIONS CLOSER TOGETHER. THAT’S HOW FAR WE’VE COME. and concerns do remain from trade, economics and negotiations over BIT, etc, still to come to fruition. What’s your take on these issues in terms of forward movement in the last few months of the Obama presidency, or is the election fervor and fever in the US too much of a distraction for anything tangible on these issues to be not just move forward, but be institutionalized? As with any relationship, there will be obstacles, both substantive and bureaucratic, when it comes to advancing shared interests. With our trade surpassing $100 billion, it’s not surprising that we sometimes have points of friction in our economic relationship. This goes to my earlier point about the importance of continuous dialogue. One advantage of 30 plus government dialogues is that we can both manage differences and sustain the momentum in our relationship even as the domestic political environment in either country changes. For example, later this year, we’ll have the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue and the Trade Policy Forum. And the upcoming summit will no doubt launch new lines of effort that will continue to draw our two countries closer. In this regard, the nuclear deal is still in limbo, notwithstanding the contact group and the optimistic outlook in the negotiations, etc. Can some movement forward in terms of Westinghouse and GE be expected during this summit between the PM and President? What we have seen on civil nuclear cooperation over the last two years is continuous progress, and I think we will continue to witness forward movement. Our work on civil nuclear issues demonstrates that we can overcome the most daunting of challenges, such as nuclear liability. India’s membership in the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage earlier this year and issuance of a nuclear supplier’s policy have helped to enable the participation of US companies in India’s nuclear market. I have no doubt that one day in the not so distant future American nuclear plants will be powering Indian cities and villages. I’m optimistic about the path we are now on. In the House of Representatives last month, no doubt in appreciation of the burgeoning US-India defense trade and military partnership, bipartisan legislation to further bolster defense ties with India was passed with a proviso to even bring it on a par with NATO allies and Israel in terms of the sale of defense equipment and technology to India. Similar legislation introduced by Senate India Caucus cochairs Cornyn and Warner is also pending in the Senate. What’s your take on all this? Is the defense and military relationship with India now the catalyst and crown jewels of the US-India strategic partnership? Defense relations are one of the ‘crown jewels’ of the USIndia partnership; the pace of our cooperation today is scarcely recognizable compared to where we were a decade ago. We’re making new strides on maritime cooperation, as part of our Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region.

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

PRIME MINISTER MODI WAS QUICK TO MAKE A BREAK WITH THE PAST AND RESPOND TO THE US INTEREST TO PARTNER WITH HIS GOVERNMENT TO REALIZE THE GOALS THAT HE HAD SET FOR INDIA’S RAPID TRANSFORMATION.

HE EXPANDED THE CANVAS OF OUR INTERACTION WITH THE US BY GIVING FULL PLAY TO THE INDIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHO WERE THE FOCUS OF HIS ADDRESS AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN IN 2014 AND AGAIN AT THE SAP CENTER IN 2015.

run Kumar Singh is one of the Indian Foreign Service’s finest diplomats. In his 37-year career in the IFS, Ambassador Singh has served in Moscow, Addis Ababa, Tokyo, at India’s permanent mission to the UN in New York, and, of course, in Washington, DC, where he first served as Deputy Chief of Mission during those critical years in the India-US relationship, October 2008 to April 2013. Before returning to Washington as Ambassador on April 30, 2015, he served as India’s envoy to France from April 2013 to April 2015. His first posting as ambassador was to Israel from April 2005 to September 2008. Few diplomats are as qualified to discuss the trajectory of the current India-US relationship as Ambassador Singh and this exclusive, rare, interview reveals unusual understanding of how this geo-strategic, economic and military association between the world’s largest democracies is transforming our times. How would you describe the current status of US-India relations two years into Prime Minister Modi’s administration? And how would you define the partnership today? Is it still an envisaged strategic partnership or a full-blown strategic and commercial relationship in all of its facets? India-US engagement in the first two years of Prime Minister Modi’s government has moved with great intensity and purpose in the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation and international coordination. India’s relations with the US had stalled somewhat in the previous few years due to unmet expectations of the two sides on a number of issues. Prime Minister Modi was quick to make a break with the past and respond to the US interest to partner with his government to realize the goals that he had set for India’s rapid transformation. He expanded the canvas of our interaction with the US also by giving full play to the role of the Indian-American community, who were the focus of his address at Madison Square Garden in 2014 and again at the SAP Center in San Jose in 2015. Another visible symbol of our new terms of engagement with the US was Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to President Obama as the first-ever US President attending India’s Republic Day function as the chief guest. By working together in a problem-solving manner, our two governments in the last two years have addressed lingering differences on nuclear liability and food subsidies, injected new energy into defense and economic cooperation and found ways to tackle climate change without affecting our developmental space. Bold new initiatives have been taken — be it the first-ever regionally focused Vision Statement on the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region, or cooperation in the development of an aircraft carrier or jet engine technology in India. Close to two dozen new institutional mechanisms have been established in the last two years, ranging from infrastructure, IPR, civil nuclear energy to oceans, maritime security, diplomatic policy planning and space security. Greater synergy has been achieved in the strategic, commercial and other dimensions of our engagement with the

Arun Kumar Singh INDIA’S AMBASSADOR TO THE US SPEAKS TO INDIA ABROAD EDITOR AZIZ HANIFFA IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW. US by upgrading of the existing Strategic Dialogue of the foreign ministers into a Strategic and Commercial Dialogue of the foreign and trade ministers. The character of our partnership and its rich global and strategic content has been fully articulated in the two joint statements, two vision documents and a Declaration of Friendship issued at Prime Minister Modi’s two summits with President Obama. With India increasingly playing a larger role in the Indian Ocean Region and the Asia-Pacific, the premium on partnership for provision of security, humanitarian and economic assistance in our region has risen for both India and the US as well as other like-minded countries, as you can see in the institutionalization of India-US-Japan Malabar Exercises and the first-ever trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of these three countries. We are partnering for progress and development in many regions, from Afghanistan to Africa. It is evident that ours is

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THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE US CONGRESS ABOUT INDIA, AND NOBODY IS BETTER PLACED THAN THE PRIME MINISTER TO ADDRESS THE MEMBERS ABOUT INDIA AND OUR BILATERAL RELATIONS. today a full strategic partnership with A truly global outlook and objective. Prime Minister Modi will be on his fourth visit to the US and will have his third working summit with President Obama, which could perhaps be the last before the end of his Presidency. What do you see as the legacy of these meetings and the perfect rapport they have developed vis-a-vis US-India relations at this time in their administrations and also going forward? A lot of what has been achieved in the last two years in India-US relations owes to the personal commitment and investment by Prime Minister Modi and President Obama. Besides their visits to each other, they have frequently met on the sidelines of other international and multilateral events. The personal rapport between the two leaders that you have referred to have been reinforced by their shared vision of many global issues and a conviction about the importance of the role that India and the US can play in realizing that vision. Prime Minister Modi’s idea of proactively addressing the challenges of climate change through an ambitious renewable energy program and pragmatic, convenient action forged in alliance with other countries was critical to the success of the Paris Conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in December. The shared vision for Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region that the two leaders unveiled last year reflect their interest in an open, inclusive, consultative, rules-based regional architecture and have shaped our frequent policy consultation and coordination on issues of particular regional interest. The DTTI initiative that has blossomed under their watch has shaped an ambitious agenda for new type of defense engagement, going beyond buyer-seller relations and introducing an element of strategic purpose into our defense interaction. The forthcoming summit between the two leaders will allow them to take stock of these developments and to take measures that will consolidate our relations further in the years ahead. A significant manifestation of Prime Minister Modi’s visit this time around will be his first address to a joint meeting of Congress, where there is so much support and bipartisan expectations for the continuing exponential growth of USIndia ties. How significant is this address in terms of getting out the India story out to all of America and Americans? Prime Minister Modi’s visit and his address to a joint meeting of the US Congress is a reflection of the widespread bipartisan support in the US for relations with India. It is a testament to the popular basis of the coming together of the world’s largest and the oldest democracies. The occasion is also significant as an opportunity to bridge the understanding of the American people about India through their representatives in Congress. This will be an occasion for him to authoritatively articu-

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Powerhouse with a heart Response Feature

india abroad June 10, 2016

Hiten Patel might have become a professional jobs helped me meet many of these expenses. Coming singer hadn't his maiden venture, ultimately named from a Tier 2 city in India to the US, the language and Collabera Inc, exploded into a company that has culture was a hard barrier to overcome. However, become possibly the biggest name in IT staffing. when I was given the opportunity to work for a large Patel was taking a big leap when, after working a Fortune 500 company, it helped me to adjust to those few years in the tech industry, he decided to exploit barriers quickly. the demand for workers by buying a small six-yearWhy did you decide that staffing was a good old company in 1997 with money borrowed at a high option for you? interest from family and friends. I worked with IBM for a few years after my Masters “If I did not put all my life savings into this and I could see that the demand for computers and company, I would have taken it easy and would services around it is not just here to stay but grow always have had a way out,” Patel told NJBiz in an aggressively. I always wanted to start my own business interview. “If you always have a window, you don't and when the opportunity to acquire GCI (now give your 100 percent.” Collabera) came, I took a leap of faith and devoted my It started with just one client, over the last 25 years life savings into purchasing this company, taking 24% Collabera has gone on to become a dominant interest loans from friends and family to help contingent workforce partner and supplier to some jumpstart this business. It was a huge gamble, because of the world’s leading organizations, with more than the company at the time only had one client and a 12,000 employees and over 40 offices across the small management team in place. Over 20 years later, globe, and having locations in the US, Canada, the we now have 40 offices in 7 countries and we have UK, India, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. successfully become a top tier vendor for 75% of our Beginning with a single client in 1991, Collabera clients. now has 400 clients worldwide. What were the early years in business like? Collabera has gone on to be named the Best Staffing When I first acquired the company, the market was Firm to Work For five years in a row, by Staffing saturated with staffing firms that offered little Solutions Analysts, an adviser on contingent work, differentiation in their capabilities and it was a and the number 1 large-size IT staffing firm by Hiten Patel, Chairman, Collabera, Inc. challenge for any firm to stand out. In addition, there Staffing Industry Analysts. Among other things, it's was – and continues to be – fierce competition for IT also been judged the Most Innovative Business talent. At the time, we were a very small team and Technology Organizations by InfoWeek, named one worked long days and nights to help grow the business of the World's Best Outsourcing Advisors by the – sometimes we put in 100 hour work weeks to get the 'With the great team we have International Association for Outsourcing job done. I focused on hardwork and assembling a in place, the next milestone Professionals and has won awards for many of its great team who believed in the same values. The is never far away' products. Collabera team realized that the challenges we faced Patel himself has been recognized as one of the also represented great opportunities – and resulted in The Collabera CEO describes country’s most interesting and successful the leadership team working together to hone what makes him tick entrepreneurs and received accolades, including Collabera’s competitive edge. Ernst & Young’s prestigious “Entrepreneur of the Tell us something about colleagues who Year” award. worked with you to make Collabera do even Among the experiments he has tried – and got to better. work – splitting off Collabera's IT solutions' wing as a separate company, Brillio, Since our inception, we’ve had a great, dedicated team. Over 20 years later, under CEO Raj Mamodia. some of our very first employees are still with us today. The team’s commitment, Besides nurturing his own company, he has used his own experience and vast passion and drive towards executing excellence has made a huge impact on our business network to mentor other entrepreneurs to success. The organizations success. I understand the opportunities always come with challenges, but with he is active in include EO of NJ, AAHC, NACCB, TiE Tri-State, USPAACC, the the great team we have in place the next milestone is never far away. Our Association for Corporate Growth of New Jersey, the New Jersey Technology management team 15 years back is the same today – we have had no attrition at Council, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the New Jersey the Executive level, which is due to their strong belief in the Collabera story and Chamber of Commerce and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. the strong friendships our employees have built with each other. The help that Patel consistently provided to minority business people earned Which values do you consider most important to succeed in your him the 2015 Catalyst Award from National Minority Development Council. area of business? Patel, who earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at the R D Having ambition and the drive to succeed and working hard towards your University, India, and a master's degree in computer science at Stevens Institute ambition without losing focus is a very important factor. Over the past few years, of Technology, now looks forward to making Collabera a $1 billion company. we have also implemented five cultural behaviors, which help to define our Given his record, Patel is well on track for that. company values and beliefs. Tell us why you decided to go into mechanical engineering, then How do you plan to take your success further? What plans do you computer science. Also describe some of the early difficulties you have? faced in this country and how you overcame them Collabera has two key goals for the future: to grow our regional and Ever since I was young, mechanical engineering piqued my interest. I always international footprint, and to expand our workforce capabilities for emerging had a technical bent of mind, wondering how things work and pulling them apart technologies to help our clients meet their IT talent needs. We are adding and fixing them back. When I moved to the United States, I found that there was capabilities in global offices in India, the UK, Philippines, Singapore, and several a high demand for professionals in the computer science industry. My fascination other territories. At the same time, we are investing in new capabilities for both with computers, and the power they have to get things done, is why I pursued our clients and job seekers in several key US markets including New York, New my studies in Computer Science. My first initial challenges were being able to Jersey, Chicago, Dallas and California. Additionally, Collabera is increasing pay for my various expenses upon arriving in the US. Working multiple part time services for the small- to medium-sized segment, which is underserved.

MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Richard Rahul Verma

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PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

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Ambassador Richard Verma hails ‘India’s instrumental contribution to achieving the Paris Climate Accord’ as one of the landmarks of the US-India relationship in 2015. The President and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the COP21 Summit in Paris, November 30, 2015.

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Japan is a regular participant in the Malabar naval exercise; the next iteration takes place this month. The US-India Defense Technology and Trade Initiative continues to make progress in new areas of technology cooperation, and the private sector in both countries continue to work together to support the ‘Make in India’ initiative. We are supporting India’s indigenous carrier program through the Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation. Once upon a time the American aircraft carrier was a symbol that divided the US and India. Today it is a critical area of our cooperation, bringing our two nations closer together. That’s how far we’ve come. Also in the House, ignoring the administration’s protestations, a resolution was approved to condition aid to the tune of $450 million to Pakistan unless Islamabad took concrete actions against the Haqqani network and released Dr Shakil Afridi who was invaluable to the capture of Osama bin Laden. This comes close on the heels of Congress, particularly the Senate, putting a hold on the sale of F-16s to Pakistan and the administration asking Pakistan to pay for it, which effectively means the sale is dead, Both you and Secretary Kerry had earlier argued that this was a ‘legacy sale.’ These actions by Congress, coming on the eve of Modi’s trip, is it unequivocal that Congress seems to be more sensitive to India’s concerns than the administration vis-a-vis Pakistan? Both the administration and Congress have spoken in one voice on the importance of the US-India partnership. The only hyphen we seek is one that links the US and India. On Pakistan, the US and India have shared interests and a clear-eyed view of the challenges. We have a shared interest in a stable Pakistan at peace with its neighbors. And we face a shared challenge to regional stability in the form of cross-border terrorism, including by groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba

and by the Pakistani Taliban. The US has been clear on this point: No country should allow its territory to be used by terrorists to launch attacks. Both President Obama and Congress have been clear that Pakistan, which is also threatened by terrorism, must take action against terrorist groups of all stripes Also, among certain segments of the Indian Diaspora in the US and some members of Congress, who are human rights activists and proponents, and, of course, USCIRF, who were denied visas to visit India, there is concern over the rise of the Hindutva groups and other chauvinistic elements in India and discrimination and persecution of minorities and a rising ultra-nationalism. Does this remain a concern to the US? Is it brought up in US-India discussions? There is a perception that an administration, more bent on trade and commerce with India and not wanting to rock the boat — diplomacy and political-wise — does not bring up these issues strongly enough. Close partners are allowed to have frank and honest conversations, and that’s what India and the US are doing on a range of issues, including human rights. And it’s a twoway exchange. When India has concerns about the treatment of minorities in the US — for example, hate crimes against Sikh Americans — we hear and welcome their concerns. Likewise, we raise our concerns about trafficking in persons, religious freedom, equal opportunity for all Indians, protection of women’s rights, and space for civil society. Our Ambassador at Large for Trafficking in Persons, Susan Coppedge, just had a very productive visit to India in April. India is a confident democracy; it shouldn’t not shy away from these sorts of discussions or view them as infringements of sovereignty. As two diverse and large democracies, we are both constantly striving to form a more perfect union.

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

Arun Kumar Singh

late his vision for India’s place in the world and our partnership with the US. There is a lot of interest in the US Congress about India, and nobody is better placed than the prime minister to address the members about India and our bilateral relations. The prime minister has addressed large and impressive gatherings in the US earlier, but this has its own significance as it directly reaches US lawmakers and policymakers, and as it is viewed in millions of American homes. His address would also be watched with avid interest by more than a billion people in India and many more throughout the world. Of course, not everything is in sync, and the challenges and concerns do remain — from trade, economics and negotiations over BIT, etc, still to come to fruition. What’s your take on these issues in terms of forward movement in the last few months of the Obama Presidency? Is the election fervor and fever in the US too much of a distraction for anything tangible on these issues to not just move forward, but be institutionalized? Our economic and commercial relations have moved steadily forward through rapidly expanding trade, increasing investments and deepening financial and regulatory cooperation between the two sides. However, I recognize that there is room to further expand trade and investment between us, and for policies that make it possible. The government of India has taken a number of very important initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’ and ‘Skills India’, which offer new business opportunities for US companies. The India-US Investment initiative has laid the roadmap for cooperation on reforms that promote greater financing of investment into India and development of debt and capital markets. Similarly, the US-India Infrastructure Collaboration Platform is promoting enhanced market access and financing to increase US industry participation in sectors that support Indian infrastructure. The government of India is committed to protecting the rights of taxpayers and has taken several steps for quick resolution of tax disputes. The government of India has recently approved the national IPR policy, which reiterates our international obligations while safeguarding our developmental concerns. We are also discussing issues related to a Bilateral Investment Treaty. India, as the fastest growing major economy in the world, at a time of global economic headwinds, provides opportunity for deepening US-India economic engagement. In this regard, the nuclear deal is still in limbo, notwithstanding the contact group and the optimistic outlook in the negotiations, etc. Can some movement forward in terms of Westinghouse and GE be expected during this summit between the prime minister and President? I would not like to characterize the nuclear deal as being in limbo. All the government-level policy issues have been resolved through frequent meeting of the Contact Group on Nuclear Energy set up by the two leaders in 2014. We have satisfactorily answered all questions and doubts internationally expressed about the compatibility of India’s nuclear liability regime with relevant international regimes. As a final demonstration of that, India ratified the Convention for Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage earlier this year, which was welcomed by the US government. Last year, we also successfully negotiated the Administrative Arrangement to enable implementation of the bilateral Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. Currently, negotiations over cost, pricing and techno-commercial viability are going on between private sector partici-

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to thank Ambassador Arun Kumar Singh for helming a successful visit, New York, September 28, 2015.

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

pants. The government of India remains committed to nuclear energy as a source of clean energy and welcomes US companies in our nuclear energy market. In the House of Representatives last month, no doubt in appreciation of the burgeoning US-India defense trade and military partnership, bipartisan legislation to further bolster defense ties with India was passed with a proviso to even bring it on a par with NATO allies and Israel in terms of the sale of defense equipment and technology to India. Similar legislation introduced by Senate India Caucus Cochairs Cornyn and Warner is also pending in the Senate. Does this mean the defense and military relationship with India is now the catalyst and crown jewels of the US-India strategic partnership? India-US defense relations has certainly come a long way since a defense framework agreement was signed in 2005. This was updated last year to reflect that evolution. There is robust architecture of the defense dialogue and ministerial-level visits in defense, of which you would have seen three in the past one year. India and the US currently do more military exercises with each other than they do with any other country. Under the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, we have stepped up our co-production and co-development collaboration and have laid the foundation for long-term collaboration in frontier areas of aircraft carrier and jet engine technology. Defense manufacturing in India by US companies has also begun in a modest way, though the potential remains high in view of our liberalized foreign investment rules and ‘Make in India’ initiative, of which defense is also an intended focus. It is, therefore, no wonder that defense and military relationship has emerged as one of the catalysts of our strategic partnership. We are aware of the interest expressed in the US Congress to further advance our defense cooperation with the US. This will add to the confidence about this partnership. Also in the House, ignoring the protestations of the admin-

istration, a resolution was approved to condition aid to the tune of $450 million to Pakistan unless Islamabad took concrete actions against the Haqqani network and released Dr Shakil Afridi who was invaluable to the capture of Osama bin Laden. This comes close on the heels of Congress, particularly the Senate, putting a hold on the sale of F-16s to Pakistan and the administration asking Pakistan to pay for it, which effectively means the sale is dead, Secretary Kerry and other senior administration officials had earlier argued that this was a ‘legacy sale.’ These actions by Congress, coming on the eve of Prime Minister Modi’s trip to the US, is it unequivocal that Congress seems to be more sensitive to India’s concerns than the administration vis-a-vis Pakistan? Do you agree that the past foreign policy zero-sum equations have to be relegated to the dustbin of history? I would not like to interpose myself between the US administration and the US Congress, both of which are vital sources of support and strength to the India-US relationship. However, we do share some of the concerns expressed in the US Congress about Pakistan’s record on counter-terrorism, many of which I dare say also resonate within the administration. Eventually, each of us have an interest to see that Pakistan stops being a safe haven for terrorists and an exporter of extremist and violent ideologies as an instrument of its foreign policy goals. Each of us would like Pakistan instead to embrace and become a part of a commerce and connectivity network that we hope to promote throughout South Asia in our common quest for peace and prosperity. India has never seen itself as part of a zero-sum equation with Pakistan when it comes to US foreign policy. India has independent global interests and aspirations, which we will pursue. Of course, it is a matter of satisfaction for us that increasingly the US has shown recognition and support for India’s global interests.

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Great Expectations, Tempered by Reality

A US Air Force C-17 aircrew salutes as US Army soldiers from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency conduct a repatriation ceremony of possible American remains in New Delhi, April 13. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter attended the ceremony during his visit to India. The remains that were turned over to DPAA are possibly related to a 1940s Army Air Force aircrew crash that occurred in India during World War II.

ast summer, I was part of a small group of India analysts that met with a senior United States military official. The US-India partnership is in terrific shape, the official declared, and the only thing preventing it from truly taking off is India’s unwillingness to sign several “foundational” agreements. These are routine deals — largely technical and logistical in nature — that the United States often signs with other nations to facilitate military cooperation. Fast forward to April of this year. During a trip to New Delhi by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, the two countries agreed in principle to sign one of those foundational agreements — a deal that would allow the United States and India to use each other’s military facilities for refueling purposes. Predictably, many observers concluded that the bilateral relationship — already suffused with recent infusions of momentum and goodwill — was poised to enter a deeper level of partnership. And then came the reality check. Several weeks after Carter’s India trip, reports emerged that progress on the refueling deal wasn’t moving as quickly as originally believed — and that a deal likely wouldn’t be finalized by the time Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Barack Obama in Washington on June 7. When it comes to US-India relations, high expectations can be a dangerous thing. Big-ticket developments have frequently yielded to big-time disappointments. The much-ballyhooed civil nuclear accord inked nearly a decade ago, and famously described as a cornerstone for an emerging strategic relationship, has still not been fully operationalized.

SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT ADRIAN CADIZ

HOPES FOR THE US-INDIA RELATIONSHIP CONTINUE TO SOAR. STILL, WHILE OPTIMISM IS IN ORDER, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP EXPECTATIONS IN CHECK, SAYS MICHAEL KUGELMAN.

