Post-Wharton snub, Modi finds taker in U.S. House member
Special Correspondent
It is time America opened a dialogue with Modi, who may well be India’s next PM: Eni Faleomavaega
After the Wharton Economic Forum scrapped Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s video address, he has drawn support from a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. Eni Faleomavaega, a member of the Subcommittee on Asia and Pacific, has appealed to the U.S. to open a dialogue with Mr. Modi.
Mr. Faleomavaega, in his statement, opined that “it was time for the U.S. to open a dialogue with Chief Minister Narendra Modi of India’s Gujarat State who may very well be India’s next Prime Minister.”
He said: “The U.S.-India relationship is significant. It is one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century, and CM Modi is a leading figure.”
“CM Modi’s philosophy of bringing development to ‘the doorstep of every poor person, every farmer, every worker’ is a philosophy that transcends caste, culture, regional and religious differences and has led to a decade of unprecedented growth and development in Gujarat — a key State — which has contributed considerably to India’s economy,” he added.
He cited the recently concluded Vibrant Gujarat 2013 summit and several international automobile majors setting up factories in Gujarat and said: “It could be argued that Gujarat — an economic powerhouse — is now the global gateway to India.”
On the 2002 riots, Mr. Faleomavaega argued that while he was aware of the “2002 communal riots and sees eye to eye with the national and international community that what happened calls for justice and accountability, the fact remains that after an investigation that has been ongoing for almost a decade, India’s Supreme Court has not found any evidence against CM Modi. So I question the Supreme Court’s recent decision to allow for a new petition to be put forward.”
“I believe such action is politically motivated and that the U.S. should shift its attitude and extend the hand of friendship to CM Modi, just as the European Union and the U.K. are doing, given that CM Modi is the frontrunner among the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidates,” he stated.
“Now is the right time for engagement and I sincerely hope we will begin to engage sooner rather than later,” Mr. Faleomavaega said.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/postwharton-snub-modi-finds-taker-in-us-house-member/article4485652.ece
Narendra Modi's right to 'free speech' hurt by Wharton, says USIBC
PTI Posted online: Wed Mar 06 2013, 13:38 hrs
Washington : Questioning the decision of Wharton India Economic Forum to cancel its invitation to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, US India Business Council today termed it as a missed opportunity for the students of the prestigious business school.
"Unfortunate and disrespectful. Since when is an American University against free speech?" asked USIBC president Ron Somers.
"The Wharton Forum would have given the students a chance to ask the Gujarat Chief Minister hard questions," he said.
Expressing his dissatisfaction over the decision taken by organisers of the Wharton - which is run and managed by the Wharton students - Somers said he gives Modi credit for being willing to submit to a 'no ground rules' grilling.
"The fact this was cancelled by Wharton is a missed opportunity, and condescends the students in that why should Wharton Faculty or the Wharton Administration assume that Wharton students would have given the Chief Minister a free pass?" he said.
Representing more than 350 top US companies including those in the Fortune 500, USIBC is one of the three media partners to the annual Wharton India Economic Form event on March 23, while Somers is one of the keynote speakers.
USIBC is not withdrawing from the event and Somers intends to deliver his key note address to make his point.
"I still plan on attending to make this point about free speech, and about how young people in India and the United States share common ground, similar values: where your last name shouldn't matter, and that freedom and liberty bring with them the responsibility to insist on better governance and for active and participatory democracy," he said.
"Such a 'no holds barred' dialogue between future business leaders and a leader of Chief Minister Modi's capability and stature would have expanded the plane of hope and progress, on which the future rests. Do we stand for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Such questions asked and answered only advance democracy," Somers said.
Modi was initially invited by Wharton to deliver a keynote address via video conference on March 23.
However the students organising body of the Wharton school decided to cancel the invitation following a "furious" petition by a group of professors and students from University of Pennsylvania.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/narendra-modis-right-to-free-speech-hurt-by-wharton-says-usibc/1083928/0