MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL, IRAN:

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002629 STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SIPDIS SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL, IRAN: UN SANCTIONS, TERRORISM, U.S. ECONOMY; NEW DELHI. This cable reports on relevant media reaction from India's large non-English press. Embassy New Delhi reports on English-language media via email in the daily "Early Edition". USG customers please write to Geeta Krishali (KrishaliG@state.gov) to subscribe to the "Early Edition." -------------- U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL -------------- ¶1. "NUCLEAR AGREEMENT: WHAT TO LOSE, WHAT TO GAIN?" editorial in the September 30 right-of-center Urdu daily "MUNSIF", Hyderabad: "As desired by Manmohan Singh, the final seal on the Indo-U.S. Nuclear Agreement is just a matter of formality now. Very soon, the agreement would see the light of day. India has earned for itself a name in the Asian region. From this perspective, it was expected that, India & China would join together to challenge the domination of America with a larger plan to remove its neo-imperialist tendencies. In this way, they would become a potent force against the American might. However, by making India its ally, America has virtually isolated China. By virtue of its strategic location, Pakistan has already been an ally of America. In this way, America has no potent threats from the Asian continent. Not only its economic might, America's many other interests shall gain from this alliance. Apparently so, there is nothing left to challenge the American superpower as of today. America has gained a lot by losing very little. Would we get all that, for which we have lost so much?" ¶2. "STAMP OF APPROVAL ON NUCLEAR DEAL" editorial in the September 30, 2008 Mumbai-based centrist Gujarati daily JANMABHOOMI. "The Indo-U.S. bilateral civilian nuclear agreement that received bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives last week has put an end to suspense and speculation that had enveloped this deal for months. Now it just a formality to get this deal past the U.S. Senate.... There can be volumes written about Bush's foreign policy approach vis-`-vis Iraq and Afghanistan. The manner in which these were handled made the world more insecure rather than establish peace and harmony. However, as far as India is concerned, President Bush has lot of trust in India and the nuclear deal he offered is the proof of that trust. It can be said that President Bush invested all his time and energy ensuring the fruition of this deal.... All in all, President Bush has realized that a long-term friendship (in the form of this deal) with India will be beneficial to American interests and the House has corroborated his belief by giving its stamp of approval." -------------- IRAN: UN SANCTIONS -------------- ¶3. "UNITED NATION SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN", editorial in the September 30 right-of-center Urdu daily "SIASAT", Hyderabad: "The United Nations while approving the resolution based upon the fresh sanctions imposed against Iran has emphasized on curbing the nuclear program. The partial and unethical policies of American administration have come out in the open. Despite such exposures, the UN has been a mute spectator, rather a mouthpiece for America, in some matters. The main objective behind the formation of this organization was to have equitable justice amongst nations, while ensuring their rights. It is a representative of all the countries of the world; however its policies and functioning seem to be serving the interests of a few chosen ones. This is the reason why, its sanction no more enjoys the sanctity it used to. While approving the new resolution about Iran, it has been reiterated that uranium enrichment should be stopped, since Iran continued to go ahead without caring a damn about the instructions." ¶4. "FRESH DECLARATION AGAINST IRAN", editorial in the September 30 right-of-center Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA", New Delhi: "The new declaration passed by the United Nations Security Council against Iran has nothing new and just old wine in a new bottle. However, it has become apparent that an organization which works according to the diktat of America is in no mood to relent against Iran. It has also made clear that while Iran explained about its peaceful civilian nuclear program to the UN, the latter hardly seems affected by the assurance. Needless to say, it is so because America does not want to believe that Iran's nuclear program is meant for peaceful purposes including meeting its civilian energy requirements. The United States & Europe have joined together to impose economic sanctions against Iran particularly with the motive of giving a fillip to the Zionist empire, while ensuring that no Muslim country gains power in future. The fresh declaration passed by the United Nations also seems to be a link in this pattern of thinking. The assurances sought again by the Security Council are also meaningless because so far Iran has been cooperating with the IAEA." -------------- TERRORISM -------------- ¶5. "NOT AT ALL", editorial in the September 30 right-of- center Urdu daily "INQUILAB", Mumbai: "According to the ex-police commissioner of Mumbai police, the issue of terrorism cannot be resolved unless the community which becomes the breeding ground of terrorists is taken into confidence. We are not ready to believe that terrorists are breeding within the Muslim community. Sporadic names here & there cannot put the blame on a community of 15-20 crore people. If the government feels that terrorists are breeding within the Muslims, it is the duty of the government to take the community into confidence, but unfortunately it is not being done. Talking about the bomb blasts, Muslims have always openly condemned the acts, yet the government plays mum when terrorism is sought to be linked up with Islam & Muslims. When the Muslims began to be increasingly accused of the bomb blasts, various think tanks & organizations affiliated with the community simply pleaded for expanding the scope of investigations and book those organizations also, who have strong evidence against them?" ¶6. "HOME MINSITER SHOULD RESIGN", editorial in the September 30 right-of-center Urdu daily "HAMARA SAMAJ", New Delhi: "A large number of people have succumbed to death and several others have got injured as a result of terrorist strikes in the last few months in Jaipur, Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Varanasi and now in Delhi. Prior to these unfortunate turn of events, terrorists had also tried to wreak havoc in various cities of Maharashtra. The state governments, intelligence agencies & the Special Cell of the police accused the outfits SIMI & the Indian Mujahideen for being behind these notorious activities. Subsequently, numerous arrests were carried out in various parts of the country. The situation today speaks of Muslims all over the country being accused of their involvement in terrorist activities. How far is it true to put the blame squarely on Muslims for all the menace so far? After Muslims are shown to be involved in terror and they are charge sheeted, the accusations do not get converted into guilt in the courts, leaving room for their acquittal. A number of SIMI members are suffering in jails today." -------------- U.S. ECONOMY -------------- ¶7. "IN U.S. FINANCIAL CRISIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIA," op-ed article in the September 30 NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily by commentator Bharat Jhunjhunwala: "India and other Asian nations offer cheap and plentiful labor and human resources. This is giving the U.S. competition. Asia's and India's growth are directly proportional to America's decline. Unless the U.S. can come up with some revolutionary inventions - such as personal helicopters that can replace cars, or something revolutionary like that - its decline is guaranteed. We do not need to be overly concerned about the effect of the U.S. meltdown on us. It will be felt, but will not last very long. Of course a lot will depend on our policies. India may stand to benefit from the US crisis in the long run. How? Because the high prices of oil, the western countries will invest in oil producing nations. These oil nations will in turn need to further reinvest this amount. This is where the developing world comes in - the oil producing nations will like to invest in countries like India, rather than in the west." WHITE