In 2010, in a move that was wildly popular in India, Obama announced his support for a permanent Indian seat on the UN Security Council. Several years later, however, the arrest of a New York-based Indian consular official obliterated the relationship’s new stocks of goodwill and plunged the relationship into its deepest crisis in decades. A more recent rude awakening occurred this March. Despite considerable progress in US-India security relations in recent years — fueled in particular by the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative — Indian officials quickly rejected a proposal made by Admiral Harry Harris, the commander of the US Pacific Command, to stage joint naval patrols. The rejection was a sobering reminder of the limits of bilateral defense cooperation, and of India’s continued allergies to alliance-like arrangements. It’s easy to understand why soaring expectations so often accompany US-India relations: There are so many compelling reasons for the two countries to enjoy a deep partnership. These range from shared democratic values to convergent interests (such as mutual concern about terrorism in Pakistan and about the rise of China). A 3-million-strong Indian-American Diaspora serves as a natural bridge for the two countries. And there have been genuine success stories, from a booming trade relationship to ample maritime cooperation. Problematic perceptions and policies explain why the soaring expectations so often fall short. US-India relations have come a long way since the dark days of the Cold War, but the mutual mistrust from the past dies hard today. Meanwhile, New Delhi resents Washington’s continued relationship with the Pakistani military; Washington believes New Delhi takes overly protectionist positions in global trade

talks; and Indians think Americans don’t sufficiently appreciate India’s rising global clout — even as Washington wants India to play a more robust role in promoting regional stability in Asia. This isn’t to say we shouldn’t be optimistic. On the contrary: Modi arrives in Washington at a particularly auspicious time for US-India relations, thanks to two geopolitical factors that work in the relationship’s favor. First, with US combat forces no longer in Afghanistan, Washington’s strategic focus on South Asia is widening beyond the narrowly defined ‘AfPak’ lens of recent years, thereby creating opportunities to zoom in on India. Second, Washington appears to be intensifying its rebalance to the Indo-Pacific region — as evidenced most recently by Obama’s trip to Vietnam and Japan in May. The US pivot to Asia ensures that India’s strategic standing will remain high in US policy calculations — and particularly as India engineers its own eastward shift, as articulated in New Delhi’s ‘Act East’ policy. All this said, expectations still need to be tempered. Ultimately, it pays to be positive — but also prudent, not Pollyannaish. Modi would be wise to set an appropriately measured tone during his joint address to Congress on June 8. In his address, Modi should certainly speak of the relationship’s shared interests and soaring opportunities, and underscore the latest efforts to solidify it — from progress toward a bilateral investment treaty to newly introduced US legislation that would deepen defense relations. At the same time, however, he shouldn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges and constraints confronting the relationship, and from highlighting the tension points. Straight talk is just as important as happy talk. It’s never been a better time to be keeping our expectations about US-India relations in check. And that’s because of this year’s US presidential election, which could plunge the partnership into great uncertainty. Many of the relationship’s successes over the last two years can be attributed to the blooming bromance between Obama and Modi (though to be fair, Obama, the former law professor, also made clear his admiration for Modi’s predecessor, the bookish Manmohan Singh). A major question for US-India relations moving forward is the extent to which the relationship can continue to flourish after Obama, and by extension the great chemistry he developed with Modi, are no longer in the picture. These two men, as I’ve written previously, share more in common than may be assumed, and the warm personal diplomacy they cultivated has been remarkable. A President, Hillary Clinton, who played a prominent role in the Obama administration, would likely pose no problems to the US-India relationship (recall that in 2014, during Modi’s first trip to the US as premier, he met Clinton and her husband in New York). However, if Donald Trump takes over the White House, all bets are off when it comes to predicting the relationship’s trajectory. Trump’s pronouncements on India, as with his foreign policy comments in general, have been muddled and contradictory. On the one hand, he has mocked Indian call center workers and accused India of stealing American jobs. On the other hand, he has praised India for ‘doing great.’ Given his business interests in India, Trump likely won’t want to alienate the country. But then again, Trump is nothing if not a wild card. Not surprisingly, advance analysis of Modi’s US visit — a working one, not a State one as originally reported — has cast it as an effort to ‘consolidate and celebrate’ the gains of a bilateral relationship that faces an uncertain future. Still, a frank and realistic appraisal of where things stand is important as well. Ultimately, safeguarding a strategic relationship will require as much straightforwardness as sugarcoating. Michael Kugelman is the senior associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. He oversees the Wilson Center’s new India in Asia initiative. He can be reached at michael.kugelman@wilsoncenter.org or on Twitter @michaelkugelman.

india abroad June 10, 2016

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

The likely deliverables from Modi’s visit

peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and rime Minister Narendra Modi’s HE ODI GOVERNMENT MUST EXPLAIN TO THE NDIAN Indian Ocean.’ June 7–8 Washington visit, includWhether or not India can close the deal on ing summit-level meetings with PUBLIC THAT STRENGTHENING NDO DEFENSE TIES IS LEMOA in the coming days will say somethiPresident Barack Obama and an ng about its geopolitical orientation and willaddress to a joint session of CongrNOT A ONE WAY STREET AND CONTRIBUTES TO NDIA S ingness to expand its security options in a ess, will showcase the notable gains made in way that protects and promotes its core stratIndo-United States relations since Modi took OWN NATIONAL SECURITY SAYS egic interests. The Modi government must power in May 2014. explain to the Indian public that strengthenIt is fitting that Modi will address a joint ing Indo-US defense ties is not a one-way street, and coner’ projects for India and the US to co-produce and co-develsession of Congress since US Congressional members have tributes to India’s own national security. op military equipment. played a crucial role in setting the course for better ties. The There is some hope that Westinghouse Electric and the India’s hesitation in signing LEMOA may stem in part rare bipartisan consensus in Washington on the importance Nuclear Power Corporation of India will announce the finalfrom its concern about China’s reaction. While Modi has priof improving Indo-US relations has helped spur progress ization of a deal for building six nuclear reactors in the state oritized relations with the US, his government also wants to between the two nations. US House Speaker Paul Ryan of Gujarat. Such an announcement would help remove a sigbuild economic and trade ties with China and seeks to wean recently described India-US ties as providing ‘a pillar of nificant irritant in the relationship and silence American China away from its historically close ties with its regional strength in an important region of the world.’ critics who accuse India of failing to live up to its end of the archrival, Pakistan. Congress also has put forward legislation to drive the defcivil nuclear deal. India needs China’s support to join the Nuclear Suppliers ense relationship and to elevate India’s status when it comes India passed a strict nuclear liability law in 2010 that holds Group, the next step in New Delhi’s goal to become a fullto defense trade and technology transfer. Representative Gesuppliers liable for damages in the event of a nuclear accifledged member of the global nuclear nonproliferation orge Holding (Republican, North Carolina) in March introdent and essentially shut US companies out of the Indian regime. The NSG holds its annual plenary session next duced the US-India Defense Technology and Partnership nuclear industry. month. But China has already signaled it will seek to block Act, which lays out specific steps for enhancing defense ties, In January 2015, during President Obincluding designating a point person to ama’s India visit, the two sides announccoordinate US interagency policy on ed a ‘breakthrough understanding’ on the defense trade and technology transfers issue with an Indian proposal for an insuwith India. rance pool to mitigate investment risks. Even more significantly, the bill aims to Another helpful step was India’s ratifiamend the Arms Export Control Act to cation of the International Atomic Enerstreamline the export control and arms gy Agency Convention on Supplementary notification process for India, putting it Compensation in February. Whether on par with NATO countries and other these steps are sufficient to convince US treaty allies at least when it comes to Westinghouse to enter the Indian civil the length of time for approving defense nuclear market remains to be seen. transfers. The Indian government has also desigSome in the US are skeptical of the idea nated a site for a joint nuclear energy of treating India the same as a NATO venture between General Electric and partner or treaty ally when it comes to Hitachi to build nuclear reactors in India, arms trade, pointing to India’s continuing but the project remains stalled over the close military links with Russia and connuclear liability law. cerns about technology control. Another possible outcome of Modi’s But Washington must also factor in the visit is US backing for full Indian memevolving security situation with regard to bership of the Asia Pacific Economic China and the need for countries like Cooperation grouping. With India India to play a key role in helping to recently becoming the top destination for maintain the balance of power in Asia foreign direct investment and its ecoand to ensure freedom of the seaways. nomic growth rate set to reach 7.6 per To fulfill its role in helping to stabilize cent this year, there is renewed optimism and secure the Indo-Pacific region, India in the Indian economy. In the past, the needs adequate defense capabilities and Defense Secretary Ash Carter with Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, right, and India’s new naval chief US has welcomed Indian interest in joinaccess to advanced military technology, Admiral Sunil Lanba, second to Dr Carter’s right, after a tour of aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya at Karwar, April 11. ing APEC, but has stopped short of pubparticularly on the naval front. ‘The deepening Indo-US defense partnership,’ says Lisa Curtis, ‘has been driven largely by Carter, who holds a licly backing its formal membership. There is expectation that India may si- strong vision regarding India’s future role in helping secure the Indo-Pacific and who has been willing to exercise Another area that is ripe for forward gn in the next 10 days the Logistics Exch- patience to achieve this goal. ‘ movement is homeland security cooperaange Memorandum of Agreement — alltion. The last Secretary-level homeland security dialogue India’s bid by linking New Delhi’s entry into the NSG with owing both countries to access each other’s supplies, spare took place nearly three years ago under the previous Islamabad’s membership, a position that would undoubtedparts, and services from military bases and ports. Manmohan Singh government. The two sides recently made ly stall the process. The US has sought to negotiate the logistics sharing agreeprogress on a data sharing agreement to exchange informaLast fortnight’s visit by Indian President Pranab Mukhment with India for over a decade. Finally completing the tion in their terror databases. The agreement would bring erjee to Beijing spotlighted their burgeoning economic and agreement would mark a watershed in relations and help India into the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, which contrade ties and downplayed border tensions that have flared reassure US policymakers of India’s commitment to building solidates several terrorist watch lists from multiple countries. on several occasions over the last few years. a strong and stable defense partnership. With the agreement, India would become one of 30 counIn another example of how India is carefully trying to balThe deepening Indo-US defense partnership has been tries allowed access to the database. ance relations between the US and China, the Indian foreign driven largely by Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who holds a Modi’s visit will highlight the important strides the two cominister in mid-April signed a trilateral communiqué with strong vision regarding India’s future role in helping secure untries have made in expanding security and defense coopthe Russian and Chinese foreign ministers that appears to the Indo-Pacific and who has been willing to exercise patieration. The robust bipartisan support in Washington for buback China’s position against internationalizing the resoluence to achieve this goal. ilding Indo-US ties gives hope that the next US administration of disputes in the South China Sea. Carter has diligently tended to building relationships in tion will sustain the progress made during the last two years. Yet just a week prior, the US defense secretary and Indian India, evidenced by the fact that he has met four times in the defense minister had signed a joint statement declaring the last year with his counterpart, Defense Minister Manohar importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight Parrikar. As Deputy Secretary of Defense four years ago, Lisa Curtis is a Senior Research Fellow on South Asia at The in the South China Sea and affirming support for a ‘rulesCarter was responsible for launching the Defense Trade and Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center. based order and regional security architecture conducive to Technology Initiative that has so far resulted in six ‘pathfind-

-US

I ’ LISA CURTIS.

SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT ADRIAN CADIZ

india abroad June 10, 2016

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

wo years after his election as prime minister, Narendra Modi has deepened United States-India relations even if he has not been able to fulfill expectations of revolutionary changes in India’s economic and strategic outlook. Modi’s election to power in May 2014 generated high hopes in Washington, DC. He was seen as the man who would transform India, changing its direction on foreign and economic policy issues. While Modi has revitalized India’s foreign policy he has been unable to implement critical economic reforms sought by both domestic and foreign investors. India has also witnessed a rise in identity politics and communal incidents that have hurt the country and the government’s image. Still, he can be credited with deepening relations with the United States. Modi’s image as a business friendly chief minister and his electoral promise ‘minimum government, maximum governance’ created an atmosphere where the new government was expected to cut the Gordian knot of bureaucratic regulations, implement wide-ranging economic reforms and boost India’s growth even further. Twenty four months later his government has found it difficult to pass key legislation, despite having a majority been waylaid in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, and been unable to convince members of the ruling party let alone the opposition to support key reforms. The first two years also witnessed a rise in identity politics, attacks on minorities especially Muslims, accompanied by the demand for a ban on cow slaughter and eating of beef. Since coming to power the Modi government pushed through a number of flagship programs: ‘Make in India,’ ‘Start up India’ and ‘Digital India.’ The underlying principle, however, is decades old: The desire for India to be self-sufficient and manufacture domestically. ‘Make in India’ hopes to convince both Indian and foreign corporates to bring state of the art technology and skills to India and manufacture locally. While $222 billion was pledged during the February 2016 ‘Make in India’ week in Mumbai, as of now corporates appear to have adopted a wait-anwatch policy. One key concern of companies is the lack of consistency in government regulations and policies. Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Managing Director Akito Tachibana expressed the concern of many when he stated: ‘We are afraid to invest more in India.’ If Toyota after two decades in India is still wary of further investment what is the likelihood of the $35 billion promised when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited India in December 2015 coming in? At that time New Delhi in its enthusiasm ignored the words of caution expressed by a Japanese official: ‘The money will be disbursed only when Japanese investors are assured that their money will be properly channelized and utilized. If the promises made by PM Modi are not kept, not a portion of the $35 billion can be expected to enter India.’ While New Delhi can take comfort from the fact that companies are still investing in India, Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr Raghuram Rajan cautioned at being ‘carried away by our current superiority in growth for as soon as we start distributing future wealth as though we already have it, we stop doing what we are supposed to do to keep growing. This movie has played too many times in the past for us not to know how it ends.’ Analysts also worry that Modi ‘seems to have turned his face away from the business of introducing serious reform.’ Foreign policy is one arena in which Modi has passed with flying colors. In this first two years Modi has undertaken 40 international trips and visited five continents. The US has occupied a key place in Modi’s diplomacy with Modi visiting the US four times (September 2014, September 2015, March and June 2016) and President Obama visiting India in January 2015. The frequency and intensity of high-level contacts in the last two years also reflects a growing desire for deeper US-India ties. India and the US share a common commitment to democracy, pluralism, federalism and their republics. However, over the last seven decades they did not always see eye-to-eye in the realm of foreign policy. India’s nonaligned foreign pol-

India Abroad June 10, 2016

It’s all about the economy! FOR THESE TIES TO CONSOLIDATE, SAYS APARNA PANDE, INDIA NEEDS DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH FOR WHICH IT NEEDS SUSTAINED ECONOMIC REFORM.

A performer walks past another at the exhibition center at the ‘Make In India’ week in Mumbai, February 13, 2016. icy and its aversion to military alliances prevented the creation of tie-ups between India and the US that are similar to those between the US and, its Atlantic or Pacific partners. India accepted economic and some military aid from the US, but it did not pursue the sort of defense ties that result from buying US military equipment on concessional terms or integrating the training of officers. Similarly, India’s mixed socialist economy did not create those synergies that would boost trade between the two countries. For the US, a strategic relationship is one in which defense and economic ties are paramount. Today India-US bilateral trade stands at over $100 billion. US foreign direct investment in India stands at $28 billion, making it the sixth largest source of FDI in India and over 65 large Indian corporates have invested over $17 billion in the US. Defense cooperation between the two countries has grown with the two countries, under the rubric of the US-India Defense Trade and Technology Initiative, collaborating in coproduction and co-development of aircraft carriers and jet engine technology. India and the US also cooperate in other arenas with the US being the country with which India has the largest number of military exercises. In the field of defense trade, from almost no purchases, in the last few years the US has signed over $10 billion in defense deals with India. Historically most of India’s defense purchases from the US have been under the government-to-government rubric of Foreign Military Sales. While businesses in both countries are closer today than some years ago, the business-to-business model that is the norm with most American allies is not yet there in this relationship. India is also different from American allies who buy US defense equipment without insisting on learning how to make it on their own. Self-sufficiency in the area of defense

DANISH SIDDIQUI/REUTERS

manufacturing has been a long goal, with ‘Make in India’ only being the latest incarnation of that dream. Washington would like New Delhi to shed its age-old reticence and act as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific region. India has always seen itself as a great power and seeks to exert influence in its neighborhood. Yet, there are limits beyond which New Delhi has traditionally been reluctant to go. While the two countries host a number of military exercises, India has been reluctant to participate in exercises which appear part of a military alliance. For a long time India was reluctant to include Japan in the Malabar exercises with the US, but this policy was changed in 2015. Similarly, while New Delhi sought to purchase the latest American defense technology it was reluctant to sign three key ‘foundational agreements’ that the US signs with all its key partner countries. This appears to be changing and India is expected to sign the agreements soon. The two countries have come a long way in overcoming their traditional modes of thinking about each other. The US has come to accept India as a partner though not (yet) a formal ally. India is increasingly comfortable with its closer ties to the United States without giving up its desire for strategic autonomy. However, for this relationship to consolidate, India needs to grow at double digits for which it needs sustained economic reform. Prime Minister Modi has three more years before the end of his first term in office to show his mettle in that sphere. Aparna Pande is Director, Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at the Hudson Institute, Washington DC. Her book on India’s foreign policy is due to come out later this year.

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india abroad June 10, 2016

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

The India Turnaround THIS TURNAROUND, SAYS ECONOMIST ARVIND PANAGARIYA, VICE CHAIRMAN, INDIA’S NITI AAYOG, HAS COME ON THE BACK OF CONCERTED EFFORTS AT ACCELERATING INFRASTRUCTURE BUILDING AND RETURN TO THE PATH OF ECONOMIC REFORMS.

rime Minister Narendra Modi’s fourth visit to the United States coincides with the completion of two years by his government. It provides us an opportune occasion to take stock of what has been accomplished during these years. When the government came to office, the economy was a shambles with the growth in the Gross Domestic Product having plummeted, numerous large projects stuck for either the lack of environmental clearance or on account of bureaucratic paralysis; inflation in the double digits; and a large current account deficit. A story in the Economist magazine of August 24, 2013 summed up the situation thus, ‘It is widely agreed the country is in its worst economic bind since 1991.’ Two years into the Modi administration, the situation is quite different. GDP growth has steadily climbed up from 6.9 percent in 2013-14 (India’s fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31) to 7.2 percent in 2014-15 and 7.6 percent in 201516. Inflation is down to around 5 percent and the current account deficit stands between 1 and 2 percent. Foreign investors who had been fleeing India in 2013 are back. Foreign direct investment rose 24 percent in 2014-15 over that in 2013-14 and 40 percent during April-December 2015 over the corresponding period in 2014. This turnaround has come on the back of concerted efforts at accelerating infrastructure building and return to the path of economic reforms. Road construction has climbed up from 11.7 kilometer (7.2 miles) per day in 2013-14 to 12 km (7.4 miles) in 2014-15 and then to 16.5 km (10.2 miles) in 2015-16. Road length awarded has risen even faster: from 3,500 km (2,175 miles) in 2013-14 to 8,000 km (4,971 miles) in 2014-15 and 10,000 km (6,214 miles) in 2015-16. Construction of railway track has likewise risen to 7 km (4.3 miles) per day during 2015-16 from 4.3 km (2.6 miles) per day during the previous six years. In domestic civil aviation, the total number of passengers carried has jumped from 66.4 million in 2014 to 80.8 million in 2015. Internationally, the figure has increased from 16.9 million in 2014 to 18.4 million in 2015. Efficiency at major ports has improved, with operating profits shooting up 43 percent in 2014-15 over those in 201314 and 16.2 percent in 2015-16. In 2015-16, addition of 93 million tons to port capacity was the highest ever. Similar progress has also been made in energy. Alongside, the government has steadily introduced economic reforms instead of brining counter-productive measures such as retrospective taxation and the Land Acquisition Act of 2013 put in place by the predecessor government. In agriculture, a major initiative to create a genuine national agricultural market through e-auctions in mandis (bazaars) across the breadth and length of the nation has been launched. It promises to bring remunerative prices to farmers. The government has permitted 100 percent foreign direct investment in the food chain as long as the produce originates domestically. It is creating soil- and seed-testing facili-

AMIT DAVE/REUTERS

Laborers work at the site of the metro railway flyover under construction in Ahmedabad, March 31. India’s infrastructure output grew an annual 5.7 percent in February, its fastest pace in at least 13 months, mainly driven by a surge in production of cement and fertilizers. ties at 2,000 retail outlets of fertilizer companies. The NITI Aayog is poised to unveil a model land-leasing law to help modernize tenancy laws across states. On the external front, the cap on FDI in insurance, which had remained stuck at 26 percent for more than a decade, has finally been raised to 49 percent. Defense has been opened to FDI with the cap through the automatic route recently raised to 49 percent from 26 percent. 100 percent FDI in defense is permitted through the approval route. FDI up to 100 percent has also been permitted in marketing of food products produced in India; high-tech and capital-intensive activities in railways; coffee, rubber, cardamom, palm and olive plantations; manufacturing of medical devices; e-commerce marketplace; and non-bank automatic teller machines. Encouraged by the central government’s liberal approach towards amendments by states to central laws on the Concurrent List, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat have amended several central labor laws. In Gujarat, firms of all sizes located in the Special Economic Zones, Special Investment Regions and National Investment and Manufacturing Zones now have the right to lay off workers as long as they pay the latter 45 days worth of wages for each year worked. For long, commentators have emphasized the need for a modern bankruptcy law. Absent such a law, firms find exit out of an activity a daunting task, which in turn discourages them from entering many profitable activities. Recognizing this, the government has just enacted the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Act, 2015. The Act amalgamates all existing laws on corporate and individual insolvency and bankruptcy and provides a time-bound process of exit through professionals. Under the previous government, mega tax assessments under the draconian retrospective tax law had pushed invest-

or confidence to an all-time low. Soon after taking charge, the present government announced its commitment not to initiate any new cases under that law. It has made good on that promise while also offering to settle at generous terms the cases initiated under the law by the previous government and numerous others under different statutes pending for years. There has been a total absence of any allegations of corruption during the two-year tenure of the government. Often overlooked, this is a major achievement in a country that has seen corruption scandals break out under virtually every government in recent decades. According to rankings by the Economist magazine, the wealth of crony capitalists in India has fallen to 3 percent of the GDP in 2016 from 18 percent of the GDP in 2008. Space considerations do not allow me to report on the progress in social sectors. Suffice it to say that here too the government has brought enhanced efficiency through rapid expansion of biometric identity based direct benefit transfers that eliminate multiple accounts in the name of the same beneficiary and ghost accounts. It has also chosen empowerment over entitlement and thus focused on accelerating building of rural roads, electrification of villages and broadband connectivity. With the groundwork, thus, in place, we can count on growth and the progress in reducing poverty accelerating yet further in the years to come. Dr Arvind Panagariya is Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Government of India. The views are strictly personal and may not be attributed to the Government of India or NITI Aayog. The article draws heavily on the author’s recent writings.

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india abroad June 10, 2016

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

TEN YEARS FROM NOW, I BELIEVE WE WILL LOOK BACK ON THIS MOMENT AS THE TIME WHEN WE FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED OUR COMMERCIAL RELATIONSHIP FOR THE BETTER.

India Abroad June 10, 2016

TO SEE PRIME MINISTER MODI ADDRESS CONGRESS SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE YET TO COME.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets Arun M Kumar addresses a roomful of businessmen at the Mumbai chapter of the Asia Society.

