Bush greeted by Osama banners on India tour
Bush greeted by Osama banners on India tour
By Justin Huggler in Delhi
Published: 04 March 2006
President George Bush sought to forge a new special relationship for
the US in a televised address to the Indian people. Speaking from
Delhi's historic Old Fort at the culmination of a two-day trip, Mr Bush
said: "The United States and India, separated by half the globe, are
closer than ever before, and the partnership between our free nations
has the power to transform the world."
But even as he spoke yesterday, hundreds of thousands of people took to
the streets across India to protest against American foreign policy and
growing ties between India and the US. At least two people were killed
when protests in the northern city of Lucknow turned violent.
President Bush's address went far beyond the usual polite formalities
of a state visit. "India in the 21st century is a natural ally of the
US because we are together in the cause of human liberty," he said.
"Both our nations were created on the foundation that all people are
equal."
Mr Bush invoked India as a natural partner in his avowed aim of
spreading democracy. "As a global power, India has a historic duty to
support democracy around the world," he said. It is probably the first
time India has been so directly addressed as a "global power" by a
major world leader. This was a president appealing for a strategic ally
in Asia.
But if the proposal has been accepted with delight by the Indian
establishment, on the streets the US advances were being angrily
rejected. Before his address, Mr Bush flew south for a visit to the IT
city of Hyderabad. Even as he visited a business school and an
agricultural college, a few miles away police fought with rock-throwing
demonstrators protesting at Mr Bush's visit. Much of the city had been
shut down in a strike, black flags flew over the old city, and banners
strung across the street said: "Bush go home". The protests in
Hyderabad were fuelled by the fact that the population of the city is
40 per cent Muslim; many of the protesters carried posters of Osama bin
Laden.
Further north, in Lucknow, two people were killed when Muslim
protesters tried to force Hindu shopkeepers to join a strike against Mr
Bush's visit. The two sides started shooting at each other, police
said.
But it is not only India's Muslims who are protesting. Leftist parties
that are members of India's coalition government have been leading mass
demonstrations as well. Yesterday's address by Mr Bush was originally
supposed to take place in parliament, where Bill Clinton spoke in 2000,
but had to be moved to the Old Fort after MPs from the left threatened
to heckle him.
Analysts say President Bush is reaching out to India as a counterweight
to China's growing power, both economic and political. But public
opinion in India is sharply divided over an alliance with the US. The
Indian business establishment is very much in favour, but other
sections of society are deeply sceptical about US foreign policy and
fear losing Indian sovereignty.
Mr Bush made it clear it is not only a political partnership he is
interested in. "The relationship between India and the US begins with
democracy but it does not end there," he said, and stressed his
interest in trade with the world's second-fastest-growing economy.
Mr Bush arrived last night in Pakistan, where intense security measures
have been put in place for his visit a day after an American diplomat
was killed in a suicide bombing at the US consulate in Karachi. Mr Bush
will have talks in Islamabad with President Pervez Musharraf, which are
expected to focus on the "war on terror" and calls for Pakistan to do
more to hunt militants on its territory.
Before leaving India, the US President said: "I believe that a
democratic, prosperous Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for
America, a peaceful neighbour for India and a force for freedom and
moderation in the Arab world."
A White House official later said Mr Bush meant to say "Muslim world".
President George Bush sought to forge a new special relationship for
the US in a televised address to the Indian people. Speaking from
Delhi's historic Old Fort at the culmination of a two-day trip, Mr Bush
said: "The United States and India, separated by half the globe, are
closer than ever before, and the partnership between our free nations
has the power to transform the world."
But even as he spoke yesterday, hundreds of thousands of people took to
the streets across India to protest against American foreign policy and
growing ties between India and the US. At least two people were killed
when protests in the northern city of Lucknow turned violent.
President Bush's address went far beyond the usual polite formalities
of a state visit. "India in the 21st century is a natural ally of the
US because we are together in the cause of human liberty," he said.
"Both our nations were created on the foundation that all people are
equal."
Mr Bush invoked India as a natural partner in his avowed aim of
spreading democracy. "As a global power, India has a historic duty to
support democracy around the world," he said. It is probably the first
time India has been so directly addressed as a "global power" by a
major world leader. This was a president appealing for a strategic ally
in Asia.
But if the proposal has been accepted with delight by the Indian
establishment, on the streets the US advances were being angrily
rejected. Before his address, Mr Bush flew south for a visit to the IT
city of Hyderabad. Even as he visited a business school and an
agricultural college, a few miles away police fought with rock-throwing
demonstrators protesting at Mr Bush's visit. Much of the city had been
shut down in a strike, black flags flew over the old city, and banners
strung across the street said: "Bush go home". The protests in
Hyderabad were fuelled by the fact that the population of the city is
40 per cent Muslim; many of the protesters carried posters of Osama bin
Laden.
Further north, in Lucknow, two people were killed when Muslim
protesters tried to force Hindu shopkeepers to join a strike against Mr
Bush's visit. The two sides started shooting at each other, police
said.
But it is not only India's Muslims who are protesting. Leftist parties
that are members of India's coalition government have been leading mass
demonstrations as well. Yesterday's address by Mr Bush was originally
supposed to take place in parliament, where Bill Clinton spoke in 2000,
but had to be moved to the Old Fort after MPs from the left threatened
to heckle him.
Analysts say President Bush is reaching out to India as a counterweight
to China's growing power, both economic and political. But public
opinion in India is sharply divided over an alliance with the US. The
Indian business establishment is very much in favour, but other
sections of society are deeply sceptical about US foreign policy and
fear losing Indian sovereignty.
Mr Bush made it clear it is not only a political partnership he is
interested in. "The relationship between India and the US begins with
democracy but it does not end there," he said, and stressed his
interest in trade with the world's second-fastest-growing economy.
Mr Bush arrived last night in Pakistan, where intense security measures
have been put in place for his visit a day after an American diplomat
was killed in a suicide bombing at the US consulate in Karachi. Mr Bush
will have talks in Islamabad with President Pervez Musharraf, which are
expected to focus on the "war on terror" and calls for Pakistan to do
more to hunt militants on its territory.
Before leaving India, the US President said: "I believe that a
democratic, prosperous Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for
America, a peaceful neighbour for India and a force for freedom and
moderation in the Arab world."
A White House official later said Mr Bush meant to say "Muslim world".
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