MEDIA REACTION: U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002768 SIPDIS 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 SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, KASHMIR; NEW DELHI. This cable reports on relevant media reaction from Indias 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. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION -------------- ¶1. THIS YEARS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN AMERICA, editorial-page article in the October 22, 2008 CPI (M) Organ GANASHAKTI Bengali daily, Kolkata by senior columnist Dr. Dilip Ghosh Roy. Those who take interests on the issues of social justice and equality will certainly understand the significance of this years Presidential election in America. Before one gets to know about the real attitude of Obama, he will have to win first. Only time can tell what Obama will and will not do once he sits on the throne. We will have to judge him as things unfold in the political arena. However, his candidature is significant not in the sense that the White House, controlled by Obama will usher in a fundamental change in corporate AMERICA or it will impact the American imperialist policy. AMERICA now stands on the precipice of crises. The ordinary Americans and even the Whites, who bother little about who is good and bad among the rulers, now want the deadlock to be resolved. At this election moment, Obama has emerged as the center of integration for many people. The Blacks as well as people belonging to other minority communities believe that they will benefit if Obama becomes the President. The so-called progressive people hope that Obama will be obviously against imperialism. At the same time, a section of the American middle class feel that Obama will introduce the much needed economic transformation that will help them sustain their aspired life-style. Second, the Obama campaign repeatedly reminds people that their candidates mother is a White and it was she who brought up Obama. This is a conscious effort of arousing a special middle class sentiment. Third, a larger section of the voters can no longer rely solely on the White rulers for eradication of their woes. Fourth, in spite of being a chosen candidate of mainstream Americans, this campaign has unwittingly created a crack in the nations political scene that will not be easy to repair. It is not Obama, but the inherent conflict of the U.S. society is to be blamed for this. There is a possibility of ultra rightist backlash if Obama fails to fulfill the aspirations of the Americans. The crack will certainly grow longer and wider. -------------- KASHMIR -------------- ¶2. WELCOME DECISION TO HOLD ELECTION IN KASHMIR editorial in the October 21, 2008 Mumbai-based centrist Gujarati daily evening newspaper JANMABHOOMI. Assembly elections in the state of Jammu-Kashmir had become inevitable since the imposition of Presidents rule in NEW DELHI 00002768 002 OF 002 the wake of the collapse of the Congress government over the Amarnath land row there. However, considering the tense atmosphere prevailing in the Valley, this task seems to be fraught with enormous challenges. At last, the Election Commission of India took the bold step of announcing elections to be held in seven phases. This is certainly a welcome decision as any delay in the election process would only prove to be a shot in the arm for separatists in the Valley who have already called for a boycott of the elections However, the election is an opportunity for the people of Jammu-Kashmir to give a fitting reply to separatist elements. It is an opportunity to send the message that people can resolve their own problems by participating in the democratic process and not by propagating politics of separatism and infighting. MULFORD