VAIHAYSI PANDE DANIEL

nited States Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets Arun M Kumar — who was in India last month to further grow and nurture the USIndia trade relationship — addressed several meetings in New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai and said American businesses had invested already over $15 billion in India over the last two years, and by 2018 would likely sign deals worth $27 billion more. ‘Last year,’ Kumar pointed out, ‘US companies invested more in Indian equities than in China. US companies’ unique capabilities can help India address its priority needs and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic development goals,’ At a meeting in Mumbai the assistant secretary said a whole lot of US hopes were being pinned on India’s swiftly burgeoning e-commerce market, which he said was the fastest growing market in the world. “US companies have already invested billions and, in the process, are making it easier for Indian firms export globally,” he explained. Kumar, who was nominated by President Obama and confirmed as assistant secretary of commerce for global markets and director general of the US and foreign commercial service by the Senate a little over two years ago, guides all trade and investment promotion endeavors, both domestically and internationally, for the government through offices in 72 world markets. As the International Trade Administration’s top official he works for the best market approach for American exporters. Before joining the government, India-born Kumar was a partner and on the board of global auditor giant KPMG, LLP and led their West Coast management consulting practice that serviced Silicon Valley biggies as well as global clients. He also started up and ran KPMG’s US-India Practice. Each trip back to India is special for him, says the former Silicon Valley entrepreneur, because he began his career in Mumbai more than 40 years ago. Kumar, also the author of Kerala’s Economy: Crouching Tiger, Sacred Cows and a volume of poetry Plain Truths, says,‘My story is one example of the people to people ties that bind our two nations together and lie at the heart of the US India partnership.’ After graduating from Thiruvananthapuram’s University College (whose alumni include painter Raja Ravi Varma, agricultural scientist Dr M S Swaminathan and late Indian President K R Narayanan), Kumar joined the elite Tata Administrative Service and worked there for five years before leaving India to do his Masters at MIT. On his recent visit Kumar went down memory lane a bit and re-visited the Tata headquarters, where he once worked as part of the central management corps, “This morning I was meeting Cyrus Mistry (Tata group chairman) at Bombay House. I had a chance to see my old office, just down the corridor from where he works. Pretty cool... Somehow it looks smaller now, than it used to look when I was there. With passage of time you think things were much bigger. I guess it is a part of perspectives changing over time…” In a discussion hosted by the Mumbai chapter of the Asia Society, with Ashok Wadhwa, Group CEO, Ambit Holdings, Kumar said: “When I was here in Bombay it was a dynamic and multi-dimensional city. I am sure it is still very much that way. There was a lot of electricity here. I am sure that’s still the same in every sphere... I was a young person, starting out my career and this was a great place to start. So I look back on it very, very fondly. It was a very different India then. That India is unrecognizable now…” “Things have changed enormously and it is really interesting to see as one comes back to India, how every year, things seem to change even more and it is a testimony to the path the Indian economy has been on since 1991,” he added. Assistant Secretary Kumar agreed to an interview with

Arun M Kumar THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR GLOBAL MARKETS SPEAKS TO VAIHAYASI PANDE DANIEL. India Abroad Editorial Director Vaihayasi Pande Daniel on e-mail, post his Mumbai meeting. When you arrive on a trip to India after a gap, what are the things that give you a sense that India is buoyant and bustling with growth at the ground level? Maybe it something you have instinctively picked up as a litmus test on trips to other countries as well. Like, for instance, how are the billionaires in the country making their money, for instance. Or something like that… A visitor like me who strobes India periodically cannot but be struck by its pageant of constant change. Over the last few years one can see cities growing, the modernization of major airports to world-class standards, new metro systems being placed in service and, of course, the challenging traffic conditions caused by the growth in the numbers of automobiles. But there are also the aspects that we do not see — the growth in the numbers of young people who need to be employed, for instance. Some of these challenges also represent opportunities. What have been the main setbacks in the strategic India-US partnership with respect to trade? What has been the biggest disappointment with the Modi government so far as far as trade and commerce goes? President Obama and Prime Minister Modi understand the extraordinary commercial opportunity before us. That is why they have decided to build a revitalized, 21st century

framework for economic and commercial cooperation. In January 2015, they took a major step forward by launching the first-ever US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue — the signature, whole-of-government conversation with India. The leadership in both countries recognizes the importance of elevating commerce in our broader relationship. India’s recent track record on economic reforms is impressive. The Indian government’s decision to ratify the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement marks a significant step forward. All trade relationships have room for improvement; in India, US companies still face high tariffs, localization requirements, and other trade barriers and policies that remain a significant challenge. Overall, US goods exports to India face an average tax at the border of more than 13 percent — that is over six times the US duties levied on Indian goods. Policies and practices that enhance predictability and level the playing field for foreign and domestic companies will only increase India’s competitiveness and spur innovation. What have been the main points of optimism? What are the key factors that encourage US companies to stay invested in India? Although it is often said, it is worth repeating: India and the US share so much in common — from a commitment to democracy to the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that drives us forward. US companies recognize that India has a growing middle class, a talented workforce, and an appetite for high-quality, reliable, and often cutting-edge American products and services. Companies have welcomed Prime Minister Modi’s business-friendly statements. They know that change does not happen overnight, but they are also encouraged by the recent reforms carried out during Prime Minister Modi’s first two years, including: Streamlining bureaucratic decision-making; Raising Foreign Direct Investment limits in key sectors; Establishing commercial courts to speed up the resolution of business disputes; Encouraging a competitive “race to the top” at the state level to attract business; and Most recently, the passage of India’s first national bankruptcy law. Despite this positive news, more progress is needed to employ nearly 1 million people descending on India’s cities every month. To do that, India needs to accelerate inward investment, which in turn will be spurred by increased bilateral trade. What are the top three to five moves India must make to gain more and more confidence of foreign investors especially US investors and transform itself? What more do you want to see happening in India? What do you think are the biggest hurdles to India realizing its potential? I would say the top five moves that would send a strong signal to foreign investors would include developing a high standard US-India Bilateral Investment Treaty, passing the goods and services tax bill, increasing intellectual property rights enforcement, forgoing local content requirements, and increasing foreign direct investment caps in additional sectors such as multi-brand retail and e-commerce. The Indian government recognizes that developing a business-friendly environment is vital to India’s long-term growth prospects. However, tariffs and non-tariff barriers increase the cost of doing business in India, militate against

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

“Over the last few years one can see cities growing, the modernization of major airports to world-class standards, new metro systems being placed in service and, of course, the challenging traffic conditions caused by the growth in the numbers of automobiles,” says Arun M Kumar.

3M24 integration into global value chains and thus hamper overseas investment. The United States is also committed to attracting job-creating investment from Indian companies. Earlier this month, AT Kearney released its annual Foreign Direct Investment FDI Confidence Index. For the fourth year in a row, the United States tops the list. You have a unique position. Being of Indian origin you have an instinctive understanding of India and its issues and what it can actually deliver. That must build a huge advantage into your position and helped you move a trade relationship with India forward. Is that true? The commercial and economic dimension of the US India relationship has been driven by the strong vision and leadership of (Commerce) Secretary (Penny) Pritzker who has formidable first-hand business experience working with India. In working with her to advance the relationship, my own business experience and familiarity with India have been undoubtedly useful as have the insights shared by people I know in industry and government in India who have been generous with their counsel. Will trade only really take off once the rupee becomes completely convertible and markets completely open? These are major reforms that may not happen for four years at least. Does that mean there are still many years to wait for larger amounts of American investment? Or are certain sectors already very promising regardless? The US-India economic and commercial relationship is growing rapidly, and it will continue to do so. Major economic reforms will certainly produce greater investor confidence, but already we have seen a five-fold increase in our trade with India over the last decade or so. American companies have increased their direct investment in India by five times as well over the same period. Sectors such as e-commerce, travel and tourism, defense and aerospace, clean energy, urban infrastructure, and ICT present tremendous promise. In these sectors and still more, US companies’ unique capabilities can help India address its priority needs and Prime Minister Modi’s economic development goals.

RAJESH KARKERA

Arun M Kumar Realizing the full potential of our partnership will require further progress in tackling market impediments, on transparency, in building predictable tax and regulatory regimes, and in greater contract sanctity. The S&CD’s commercial track is addressing these kinds of issues in four initial areas of common interest: 1. Smart cities and infrastructure development; 2. Innovation and entrepreneurship; 3. Product standards harmonization; and 4. Ease of doing business. We are also exploring areas of additional cooperation at the sub-national level. India’s states play a major role in defining the overall business climate and determining the trajectory of India’s economic development. States are competing to attract leading global companies to invest locally, create jobs, and increase competitiveness and productivity. A number of Indian states grew at doubledigit rates from 2013-2015, exceeding China’s best recent years of growth. There must be so many anxieties, in the context of doing business with India, over dealing with Indian bureaucracy. Has that gotten less? Has Modi changed that perception in the American business mind? Do you think enough has been done in the last two years to allay investor fears, anxieties? Over the last two years, US businesses have invested over $15 billion in India, and will reportedly sign deals worth another $27 billion over the next two years. Prime Minister Modi’s business-friendly statements and recent reforms have created optimism. Companies nevertheless find the regulatory environment uncertain and unpredictable. For example, regulations are sometimes issued without a public comment period, and companies are expected to comply with the regulations without adequate warning. In my experience, investment follows trade flows: Businesses want to validate an overseas market through trade before making the decision to invest there. President Obama believes that increased trade strengthens both

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America’s and the overall global economy. The United States’ openness to trade reflects a more fundamental reality: the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world will continue on a path toward deeper economic integration. You mentioned at your Asia Society Mumbai address about hope for growth through tourism from both sides. What have been the encouraging signs on the tourism front? Do investment dollars follow tourist dollars as a rule? I have heard it doesn’t always. India was the 7th largest market for US travel and tourism exports in 2014, with 962,000 visitors from India spending $9.8 billion experiencing the United States. For its part, the United States was the largest source of international visitation to India in 2015, with over 1.2 million Americans visiting the country. Destinations across the United States are working to increase visitation from India, and are collaborating in various ways with Brand USA to realize the potential of this market. Prime Minister Modi came to power with an enormous mandate, but has not been able to get that much done really on his watch. Does that send a confusing message o American investors and companies? I think companies are aware that reforms take time, don’t happen overnight, and do require building a domestic consensus. Businesses have also been clear about what domestic policy changes can produce additional growth, more good jobs, and shared prosperity for India and America. I have been covering India’s new economic climate since this discussion first began over 20 years ago. I have been sitting in forums like the one which happened last Monday at the Taj and the conversation is very déjà vu over these past two decades. Everyone talks about how India is really poised for growth and about to become a big economic power. But the conversation remains about promises and promising futures and does not seem to go beyond that. Do you sense something different? Is there something more that we should hang onto? India has made tremendous progress since the early 1990s to grow to about a two trillion dollar economy. But creating enough growth to generate new jobs on a massive scale for the large segment of the Indian population under 35 is a daunting challenge. Not only has India’s economy transformed over the last twenty years, but these changes have occurred at the same time as tectonic shifts in the global trade architecture. Policies and reforms that will open India up to global markets will help it lead and achieve its growth potential faster. Ten years from now, I believe we will look back on this moment as the time when we fundamentally changed our commercial relationship for the better. Both governments are fully invested in this enterprise and have laid the groundwork for success with the S&CD and other commercial initiatives. Now is the time to execute and deliver real outcomes. The Diaspora community’s voice is indispensable in serving as a guide on this journey, and we are deeply committed to further strengthening its important role in this conversation. How can Prime Minister Modi’s address to Congress change perceptions? How have his multiple visits changed perceptions about India from the business point of view? I work in the executive branch of the US government, so my Congressional colleagues are better positioned to offer you their views. I will venture the following: I see strong bipartisan and bicameral support for the US-India relationship. It’s the potential to achieve a stronger partnership between the communities, businesses, and economies of our two nations that causes our political leaders to push for further progress. It’s quite remarkable to see Prime Minister Modi invited to address a joint session of Congress. Not many would have predicted it just a couple of years ago, and it speaks volumes about the positive state of the relationship — and all the good things that are yet to come.

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Response Feature

india abroad June 10, 2016

Response Feature

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

US-India ties are robust enough for plain-speaking THE FOLKS IN CONGRESS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT PROMOTING US EXPORTS TO INDIA AND CREATING JOBS IN THE US IS NOT WHAT INDIA’S DEVELOPMENT AGENDA IS ABOUT OR

MODI WAS ELECTED, SAYS M K BHADRAKUMAR.

WHY

n diplomatic practice, a ‘working visit’ is scheduled when an emergent situation arises in inter-State relations or when the host would like to dispense with the trammels of protocol and prefers to get down to business. Yet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘working visit’ to the US was planned at least three months in advance. What purpose does Modi’s ‘working visit’ serve? This is also his second visit to the White House to meet President Barack Obama in the past 20-month period. A good starting point will be to explore the narrative that Modi ‘strengthened’ the India-US relationship. Therein lies a paradox. Actually, the US-Indian relationship never really needed ‘strengthening.’ It was never weak during the past decade and more. Starting from the first UPA government in 2004, Manmohan Singh government’s top priority in foreign policies had been the India-US relationship. Do not overlook that by 2005 already, the US had proposed the civil nuclear agreement. Plainly put, the Manmohan Singh-Montek Singh Ahluwalia-Shivshankar Menon troika tirelessly worked for strengthening India’s strategic ties with the US. Yet, if the India-US relationship meandered during the final period of the Manmohan Singh government, it was because of force of circumstances – not neglect. The turning point was the financial crisis of 2008 after which the global economic climate turned turbulent. Equally, the UPA government’s second term was marred by scams, which discredited it and sapped its vitality. The last two to three years of UPA rule became so tumultuous that the business of governance and legislative work virtually ground to a halt. The Indian parliament was not even allowed to function. India’s growth story got interrupted and the US lost faith in Manmohan Singh’s capacity to deliver. All the same, the UPA’s prioritization of the relationship with the US as such was never really in doubt. The troika kept working on it right till the transfer of power to Modi. The audacious description of India as a ‘lynchpin’ of the US’ rebalance in Asia by the then US decence secretary Leon Panetta was, after all, in June 2012. Similarly, the upswing in the India-US relationship during the past two-year period after Modi came to power also bears scrutiny. To be sure, Washington regarded Modi as a ‘business-friendly’ politician in a way that Singh never could have been. Modi’s record as chief minister of Gujarat testified to his forcefulness in arbitrarily pushing through decisions that favored corporate industry to expand business. Modi coined slogans such as ‘minimum government, maximum governance’, ‘red carpet, not red tape’ and so on, which led Washington to believe that he was just the kind of bold

Residents fill empty containers with water from a municipal corporation tanker on a hot summer day in Ahmedabad, May 30. ‘India is not Gujarat and India’s reform program has to work its way out within our cooperative federalism,’ says M K Bhadrakumar. ‘Modi’s Gujarat model has little applicability to Indian conditions.’

AMIT DAVE/REUTERS

leader to have in friendly capitals who would facilitate greater market access for American companies. Unsurprisingly, American think tankers and media rooted for Modi as someone with a magic wand to ease the way for US exports to India. In empirical terms, of course, the Indian economy also began showing signs of growth through 2014. Modi inherited this favorable turn in India’s economic cycle, and it became his legacy. He could claim success in turning around the economy. However, what we see today is that those who applauded Modi have lost enthusiasm and are lamenting that he lacks the clarity and appetite for bold ‘reforms.’ The proposed goods and services tax, easing of land acquisition norms for industry, reform of labor laws, repeal of the regime of retroactive tax — the ‘wish list’ is getting bigger by the day. There was harsh criticism by US lawmakers just last fortnight, who were dismissive of the reforms by the Modi government, calling them inadequate and not truly ‘free market.’ They complained about bureaucratic hurdles, high tariffs, lack of market access and insufficient protection for intellectual property rights negatively impacting American companies operating in India. In a sign of growing disenchantment, the chairman of the US Senate House Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker said bluntly at the recent hearing that the rhetoric of USIndian relations ‘far exceeded actual tangible achievements’ and a ‘sober, pragmatic approach’ is needed towards the Modi government. Senator after senator reportedly berated Modi over his two years’ record as prime minister. Of course, a centre piece of Modi’s itinerary of visit will be the several hours he spends on the Hill, addressing a joint session of Congress and having lunch with lawmakers. Curiously, in another Congressional hearing recently, it was announced that before Modi sets foot on American soil next week, the US expected India to ink the pending logistics agreement giving access to Indian military bases for US forces. How far this political theater was stage-managed to put pressure on New Delhi on the eve of Modi’s ‘working visit’ is hard to say. But, unmistakably, Modi has been notified in advance of the upcoming ‘working visit’ as to what the expectations are on the American side. Fundamentally, the American side has gone horribly wrong on their assumptions regarding Modi. The point is, India is not Gujarat and India’s reform program has to work its way out within our ‘cooperative federalism.’ Modi’s Gujarat model has little applicability to Indian conditions. Meanwhile, his and the ruling party’s political agenda also come into play. The folks in Congress do not understand that

promoting American exports to the Indian market and creating jobs in the US economy is not what India’s development agenda is about or why Modi was elected PM. Viewed from the Indian side, too, the picture is complex. Despite the big hype about India-US relationship through the Modi years, its yields have been meagre. The US seems to take a dim view of Modi’s flagship ‘Make in India’ project. The excuse so far has been that it takes time for Modi’s seamless diplomacy in North America to bear fruit. But that argument is wearing thin after two years in power, and four visits to the US. True, Modi could project himself to the Indian middle class as a statesman who enjoys excellent personal equations with Obama, who charmed the CEOs in Silicon Valley. True, the uninformed opinion in India probably thinks Modi has boosted India’s ‘image’ among Americans. But, at the end of the day, the big question remains: How does all this benefit India’s development agenda in tangible terms? On the contrary, the Modi government’s close identification with the US’ rebalance in Asia — especially the symbolism of the Joint Vision Statement issued by Modi and Obama in January last year — created hurdles in India’s ties with China. If the intention was to unnerve China, that was not how things turned out. A series of unhelpful moves by China on issues of vital interest to India since then can probably be attributed to its unhappiness over the perceived ‘tilt’ in the Modi government’s stance toward the US rebalance. Of course, China can learn to live with a dynamic US-Indian partnership, including robust military ties. But the red line has been that India should not identify with the US’ containment strategy. It appears that the Modi government is taking course correction. President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to China last fortnight may probably help to put the India-China discourse back on track. But much time has been lost and China is an invaluable — even irreplaceable — partner for Modi’s development agenda. The glaring reality is that there has not been a single meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping for almost a year. Indeed, the US should not have inserted itself into Sino-Indian cooperation. It cannot be with good intentions that the US literally hustled the Modi government by claiming that the two navies will undertake ‘joint patrols’ in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, knowing fully well that this is a highly sensitive issue for Beijing.

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Response Feature

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Fortune 500 CEOs in New York, September 24, 2015.

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

Why America Inc is disappointed with Modi

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return to Washington, DC also marks the completion of the second year of his administration. The international business community is of two minds when judging Mr. Modi’s track record on reforming India’s economy. There is a strong narrative of disappointment: The business community expected deeper reforms, and stronger pro-trade policies. But at the same time, foreign investment in India is hitting record levels, which is a reflection of confidence, reduced foreign equity restrictions, and India’s relatively high economic growth rates. Of these two diverging perspectives, the ‘disappointment’ narrative feels more prominent, despite a great deal of personal economic diplomacy by the prime minister. It is difficult to imagine that the June visit, likely the last focused bilateral summit with President Barack Obama, will substantially alter this perception, though the visit may help to cool the tempers of certain Congressional leaders who have fueled some of the rhetoric about the Modi government’s performance. India is expected to be the fastest-growing large economy by the end of 2016. The World Bank predicts a 7.5 percent growth rate for 2016, a number echoed by many leading development banks and financial institutions. In addition, India has attracted $41 billion in foreign direct investment equity inflows, nearly 22 percent higher than the prior 12 months and reportedly the highest total among all emerging markets. US-India trade has remained fairly solid, down just 2 percent in the last 12 months despite the overall slowdown in global trade. The main dark cloud is the state of foreign portfolio investment. After an initial spurt following Modi’s election in May 2014, for-

MODI’S VISIT IS UNLIKELY TO TRIGGER A DRAMATIC SHIFT IN OUR PERCEPTION OF INDIA’S RECORD ON ECONOMIC REFORMS, SAYS

RICHARD M ROSSOW. eign portfolio investment has seen net outflows, to the tune of negative $2.7 billion, over the last 12 months. But there has been a mini-rally over the last two months, with fresh inflows of around $5.3 billion. Despite these rosy numbers, business sentiments, particularly in Washington, DC, remain subdued. This is partially due to the Modi government’s inability to alter India’s traditional positions on major trade issues, the lack of progress in resolving a small number of high-profile policy disputes, and the fact that some of the Modi government’s most impressive reforms — coal, railways, oil and gas, auctions — have been in sectors without a strong US business constituency. Perception on one area where the Modi government has also shown responsiveness to investor concerns — cross border taxation — is still negative due to a few high-profile cases, while real progress in other areas of cross-border taxation has been ignored. The Modi government’s key economic campaigns have helped to stimulate interest among the business community, at least by providing a ‘rallying call.’ But few of the deep reforms outlined above have a direct bearing on India’s manufacturing competitiveness, and they have not stimulated faster adoption of internet connectivity that is critical for the

success of Modi’s Digital India program. There are reports that infrastructure projects are moving faster again. However, US firms tend to avoid the risk of being primary contractors for major infrastructure projects, so progress on that front isn’t immediately appreciated by the US business community. Modi’s visit is unlikely to trigger a dramatic shift in our perception of the Indian government’s record on economic reforms. We may see the governments re-commit to negotiating a high-standard ‘Bilateral Investment Treaty.’ But such promises have been made before —most notably in the joint statement issued during President Obama’s historic visit to New Delhi in January 2015. The most likely benefit, however, intangible, is that Modi will spend a great deal of time with Congressional leaders, as well as address a joint session of Congress. Congressional leaders have been among the most vocal critics of the Modi government’s positions on economic issues, largely viewing his track record through a fairly narrow and unchanging lens. Creating a direct channel for dialogue is likely to be of some modest help. The impact on our economic relationship from this visit will likely be modest, and the next US administration will come to office with relatively little momentum in establishing a shared economic vision with India. But if the anti-India rhetoric is reduced though Prime Minister Modi’s personal courtship of opinion leaders throughout Washington, DC, this ‘blank slate’ could become an advantage in the right hands. Richard M Rossow is Senior Fellow and Wadhwani Chair in US-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

US-India ties are robust enough for plain-speaking

3M28 On the other hand, apart from mellifluous rhetoric, the Obama administration has not been helpful on substantive issues such as India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. It has instead passed the buck and brilliantly succeeded in making this a sticking point in the India-China discourse — although, NSG membership was meant to be the finest offspring of the US-Indian nuclear deal in the first instance. The point is, the US keeps presenting its wish list on economic issues and loses no opportunity to canvass for its arms vendors to secure lucrative deals in our market, but there is little to show by way of what the Obama administration has done for India in return. In fact, Washington ignores Indian sensitivities over the directions of the US-Pakistan relationship or the reconciliation policies toward the Taliban. Washington has not moved even its little finger to demand India’s participation in the Afghan peace process — although for accelerating arms sales to India, it is keen to legislate an equal status for our country and bring it on par with the US’ NATO allies. This ‘working visit’ becomes the last opportunity for Modi to present his own ‘wish list’ to Obama. Better late than never. It isn’t the sole prerogative of the US side to do plain speaking when their interests are at stake. At any rate, Modi should reject the attempt by Congress to project itself as the arbiter of inter-communal harmony in our country or to lecture to us on human rights. We do have our problems, but we don’t want outside interference. Do we finger-point at America’s appalling race relations even under an African-American president? No, we don’t. They should reciprocate oriental civility and desire for mutual respect. As last fortnight’s Congressional hearing in Washington underscored, this is a transactional relationship, and no amount of rhetoric can obfuscate that reality. M K Bhadrakumar, India’s former Ambassador to Turkey, is India’s most respected commentator on Afghanistan.

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india abroad June 10, 2016

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Modi needs to tell Congress that big bang reforms are on the way A MAJOR REASON FOR MODI COMING TO AMERICA FOR THE FOURTH TIME IS TO PURSUE HIS VISION OF INDIA AS AN ECONOMIC POWER SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT HIS VISION OF WORLD LEADERSHIP, SAYS RAYMOND E VICKERY, JR.

An indigenous Indian warship fascinates a next generation Indian at the Make In India Week in Mumbai earlier this year. The Defense Trade and Technology Initiative should bear fruit as Make in India moves into joint projects in the defense sector to go along with the US becoming the number one defense supplier to India in recent years.

rime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision of India as a world leader. He sees that to be a world leader India must have a world class economy, and that a world-class economy requires international partners. Thus, a major reason for Modi coming to America for the fourth time as PM is to pursue his vision of India as an economic power sufficient to support his vision of world leadership. Modi knows that economic power is inextricably bound with politics and security. In fact, they are parts of the same reality. The present leadership of the executive and legislative branches of the United States government share Modi’s vision of India as a world leader. After the US elections in November — who knows? So now is the time to come to the US and consolidate the gains made in his previous visits here and with Obama in New Delhi and Paris. On his first visit, Modi established his personal credentials and identified his constituency among Indian Americans, the business and policy communities, and in government. His second visit was designed to tap the wellsprings of innovation and investment to fuel his Start-up India, Make in India, and infrastructure initiatives, The third visit established India as a responsible player on the most crucial of security issues — nuclear weapon technology. In between these visits, Modi showed Obama in New Delhi that the US and Indian strategic visions for acting East and rebalancing to Asia were compatible and that he took seriously the need for fulfilling the promise of the US-India civil nuclear deal. In Paris, Modi astounded many and pleased Obama no end by showing Indian leadership on climate change and energy, particularly solar energy.

