Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI2664
2007-06-06 11:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
DELHI DIARY, MAY 31-JUNE 6
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002664
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF KDEM PHUM BT CH TW KS IN
SUBJECT: DELHI DIARY, MAY 31-JUNE 6
NEW DELHI 00002664 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002664
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF KDEM PHUM BT CH TW KS IN
SUBJECT: DELHI DIARY, MAY 31-JUNE 6
NEW DELHI 00002664 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) Below is a compilation of political highlights from
Embassy New Delhi for May 31-June 6, 2007 that did not
feature in our other reporting, including:
-- Mayawati Escapes the Noose
-- Bhutan Now Has Four Political Parties
-- Bhutan Reaffirms Support for "One China" Policy
Mayawati Escapes the Noose
--------------
2. (C) On June 5, Uttar Pradesh (UP) governor TV Rajeswar
did not "sanction" efforts by the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) to determine what role UP Chief Minister
(CM) Mayawati and her then-Irrigation Minister Naseemuddin
Siddiqui played in the "Taj Corridor case." Mayawati's
previous tenure as CM came to an abrupt end in 2003, when her
coalition partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),accused
her and her inner circle of accepting large kickbacks from
contractors involved in the ill-conceived "Taj Corridor
scheme." The project was an attempt at erecting a tourist
complex that would cash in on the world heritage site.
Mayawati tried to ram through the project without heeding
environmental and other laws. The possibility of prosecution
on corruption charges has hung over Mayawati's head like the
sword of Damocles ever since 2003. Rajeswar's move kills the
case and removes this threat. There was considerable
speculation that Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
could work out a mutually beneficial deal should Mayawati win
the UP elections, and that dismissal of corruption charges
would be part of the package. Political insiders view the
end of the Taj Corridor case as a quid pro quo requiring
Mayawati to support Congress and the United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) in New Delhi in exchange for her virtual
amnesty from prosecution.
3. (C) Mayawati held a press conference in Lucknow as soon
as the investigation was squelched. She claimed that the UPA
action has "vindicated" her and proves her protestations of
innocence. She blamed the BJP for her troubles, claiming
that the Taj Corridor case was never anything more than a
political witch hunt. Not coincidentally, she ended the
press conference by noting that the BSP will announce its
choice for President of India "in the next few days."
Mayawati's major domo and BSP General Secretary Satish Mishra
subsequently denied any connection between the end of the Taj
Corridor case and the impending Presidential announcement,
but most will dismiss these denials as nothing more than
political drama. Now that Mayawati is on board, Congress
will have a much easier time pushing forward its candidate
(yet to be announced) for President. Congress should find
BSP support in New Delhi very useful in other ways in the
years ahead.
Bhutan Now Has Four Political Parties
--------------
4. (U) Bhutan,s national news source Kuensel reported June
1 that a fourth political party has announced it will be
forming this week, though it has not yet decided on a name or
platform. There is only one month left for political parties
to register to participate in the 2008 elections, and the
emergence of a fourth offers the citizens of Bhutan more
variety of positions among differing parties.
5. (U) Other parties that have registered thus far are: the
People,s Democratic Party (PDP),the Bhutan People,s United
Party (BPUP),and the Bhutan National Party (BNP).
Bhutan Reaffirms Support for "One China" Policy
--------------
6. (U) Xinhua news reported June 4 that Chinese Foreign
NEW DELHI 00002664 002.2 OF 002
Minister Yang Jiechi stated that China is willing to
strengthen bilateral ties with Bhutan by enhancing
cooperation and exchanges. Yang made the statement while
meeting with Bhutan,s Minister for Information and
Communication Leki Dorji on the sidelines of the Asia
Cooperation Dialogue in Seoul. Xinhua reported that Dorji
expressed Bhutan,s support for the "One China" policy, and
Yang thanked Bhutan for its support on China,s position
towards Taiwan and Tibet. Dorji reportedly added that he
"hoped the China-Bhutan border could remain peaceful and
stable."
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF KDEM PHUM BT CH TW KS IN
SUBJECT: DELHI DIARY, MAY 31-JUNE 6
NEW DELHI 00002664 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) Below is a compilation of political highlights from
Embassy New Delhi for May 31-June 6, 2007 that did not
feature in our other reporting, including:
-- Mayawati Escapes the Noose
-- Bhutan Now Has Four Political Parties
-- Bhutan Reaffirms Support for "One China" Policy
Mayawati Escapes the Noose
--------------
2. (C) On June 5, Uttar Pradesh (UP) governor TV Rajeswar
did not "sanction" efforts by the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) to determine what role UP Chief Minister
(CM) Mayawati and her then-Irrigation Minister Naseemuddin
Siddiqui played in the "Taj Corridor case." Mayawati's
previous tenure as CM came to an abrupt end in 2003, when her
coalition partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),accused
her and her inner circle of accepting large kickbacks from
contractors involved in the ill-conceived "Taj Corridor
scheme." The project was an attempt at erecting a tourist
complex that would cash in on the world heritage site.
Mayawati tried to ram through the project without heeding
environmental and other laws. The possibility of prosecution
on corruption charges has hung over Mayawati's head like the
sword of Damocles ever since 2003. Rajeswar's move kills the
case and removes this threat. There was considerable
speculation that Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)
could work out a mutually beneficial deal should Mayawati win
the UP elections, and that dismissal of corruption charges
would be part of the package. Political insiders view the
end of the Taj Corridor case as a quid pro quo requiring
Mayawati to support Congress and the United Progressive
Alliance (UPA) in New Delhi in exchange for her virtual
amnesty from prosecution.
3. (C) Mayawati held a press conference in Lucknow as soon
as the investigation was squelched. She claimed that the UPA
action has "vindicated" her and proves her protestations of
innocence. She blamed the BJP for her troubles, claiming
that the Taj Corridor case was never anything more than a
political witch hunt. Not coincidentally, she ended the
press conference by noting that the BSP will announce its
choice for President of India "in the next few days."
Mayawati's major domo and BSP General Secretary Satish Mishra
subsequently denied any connection between the end of the Taj
Corridor case and the impending Presidential announcement,
but most will dismiss these denials as nothing more than
political drama. Now that Mayawati is on board, Congress
will have a much easier time pushing forward its candidate
(yet to be announced) for President. Congress should find
BSP support in New Delhi very useful in other ways in the
years ahead.
Bhutan Now Has Four Political Parties
--------------
4. (U) Bhutan,s national news source Kuensel reported June
1 that a fourth political party has announced it will be
forming this week, though it has not yet decided on a name or
platform. There is only one month left for political parties
to register to participate in the 2008 elections, and the
emergence of a fourth offers the citizens of Bhutan more
variety of positions among differing parties.
5. (U) Other parties that have registered thus far are: the
People,s Democratic Party (PDP),the Bhutan People,s United
Party (BPUP),and the Bhutan National Party (BNP).
Bhutan Reaffirms Support for "One China" Policy
--------------
6. (U) Xinhua news reported June 4 that Chinese Foreign
NEW DELHI 00002664 002.2 OF 002
Minister Yang Jiechi stated that China is willing to
strengthen bilateral ties with Bhutan by enhancing
cooperation and exchanges. Yang made the statement while
meeting with Bhutan,s Minister for Information and
Communication Leki Dorji on the sidelines of the Asia
Cooperation Dialogue in Seoul. Xinhua reported that Dorji
expressed Bhutan,s support for the "One China" policy, and
Yang thanked Bhutan for its support on China,s position
towards Taiwan and Tibet. Dorji reportedly added that he
"hoped the China-Bhutan border could remain peaceful and
stable."
MULFORD