SANJAY SAWANT

Talks and ceremony at the White House and at a joint session of Congress offer the possibility of embedding gains in a bi-partisan manner. This process can make progress difficult to undue whatever happens in the elections. No doubt, there will be security tradeoffs discussed concerning the roadmap for implementing the joint vision statement for acting East and India’s attempt to circumvent Pakistan by its Chabahar port strategy with Iran. It is no accident that the ministry of external affairs in describing the areas for consolidation during Modi’s visit, listed the economy, energy, and climate change first, followed by defense and security. On the economy, Modi has been spectacularly successful in attracting foreign direct investment from the US (the world’s greatest source of FDI) and elsewhere. With $61 billion of new greenfield FDI in 2015, India has surpassed both the US and China as an FDI destination. Much of this FDI has been infrastructure — with solar power and the GE railroad locomotive projects being outstanding examples. The fact that India is now the world’s fastest-growing major economy and has jumped 12 places on the ease of doing business index will not be lost on the leaders of US business with whom Modi will meet. And the best may be yet to come. On energy and the environment, the US-India civil nuclear deal may finally be implemented. Westinghouse should sign an early works agreement with India and the acceptance of an offer for six nuclear reactors is in the offing. The Defense Trade and Technology Initiative should bear fruit as Make in India moves into joint projects in the defense sector to go along with the US becoming the number one

defense supplier to India in recent years. The US-India Innovation Forum will meet later this year with the promise for cooperation on start-up incubators, innovation eco-system development, and technology transfer. And yet, all is not peaches and cream for US-India economic engagement. While investment both from the US to India and India to the US is growing rapidly, US-India trade is essentially flat over the last two years and at a level less than one-seventh that of US- China trade. Protectionist sentiment is running high in both countries. Cooperation at the World Trade Organization is still low with the US and India litigating Indian local content restrictions. India is threatening some 16 additional actions against the US. Litigation on temporary visas and social security equalization is in the offing. Progress is being made with legislation in Congress to treat India like an ally for defense technology sales, but several members of the Senate are opposing India’s inclusion in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group. India has grave doubts about a strong US-India Bilateral Investment Treaty, and no progress seems to have been made lately. Indian tariffs are still high and non-tariff barriers to trade endemic. Thus, on trade particularly, Modi will have an opportunity to do some fence-mending and show that some of the pending ‘big bang’ Indian economic reforms many had hoped for are still possible. Modi can hardly be blamed for the Rajya Sabha blocking the Goods and Services Tax. However, without this reform, India remains not a single national market but 29 state markets. Major means of production are still State-owned and retrospective tax issues have not been laid to rest. India is hostile to foreign involvement in consumer sales and a mostly closed food and agriculture economy is a sore spot. There is less than a meeting of the minds on IPR and governance of the internet. Hopefully, Modi’s visit can head off some of the more virulent anti-trade sentiment that has reared its head again during this election season. All-in-all, the US-India economic engagement cup is considerably more than half full. Modi’s visit should allow for a showcasing of progress that has been made while blunting the anti-foreigner, anti-India sentiment on display in several corners. A second meeting of the US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue is being scheduled for New Delhi in late August. This Modi visit to Washington can promote a robust appreciation for a strong US economic and security relationship and set the stage for further progress. As Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Trade Development, under President Bill Clinton, in carrying out the Big Emerging Markets initiative, Ray Vickery had particular responsibility for India. He was also instrumental in planning and executing Commerce Secretary Ron Brown’s mission to India. Ray was a leader in the US-India Business Council’s programs for President Clinton’s historic trip to India in 2000, and served as policy adviser to Clinton when he returned to India in 2001 after his presidency. He is currently a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

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HE IS THE FIRST INDIAN PRIME MINISTER TO RECOGNIZE THE INDIAN DIASPORA’S STRATEGIC VALUE, VIEWING THEM AS GENUINE ASSETS CAPABLE OF HELPING INDIA ATTAIN ITS ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT GOALS, NOTES RONAK D DESAI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first major interaction with the Indian Diaspora was at Madison Square Garden, September 28, 2014, where his rockstar-like appearance and reception brought him to mainstream America’s notice.

wo years ago, Narendra Modi swept into power as prime minister of India, defeating the governing Congress party in a landslide victory at the polls. Modi campaigned on a message of resuscitating India’s ailing economy, promising to transform the country and bring wholesale change to the world’s largest democracy. His pledge resonated with India’s vast electorate, which conferred on him an immense political mandate to realize his vision. The new leader confidently declared that ‘acche din’ or ‘good days’ were on the horizon, raising expectations both home and abroad. Two years later, the question that naturally arises is whether Modi has succeeded in delivering on his promises. A close examination of his record illustrates a mix record of progress thus far. On the economic front, Modi has presided over a general improvement of the Indian economy. India is now the fastest growing economy in the world, growing at more than 7.5 percent according to government estimates. Massive inflation has been cut in half, interest rates have been slashed to their lowest levels in five years, and the rupee has finally stabilized. But these positive developments are partially the result of falling commodity prices, as much as they are the product of policy initiatives taken by the Indian leader. The last two years have witnessed Modi successfully introduce some of the reforms necessary to revive India’s struggling economy, the central theme of his campaign. His message has been simple: India is now open for business and he pledged to make it a more attractive destination for foreign and domestic investment. He famously proclaimed that India would roll out the ‘red carpet not red tape’ for all those seeking to conduct business in the country. The promised reforms still remain incomplete. While Modi has raised FDI caps in several sectors, for example, including in defense, real estate, and construction, consensus among investors is that these hikes do not go far enough. Many of the massive subsidies creating economic inefficiencies remain in place, largely because of political, not economic reasons. India’s troublesome retroactive tax policy also remains undisturbed, fueling the ire of businesses everywhere. At the same time, Modi should be credited for the

progress that has been made in the economic arena, particularly when compared to his predecessor. Ease of doing business in India has improved, while enactment of important pieces of legislation, including new real estate and bankruptcy laws, will be important for the country’s continued growth. FDI is at its highest levels and the over economic outlook remains positive. The past two years makes clear Modi prefers an incremental, piecemeal approach to the economy rather then implementing broad, sweeping changes. This preference continues to frustrate those who would like to see the Indian premier take bolder action more quickly. Modi’s foreign policy record is less ambiguous and deserves high marks. He has formulated and pursued a robust, proactive foreign policy unlike any other seen in India’s history. His ambition in this arena is as unprecedented as it is simple: For India to achieve great power status. Toward this end, he has embarked on a whirlwind tour of dozens and dozens of countries during his first two years in office aimed at advancing India’s various interests. This has injected fresh momentum into the country’s foreign relations and catalyzed greater global discourse about its place in the world. His energetic diplomacy has raised India’s profile on the world stage. His numerous trips abroad have been focused on achieving tangible economic and strategic objectives, with each trip yielding concrete deliverables for the most part. US-India ties, in particular, have flourished since Modi took office. He and President Obama quickly established a strong personal rapport during this period, with Obama becoming the first sitting President to visit India twice in office. Modi invited President Obama to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in January 2015, an unprecedented move signaling his willingness to align India more closely with the United States. Defense and commercial ties have accelerated, with the two countries signing a host of defense agreements in principle. High-level exchanges have become routine. Modi also signed an historic climate change deal under US auspices that surprised even his supporters at home. Although profound differences over trade policy, intellectual property protection, and even Pakistan persist, none of these irritants are capable of undermining the underlying strategic logic of the relationship.

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

The leader who values the Desi Diaspora Although he will meet President Obama once again, the focus of his current visit this time will be Congress. He will address a joint session of Congress, a powerful demonstration of how dramatically perceptions of the prime minister has changed within the legislative branch, considering it had banned Modi from coming to the United States for nearly a decade. At a time when virtually every major foreign policy issue has become the victim of partisan rancor on Capitol Hill, the US-India relationship enjoys genuine bipartisan support. Prime Minister Modi’s greatest achievement so far, however, has been deep engagement with the global Indian Diaspora. From the United States and the United Kingdom to Fiji and Belgium, Modi has initiated significant outreach to millions of Indians residing all over the world, building links between India and its global citizenry. He is the first Indian prime minister to recognize their strategic value, viewing them as genuine assets capable of helping India attain its economic and development goals. His various campaigns, including ‘Make in India, ‘Swaach Bharat,’ and ‘Digital India’ are intended to enlist the talent and capital of those Indians living abroad as much as they are aimed at those living at home. Overall, Prime Minister Modi’s record two years since his election looks remarkably similar to his record one year ago. Those who were hoping he would implement sweeping change have been disappointed. Many challenges persist, including the Bharatiya Janata Party’s lack of control over Parliament’s upper house, which has stalled important legislative reforms like the Land Acquisition bill. Although Modi remains the most popular leader in India if polls are to be believed, the reality is that his mandate will continue to shrink as time continues to pass. The most daunting challenge to Modi’s efforts, however, is the unrealistically high expectations that continue to surround him. While significant progress has been made, the perception persists that it has not been enough. With three years left in his term, all eyes remain on Prime Minister Modi. Ronak D Desai is a Fellow at New America and an Affiliate at the Belfer Center’s India and South Asia Program at Harvard University.

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

It’s time India opened up to the world ‘As Modi approaches his last solo official visit to Barack Obama’s Washington, the two leaders will address a familiar list of trade problems that have seemed ‘too hard to tackle’ for years. We would argue that this is actually the time to start tackling them,’ say TERESITA and HOWARD SCHAFFER.

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

wo years ago, Narendra Modi’s swearing-in celebration presented the new prime minister to India and to the world like a superman. He had the first absolute majority in the Lok Sabha in several decades; his promise of transforming the economy generated palpable excitement in India and among its foreign friends; the scale of the celebration and the presence of leaders from India’s neighbors – very much including Pakistan — was unprecedented, and reinforced the sense that this was the start of something big. Two years later, the results are mixed. Modi has put his stamp on foreign policy in a big way. He has established personal relationships with the leaders in practically all the world’s most powerful countries. His ties with President Obama may come as the greatest surprise, given the US revocation of his visa during the years preceding Modi’s arrival at the prime ministership. He had established a new model for at least some of India’s relations with its smaller neighbors, with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka responding well to his effort to draw them in by using the magnetic power of the dynamic Indian economy. Most interestingly, for a prime minister who comes from a party which had been identified with a nationalist ideology that regarded military force as the currency of power, Modi has embraced the notion that India’s foreign policy needs to be powered by a successful economy. Economic policy, in other words, was to be the engine of foreign policy. Surprisingly, the results in economic policy are more modest. A number of potentially exciting projects have been launched — Make in India, Swachch Bharat, 100 Smart Cities — but it is too early to tell whether they will pan out. India’s place on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index has improved, but not yet dramatically. Many of the classic complaints about the Indian economy are still valid. Modi’s government has opted not to move away from retroactive taxation; implementation is still the weakest point in India’s economic performance; Modi’s government has dealt with the international economy with a caution that is familiar from earlier decades. Significantly, Modi’s thumping majority in the Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to like what Apple CEO Tim Cook, left, has shown him on the iPhone at their meeting in New Delhi, May 21. has not reliably protected his government’s initiatives. Some big ones that actually have multi-party support have been blocked in the upper house, where Opposition parties do not want to give Modi’s government credit for accomplishments like the Goods and Services Tax. More fundamentally, Modi himself is skeptical about market opening measures, an attitude reinforced by the views of his own political base, which importantly includes urban small traders in much of north India. Modi is a political leader of great talent; it is unreasonable to expect him to ignore political red flags coming from his part of the political spectrum. And yet — India’s leaders in 1991 took a big bet on integration with the global economy. It paid off handsomely in increased growth and reduced poverty. Two-and-a-half decades later, the conditions are ripe once again for India to make a second bet on the country’s ability to thrive in the global marketplace. Energy prices are low, which reduces the burden on India’s imports. India’s services sector is a global leader. At least one of India’s modern industrial sectors has shown itself able to grow and thrive globally: In the auto and auto parts industries, India’s production for the domestic and export markets is intensely interdependent, and has sowed seeds of larger economic growth.

India’s business community, like its counterparts all over the world, is understandably nervous about letting in foreign competition, and ideas like the Trans Pacific Partnership (which at this stage does not include India) are deeply intimidating. As Modi approaches his last solo official visit to Barack Obama’s Washington, the two leaders will be addressing a familiar list of trade problems that have seemed ‘too hard to tackle’ for years. We would argue that this is actually the time to start tackling them. Rather than make India a ‘walled garden,’ let it renew its bet on India’s ability to grow in a global context. India can benefit hugely by opening its trade and inserting itself into global production chains. It has the talent to succeed in this endeavor, and Modi has the skill to mobilize his own political system in support of such a bold venture. Teresita C Schaffer served in US embassies in Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, and from 1992 to 1995 as the US Ambassador in Sri Lanka. Howard B Schaffer served as ambassador to Bangladesh (1984 to 1987), political counselor at the US embassies in India (1977 to 1979) and Pakistan (1974 to 1977). He was twice deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs.

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india abroad June 10, 2016

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Relationship beyond banking

MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

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THE LEADERSHIP UNDERSTANDS THAT THEIR WORLDVIEWS DON’T ALWAYS MATCH. WITHIN THAT CONSTRAINT, THE

PENTAGON AND SOUTH BLOCK ARE TAKING US-INDIA DEFENSE RELATIONS TO THE NEXT LEVEL, SAYS NITIN A GOKHALE.

India Abroad June 10, 2016

India-US defense ties: Well-intentioned, but not on the same page yet

ble military confrontation with the Warsaw dmiral Harry Harris, the comPact nations. It provided the legal framework mander of the Honolulu headquarfor operational flexibility while ensuring the tered United States Pacific Commconstitutional autonomy of member nations. and, is a blunt man. As a military Since platforms and equipment in the allleader who reckons China poses the iance countries had their origin either in the greatest threat to world peace in US or Europe, the positioning of spare parts today’s context because of its reckless actions in for servicing of these platforms while transitthe East and South China Seas, Admiral Harris ing through any of these alliance nations, doesn’t pull punches when it comes to comprovided legal protection against local taxamenting on China’s ‘adventurism.’ tion provisions and adverse public opinion. And so it was this March in Delhi when he creAs Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, former coated ripples by his remarks that ‘in the not too mmander-in-chief of India’s Western Naval distant future, American and Indian Navy vesCommand, wrote last week: ‘The bilateral sels steaming together will become a common relations of the US with a number of other and welcome sight throughout Indo-Asia-Pacific countries became strategic in nature with waters, as we work together to maintain freechanging geopolitics which necessitated simdom of the seas for all nations.’ ilar agreement for more reasons than just the It was a dare to China, but more importantly, transit access. Slightly modified agreements it appeared to be the clearest signal yet from were signed with Singapore, Afghanistan, the Washington that it wants India to be part of a Philippines and Sri Lanka. None of these coalition against China. countries have lost their strategic autonomy. India’s Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar They deal with China and rest of the world promptly rejected the proposal, saying, ‘As of with equal ease. Sri Lanka has often provided now, India has never taken part in any joint logistics support to Chinese submarines and patrol; we only do joint exercises. The question naval vessels at its ports. In fact, they have all of joint patrol does not arise.’ benefited by acquiring US hardware, logistics This public exchange encapsulates the state of and spares support...’ India-US defense relations: Well-intentioned, The discussion on the basic agreements but not on the same page yet. apart, the US and India are currently busy That both New Delhi and Washington recogoperationalizing the Defense Trade and Technize the need to deepen their defense partnernology Initiative. Four pathfinder projects, ship is an acknowledged fact. The point of dissoagreed to during President Obama’s visit in nance is the way to achieve it. January 2015, are in various stages of finalDespite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right ization but are yet to fructify. of center government, India is not inclined to Similarly, India and the US conduct several join the US camp, much to the dismay of Amejoint exercises across the three services. The rica’s strategic community. Instead, New Delhi INDIAN AIR FORCE Indian Air Force very recently participated in wants to follow the principle of multi-alignment. the ‘Red Flag’ Exercise in Alaska; the Indian So, even as it seeks to get US defense technol- Jaguars fighters fly alongside an IAF Il-78 refueller over Alaska during Red Flag Alaska 16-1. The and US armies regularly have Exercise Yudh ogy and is willing to collaborate on some key exercises were conducted in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the largest instrumented air, Abhyas while Exercise Malabar, initially a projects like aircraft carriers, India simultane- ground and electronic combat training range in the world at more than 65,000 square miles. bilateral arrangement between the Indian ously wants to keep its complex relationship and US navies has now expanded to become a tri-lateral US is keen India should sign. The other two — the Communwith China on an even keel by following the ‘collaborationexercise with Japan. ications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of with-competition’ approach, a policy followed by Last month, four Indian Navy ships sailed to the Malacca Understanding and BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Washington with Beijing for a couple of decades now. Straits, an area of maritime interest to India. They will be Agreement for geospatial information) — are politically senWhen Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, considered to deployed on a 75-day operational sojourn in the South China sitive issues and even the Modi government, despite its politbe the most India friendly US official in recent years, came to and North West Pacific. ical heft, will be wary of agreeing to their provisions. India in early April, he knew that India would not accede to During this overseas deployment, the ships of the Eastern The CISMOA, for instance, may inadvertently lock the all the demands that the US makes on the defense front. He Fleet will make port calls at Cam Rahn Bay (Vietnam), Subic Indian military into a technology regime driven by the US. was quite content to announce — with Parrikar — that the Bay (the Philippines), Sasebo (Japan), Busan (South Korea), About the BECA, the Indian authorities have concerns about US and India had made substantial progress on one of the Vladivostok (Russia) and Port Klang (Malaysia). the collection of data by the US private sector that does its three ‘foundational agreements. In addition to showing the Flag in this region of vital job on behalf of the US military. The Logistics Support Agreement — rechristened the Logstrategic importance to India, these ships will also particiThe LEMOA, on the other hand, has its roots in the Access istics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement as an Indiapate in MALABAR-16, a maritime exercise with the US Navy and Cross Servicing Agreement, which was signed by the US specific pact — is still a work in progress despite the United and Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Forces. This is in keepwith its NATO allies and permitted alliance partners to States pushing for it. It will eventually be signed — maybe ing with the new spirit of cooperation between the Pentagon access supplies, spare parts, servicing from each other’s land, even during Modi’s coming US visit — but the time taken and India’s defense ministry. air bases and ports. over finalizing its content demonstrates India’s reluctance to In the Cold War era, it was essential for allied forces to be seen as an American ‘groupie.’ operate seamlessly anywhere in the world to support possiThe LEMOA is the easiest of the three agreements that the 4M40

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

When will US accommodate India’s strategic interests? THE NEW WARMTH IN RELATIONS HAS FAILED TO EASE INDIAN CONCERNS OVER AMERICA’S POLICIES ON PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, CHINA AND TERRORISM, SAYS BRAHMA CHELLANEY.

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has built a personal rapport with President Barack Obama, and his fourth visit to the US in less than two years highlights warming Indo-American relations. Few doubt that US-India ties are better and closer than ever before. From being estranged democracies in the second half of the 20th century, the US and India have become closely engaged democracies. Besides a shared love of democracy, three elements drive the US-India strategic partnership: Money, military hardware, and Asian geopolitics. Their partnership promises to be a force for stability and security in Indo-Pacific relations. The blossoming of ties with the US has become an important diplomatic asset for India. The new warmth in relations, however, has failed to ease Indian concerns over America’s regional policies, including on Pakistan, Afghanistan and terrorism, or address complaints of Indian information technology and pharmaceutical industries about US practices, especially non-tariff barriers. For the US, displacing Russia as India’s largest arms supplier has been a diplomatic coup. The success paralleled what happened in the early 1970s when Egypt switched sides during the Cold War by transforming itself from a Soviet arms client to a buyer of mainly American arms. But in contrast to the perpetually aid-dependent Egypt, India buys US weapons with its own money. Today, Washington is seeking to further open the Indian market for its businesses. And to suit US corporate interests, it is

pressing New Delhi to introduce regulatory and other legal changes, strengthen intellectual-property rights provisions, and initiate broader economic reforms. Not content with the growth in arms sales — which have risen in one decade from $100 million to billions of dollars yearly — the US is aiming to capture a bigger share of the Indian defense market. This objective has prompted Congress recently to propose that India be treated on par with NATO members for defense sales. The US is also seeking to revive its domestic nuclear power industry by selling commercial reactors to India. India’s size, location and capabilities position it as a counterweight to China and to the forces of Islamist extremism to its west. Yet, as Obama nears the end of his second term, his India policy bears no distinct strategic imprint. Indeed, critics argue that he has no real Indian policy and that his administration has betrayed a transactional attitude toward engagement with India. Although Obama’s 2015 New Delhi visit set a firm basis for moving the bilateral relationship forward, it was striking that, on his trip’s last public engagement, he lectured the world’s largest democracy on human rights. This was a subject on which he stayed mum at his next stop — tyrannical Saudi Arabia, which probably has the world’s most odious political system. The complexity of the US-India partnership is underlined by the fact that the US has little experience in forging close strategic collaboration with a country that is not its treaty-based ally. All of America’s close milita-

ry partners are its treaty-linked allies. India is a strategic partner, not an ally, of America. The structural difficulties in India-US relations are not easy to overcome. From the Indian perspective, America’s reluctance to accommodate Indian interests on major regional issues, coupled with the fundamental challenge of managing an asymmetrical relationship, constantly test the resilience of the partnership. For example, close counter-terrorism and intelligence cooperation between the US and India remains hobbled by America’s continued mollycoddling of the Pakistani military and its rogue Inter Services Intelligence agency. There are doubts whether the US would fully share actionable intelligence on terrorist threats emanating from Pakistani soil against India because that would prompt India to pursue one of two options that Washington wouldn’t like — either India counteracted the identified threat on its own or urged the US to do it. Meanwhile, strategic weapon transfers, loans and political support allow China to use Pakistan as a relatively inexpensive counterweight to India. Yet, oddly, America also extends unstinted financial and political support to a Pakistan that has mastered the art of pretending to be a US ally while hosting those that kill US soldiers in Afghanistan, including the Taliban and Haqqani network. Under Obama, the US has made a financially struggling Pakistan one of the largest recipients of its aid. Take India’s other adversary, China, which also poses a geopolitical challenge for Ame-

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THE STATE DEPARTMENT

India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj makes a point to Secretary of State John Kerry, as Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzer and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, second from right and right respectively, and India’s Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, left, look on at the first USIndia Strategic and Commercial Dialogue Leadership Summit, September 21, 2015.

rica. Both the US and India are keen to work together to control the potentially disruptive effects of the rise of an increasingly assertive China. The US, however, seeks to use the China factor to draw India further into the American-led camp while remaining neutral on China-India disputes, including shying away from holding joint military exercises in Arunachal Pradesh. Washington has not criticized China’s $46 billion infrastructurebuilding plan to use Pakistan as its land corridor to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It also ignores China’s egregious human rights violations. The US seeks to counter China only where it directly challenges American power, as in the Pacific. In southern Asia, by contrast, US policy regards China as a virtual partner, including on Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Washington treats terrorexporting Pakistan as part of the solution when, to Kabul and New Delhi, it is at the core of the problem. On the other hand, the US views Iran as part of the problem in the Af-Pak belt when the imperative is to co-opt Iran as part of the solution to help build stability in the volatile, terrorist-infested region. Despite the US recently assassinating Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour through a drone strike in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, Washington does not consider the Pakistan-backed Taliban as a terrorist organization. It is willing, as part of a peace deal, to accommodate the Afghan Taliban in a power-sharing arrangement in Afghanistan. It assassinated Mansour because he defiantly and doggedly refused, despite US and Pakistani pressures, to enter into peace negotiations.

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

‘Is this a strategic partnership? We have enemies who do us less harm’ ‘CONGRESS IS MORE IN SYNC WITH NEW DELHI’S FEELINGS THAN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION,’ INDIAN OFFICIALS TELL AJAI SHUKLA.

s Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Washington, the discussion agenda with President Barack Obama includes the widest ever range of issues ever discussed between India and the United States. In January 2015, during Obama’s visit to India, the two leaders elevated their ‘strategic dialogue’ to a ‘strategic and commercial dialogue’, recognizing the centrality of trade and commerce in the relationship. They also announced the ‘Delhi Declaration of Friendship,’ a strategic framework that built on the ‘Vision Statement’ announced during Modi’s previous visit to the US in September 2014. Both countries agree that the defense relationship must be the locomotive that powers the strategic partnership. To that end, in 2015, the two sides signed the ‘Framework for the US-India Defense Relationship’, a set of principles to guide and expand the bilateral defense and strategic partnership over the next decade. Yet, beyond the signature ceremonies and banquet speeches, Washington and New Delhi are still feeling their way through a complex and evolving relationship. Despite their common outlook on fundamental issues of identity, with both being liberal, free market democracies, there is lesser congruence in their strategic viewpoints. Focused on the challenge posed by a rising China, Washington sees New Delhi as a natural ally, given the unresolved and frequently contentious Sino-Indian border and China’s undisguised support to India’s bête noir, Pakistan. Adding to India’s charms is a large military, including a capable navy, that exercises sway across the northern Indian Ocean. Small wonder then that when President Obama’s administration announced a ‘rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region’ in 2011, India was specifically named as a partner. Even so, from New Delhi’s perspective the picture is more granular, marred by strategic mistrust that Washington’s bird’s eye view misses. Indian policymakers retain the baggage of Cold War animosity, and recall the harsh US-led technology denial regimes that hamstrung Indian nuclear, space and defense scientists for decades. New Delhi holds Washington partly responsible for Pakistan’s nuclear weapons capability, given that the Central Intelligence Agency turned a blind eye to Pakistan’s flouting of non-proliferation norms through the 1980s. Nor is Pakistan-related resentment only historical. To New Delhi’s mystification, Washington still panders to Islamabad on Afghanistan, despite Pakistani support to the Taliban that killed and maimed thousands of Americans in Afghanistan. In the hope that Pakistan would force the Taliban to the dialogue table, Washington has included it in the Quadrilateral Coordination Group, while India remains cut out of a significant role in Afghanistan even after providing $2 billion worth of humanitarian aid to that country. New Delhi notes that the US supports Pakistan’s growing economic relationship with China, even though that brings together India’s two biggest adversaries. Indians also bitterly resent Washington’s acceptance of

US and Indian soldiers conduct company movement procedures during the exercise Yudh Abhyas 2015 on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, September 21, 2015. India-focused terrorist groups operating out of Pakistan, even while insisting that Islamabad reins in jihadis operating along the Afghanistan border. Finally, New Delhi seethes at continuing US financial and military aid to Pakistan, such as the recent sale of eight Block 50/52 F-16 fighters for ‘counter terrorist operations.’ So furious was New Delhi at Washington’s announcement of this sale, a week after Pakistan-based jihadists attacked India’s Pathankot air base, that India scrapped the inking of a major agreement — the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement — during Defense Secretary Ashton Carter’s visit to India in April. That and another ‘foundational agreement,’ the Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement, which have been agreed to in principle, remain on ice. Scoffs a top Indian official sardonically: “Is this a strategic partnership? We have enemies who do us less harm.” Another official says the recent refusal of US lawmakers to sanction aid to Pakistan for buying F-16s suggests “the US Congress is more in sync with New Delhi’s feelings than the US administration.” Despite this divergence to the west, there is US-India convergence to the east, where New Delhi and Washington share a common strategic interest in dealing with the emergence of an increasingly belligerent China. India regards its naval dominance of the Indian Ocean as a strategic hedge against any misadventure undertaken by Beijing on the Himalayan border. India’s peninsular geography and the proximity of its naval bases to commercial shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean would allow it to interdict China’s commercial shipping in the event of hostilities; compensating for China’s logistical and communications advantages on the land frontier. Washington, which wants a friendly India dominating the

SERGEANT DANIEL SCHROEDER/US ARMY

Indian Ocean, has talked up the Indian Navy as a ‘net security provider’ and offered help in strengthening India’s navy. New Delhi has already inducted sophisticated American equipment like P-8I Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft and is eager to obtain US assistance in building its next aircraft carrier. This, and the establishment of common operating procedures in sophisticated joint exercises like the annual USIndia-Japan Malabar series, could open the doors to linked American systems, like the F/A-18E/F naval fighter; and sub-systems like jet engines and aircraft launch and recovery systems. This would be a key subject of discussion during Prime Minister Modi’s visit. Although eager to dominate the Indian Ocean, New Delhi is taking care not to get dragged into any Great Power confrontation in the South and East China Seas. In March, after the US Pacific Command chief, Admiral Harry Harris, looked forward starry-eyed to the day when ‘American and Indian Navy vessels steaming together will become a common and welcome sight throughout Indo-Asia-Pacific waters,’ India’s defense minister swiftly and unambiguously rejected the notion of joint patrolling. Yet, New Delhi supports freedom of navigation through the South and East China Seas, since a large chunk of India’s trade flows through these waters. During Modi’s state visit to the US in September 2014, the two leaders agreed ‘to hold regular consultations on the Indian Ocean region,’ and affirmed the importance of ‘ensuring freedom of navigation and over flights throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea.’ Beijing will be watching carefully to see if the Washington summit yields a stronger statement.

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Response Feature

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

‘Is this a strategic partnership? We have enemies who do us less harm’

When will US accommodate India’s strategic interests? 3M37

tionally, he decided to reward Pakistan with eight more subsidized F-16s, a subsidy burden Congress hasn’t taken kindly to. Moreover, ever since the 2005 nuclear deal, Washington has been promising to help facilitate India’s admission to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and other US-led export-control regimes — a promise reiterated when Obama last visited India. However, the US has invested little political capital thus far to promote India’s inclusion in these cartels. An emboldened China has now emerged as the principal opponent to India’s membership, especially in the NSG. And thanks to MTCR-related criteria in US export-control regulations, Indo-US space cooperation remains very limited. In this light, the nice gesture of setting up Modi’s address to Congress can be seen as an American attempt to pander to India’s collective ego. India must capitalize on the symbolism of the warming ties with the US to expand the areas of bilateral understanding and cooperation while nudging America to be more accommodative of its vital strategic interests. The promise of a strong, mutually beneficial partnership cannot be realized without concrete action.

The assassination, ironically, exposes both Pakistan and America. The fact that the Taliban chief was killed inside Pakistan has contradicted years of denials by Pakistani officials that they were harboring Taliban leaders. Pakistan found its sovereignty violated again, after the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011, by the power that still showers it with billions of dollars in aid. As for the US, it has yet to offer an explanation as to why it took almost 15 years to carry out its first drone strike in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, even though the Afghan Taliban leadership set up its command-and-control structure there after being driven from power in Kabul by the 2001 US military intervention in Afghanistan. Against this background, no realistic assessment can focus merely on areas where the US-India relationship has thrived — such as US arms sales to India and booming bilateral trade — while ignoring US policies that compound India’s regional security challenges. In fact, India’s one-sided defense relationship with the US, locking it as a leading American arms client, suggests that New Brahma Chellaney — Professor of Strategic Studies at the New Delhi has drawn no appropriate lessons from its protracted Delhi think tank Center for Policy Research and a Richard von reliance on Russian weapon supplies earlier. Significantly, while Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin — is US arms to India fall mainly in the category of defensive weapons one of India’s leading strategic thinkers. — which simply cannot tilt the regional military balance in India’s favor — Russia has over the years armed India with offensive weapon systems, including strategic bombers, an aircraft carrier, and a nuclear-powered submarine. The paradox is that while India has emerged as the largest buyer of American arms, Pakistan is one of the biggest recipients of American alms. This suggests that US profits from arms exports to India help to lubricate US aid-to-Pakistan machine. Such US aid also bolsters China’s strategy to box in India while encouraging Pakistan to diabolically sponsor cross-border terrorism. It is the task of Indian diplomacy to build a robust bilateral relationship while ensuring that it advances, not weakens, the country’s security interests in the region and beyond. Indian diplomacy has failed to employ leverage from armsimport deals, greater market access to US businesses, and broader geopolitical cooperation to persuade the US to refine policies in southern Asia so that they do not adversely affect Indian security and to dismantle non-tariff barriers against Indian IT and pharmaceutical firms. Indeed, New Delhi has not even tried to utilize the services of the large and increasingly influential Indian-American community. The mistake Indian diplomacy has made is to put the emphasis on bilateral summit meetings and lofty pronouncements to showcase progress. The American side has been happy to pander to this Indian weakness. In fact, one reason the US is hosting Modi in the twilight of the Obama Presidency is to help smooth ruffled Much is made of India’s decision to buy the CH-47F heavy lift helicopter. feathers. After all, Obama earlier this year unveiled The paradox is that while India has $860 million in new aid to Pakistan under the Overseas emerged as the largest buyer of Contingency Operations fund, dubbed the ‘slush fund’ American arms, Pakistan is one of because it is not subject to the same oversight as the regthe biggest recipients of American ular Pentagon and State Department budgets. Addialms.

3M38 The predictable, feel-good statements at the summit would include one about the US doing more joint exercises with India than with any other country. In May, the Indian Air Force participated again in the highly regarded Red Flag exercise in Alaska. Another move forward would be an announcement that India will be associated with the US Central Command, in addition to USPACOM, with which it is currently associated. Much will be made of India’s decision to buy the CH-47F heavy lift helicopter, and the AH64E Apache attack helicopter, but all eyes and ears will be perked up for news about India’s purchase of 145 M777 ultra-light howitzers, a modest $700 million contract. New Delhi insiders say at least one “foundational agreement”, the LEMOA, would be signed in Washington, while the signing of the CISMOA would await the Indian political reaction to this trial balloon. The Defense Technology and Trade Initiative, set up in 2012 to facilitate US-India defense trade, could announce more joint development projects. In fact this would be ambitious, since the four ‘pathfinder projects’ announced during President Obama’s visit to Delhi in 2015 have made little headway. Nor have two ‘joint working groups’ established for two ambitious collaboration projects — one to co-develop a high thrust jet engine, and another to design INS Vishal, a 65,000-ton aircraft carrier, possibly nuclear powered, for the Indian Navy. In sum, there could be substantive forward movement on any of the issues on the US-India table. It would be mistaken to believe that the Obama administration, nearing the end of its term, would shrink from major decisions relating to India. Given the positive bipartisan consensus on improving US-India ties, even a lame duck president (which Obama is not) could offer initiatives that a successor administration would honor without demur. Ajai Shukla, a retired Indian Army colonel, is a well-known commentator on military issues.

COURTESY: US ARMY PHOTO BY JOHN PENNELL

India-US defense ties:Well-intentioned, but not on the same page yet 3M36 A joint statement from Carter and Parrikar during the defense secretary’s visit to India in April announced a new Maritime Security Dialogue and discussions on anti-submarine warfare and submarine safety. These flow from the pathbreaking 2015 Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region issued by Obama and Modi. So where are Indo-US relations headed?

The potential for collaboration in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations between Indian and US forces is immense, but there is unlikely to be any joint patrol or joint operations by the two militaries given India’s abhorrence to be seen as a US camp follower. India will always try and nurture its defense relationship with Russia and European countries like France by keeping a slight distance from the US, which India’s policy mak-

ers feel has been an unreliable partner in the past. The continued patronage extended by the US to Pakistan is a reality India cannot ignore despite the recent reports about Washington asking Islamabad to pay for the F-16s it wants from the US. It is fair to assume therefore that India-US defense ties will be marked by some areas of convergence and some divergence in approach. Fortunately, the leadership on both sides is pragmatic enough to understand that

their worldviews don’t always match, so neither expects the other to support blindly. Within that constraint, the Pentagon and South Block are doing fine in taking defense relations between the US and India to the next level. Nitin A Gokhale, one of India’s leading experts on military issues, is the founder of BharatShakti.in.

MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

The China-Pakistan Factor I N

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One hopes the US will review n the days I was the MANY IN EW ELHI BELIEVE ECRETARY OF TATE OHN ERRY SHOWS its policies on Afghanistan, after Political Counselor in our its targeted killing of Taliban embassy in Washington REMARKABLE INDULGENCE OF AKISTANI TRANSGRESSIONS ON ISSUES OF leader Mullah Mansoor. (1978 to 1982) and thereFGHANISTAN SAYS Following the terrorist attack after, as Prime Minister TERRORISM AGAINST NDIA AND on Kabul by the Haqqani Rajiv Gandhi’s spokesman, Network in April, in which 64 prime ministerial visits to Afghans were killed, tensions Washington were generally few have escalated across the and far between. India’s relaAfghanistan-Pakistan border. tionship with the United States Afghan and Pakistani border at that time could best be forces have exchanged fire in described as ‘cordial and corNangarhar province past rect.’ month. The end of the Cold War, the This led to an unprecedented advent of economic liberalizaface-off, with both sides deploytion and the ‘IT Revolution’ in ing heavy weaponry, including India, together with the vibrant tanks. There is little doubt that and talented Indian communiwith continuing border tenty in the US, have contributed sions, the likelihood of terrorist to a radical transformation in strikes in Pakistan and the US-India relationship, Afghanistan, across the Durand which both countries characLine will continue. People, who terize as a ‘strategic partnerplay with fire, should be preship.’ pared to get their fingers burnt! Narendra Modi is now headSponsoring terrorism in both ing for his fourth visit to Afghanistan and India could be Washington in his first two OLIVIER DOULIERY/GETTY IMAGES made costly for Pakistan should years in office! This does not Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Barack Obama and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a working dinner India choose to do so. mean that India and the US are during the Nuclear Security Summit in the East Room of the White House, March 31. Washington knows there are military allies. But it does indioptions for India to make the cost of sponsoring terrorism and the US appear to diverge. cate that both democracies are committed to expanding high, if New Delhi so decides. Like Washington, New Delhi has embarked on a process of areas of cooperation and narrowing differences. While military-to-military and other defense ties with wide-ranging diplomatic engagement with Beijing, to devise This transformation commenced during George W Bush’s Washington are expanding, especially after Ashton Carter modalities for maintaining peace and tranquility along their Presidency with the signing of an agreement, which soon became Secretary of Defense, the US seems to turn a blind common borders. A series of military confidence building ended three decades of US-led nuclear, space and technoloeye to the Pakistan-China axis across India’s western marmeasures have been agreed upon to facilitate this. gy sanctions against India. President Obama built on these itime borders, in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. India and China have a growing trade and investment parinitiatives. But old leftist habits in India and a disinclination The US knows that India is one of the very few powers, tnership, with Chinese investment in key sectors in India steto think afresh on key issues like climate change, remained which enjoys excellent relations with all the major players in adily expanding. But where India and the US differ is on how inhibiting factors in opening the doors more fully, for incthe Middle East-Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Arab partners, to deal with Chinese support for Pakistan-backed terrorist reased cooperation. Iran, Israel and Egypt. outfits like the Taliban, the Haqqani Network and the LasThe relationship is, however, seeing transformational chaIndia also has vast interests in this region, where 7 million hkar-e-Tayiba. nges after Modi was elected to office as India’s first genuineIndian nationals live and from where India gets 70 percent Washington has also never publicly criticized Chinese ly ‘rightist’ prime minister. He is personally committed to diof its oil supplies. Yet, the US fights shy of exercises involving assistance to Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and missile proscarding socialist sloganeering, ending centralized planning its Fifth Fleet, with India’s Western fleet, in the Arabian Sea, gram, which are in violation of international norms. In New and building a vibrant, market oriented economy. or the Persian Gulf region, despite knowing well that in the Delhi’s perception, the Obama administration made a seriThis transformation was evident during the Paris environnext few years the Indian Navy will not only have more modous mistake in joining China to back a Pakistan-sponsored ment summit, where India agreed it had a serious responsiern warships, but also two aircraft carriers and three nuclear initiative, for ‘reconciliation’ between the Taliban and the bility to take measures to address issues of pollution, in a submarines. One wonders whether this is also a developconstitutionally elected Afghan government. responsible and transparent manner. ment flowing from US ‘sensitivities,’ in its relations with the The Chinese have maintained covert contacts with the TalWhile differences remain on issues concerning relations China-Pakistan nexus. iban and Haqqani leadership, facilitated by the ISI in Pakwith Russia, the two countries are cooperating increasingly These developments have, however, to be seen in the conistan, even as US soldiers were being killed by Taliban terin a ‘strategic partnership’ to deal with a wide range of regtext of the close cooperation that India and the US have rorists operating from safe havens in Pakistan. ional and global issues, including growing Chinese ‘assertivedeveloped, on relations not only with India’s other South The Chinese brokered ‘peace process’ with the Taliban has ness’ across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Asian neighbors, but also on developments across the ‘Indodrawn a blank, with the Haqqani Network going on a killing India has serious concerns about growing Chinese military Pacific’ region, extending through the Bay of Bengal, the spree across Afghanistan. Was this just a case of American power on its borders, at a time when China is seeking to ‘conStraits of Malacca and the South China Sea. naiveté, or political misjudgment? Did the US not know that tain’ India. Beijing is stepping up assistance to Pakistan, to This growing cooperation between India the US is clearly China and Pakistan share a common interest in ensuring strengthen Rawalpindi’s nuclear weapons and missile capamanifested in the Annual ‘East Asia Summits’ and the Indiathat the government in Kabul is one acceptable to the ISI bilities, together with significant supplies of military hardUS-Japan trilateral exchanges. and not necessarily to Washington? ware including new fighter aircraft, frigates and submarines. In a broader context, the world’s most powerful and the There are many in New Delhi who believe Secretary of This has been coupled with China’s policies of tacitly supworld’s most populous democracies have a partnership, State John Kerry shows remarkable indulgence of Pakistani porting Pakistan-based terrorist groups like the Jaish-ewhich can and will blossom, even in the face of some differtransgressions on issues of terrorism directed at India and Mohammed. Moreover, the Chinese land and maritime Silk ences, which both countries can and should address. Afghanistan! Road projects linking China through Pakistan to the port of The State Department allows Pakistan to get away lightly, Gwadar, located astride India’s vital sea-lanes to the Persian even after high-profile terrorist attacks like those on Mumbai Gulf, are seen as an integral part of China’s policies of ‘conAmbassador Gopalaswami Parthasarthy served in the and Pathankot. There is an inclination to bend backwards in tainment’ of India. Indian Army and fought the 1965 War before joining the Washington, to avoid acknowledging that it was impossible China is also involved in assisting separatist groups in IndiIndian Foreign Service. One of India’s most outspoken for Osama bin Laden and his family to have spent over a a’s northeast, while blocking India’s admission to internadiplomats, his last posting was as India’s high commissioner decade in the cantonment town of Abbotabad, without the tional groupings like the Nuclear Suppliers Group. It is in to Pakistan. Pakistan military providing him facilities to do so. dealing with these developments that the policies of India

G PARTHASARTHY.

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Modi has consolidated India’s relationships in West Asia

His skill in handling India’s two most trying adversaries, however, has been less than entirely adroit. Even as he was feting Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a lavish banquet in his home state of Gujarat, the People’s Liberation Army made a series of incursions in September 2014. After these incursions Indian forces were beefed up in Ladakh as well as along other parts of the border. However, despite this obvious provocation Modi has not adopted a particularly firm stance toward China. EW IF ANY REGIMES OF CONSEQUENCE IN THE WORLD CAN BOAST HAVING This can be inferred from President Pranab Mukherjee’s recent visit to China even as its leaders were taking critical SRAEL SIMULTANEOUSLY CORDIAL TIES WITH ALL THREE WARRING TATES steps to block India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. AUDI RABIA AND RAN SAYS While in the country, Mukherjee reminded his hosts that India had been a staunch supporter of China in various international fora in the early years of the republic. However, it is eign policy team recognize that they can ill-afford to overlook espite enjoying a clear-cut majority in parliamost unlikely that this gentle nudge will have any effect on China’s increasing presence in various sectors of that counment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharahis intended audience. try. tiya Janata Party government has been able to Nor has he shown much diplomatic shrewdness in hanModi’s symbolic and substantive forthrightness in taking make only limited progress with its domestic dling Pakistan. Early in his term he had terminated the forswift and decisive steps were not limited to India’s neighbors. political agenda. The reasons for its failures are eign secretary-level talks with Pakistan. This had transpired In a remarkable departure from past tradition where no govfairly straightforward. The Congress, the principal Oppoin the wake of Islamabad’s disregard for New Delhi’s explicit ernment would have even entertained the idea, he invited sition party, though a minority in the lower house still enjoys warning to not invite the members of a Kashmiri secessionand hosted President Barack Obama, as the chief guest at a plurality in the upper house. ist organization, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference to the India’s Republic Day parade. Unable to proffer viable alternatives it has nevertheless Pakistan high commission on the eve of the talks. Given the long history of reflexive anti-Americanism that proven to be a successful force for obstruction. Apart from Despite this display of firmness Modi nevertheless made had been part of the warp and woof of India’s political culthe Congress’ intransigence, the ruling party has also not disan abrupt visit to Lahore while returning from a State visit to ture, especially under several, if not all, Congress governplayed much legislative dexterity. These two factors in tanAfghanistan on Prime Minister Nawaz dem have prevented the government Sharif ’s birthday in late December last from implementing a substantial, domesyear. While in Lahore the two agreed to a tic agenda. resumption of talks. Yet, hard on the heOn the foreign policy front, however, it els of this seeming rapprochement, a grois not similarly hamstrung. Consequently, up of Pakistan-based terrorists attacked the government has been able to pursue a an Indian Air Force station in Pathankot far more expansive agenda and has had in January. its share of successes. That said, it has To the amazement of many observers, also displayed a surprising degree of his government even agreed to a joint naivete on a host of fronts, has stumbled investigation with Pakistan to ascertain in its efforts on others and remains to folthe antecedents of this terrorist incident. low up on some promising initiatives. The abrupt shifts in his attitude and polWhat are its principal successes? There icy toward Pakistan do not betoken a is little question that the prime minister coherent approach to dealing with the displayed the right instincts immediately country’s most nettlesome neighbor. upon assuming office. In a hitherto unprThis seeming disarray in policies towecedented move, he invited every princiard Pakistan and China is obviously perpal elected representative of the states of plexing and ill serves India’s long-term South Asia to his inauguration. This was strategic interests. It is intriguing to note, obviously a grand, symbolic gesture. Hohowever, that his government has been wever, it nevertheless signaled his apparfar more sure footed in dealing with a ent desire to seek good relations with Incomplex set of relationships in West Asia. dia’s immediate neighbors including PakHis government has maintained and deeistan. Not long after, he successfully manpened a multi-faceted relationship with aged to settle a long-standing territorial Israel, has nevertheless managed to reach dispute with Bangladesh even though it India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran, May 23. India will invest out to Saudi Arabia and most recently required a constitutional amendment. $500 million to develop Iran’s Chahbahar port. has concluded a $500 million deal to His government also displayed remarkbuild a port at Chabahar in Iran. Few, if able alacrity as well as organization in any regimes of consequence in the world can boast having ments, Modi’s decision to host Obama was little short of draresponding to an earthquake in Nepal in May of last year. simultaneously cordial ties with all three warring States. matic. Since then, however, apart from small measures of no Indeed at the time, his government’s timely and generous As Modi concludes two years in office a fair assessment of particular significance, little of consequence has happened in assistance generated considerable goodwill in Kathmandu. his foreign policy record must be deemed to be one that is Indo-US relations. Such bonhomie, however, proved to be short-lived. In late decidedly mixed. He has, on occasion, obviously displayed The security arena is the only venue which has witnessed 2015, unhappy with certain constitutional arrangements in much skill, has shed past shibboleths and has sought to forge substantive progress. However, even a relatively simple and Nepal, his government imposed an informal blockade on the new ties. anodyne matter that of a logistics agreement has yet to be land-locked country imposing severe costs. Eventually, it was However, he and his foreign policy team still need to find consummated. terminated but not before virtually all the amity toward ways to pursue firm and consistent policies toward India’s Accordingly, as his visit to the United States now looms it India had evaporated. principal adversaries, to continue to build upon the goodwill remains to be seen if he can jump-start an otherwise viable Unlike the previous regime, which had dithered in its ties that he has generated in his dealings with other neighbors but not quite vibrant relationship. with Sri Lanka, Modi has displayed a keen interest in workand above all boost the multi-dimensional relationship with He has also displayed similar verve in other important ing with the new government. Of course, his willingness to the United States. bilateral ties. For example, on a visit to France last year, much engage the regime stems from two distinct sources. At one to the surprise of many in the Indian security policymaking level, the government of Maithripala Sirisena has displayed establishment, he made a surprising commitment to pursome willingness to address the legitimate grievances of the Sumit Ganguly is the Director of the Center on American chase 36 Rafale medium-multi-role combat aircraft in flycountry’s Tamil population. and Global Security at Indiana University, Bloomington and away condition. Despite this straightforward decision his This conciliatory approach toward the Tamil minority is a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute in government remains bogged down in protracted negotiamakes a more friendly attitude toward the country far more Philadelphia. tions over the ultimate pricing of these aircraft. domestically palatable in India. At another, Modi and his for-

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S —I SUMIT GANGULY.

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

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Modi considers the US a crucial partner ‘A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH THE US EASES INDIA’S RISE AS A POWER,’ SAYS FORMER FOREIGN SECRETARY

KANWAL SIBAL, ‘BUT AN ALL-OUT EMBRACE OF THE US CAN ONLY DIMINISH ITS STANDING, BESIDES DISTURBING THE BALANCE OF ITS

EXTERNAL TIES.’

rime Minister Modi will visit the United States in June for the fourth time in his two years in office. He has not visited any other country as many times. President Obama too has visited India during this two year period as the chief guest at India’s 2015 Republic Day celebrations. Such frequent exchange of visits suggests that the process of consolidation of India-US ties is being given personal attention by the two leaders. The experience of negotiating the India-US nuclear deal, and before that the efforts made to explore the reduction of differences on nuclear issues in order to build a strategic partnership, indicated that the direct involvement of the White House was required to change the direction of the relationship mired by distrust and suspicion. It has been India’s view that if policy on India is left to the State Department without direct oversight by the White House, removing the entrenched hurdles in the relationship would not be easy, as the State Department has been traditionally hard on India and soft on Pakistan, quite apart from its enduring prejudices against India from the Cold War years and beyond. The Pentagon is seen as more positive towards India, but within it the separate commands dealing with India and Pakistan create some incoherence in US policies towards the sub-continent. This too requires White House attention. For many years we were told that India did not blip on the White House radar and that supposedly explained the stagnation in ties. This seems to have occurred during the Manmohan Singh government’s second term too when the general view was that Obama had lost interest in the relationship, which had plateaued as a result. It goes to Modi’s credit that he has galvanized the relationship. He has assiduously cultivated Obama, the US corporate sector, the IT giants and, of course, the Indian Diaspora. With the opportunity he will have during his June visit to address Congress, Modi will be filling an important void that existed in the program of his earlier visits. India has many friends in the legislative branch as is reflected by the existence of India Caucuses in the House and Senate. The general view is that Modi has clearly moved India towards the US, but unlike in Manmohan Singh’s case when his supposed inclination towards the US invited strong criticism from sections of the political class and opinion makers, Modi’s pro-US leanings don’t invite much adverse comment. This indicates an important shift in Indian public opinion. While US rhetoric that it considers the relationship with India as a defining one in the 21st century is not taken as face

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets President Barack Obama before the State dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan, January 25, 2015, as the First Lady and India’s President Pranab Mukherjee look on. value by Indians in general, there is consensus on the value of a strong partnership with America and the benefits India could derive from it. While Modi has made no public pronouncement to this effect, his thinking seems to be that if he can solidify the IndiaUS relationship on equitable terms he will be able to pursue his goal of making India stronger and more secure more effectively. It is clear that for India’s ambitious development plans he considers the US a crucial partner. At the same time, India has to give itself enough freedom of action to differ with the US on issues that affect its national interest even as it seeks better understanding with the latter. A strong relationship with the US eases India’s rise as a power, but an all-out embrace of the US can only diminish its standing, besides disturbing the balance of its external ties. This kind of thinking is not appreciated in US circles who would prefer that India make a “choice”. On several fronts Modi has cleared the ground for closer India-US ties. On climate change issues on which the US has been targeting India, Modi found a way to politically collaborate with the US without yielding on some basics and diverting pressure by launching the international solar alliance at Paris. Significantly, in announcing Modi’s working visit to the US on June 7 the White House has put climate change

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

and clean energy on top of the list of subjects that will be discussed. Differences over India’s nuclear liability legislation have been removed at the political level. It is likely that during Modi’s visit some announcement on civilian nuclear cooperation involving Westinghouse may be made. The doors to defense cooperation have been opened with Modi’s emphasis on Make in India in defense manufacturing with private sector participation, apart from possibilities flowing from the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative heavily sponsored by Defense Secretary Ash Carter. IndiaUS military exercises are expanding, with India deciding to participate in RIMPAC (naval) and Red Flag (air force) exercises, apart from making the US-India Malabar naval exercise trilateral with Japan’s inclusion. The Joint Strategic Vision for Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Regions signed by India and the US during Obama’s January 2015 visit to New Delhi was a bold step by India as it accepted that the security of these two maritime domains was inter-linked, a proposition that makes sense only in the context of China’s rise, its naval expansion and its actions to disturb the status quo in the western Pacific in violation of international law.

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Response Feature

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Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks to Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, right, who took over as India's naval chief May 31 and Vice Admiral Muralidhar Pawar, left, at the Indian Naval Station Karwar, April 11, 2016. US Ambassador Richard Rahul Verma, cup in hand, listens intently.

Modi can take the strategic relationship further BESIDES UNDERSCORING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE US TO INDIA, THE SIGNING OF THE LOGISTICS AGREEMENT WOULD SEND A SIGNAL

CHINA THAT INDIA COULD MOVE EVEN FURTHER TOWARD THE US IF BEIJING TOOK STEPS CONSIDERED STRATEGICALLY THREATENING, NOTES WALTER ANDERSEN.

communications equipment. While both the US and India do not want China to emerge as the hegemonic power in Asia, they both have important strategic and economic reasons to maintain a cooperative relationship with it. The US and India are also likely to give greater specificity to a Maritime Security Dialogue launched during the Carter visit in April, which addressed freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region, specifically naming the

SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT ADRIAN CADIZ

rime Minister Narendra Modi’s June visit to the United States, his fourth since assuming office two years ago, comes against a backdrop of favorable domestic and international circumstances that he can use to advance Indian (and his) interests. President Barack Obama showed that he cares about India by inviting Modi to a bilateral summit. Modi will receive a strong bipartisan welcome, including at an address to a joint session of Congress, in part because of growing US concerns over China’s assertiveness in Asia and in part because in this Presidential election year both the Democrats and Republicans want the support of Indian-American voters (and their substantial campaign contributions). In a polarized US polity, stronger bilateral relations with India is a rare issue with bipartisan consensus, as demonstrated by the likely approval in both houses of Congress of bipartisan legislation to bring India at par with NATO allies in terms of sale of defense equipment and technology transfer. In addition, Modi comes to the US in the wake of a very good showing by his Bharatiya Janata Party in local elections, and thus is in a strengthened political position to push his policy agenda. As this trip is likely to be his last State visit before a new President takes office in January 2017, the Indian prime minister will almost certainly use the opportunity to advance the strategic relationship with the US and to show that this relationship is important to India and is grounded in the shared interests and the shared values of two democracies. He may also demonstrate India’s openness to purchase American products and services (the US has a growing trade deficit with India) by supporting such big-ticket items as an agreement between Westinghouse Electric and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India for the construction of six nuclear reactors. Like his previous trips, commerce and investment will be a big part of Modi’s agenda in the US. A key part of Modi’s foreign policy is to attract capital and technology to power India’s economic growth. He will meet CEOs of major US companies. There is a perception that the government’s economic reform agenda has been adrift after the reversals in the 2015 state elections. Modi will try to assuage the concerns of US CEOs and update them on the government’s economic liberalization plans and to remind them that the World Bank and other international financial institutions have predicted that India’s GDP growth rate is likely to remain in the 7 to 8 percent range, the highest among large countries, and that India has become a major destination for foreign direct investment, partly to take advantage of India’s massive infrastructure development plans. On the strategic front, the US position is that a strong India, with or without a strategic military alliance, is in the US interest, and that has been obvious since the 2005-2008 US-Indian negotiations that resulted in a nuclear agreement that lifted sanctions on India without demanding that India abandon its nuclear weapons program. This approach suits India, which would oppose a formal strategic alliance or anything that looked like an abandonment its ‘strategic autonomy’, but the growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean gives India a good reason to move incrementally closer to the US. Perhaps the best example of this gradual movement is India’s ‘in-principle’ agreement, during Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter’s April 10–12, 2016 visit to India, to a Logistics Exchange Memorandum Agreement tailored specifically for India (requiring permission) that would allow both militaries to access supplies, spare parts and services of the other. After several years of Indian vacillation, the LEMOA may be formally signed during the Modi visit. Besides underscoring the importance of the US to India, the signing of the logistics agreement would send a signal to China that India could move even further toward the US if Beijing took steps considered strategically threatening. A future Indian counter-measure might include signing a Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement with the US, enabling India to get encrypted

South China Sea. They are also likely to address ways to expand cooperation on the provision of high technology to India and give substance to an earlier agreement referred to as the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative. The US and India have already agreed to work on greater cooperation on aircraft carrier design and jet engine technology. This is a process that fits well in Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative aimed at increasing India’s manufacturing base, and thus generating employment. The DTTI envisages greater involvement of private sector in the supply of new defense-related technologies. The opening of defense manufacturing to Indian private enterprise is relatively recent, and American companies have not been slow to recognize the advantages of investing in India either on their own or in collaborative arrangements with Indian companies. India is the world’s largest importer of defense equipment and the US has become one of its largest suppliers. On their own, Lockheed Martin is sourcing tail wings for the global C130 and Boeing is sourcing critical components for the CH47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter from India. Senior officials of Boeing and Lockheed Martin have visited India to pitch for the manufacture in India of the F/A-18 and F-16 multi-role fighters, respectively, that fits Modi’s ‘Make in India’ goal. Several large Indian private sector companies have begun investing heavily in defense production and defense research such as Tata, Mahindra, Larsen and Toubro and Anil Ambani’s Reliance Group. Some of these Indian companies have already established contacts with American defense manufacturers and Modi’s visit gives them an opportunity to further that collaboration. While government regulations in both countries will continue to impact on the nature and size of this arms production collaboration, the agreements increasingly will be worked out by private contractors and not government bureaucrats. If Modi’s visit to Washington goes well, as is expected, a signal is sent to bureaucrats on both sides that the leadership wants action to advance the relationship. Modi knows that his goal of economic development requires a streamlining of India’s presently cumbersome regulatory framework, and this is near the top of his policy agenda. With his strengthened political position in India, he will almost certainly seek to convey to his American interlocutors that India is a place where they can do business. Walter Andersen is Director, South Asia Studies Program, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, DC.

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

Preparing the ground for Hillary or Trump WHAT MODI WILL DO THIS TIME IS PREPARE THE GROUND FOR WHAT COMES WITH THE NEXT LEADERSHIP, STRENGTHENING THE SUPPORT FOR INDIA AMONG ALL SHADES OF POLITICAL OPINION IN CONGRESS, SAYS B S PRAKASH.

ere we to use baseball metaphors for our discussions instead of the familiar cricket, we could think of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States as an effort at ‘covering all the bases.’ It is a reflection of our polarized political discourse that like everything else, this visit too evokes a divisive debate. Are Modi’s travels too frequent, his approach more towards the spectacle than substance, the results overblown in contrast to actual accomplishments? So, ask the skeptics . Specifically on the forthcoming tour, the questions are: Four visits to America in two years; isn’t it a bit too much? Are we too fervent in our ardour or seen from the American end, are they proposing too tight an embrace? Are we in danger of becoming a client State? We can talk in such overarching terms or alternatively look at the specifics. I propose to follow the latter approach. But before attempting that, let us note that as it happens, the visit comes soon after a mid-term evaluation of the Modi Sarkar by the commentariat. It must be acknowledged that on the foreign policy front, most experts see him as engaged, energetic and innovative. Criticism is focussed, understandably, on the intractable issues of Pakistan, China, (and Nepal), but overall the government and the prime minister score well with regard to external affairs. Turning to the US, what are the bases that Modi has already touched and what may be salient during the June visit, even as it occurs in the midst of the American electoral season and the dwindling months of Obama’s Presidency? One way of clustering the crowded agenda of these visits is to see the four ‘bases’ as a. global and strategic issues; b. bilaterals between the governments; c. the economic interests; and d. people to people goodwill. Under such a rubric, what Modi will do this time is to consolidate the bilateral relationship, take it to new heights as reflected in a formal visit, widen the constituency by the address to a joint session of Congress, and to prepare the ground for what comes with the next leadership, by strengthening the support for India among all shades of political opinion in Congress. Let us briefly recall the ground covered already. Modi’s visit in 2014 had a dramatic background. Here was someone, who had been explicitly prevented from visiting the US; he was also an unacceptable figure for a section of the influential Indian-American community. How was that controversial legacy to be overcome? Very easily, as it turned out. The Americans merely did the right thing in coming to terms with the reality, and extending an invitation to a leader with a massive mandate. Modi did more than the right thing

UTTAM GHOSH

in not uttering a sound or casting a glance at the past, but in word and deed showing consciousness of the criticality of America and Indian Americans for his ambitions. The first visit in 2014 did all the essentials well: the obligatory address to the United Nations General Assembly, the projection of the image of a different kind of leader to the young crowds at Central Park, the ‘wow’ inducing community event at Madison Square Garden, the messaging of ‘we mean business’ to the Wall Street and major banks, and after all this in New York, the warm and personable ‘get to know’ meetings in Washington. There was a good mix of everything: Global issues as in Sustainable Development Goals at the UN, a bit of a breather for us with the WTO requirements, a beginning of the meeting of minds on climate change — another issue where the views were dissimilar, selfies and photo-ops with the crowds in the parks and stadiums, and a forward looking joint statement to capture the underlying theme of ‘common values and common interests’. As it turns out, after two years, the enduring impact is the creation of a personal equation between Obama and Modi and the recognition of a role for the Indian communities abroad in building the image of India and yes, of Modi too. Could the second visit in 2015 stand the test of comparison

with the first and of the Obama visit to India? It should be noted that this visit to the UN was almost obligatory for an Indian prime minister. Not to take part in a summit meeting convened by President Obama on UN peacekeeping operations, when India is one of the oldest and largest of the troop contributors wasn’t an option. Modi had to mark attendance. Again, in a debate in the 70th year of the UN, an Indian leader had to say our piece, unproductive as it may be, on the subject of the expansion of the UN Security Council and assert our claim to be a member of an expanded Security Council. This may not be an outcome generating activity, but in diplomacy an essential one, keeping the larger and the longer imperatives in view. As if to compensate for the lack of real substance at the UN, a visit to Silicon Valley was added. The West Coast has a magic and meaning different from New York, and the synergies between the IT habitat and Indian entrepreneurship came through. Modi’s meetings with the world’s greatest nerds — be it Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk or our own Satya Nadella — certainly created an image of India that reverberates well.

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MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

India Abroad June 10, 2016

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Modi considers the US a crucial partner APEC membership. After repeatedly declaring in joint statements that India is ready for membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the US has so far not done the heavy lifting required to fulfill its commitment. Despite the nuclear deal, the US establishment seeks opportunities to put pressure on India on nuclear issues as was the case when on the occasion of the Nuclear Security Summit in March Obama expressed concern about the situation in South Asia, implicitly linking India and Pakistan on their nuclear conduct. On religious freedom issues, the US is the only country that reproaches India — with Obama himself giving unnecessary lectures to India on tolerance on two occasions. We need a resolution of issues in the IT/ITES sector (outsourcing services). More work need to be done in the area of agricultural technology, exporting synergies in the bio-tech

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Preparing the ground for Hillary or Trump

OMAR SOBHANI/ REUTERS

3M48 The document foresees that over the next five years India and the US will strengthen their regional dialogues and make trilateral consultations with third countries in the The third visit in March, again, should be seen as virtualregion more robust and so on. The reference in it to freedom ly inescapable for an Indian leader. Any international conof navigation and overflights, especially in the South China ference with the words ‘nuclear’ or ‘terrorism’ has to be Sea, is clearly pointed at China. respected by India and attended by its leader, if held at the If India-US relations are being strengthened, the expectasummit level. On top of that, this was the Nuclear Security tions of both sides will not be fully met. The US would want Summit being chaired by Obama and therefore a ‘must India to support its policies in areas most important for it in attend event’ even with a busy calendar. terms of maintaining its global dominance. In other words, A visit to the European Union headquarters before, and to see how India can be optimally fitted into the jigsaw of its Saudi Arabia on the way back, served as the book ends for global responsibilities. this visit to Washington, perhaps more important than the India, on the other hand, with a narrower geo-political book in between! horizon as a fledgling power seeks US support on regional We, thus, arrive at the current visit, a strictly bilateral and issues, which it may not be able to extend as that may disturb with an elevated protocol status, as noted. If we think of all its efforts to maintain regional balthe different constituencies ances as part of its global agenda. that Modi has interacted Which is why the US will not support with, it is an impressive list India on India-Pakistan issues, it will from media moguls, to CEOs not sanction Pakistan on India-related and investors, innovators, and terrorism issues and will continue to rock stars. Scores of influensupply arms and military assistance to tial Congressmen and Senatour neighbor. ors can be added to it after the The US will counter China where it visit. ‘All the bases’ will have presents a challenge to US power, but been covered before the emeas part of managing a financially and rgence of either Hillary or Treconomically intertwined relationship ump at the helm. with China, it will cooperate with the Does all of this really answlatter in areas where its own power er the more fundamental questakes are limited. ries about the nature of the In other words, it will treat China as US-India relationship, its lipotential adversary in the western mitations or potential pitfalls, Pacific, but as a partner in our region, its strategic orientation? as its willingness to promote a Chinese Then there is a list of critirole in Afghanistan in collaboration cal, though familiar, queswith Pakistan shows. The US does not tions. consider the Taliban as a terrorist What about the tardy implorganization and is willing to accomementation of agreements simodate it politically in a Pakistani brogned, investments promised, kered deal, disregarding Indian securideals struck but not yet delivty concerns. How can then the countered? er-terrorism cooperation between How should we look at the India and the US be a defining one for lack of US empathy on issues the 21st century? of concern to us — Pakistan’s The US is not taking a position on support to terrorism, Taliban the China Pakistan Economic Corridor hostility in Afghanistan, Chor Gwadar. Which is why, as US offiina-Pakistan collusion? cialdom acknowledges, India and the The heads of a US delegation, right, and Pakistani delegation, left, before a meeting between Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the What about the fear that US have 95 percent convergence in the US in Kabul, Afghanistan, January 18. The meeting was aimed at laying the ground for a negotiated end to almost 15 years of war in our cozying up to the Amerieast and 5 percent convergence in the the region against the Taliban. cans may create misunderThe question of how India views the lack of US empathy on issues like Pakistan’s support to terrorism, Taliban hostility in west. standings or worse with the Such realities, in turn, explain India’s Afghanistan, and the China-Pakistan collusion has dogged Washington, DC’s ties with New Delhi. Chinese or Russians, or both, and pharmaceutical sectors, enhanced education and skill reluctance to sign the three foundational agreements that will make us dependent on American defense supplies, partnership, life-sciences, infrastructure financing, green the US seeks before advanced technologies can be released to entangle us in unnecessary alliances, distort our world view financing, coal gasification technologies, access to US fossil us. A tighter US defense embrace when we do not have comand.... and...? fuel reserves including a waiver on non-FTA countries, and mon enemies then becomes impolitic, apart from India Ah! These are a different order of concerns, admittedly so on. wanting to maintain its strategic autonomy. legitimate. They need to be addressed, but do not detract The India-US relationship is being increasingly consolidatOn WTO issues India and the US continue to have differfrom the utility of the visits. Every leader has to operate in a ed but between countries with such power disparities and at ences. The US decision to drag India to the WTO on the issue given geo-strategic setting and with an institutional capacisuch different stages of development seeking convergence of of local manufacturing requirements in solar energy projects ty that he inherits. For now, let us admit that a robust policies will always pose challenges. But the two countries for central government procurement sacrifices India-US engagement is a positive in itself and the energy and enthuare headed in the right direction. cooperation on climate change issues to US corporate intersiasm that Modi brings to it is welcome. We should wish ests. India is now threatening to file several complaints him well. against the US in the WTO. Ambassador Kanwal Sibal, India’s former foreign secretary, These kind of trade and IPR-related problems will continserved as deputy chief of mission at India’s embassy in ue to plague the bilateral relationship as corporate interests B S Prakash is a former Indian Ambassador to Brazil and Washington, DC between August 1992 and September 1995. often drive US policies. The US has not delivered on India’s India’s Consul General in San Francisco.

MODI COMES TO WASHINGTON

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India Abroad June 10, 2016 India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Bill and Hillary Clinton in New York, September 29, 2014.

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU

Modi needs to meet Hillary and Trump

‘INDIANS GENERALLY ARE COMFORTABLE WITH CLINTON, BUT SHE HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO DESERVE THEIR TRUST. TRUMP, ON THE OTHER HAND, MAY BE HELPFUL TO INDIA BECAUSE OF HIS DISTRUST OF CHINA, PAKISTAN,’ SAYS T P SREENIVASAN.

arendra Modi has come a long way since the days in 1999, when he walked the long corridors of Capitol Hill with a white cotton bag on his shoulder to lobby Congressmen and Senators to ensure that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund did not impose sanctions against India, following the nuclear tests. He was credited with a letter signed by some Congressmen, urging the World Bank and the IMF not to heed the US advice to impose sanctions. He also held consultations with senior officials of the Bretton Woods institutions who I invited to meet him at the residence of the Deputy Chief of Mission in Bethesda in Maryland. Modi’s fourth visit in two years to Washington as the Indian prime minister, a record in itself, is primarily to address Congress. His trend-setting clothes and familiar oratorical skills will be on display in Congress for the first time. The Indian-American community had lobbied hard to get him invited to address Congress in September 2014, but it could not be arranged because the schedules of the House of Representatives and the Senate could not be adjusted to arrange a Joint Session of Congress. The invitation this time is indeed a gesture on the part of Congress though it is also the result of the persistent efforts of the powerful Indian-American community through the India Caucus in the House of Representatives and the Friends of India in the Senate, once led by Hillary Clinton. Modi’s reputation has reached the shores of the United States — he is now considered one of the world’s leaders and, therefore, there is great curiosity about him. President Obama is particularly keen to introduce Modi to Congress as he sees the Indian prime minister as a partner in US initiatives in the Asia Pacific. The invitation to Modi is the final initiative Obama will be taking with regard to India during his Presidency. Apart

from the address, Modi will be called upon to deal with the unfinished agenda in India-US relations. Judging from the experience at the time of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s address to Congress in 2000, such addresses by foreign dignitaries do not cause much excitement among Congressmen and Senators. At best, lawmakers make a brief appearance at the beginning or the end as they have legislative business to attend to. The hall is filled generally by invitees, mostly from the Indian-American community. If there are vacant seats still, they are filled by Congress staffers, including pages or messengers. The significance of the address is basically symbolic, though the text of the address will be analyzed as the visiting dignitaries speak with a sense of history. Congressmen and Senators in the United States are more important than their counterparts in India, because they are not expected to toe the line of the President even if they belong to the same party as the President. They have elaborate offices with a number of staff members who follow internal and external developments for them and also remain in touch with their constituents. They have the authority to initiate legislation and thus give directives to the President. Lobbying of Congressmen and Senators, therefore, is a highly developed industry, in which people, including former legislators, engage in. Apart from various industrial and business interests, foreign governments also hire lobbyists to wield influence on Capitol Hill. India began hiring lobbyists when PM P V Narasimha Rao and Ambassador Siddhartha Shankar Ray were in office, basically to counter Pakistan-sponsored lobbying for Kashmir and Khalistan. The lobbying by Pakistan and India was so effective that many Congressmen used to say they were prevented from moving an inch in favor of either nation. India’s lobbying became more intense at the time of the nuclear deal with industrial interests and the Indian-American

community helping in the process. Although there are rigid ethical regulations with regard to hospitality and other gifts that lawmakers can receive, lobbyists find ways and means to cultivate them for one foreign government or another. The creation of an India Caucus in Congress was the direct result of lobbying by the professionals and Indian-American community leaders. The Caucus, in turn, lobbied their colleagues to support Indian causes in Congress. The attendance at the joint session will depend on the extent of Indian lobbying to get important Congressmen to attend. India-US relations have certainly improved since Modi became prime minister on account of the mutuality of interests, which have developed. Modi sees the US as the main source of investment and defense equipment. He is counting on the US for his initiatives such as Make in India and Digital India, for which the US has been enthusiastic. The co-designing and co-production of defense equipment, together with the agreement on logistics, have taken defense cooperation to a higher level. Nuclear trade has not begun yet, despite the claim that the nuclear liability law was out of the way. A senior official of the Indian nuclear establishment suspected that the US was using the liability law as a smokescreen for their reluctance to engage in nuclear trade with India. On political issues, the greatest gain has been the understanding reached during President Obama’s visit to India that India would be inclined towards the US in the ongoing rivalry with China in the Asia Pacific region. India has not, however, taken any concrete steps to formalize the strategic partnership by joining any of the US-sponsored groupings. On the part of the US, there is no progress on the horizon on India’s permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, India’s joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime and even the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation. India has concerns about immigration rules and the US has even greater concerns about the pace of liberalization of the Indian economy. Modi will have an opportunity to discuss these issues during his visit, but not much progress can be achieved on them. Given Modi’s record of creating surprises, we may expect him to produce a rabbit or two from his magician’s hat. His visits to Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE may be of immense interest to President Obama. China will, of course, figure in many ways, particularly after President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to China. On Pakistan and Afghanistan, Obama may not be helpful as he has developed a new interest in Pakistan and the Taliban is not a bête noir for him. Modi’s visit is taking place under the shadow of the Presidential elections in the US and Donald Trump’s dramatic emergence as the Republican candidate. Indians generally are comfortable with Hillary Clinton, but she has not done anything to deserve their trust. Trump, on the other hand, may be helpful to India because of his distrust of China and Pakistan. Anti-terrorism measures might also become more effective under Trump. Modi should do well to meet both Hillary and Trump during his visit. Vajpayee was in a similar situation in 2000 and he requested meetings with both Presidential contenders Al Gore and George W Bush. He met Gore, but all that Bush could do was to put in a call, while he was on the campaign trail. Modi may have better luck with Trump. Modi and Trump may get along well because of their basic business instincts. Modi’s foreign policy in the second year of his tenure has lost some of its dazzle. Like in the second act of a Shakespearean play, nothing spectacular is happening on the stage. His dreams about a cooperative neighborhood have been shattered. His visit to Iran has rejuvenated him to a certain extent. The US visit, with a splendid performance on the Hill, may well be the ultimate aphrodisiac Modi is looking for. Ambassador T P Sreenivasan (IFS 1967), former Governor for India of the IAEA, served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian embassy in Washington, DC from 1997 to 2000.

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BUSINESS India Abroad June 10, 2016

or Dr Mukesh Aghi, president of the United States-India Business Council, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to a joint session of Congress June 8 will have special significance because in the mid-1980s, when he first came to Washington, DC, to work as a Congressional staffer on Capitol Hill, he was witness to then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s address on July 13, 1985, which set the tone for a transformed US-India relationship after the demise of the Cold War. Dr Aghi, immediately after he completed his PhD in international relations at the Claremont Graduate University in California, came to Washington to work for then US Congressman Meryvn M Dymally, California Democrat and a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He also enjoyed a short stint with then Speaker ‘Tip’ O’Neill, Massachusetts Democrat. This was after he had received an advanced management diploma from the Harvard Business School, an MBA in international marketing from Andrews University, Michigan, and a BA in business administration from the Middle East College, Beirut, Lebanon. In an interview with India Abroad, Dr Aghi said that buoyed by his PhD in international relations and despite all of his business degrees, he had come to Washington “to make a difference in the world.” Working for Dymally seemed a natural fit, because this African-American lawmaker along with Congressman Stephen Solarz, New York Democrat — who was also a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and chaired its subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, which had jurisdiction over South Asian affairs — were only a handful of staunchly pro-India lawmakers in Congress, when India was constantly maligned for voting against the US at the United Nations and strongly perceived as a surrogate of the erstwhile Soviet Union. Dr Aghi, in working for Speaker O’Neill, saw up close how despite party differences, the larger than life legendary Irishman enjoyed a great working relationship with Republican President Ronald Reagan. Recalling his days on Capitol Hill, Dr Aghi said, “At the time the only South Asian faces covering politics were (laughing) a young Aziz always there for every Solarz hearing on India, Pakistan and South Asia, and a handful of Congressional staffers,” one of whom he remembered was Neil Dhillon, who was working for another Democratic Congressman from California, Robert Matsui. Dhillon went on to become Matsui’s chief of staff and then in 1992, along with two other Indian Americans, Ram Uppuluri and Peter Mathews, made an unsuccessful run for Congress, the first time the community seriously entered the political fray and raised over $1 million for the three Democrats, who all lost in the primaries from Maryland, Tennessee and California, respectively. “There were hardly any Indian American or South Asian interns,” Dr Aghi remembered, “let alone Congressional staffers and you didn’t find anyone in politics or in public service in the administration, and you were hard pressed to find a single Indian restaurant in downtown DC.” And there was no India Caucus in Congress, except for the

‘The stars are aligned in our relationship, both in Delhi and in Washington’ ‘They are aligned because there is a need of dependency on these two nations, geopolitically, economically and technologically,’ USIBC President Mukesh Aghi tells AZIZ HANIFFA. one-man India Caucus that was Steve Solarz “and even the Congressional Black Caucus was very small and Mervyn Dymally was chairman of that .” But, he said, thanks to the likes of Solarz and Dymally, “I remember Congress hosting Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (to address a joint session of Congress) and starting the momentum,” which on June 8, will feature Prime Minister Modi.” Asked why he left Washington and the politics of Capitol Hill, Dr Aghi said, “I came to DC as a naïve, young student, fresh after his PhD, who wanted to change the world.” “But when you come to DC, you realize that things are so entrenched, you can’t change it,” he said, and added, “The question then is, do you become part of that or do you say, ‘I don’t want to be part of that.’ And I decided, I don’t want to be part of that and I moved to the private sector and for the next 20, 25 years, just focused on creating wealth, creating jobs, and traveled across the world, living in Japan, in France, Delhi, Singapore, London.” “It was a great experience,” Dr Aghi said, “and so what I bring to the table is the efficiency of a corporate world, understanding of an international environment, and a network of relationships in India and the US.” “I’ve come back a little more mature, a little more wiser, to make the change, and hopefully a difference,” Dr Aghi added. Before assuming the presidency of the USIBC, he was chief executive and member of the board at Larsen & Toubro Infotech. Earlier, he served at Steria, Inc, India, as its CEO, Asia Pacific and Global Executive Sales Director. At Steria, he was responsible for India’s top 50 global accounts with revenues exceeding $1.5 billion and was the catalyst behind its successful merger with Xansa creating a multi-billion dollar services business. Dr Aghi was also associated with Universitas 21 Global, the world’s largest consortium of research-led universities and a global leader in providing post-graduate online education. He was also president of IBM India, Ariba, Inc, J D Edwards and Co, among others. Fluent in several languages, Dr Aghi was recognized by Esquire as a Global Leader and has won numerous awards and accolades, including the J R D Tata Leadership Award. An avid marathon and mountaineer he has completed over 22 international marathons and climbed some of the highest peaks in North America and Europe. You’ve just completed one year. How has the run been so far? What has been most fulfilling and what have been the major challenges? I am excited to be at the helm of the USIBC, the premier business organization in the US of Fortune 500 companies and other companies, including small and medium enterprises across a wide range of areas doing business in and with

India, particularly at this time when we are seeing an accelerated momentum taking place between India and the US in the global environment, which is shifting very fast, especially with the rise of China as an economic and military power. The highlights have been President Obama’s visit to India last year as the first US President to be the chief guest at an Indian Republic Day ceremony and Prime Minister Modi’s earlier visit to the US and then again to Silicon Valley. More importantly, we have been able to define a vision as to where we want this relationship to go in the next 10 to 15 years. And that is defined in terms of trade, defined in terms of geo-political aspects and also cultural aspects. I believe from a USIBC perspective, it’s been an exciting year for me. You replaced Ron Somers, who was president of USIBC for over 10 years and your personalities couldn’t be more different. Ron was this garrulous, irrepressible, quintessential Indiaphile, who had lived and worked in India for several years and who was known to punctuate his welcoming and introductory speeches and even his remarks when on the business circuit around the country with a surfeit of Hindi phrases and couplets, etc. You are pretty low-key, but you’ve had this amazing career in technology, you’ve turned around sick companies, developed companies, taken them public and so on. What was it about the USIBC that made you accept this new avatar? You reach a stage in life when you say, OK, what else can you do, what else can you be remembered for. I believe I’ve chased enough money and taken companies to IPOs (initial public offerings) to market values of $40 plus billion. Immediately after my stint on Capitol Hill, when I got into business, it was to turn around a sick company and make it highly profitable and take it for an IPO. So, the key thing about what I like about this position is that you are trying to make a difference. When you say you are trying to make a difference, in this instance it is to specially help a country like India, where you have a young population but is not able to provide them jobs, which then makes the demographic dividend not an asset, but a liability. Now, we have 10 years to fix that. Today, the median age in India is 25 years and you have a million people coming to the job front every month. You have a pool of 47 million Indians who are looking for jobs at the moment and the current job creation is 1.6 percent and that means 6 percent is added to the pool every year. I believe geo-politically the US needs a partner in Asia and India becomes the right partner, being that it’s a living, breathing, resilient and vibrant democracy with our values, rule of law, an independent judiciary and so on. At the time you took over the reins of the USIBC, the Modi

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BUSINESS

India Abroad June 10, 2016 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken at USIBC’s Leadership Summit in September 2014. He will do so this year too.

3Page A11 government was into its first year. Did you believe that taking over the leadership of the USIBC at that particular time, besides the timing itself, offered you a good fit? Over lunch, you were telling me how it was going to give you a perfect platform in terms of your yearning to make a different after those 20, 25 years in the private sector? Absolutely. I firmly believe the stars are aligned in our relationship, both in Delhi and in Washington. They are aligned because you have the right leadership on both sides. They are aligned because there is a need of dependency on these two nations, geopolitically, economically and technologically. I felt the USIBC is the perfect platform from where one could drive this ultimate objective to foster not only a better relationship, but create more jobs for both countries. I strongly believe that if the India-US relationship reaches a new level, India as a confident nation will support the rest of South Asia and Asia itself. Prime Minister Modi will be here June 6-8 and his schedule includes addressing the USIBC’s 41st Leadership Summit. The first time he spoke at USIBC’s Leadership Summit was in September 2014 when he was a few months into his tenure as prime minister. As you reflect on the past two years of his administration, now as the head of the advocacy arm of America Inc, doing business in and with India, what are some of the tangibles you can point to in terms of what his government has done to fulfil some of the priorities of the USIBC agenda? If you look at it economically, what we are seeing is, he has brought inflation down below 5 percent. He has built up confidence so much so that FDI (foreign direct investment) flows into India is up by over 40 percent, while globally it is down by 16 percent. He has brought a sense of transparency — the whole spectrum auction, the whole coal auction. There is not been an iota of finger-pointing or corruption. In term of the ease of doing business, he is making things better — we are still not there, but he’s making things better. Meanwhile, he’s gone out and raised the profile of India in terms of a global leadership perspective and that has sent a strong message. Strictly, from a USIBC perspective, the economic agenda has played well. Of course, we still have a way to go, but the confidence level of the USIBC membership is up. Last year, our member companies invested $15 billion in India, and going forward, we have already seen the number jumping up to $27 billion. So the sentiment is positive, but the expectations are also very high with this prime minister. When you said we’ve still got a way to go, particularly since the expectations of Prime Minister Modi are so high. In this regard, what have been the major disappointments, because clearly there are quite a few considering the euphoria and the high that followed in the aftermath of the massive mandate Modi and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, received? If there are disappointments, I wish he was able to coalesce the Opposition to pass the Labor Reform Bill, the Land Bill, GST. I believe that somehow the Opposition, such as the Congress, with only 40 members in the Lok Sabha and with not even 10 percent, were able to derail the entire legislative side. I believe that could have been managed better. But on overall relationship, on the overall leadership, he has been phenomenal. One of the things that economic gurus like Fred Bergstein, president emeritus of the Peterson Institute, former ambassador to India and USIBC godfather Frank Wisner, and the

‘The stars are aligned in our relationship, both in Delhi and in Washington’ likes of Senator Mark Warner, co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, have been urging has been the enactment of a BIT (bilateral investment treaty), which they believe could ultimately even be a precursor or stepping stone for a FTA (Free Trade Agreement). Why has it been so difficult to nail it down because both sides have been talking about it for years, but have still not been able to get to first base? Both are far apart on their thinking. The US would like to see a certain amount of labor rights in BIT, which India cannot agree to or accept — there are liability issues. India needs to first get its court system more efficient to deal with these — and I would say the gap is too wide at this stage to move this thing forward. So, at the moment, I don’t see they are together on this. The other thing you got to understand is what are the priorities for the US? At the moment, the USTR (United States Trade Representative) is focused a lot on a US-China BIT and if they compromise on India, it has an impact on the China discussions. So, the objective is to close the China BIT and leave the India part to the next administration. We at the Council, of course, are very keen to have some kind of an investment treaty because it gives a much more sense of confidence and comfort to our member companies as they contemplate investing in India because then they have a process that is defined if there is any dispute. And a lack of that, they end up going through Singapore or

TWITTER.COM/USIBC

Mauritius, and so, BIT is very important for this trade relationship to move forward. Your parent body, the US Chamber of Commerce, and other powerful industrial and manufacturing organizations like National Association of Manufacturers keep hammering away at India’s slow pace of reforms, lack of intellectual property protection. How do you counsel them, because surely you can’t keep telling them ad infinitum to exercise patience, which is a constant refrain by India to the US? First, you got to understand that India is no longer the India of the ‘70s and the ‘80s. It’s a large country and now with a major economy, which is growing very fast — it is the fastest growing economy. So, you can’t basically stand on a podium and preach to India. You got to go and sit down and discuss the issues and so, the counsel to all of them is, don’t go out and preach or dictate, have discussions and try to take it forward. So, that’s what we do. The USIBC — when we have disagreements with the government of India — we do it quietly and tell them what to do and they listen to us. We’ve now become a trusted partner for the government of India. We may disagree, but we will not disagree in public, we’ll do it privately.

4Page A13

You got to understand that India is no longer the India of the ‘70s and the ‘80s. It’s a large country and now with a major economy, which is growing very fast — it is the fastest growing economy. So, you can’t basically stand on a podium and preach to India. You got to go and sit down and discuss the issues and so, the counsel to all of them is, don’t go out and preach or dictate, have discussions and try to take it forward. So, that’s what we do.

STEPHEN LAM/REUTERS

MICHAEL FIALA/REUTERS

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From left, possible Democratic Presidential nominees Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump. Mukesh Aghi maintains that the USIBC is agnostic about who wins in November.

‘The stars are aligned in our relationship, both in Delhi and in Washington’

3Page A12

In working with India, you just can’t go and humiliate the nation publicly. For example, in the case of my 301 testimony, that’s the approach we took. If you look at this government, it has not used any compulsory licensing since it came to power. We are waiting for the new IPR policy to come out and hopefully, things should turn around. In terms of services, some leading members of Congress like Senators (Charles) Grassley (Iowa Republican) and (Richard) Durbin (Illinois Democrat), have been going after Indian IT companies, alleging visa fraud in terms of H-1Bs and L-1s. Congress’ recent action in hiking the fees for H-1Bs has caused heartburn among Indian IT companies. How do you counter that? And in the case of the latter, is the horse already out the barn? Our position is that the raising of the H-1B fees is discriminatory. You can’t on one side preach about open trade and on the services side, which is India’s strength, put discriminatory policies. That’s wrong. We are trying to work with the administration, with Congress, to see how we can find the right balance, because it has an impact of roughly up to $400 million a year for Indian IT companies. To answer the first part of your question about fraud regarding H-1B, L-1s, I think there will always be issues there — some companies are clean while others are not clean. You recently saw in your newspaper how half a dozen people got indicted on H-1B fraud, and that too in Silicon Valley. So, you’ll always have aberrations, but overall the trend is to obey the laws and move on. The USIBC has always had some powerful, high-priced lobbyists working for you guys, particularly on Capitol Hill. You are an old Congressional hand, so, how did you miss the H-1B visa fee hike being snuck into the overall authorization bill and being pushed through? We all got caught by surprise because it was part of the Omnibus bill and we only had five days notice. As soon as we came to know of it, we mounted our troops to go fight this thing, but it was too late. When we reached across the street to the White House — because it was part of the whole bill — they said there is nothing that could be done because it would be discriminatory and the President can’t veto that part of it. So, it was a case of it just being slipped in. Hopefully, the next time we won’t be caught off guard here. The Department of Justice, just a couple of weeks ago, said that in March, the US had a trade deficit with India of $1.7 billion, compared to the trade deficit with China, which was $26 billion. How do you convince India for a more level playing field in terms of buying more of US goods, products, services, etc, particularly in a very toxic political environment as it is

today with Donald Trump and even Bernie Sanders hammering away at these issues of massive trade deficits, outsourcing and the like? Even though the bulk of the attacks are directed against China, Trump hasn’t spared India either. If you look at it, overall India has a trade deficit combined in its trading environment as compared to China. That’s one. Yes, a couple of months ago, India had a trade surplus with the US, but if you look at the last five years, it always had one. But India has become the largest purchaser of US defense equipment and that is creating more jobs in the US, India buys a lot of technologies, particularly on the agricultural side from the US, and so, my feeling is that as you go forward, you will see either equal or the US having a trade surplus with India, unlike China. $1.7 billion is nothing compared to an economy, which is over $20 trillion, and so, I don’t believe that has much implication.

I believe geo-politically the US needs a partner in Asia and India becomes the right partner, being that it’s a living, breathing, resilient and vibrant democracy with our values, rule of law, an independent judiciary and so on. Have you been strategizing for either a Hillary Clinton or a Trump administration considering their perceived anti-trade declarations? Even Hillary has been moving to the left on trade from everything ranging from TPP to outsourcing, etc, especially since Sanders has been going after her on this. His campaign has even put out stuff about Hillary talking about outsourcing to India being inevitable during a trip there several years ago. And, of course, all of us know about how Trump has been almost visceral on this issue of outsourcing, even mocking Indian call-center workers, etc. Has there been any behind-the-scenes strategizing and preparation on how to react and to deal with either a Hillary or Trump administration? We are agnostic as to who comes in, and we want to be more focused on three broad principles. One is, definitely on the economic side. The US has tremendous capital and it has fantastic technology and India needs both. India provides a massive market for American companies

JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS

BUSINESS

India Abroad June 10, 2016

from the infrastructure perspective to digital technology to innovation and in defense, co-production and co-development and we believe Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India is one avenue. So, it’s a win-win scenario from that perspective. The second is geo-political. Regardless of who comes in, India will play a balancing role in the Asia Pacific region and that’s very important for India, but very much for the US also — that’s a no-brainer. And third is the cultural aspect. India is shipping 120,000 students into the US every year, we have almost 70,000 to 80,000 IT workers on the H-1B program and the values, the openness and Indian being law-abiding citizens itself plays in a non-threatening way into the American consciousness. So, if you just focus on those three broad areas, regardless of who comes in, this relationship will move forward. The US-India civilian nuclear deal was a game-changer for the relationship, but after eight years it remains in limbo regarding implementation vis-à-vis commercialization of the agreement where American firms are concerned after India’s Nuclear Liability Law three years ago threw a major spanner in the works. I know that contact groups, not to mention company lawyers etc, have been immersed in intense negotiations for the past year, following President Obama’s visit in January 2015. Are you expecting some fruition of this deal or parts of it with regard to commercialization during Modi’s visit? We are hoping that the Westinghouse deal will get signed, which is six nuclear plants. The last I heard was that they are in the last pages of details of trying to wrap that up and that would be a good way for the Obama administration and the Modi administration to say, ‘Hey, we concluded the nuclear deal, and here are the results.’ So, we are hopeful. And I guess a great swansong for President Obama too? Absolutely. You bet, absolutely. How gung-ho are you on the exponential growth of the USIndia defense trade and cooperation? I remember 10 years ago, today’s figure of well over $15 billion would have been unthinkable because then it was zero. Is this particular relationship going to be the anchor and the key driver of future US-India trade ties? Or are you optimistic that it will be a broader relationship incorporating all areas of trade and commerce despite the continuing challenges and hiccups? I strongly believe that when nations have a common challenge, including security from combating and countering terrorism and extremism to cyber-security, they align better. If you look at the defense side, last year, there were 54 joint military exercises between India and the US. You have a rapid reaction team at the Pentagon and the only country that has it is India itself. So, I believe that the relationship will deepen further and it is not just by purchasing equipment. The way I envision it, will be by transfer of technology and India building those products for the US and NATO allies at one-fifth the cost and thereby bringing down the costs of federal expenditure on the defense side much lower — just like generic drugs of which India has 37 percent of the market, bringing almost $20 billion in savings to the federal government. You can envision the same kind of scenario on the defense side and so, it’s definitely going to be a win-win partnership.

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India Abroad June 10, 2016

PAN mandatory for all market participants, including NRIs

1. If the stay in India is for less than 182 days during the financial year (April-March), will my status continue to be Non Resident Indian? Does the counting start from the day I land in India, or is there some other rule? 2. In past columns, you have explained that a Resident Not Ordinarily Resident is one who: a. He has been a non-resident in India in nine of the 10 previous years preceding that year, or b. Has during the seven previous years preceding that year been in India for a period of, or periods amounting in all to, 729 days or less. An RNOR is not required pay tax in India on his forex income. And anyone who returns after nine or more years of being an NRI will become RNOR for two years. What about the person falling under point b — does he also stay RNOR for two years? — Vividha 1. The clock starts from the day you land in India, in as much as, both the days of arriving into India (at whatever time of the day) and leaving India (at whatever time of the day) are considered as days spent in India. A Resident is one who during a FY satisfies any one of the following 2 conditions: He is in India for at least 182 days in the FY OR 365 days out of the preceding four FYs AND 60 days in the FY. The stay in India need not be continuous. If an Indian citizen or a Person of Indian Origin, who is out of India, comes to visit India, the period of ‘60 days’ is to be replaced by 182 days. But for those returning permanently to India, this replacement of 60 days with 182 days is not available. So, those returning within four years become Residents immediately on return, unless they return in February or March. Basically you will find that all times, if you spend 182 days or more in India in any FY, you will lose your NRI status and become a Resident. 2. From the RNOR rule mentioned in your query you will find that anyone who returns after seven or more FYs of being an NRI will become RNOR for two years. Those returning after six years will become RNOR for one year. This is subject to his/her stay in India during the previous seven years for 729 days or less. Those returning after being NRIs for five continuous years or less will become residents immediately. In rare cases, a person may become RNOR for three years.

AN SANDEEP SHANBHAG SHANBHAG monthly limit as such.

have resident saving accounts? — Kumar 1. If you have spent 182 days or more in India in an FY you will qualify as Indian residents. Else you will be NRIs. You may apply this principle to your situation to determine your respective NRI statuses. The status is an automatic result of the physical presence or lack thereof in India; there is no paperwork to be done or application to be made. 2. You may send any amount of money to your parents. However, the tax authorities in India have the right to inquire as to the source of the funds and the means employed to acquire the same. There is no

I was an NRI and now I have taken Australian citizenship with Overseas Citizenship of India. Can I continue my NRO account? Do I become an RNOR from NRI? — Dastoor The tax provisions are related to your Residential status and not citizenship. As an Australian citizen, you will be a Person of Indian Origin and not an NRI. Both NRIs and PIOs have almost similar rights and privileges. You will not be RNOR as RNOR is a type of Resident. You remain an NRI or technically a PIO as just explained. I am an NRI for 10 years. I had sent about $100,000 to my brother in India for his business — a temporary loan with zero interest. What is the best way to get the money back in dollars? — Subhan It’s good that you haven’t charged any interest to your brother. Knowingly or unknowingly you have followed the letter of the law to the small detail. The law in this regard is as follows: AP (DIR) Circular 24 dated 27.9.03 grants general permission to borrow up to $2,50,000 or its equivalent in foreign exchange on a repatriable basis by an individual Resident from his close relatives (as defined in Sec. 6 of the Companies Act) resident outside India subject to: * The loan is free of interest. * The minimum maturity period of the loan is one year. * The amount of loan is received by inward remittance in free foreign exchange through normal banking channels or by debit to the NRE/Foreign Currency Non Resident account of the non-resident lender. You will notice that the loan has to be from a relative and without interest. Now, as long as one year has elapsed since you giving the loan, your brother can pay it back either directly to your overseas bank account or to your NRE account in India.

1. If I earn more than Rs 200,000 ($3,000) in India, do I have to file tax returns in India? 2. Due to my NRI status (with no Indian income) I will not be filing tax returns. If say after a year I earn rent income or profit from stock trades, and if I have to file tax returns, does it matter that there is a gap in tax filing? — Vivek 1. You are legally obliged to file a tax return only if your Indian taxable income is above Rs 250,000 ($3,700). 2. If the income chargeable to tax is less than the tax threshold, there is no need to file the returns. The gap would not matter, as legally a person with income below the tax threshold isn’t liable to file a tax return.

My brother is an NRI, with citizenship of Singapore. I want to gift him Rs 1 million ($14,800) to invest in mutual funds in India. What are the tax implications for both of us in India? Also, he does not yet have a Permanent Account Number. Does he need to apply for the PAN as an NRI and then invest in MFs? — Priyanka You may give him a gift of Rs 1 million; there will be no tax implication of the gift on you or your brother. PAN has been made mandatory for all market participants, including NRIs. Therefore, he would first have to acquire PAN and only then can the investment be made.

1. My wife and I have been working in the United Kingdom since the last year. We are not aware about our NRI status. If we are not NRI, when we will get this status? Do we need to get paperwork done or apply somewhere? 2. We understand that we can send unlimited money to our parents’ account in India. Is there any monthly limit as they

A N Shanbhag is an investment consultant and author of In the Wonderland of Investment; How to Convert a Taxpayer into a Taxsaver; NRI Investment Guide. This article does not constitute tax or legal advice. Consult your tax or legal advisor before making any tax- or legally-related investment decisions. The authors may be contacted at wonderlandconsultants@yahoo.com.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Snapdeal opens data sciences centre in California

ndian online marketplace Snapdeal has set up a data sciences center in Palo Alto, California. The centre will focus on big-data and advanced-analytics to define a consumer-centric growth strategy, a part of it’s aim to reach 20 million daily transacting users by Nitin Sharma will year 2020. helm Snapdeal’s ‘We have set up a data sci- data sciences center ence engine in California, which is home to domain talent, to further augment our efforts in creating a superior customer experience and strengthen our supply chain. Snapdeal is extensively working on data mining through an existing analytics team,’ Rohit Bansal, co-founder, Snapdeal told the media. The centre, helmed by Nitin Sharma, senior vice president, data sciences, will have five team members from companies like Google, Yahoo! and Groupon.

An opportunities conference for minority and womenowned business enterprises

he Asian Women in Business will hold its Annual Procurement Opportunities Conference for Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprises at BNY Mellon, June 16. ‘The event provides the MBWE community with resources and connections to stand out in an increasingly competitive market,’ AIWB, which hosts the event as a public service, said in a statement. ‘Attendees can foster partnerships by networking with government officials and small business owners in the extensive exhibition area. To support the growth of MWBEs, pre-qualified vendors have a chance to meet with corporate buyers during one-on-one appointments.’ The conference highlights include insights into doing business with corporate America, marketing to the government, refining sales techniques and how MWBEs can become involved in New York City’s Affordable Housing Mandate.

Raj Ganguly’s B Capital raises $143.6 million

ilicon Valley investor Raj Ganguly’s B Capital Group — a venture capital firm started along with Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, has raised $143.6 million, which the company reportedly plans to invest in India and Southeast Asia. ‘The fundraise comes a Raj Ganguly couple of months after Saverin in February made his first direct investment in India when he backed Hit The Mark Inc, which runs Mumbai-based curated baby and kids products flash sales site Hopscotch.in,’ VC Circle reported. ‘B Capital joins other US-based VC firms such as Sequoia Capital and Nexus Venture Partners to invest in India.’

ALLEN E KAYE

Humanitarian parole is used sparingly to bring someone who is otherwise inadmissible into the United States for a temporary period of time due to a compelling emergency. The USCIS may grant parole temporarily: To anyone applying for admission into the United States based on urgent humanitarian reasons or if there is a significant public benefit For a period of time that corresponds with the length of the emergency or humanitarian situation Parolees must depart the United States before the expiration of their parole. You may submit a request for reparole, which must be approved by USCIS. Parole does not grant any immigration benefits.

Requirements for Parole Anyone can file an application for humanitarian parole. You may file an application for parole with USCIS if you cannot obtain the necessary admission documents from the Department of State. You cannot use parole to avoid normal visa-issuing procedures or to bypass immigration procedures. As noted above, there must be an urgent humanitarian reason or significant public benefit for the parole to be granted. To see if you can obtain the necessary admission documents from the Department of State, see the 'Department of State Visa Information' section at www.state.gov Filing for Parole To file for parole you must: Complete a Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, and include the filing fee for each parole applicant Complete a Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, for each applicant in order to demonstrate that you will not become a public charge Include detailed explanation and evidence of your circumstances If you are represented by an attorney, he or she must file a Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative. All requests for parole must be submitted to: USCIS Dallas Lockbox For US Postal Service (USPS) Deliveries: USCIS PO Box 660865 Dallas, TX 75266 For Express mail and courier deliveries: USCIS Attn: HP 2501 S. State Hwy 121, Business Suite 400 Lewisville, TX 75067

You will receive a written notice once USCIS have received your application and again when your case has been decided. If you do not receive a response within 120 business days, then you may contact the Parole Branch in writing at the address above. If you are currently in removal proceedings or have been previously removed from the United States, you will need to submit your request to: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations/Investigative Services Division Parole and Law Enforcement Program Unit (PLEPU) 500 12th St SW, Mail Stop 5112 Washington, DC 20536-5112

Re-parole Request File a request for re-parole at least 90 days before the expiration date on your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. To apply for an extension of parole with USCIS you must: Have received your humanitarian parole from USCIS File Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. Under 'Part II. Application Type' check box 1.e., which states, 'I am outside the United States, and I am applying for an Advance Parole Document' and write 'Re-parole'

next to this check box. Include the filing fee File a Form I-134, Affidavit of Support Include a copy of your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, that you were issued upon parole into the United States. You must submit requests for extensions of parole to the following address: USCIS Dallas Lockbox For US Postal Service (USPS) Deliveries: USCIS PO Box 660865 Dallas, TX 75266

CONRAD E. POLLACK, ALLEN E. KAYE, NELSON A. MADRID Attorneys at Law

Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, LLP. IMMIGRATION: Family visas, work visas, EB-5 visas, naturalization and citizenship, consular processing, immigrant visa waivers, H-1B visas, L-1 visas, O-1 extraordinary ability visas, labor certifications (PERM), removal proceedings (deportation defense), asylum, and federal appeals. Please Contact Conrad E. Pollack: cep@ppid.com, Allen E. Kaye: aek@ppid.com

Our staff is fluent in Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Marathi and Gujarati. Allen E. Kaye is also available for appointments in New Jersey

Tel: 212-233-8100 • www.ppid.com 225 Broadway, Suite 307, New York, NY 10007

Denied Parole Requests There is no appeal from denial of parole. However, if there are significant new facts that are relevant to your application, you may submit new documents with updated supporting evidence following the 'Filing for Parole' procedure outlined above.

Medical Parole If you need humanitarian parole for medical reasons, you must submit the following, with documentation to support any assertions, where available: An explanation from a medical doctor stating the diagnosis and prognosis, and how long the treatment is expected to last Information on the reasons why you cannot obtain treatment in your home country or in a neighboring country The estimated cost of the treatment and an explanation on how the treatment will be paid for How you will pay to return to your country

Parole for Children with Medical Needs Parole of children, including for medical needs, requires the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Questions & Answers: Humanitarian Parole Parole is used sparingly to bring someone who is otherwise inadmissible into the United States for a temporary period of time due to a compelling emergency. Where can I find the law on humanitarian parole? The legal foundation for humanitarian parole comes from the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 212(d)(5)(A) of the INA states that USCIS has discretion to parole an individual into the United States temporarily under certain conditions for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit on a case-by- case basis. How long does it take to adjudicate an application? Parole applications are generally adjudicated within 90120 business days from the time USCIS receives your application. How can I find out the status of my application? To check the status of your application, contact the Chief of International Operations Division by directly writing to the address in Dallas Texas listed earlier. Please provide specific information about your application, such as the case number of the humanitarian parole application, name and date of birth of the petitioner, the date of application, and a brief explanation of the reasons for seeking humanitarian parole. (To be continued next week)

Allen E Kaye, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Queens College of the City of New York, Columbia Law School (JD) and New York University Law School (LLM), is the President of the Law Offices of Allen E. Kaye and Associates and Of Counsel to Pollack, Pollack, Isaac and DeCicco. He is a past national president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and co-chair of the Immigration Committee of the Queens County Bar Association. He has been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2014 ‘Top Rated Lawyer’ in the practice of Labor and Employment (for Immigration). Questions for publication may be sent to Allen Kaye at 225 Broadway, Suite 307 New York, NY 10007 or by sending e-mail to akaye@kayevisalaw.com, allenekaye5858@gmail.com or aek@ppid.com

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Letters to the Editor .......................................A3 42 People............................. ...........................A .....A32 Immigration............................ ............................ Business............................ ................................M1 ..........A37 Magazine............................ ............................ Sports............................ Pages: 44+16=60

Pages: 56+16=72

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....A52

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Real Estate Rentals: House/ Apt/Property for sale/lease. USA, Canada, and India

TAMIL Protestant, 29 years/5’6", doing Ph.D in North Carolina, seeks God fearing Christian boy with clean habits Contact: isabelrenuka1961@gmail.com

UNCLE seeks well-educated and employed SI Brahmin groom for niece, fair, 36/5’2”, finance professional in a MNC in Chennai. Contact: drsvgovindan@yahoo.com

Matrimonial Groom 35/5'6", successful software professional, Jain, slim, fair, vegetarian, US-born, living in NYC. Seeking educated girl. Call (908) 674-4463 BENGALI parents seek Hindu match for MS scientist, elder son, 33/5ft 7.5 inches, US citizen, working in a Pharma, New Jersey. Email: dipak.mal@gmail.com

GUJARATI parents invite correspondence from US raised, Gujarati Physician/Medical Professional; for US born & educated, handsome physician son, 29, vegetarian, wellbalanced family & cultural values. Email biodata/recent photo: sanskar868@gmail.com

Employment Career Opportunities, Job Offers, Help Wanted, Household help, Job Wanted

Services/Miscellaneous Public Notice, Computers, Adoptions and many more

HINDU parents invite alliance for tall,. handsome, 34 year old, MD son. US born & raised. Seeking welleducated, beautiful girl with family values. Send biodata & recent photo. Email: sga8181@yahoo.com

Seeking compatible match for US born, never married, wellestablished Engineer son , 47/ 5'10” and Ivy alumni Appreciate bio/photo to: snyack562000@yahoo.com SIKH HINDU parents seeking professional match for son, software developer, 37/5'9", Jersey City. Please email biodata/recent photos to: shaadi517@yahoo.com US/CANADA settled, family-oriented match for Punjab based Brahmin, unmarried male, 6'/1978/180, Sports goods overseas business, Siblings US/ Canada Citizens. Call (917) 495-4769 or email: response.me78@gmail.com

Email: classified@indiaabroad.com Website: www.indiaabroad.com/classifieds

By Phone: (646) 432.6026/6033 By Email: classified@indiaabroad.com, Complete name, address, telephone number, ad copy & credit card information required.

Via Internet: Log on to: www.indiaabroad.com/classifieds (Place your Ad directly) India Abroad Publications, Inc. Murray Hill Station, PO Box 1876. New York, NY 10156.

EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTOR For leather goods is seeking investment for opening multiple stores, will pay 20% P.A. interest inventory, will be offered as collateral. minimum amount 5K. Call (484) 919-0497 OCEAN COUNTY, NJ: 23,400 sqft Retail + Office Bldg, Gross $325K, Net $200K. Price 2.6Million. Call Broker Shiv (732) 718-3045

Motel/Hotel For Sale/Lease FRANCHISE MOTEL for sale in VA. Excellent location. Please call (423) 366-5259

Store For Sale/Lease

BENGALEE senior (61) seeks, citizen bride, STORE for rent, Newark Avenue, (30+). Jersey City, NJ. Contact: (973) 641Email: 0412subhankar@gmail.com 3833. Mena Patel Call (917) 749-2893

Business / Finance Business Opportunities Taxi Medallion for rent. By owner. Call: (718) 847-7807

DOCTOR, 6'2"; seeking Hindu MD, PARSIPPANY, NJ: 2,915 sf restaurant attending NYC-AAPI conference.. available. Full-kitchen & Party room. (716) 479-1865/ email: Call Broker (908) 668-9600 search4346@hotmail.com

Commercial \Property India BUILDING FOR SALE in Koramangla, Bangalore, India. 13 fully furnished studio units. Good rental income. Fully occupied year around. For details email: lakshmipuri@gmail.com

Payment: Complete name, address, telephone number and full remittance must accompany all Ads. All valid credit cards are acceptable. The check/ money order should be payable to India Abroad. Classified Policy: India Abroad reserves the right: *Not to accept an advertiser’s order. *To edit or alter any and all ads. India Abroad assumes no financial responsibility for errors in advertisements except to the extent of reprinting the rectified text of the ad, provided the newspaper is notified within 48 hours of the error. Failure to honor position requests shall not be cause for rerun, refund or adjustment. *Advertisers are advised to check the Category of the ad prior to publication. *No telephone orders will be accepted. *Mailing of any unsolicited material to our advertisers is prohibited. Cancellation & Corrections: Possible only 1 week before the date of publication. Any advertisement cancelled before its publication will be charged a processing fee of $ 5. Deadline for submitting Ads: Thursday 5:00 pm of the preceding week.

Employment Help Wanted #INDIA EMPLOYMENT AGENCY

Estb 1982. Bkkpr-A/C,Secy, data entry, Clerk, CSR,Import/Prod/ Merchandiser/designer, legal, chemist/pharmacist, lab tech, warehouse Mgr, sales/mktg, engineer, tvl agt. Interview in NYC by appt only. (212) 564-0620

AN ENTRY LEVEL ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT for a small Tax & Accounting firm based in New Hyde Park, NY. Working knowledge of Tax preparation & Quick books preferred but not required. Fax resume (718) 343-6343 or email: nhptax@gmail.com DATA ENTRY/ OFFICE HELP. Various tasks on websites. Other office tasks. Transportation must to Syosset, Long Island. F/T at $10.00/hour. Contact via email only. (516) 417-8546 usmilpack@yahoo.com

EXPERIENCED Eyebrow threader wanted at a very busy location for a modern salon. full hours, very good hourly pay, super excellent tips. Call (608) 695-7474

Experienced Tandoori Chef & Kitchen Helper Competitive salary. Free accommodation. Sponsorship for right candidate. Call (732) 2617815 (732) 887-1293 EXPERIENCED Tandoori, curry chef, kitchen helper excellent pay & accommodation. Food runner, waiter, busboy & manager. Work permit required. Bombay Darbar Miami, Florida . Call (305) 305-9822

FULL-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT POSITION in Rahway, NJ. We are looking for Office help with excellent communication and administrative skills. Multiple duties. Sales/ filing/ data entry/A/R/maintaining and reconciling transactions and records for numerous Customer accounts. This will begin as a part-time/full-time position. Please email your resume: igsnj721@gmail.com

LARGE, UPSCALE INDIAN RESTAURANT with lounge, Bar, & Banquet Hall in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles California, is hiring General Manager. Email resume: info@spice-affair.com or call (424) 202 1390. Continued on Page A17

A17

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Classifieds Continued from Page A16

MANAGER COUPLE NEEDED for a franchise hotel in Mississippi. Contact Deepak (601) 983-7764 or email: chika3318@gmail.com NEED EXPERIENCED TANDOORI CHEF Handi Cook with Tandoor Experience for Indian Restaurant in Savannah, GA. Please call (912) 224-9889

NEED EXPERIENCED WAITERS for a Vegetarian Restaurant in NJ. Good salary & accommodation available. Call Sunny (973) 452-2208

WANTED DRIVERS With own vehicles for Grocery delivery service, Manhattan. Earn base pay + lots of tips. Parttime & full-time. Call (917) 8264090 or (347) 933-1758

NEED FULL-TIME FRONT DESK OFFICE SECRETARY for doctors office in Jersey city, NJ. Computer skilled & previous exp.must. Fax CV to: (201) 653-3420 Email resume to: varsha1720@aol.com

NEED RESTAURANT STAFF for Upscale Indian Restaurant in Stamford Downtown Connecticut. Please contact Kabir at (908) 201-8578 for Appetizer Chef, Tandoori Chef, food runner. Please contact: Jay (585) 694-1138 for Hosts/Hostesses, Servers, Bussers, Bartenders WELL-ESTABLISHED Indian Restaurant requires full-time experienced Head Chef, South & North. Also looking for Kitchen helper & Waiters Call (931) 338-2300 Email: tandoorclarksville@ gmail.com

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY Looking for packaging mechanic. Must have experience with Bottling equipments, Blister machines and cartooning machines Setup and troubleshooting of packaging machines. Excellent salary and benefits. Nutra-Med Packaging Inc. Rock away NJ. Email your resume at: Jupadhyay@nutra-med.com PROPERTIES MANAGER Real Estate Co needs persons expd in computers, Book-keeping & verbal/written communications background legal/marketing a +. Excellent salary/benefits. Can sponsor. 1-800-879-2511 mellorpark@yahoo.com

WANTED Young, honest, hardworking individuals as Cashier cum Stock Clerks full-time for 24 hour grocery store in Manhattan. Minimum 1yr experience & references a must. Call (917) 826-4090 (347) 933-1758 ANNOUNCEMENT

Daryl Rand Awarded Iconic Leadership Award at Women Economic Forum Daryl Harrison Rand, President and CEO of HarrisonRand, NJ, received the award of "Iconic Woman Leaders in Women Empowerment" presented by the ALL Ladies League at the Women Economic Forum (WEF) 2016 in New Dehli, India. Rand is being honored for her work with Friends of India, a not-for-profit organization focused on cultivating relationships between American businesswomen and their Indian counterparts. Her work began over a decade ago and, since then, she has led six delegations to India with a focus on entrepreneurship, culture, education, business strategy, and government relations. The Women Economic Forum, an annual summit for diverse women leaders and entrepreneurs from around the world, congregated for nearly a week to form valuable connections and drive global progress in women empowerment and education. WEF 2016, themed "Women: Uplifting & Uniting the World," attracted delegates from 108 countries to participate in 408 sessions. Topics included Innovation, Start-ups, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Business and Globalization, Diplomacy, Sustainable Development, Peace and Spirituality, Social Empowerment, Environment, Health, Arts and Sciences and more. Joining Rand at WEF 2016 were Dr. Sue Henderson, President of New Jersey City University, and notable filmmaker Anoli Patel

of Think Reel Films. Both were members of Rand's recent Friends of India Mission 2015 and played a key role in fostering international dialogue and chronicling the delegates' journey. "It is an honor to have been recognized at the Women Economic Forum by such distinguished women leaders as those found in the ALL Ladies League," said Rand. "I am privileged to join my peers at the forefront of such important initiatives as women empowerment, education and global networking. The WEF and hardworking members of ALL will play a critical role in defining the future of women business leaders around the globe." Daryl Rand is a senior member of New Jersey's marketing communications industry.Throughout her 40-plus year career, she has served as President of the International Advertising Association's New York Chapter, as a member of its World Board and as a member of the Advisory Board of Children's Hope India, Inc. She is Chairman of the Board of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, having assumed the stewardship as its first woman Chair in its 125-plus year history. In 2009, the Chamber honored her as a "Legend." In 2008, NJBIZ named Rand one of New Jersey's Best 50 Women in Business. Later that year, she was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey sponsored by the NJ Ad Club. She serves the organization as a member of the Board of Directors.

HIRING experienced Curry, South, NEED Nanny housekeeper preferably Tandoori Chefs & wait staff. Call driving live-in-out in Long island. Call (678) 262-8327 (914) 582-7609 HOTEL Housekeepers franchise hotel Pennsville, NJ. Experience preferred. (732)425-9669/ mikebhoola@aol.com Indian Restaurant in Issaquah, WA, looking for Tandoori Chef. Call (425) 999-5464. balgoo3@gmail.com INDIAN RESTAURANT looking for South Indian Chef. We will provide accommodation and free wifi. Charnjit Bolla (414) 379-0727 Baldev Bolla (414) 218-0437

EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR BOARD CERTIFIED INTERNIST

Seeking Internist-F/T for Queens NY Medical Practice. Immediate Hire. Competitive salary & benefits Call (347) 870-4503

Apartment/ House To Rent

Household Help Wanted

QUEENS: Large BR basement apt near Rego Mall. Owner: (347) 4472381

HOUSEHOLD and Nanny services required in NJ. Call (781) 296-1157

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ 31 Hampshire Hill Rd 14 Room, 6BR, 6Bth w/Master Chef’s Kitchen w/Top of the line appliances, Great Rm w/fpl, MBR suite w/Lux Bth, Fpl. Full outdoor kitchen & heated Gunite pool. $2,579,000. R & R Realty (718) 234-5800 info@studiomaserati.com

Doctors

RESTAURANT HELP: Cook, Tandoori Cook, Helper, Waiter. Call (716) 8370460. (716) 830-6432.

HINDI/ English speaking Live-in nanny needed. Call (518) 755-7927

House For Sale

Commercial Space/Ppty INWOOD, NY FOR LEASE. 9,300 sf. Heavy power, outdoor storage, great parking, close to JFK airport. Immediate occupancy. Douglas, Payton (516) 829-7400

House/Flat Apartment Sale/Lease:India House To Share

LIVE-IN MALE HELP needed for FLUSHING: 1BR furnished apartment, elderly gentleman in Washington D.C. near everything. Share $477 & $375 separate partition. (917) 476-1304 Call (703) 490-1977

HOUSE for sale. Bhoopsandra, Bangalore. 4000 buildup area on 50x80 site. Contact: (440) 546-0429 Email: suryanpatn@aol.com

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A18

BUSINESS/SERVICES DIRECTORY

India Abroad June 10, 2016

Specializing in Small Businesses,

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Accounting, Auditing, Income Tax, New Business Set up Service.

Phone: 718.850.4404 Fax: 718.850.4424

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DEV M. KINI, MBA, CPA, CFP,

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AUTO INSURANCE

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Bulletin Board FRIDAY, June 10, 2016

INDIA ABROAD

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Oonchi Khushboo.. Ooncha Swad..!

To advertise in the Bulletin Board call (646) 432-6033/6060

ANNOuNcemeNts Q: ANY QuestIONs On Islam?

Original Formulation by J.M. Joshi

Help wANteD Need curry, south and tandoori chefs

www.peacetv.tv www.Gainpeace.com www.twf.org

Must be experienced, Milwaukee, WI

(414) 581-3784

BusINess OppORtuNItIes sAle/leAse suNOcO GAs stAtIONs, & c-stORe, HIGH VOLUME, BUSY LOCATION, HIGH MARGINS, TURN KEY OPERATION. UPSTATE NEW YORK BY OWNER

INDIAN RestAuRANt IN VestAl, NY

The Original Manikchand is back!

Needs Experienced Waiter & Food Runner. Offering good salary package & free accommodation.

(607) 761- 1407

Need tandoori chef, Kitchen Helper & waiter. Good salary & accommodation.

cAll: (315) 368-7591

Jafar (561) 317-7332

Help wANteD GROwING cHAIN

ResORts wAll OF wIsDOm NIAGARA FAlls - 14301 uNIVeRsAl RetReAt museum FOR All RelIGIONs

of Indian Restaurant Boston area needs

tANDOORI cHeF. Your H-1 B visa can be transferred immediately.

Waiters, Tandooria & Kitchen help

Walk 2 Wisdom $3 Mango juice & children free. $8 Samosa, Kala Chana, w/ Aloo Chat $5 Falooda & Icecream shakes. (Includes ticket & taxes) 620, 19 St.,Niagara Falls, NY 14301

(610) 745-7171

www.wallofwisdom.us

call (617) 661-8100

Indian Restaurant in philly suburbs Needs

It is already becoming clear that a chapter which had a Western beginning will have to have an Indian ending if it is not to end in the self-destruction of the human race… At this supremely dangerous moment in human history, the only way of salvation for mankind is the Indian way – Emperor Ashoka’s and Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of non-violence and Sri Ramakrishna’s testimony to the harmony of religions. Here we have an attitude and spirit that can make it possible for the human race to grow together into a single family – and, in the Atomic Age, this is the only alternative to destroying ourselves. - Dr. Arnold Toynbee

100% Vegetarian STATUTORY WARNING: CHEWING OF TOBACCO & SUPARI IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH. NOT FOR MINORS.

Exclusively Distributed in USA by: Zarda King Ltd.

Tel. 708.755.1007

Celebrating the spirit of India Celebrating Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit to the US

The English historian, E.P. Thompson, has said, “India is not an important, but perhaps the most important, country for the future of the world. All the convergent influences of the world run through this society: Hindu, Moslem, Christian, secular, Stalinist, liberal, Maoist, democratic socialist, Gandhian. There is not a thought that is being thought in the West or the East which is not active in some Indian mind. If that sub-continent should be rolled up into authoritarianism-if that varied intelligence and creativity should disappear into conformist darkness – then it would be one of the greatest defeats in the human record, sealing the defeat of a penumbra of other Asiatic nations.” These quotations give some idea of the momentous destiny which we are called upon to fulfil. - E.P. Thompson

India and US need real “Maitri” for world peace VK RAJU, M.D, F.R.C.S., F.A.C.S., Founder, Medical Director; The Eye Foundation of America www.eyefoundationofamerica.org

Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman Awardee 2014

“You be the change you want to see” - M.K. Gandhi