MEDIA REACTION: US-INDIA NUCLEAR COOPERATION,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 002800 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: US-INDIA NUCLEAR COOPERATION, WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS, WAR AGAINST TERRORISM; NEW DELHI - OCTOBER 25-27, 2008. 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." -------------- US-INDIA NUCLEAR COOPERATION -------------- ¶1. "BRIGHT PROSPECTS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY TRADE," commentary in October 24 nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily by Jayantilal Bhandari: "The picture of nuclear energy, which has emerged in India after the conclusion of the U.S.-India civilian nuclear deal, promotes new possibilities for economic development. This historic deal made India the only nation to get nuclear fuel supply without signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty and both nations have moved ahead to meet their economic- strategic interests... Now India can meet its energy demands. It will not only benefit India; other countries, including the U.S., France, and Russia, will also have comprehensive nuclear market in India. We should move fast with the nuclear deal in a well-planned manner on the path of generating power with the nuclear fuel." ¶2. "MUSLIM WORLD UNHAPPY WITH AGREEMENT," op-ed in October 24 right-of-center AMAR UJALA Hindi daily by columnist Rahees Singh: "The U.S.-India nuclear deal has created a new turbulence in the Islamic World. It thinks that the U.S. and its allies are making ISRAEL and India an axis to prevent Islam's growing power. Our relations with the West Asia and the Middle East should not turn sour because rather than anything else it has a strategic importance for India.... Prior to the nuclear agreement with the U.S., India was considered a non-aligned country, but now it is blamed to be siding with the U.S. camp. The U.S. and President Bush have become extremely unpopular in the Islamic world. India should maintain a balance in its relations with the Muslim world." -------------- WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS -------------- ¶3. "RECESSION WILL AFFECT CHINA THE MOST," opinion ;article in October 24 centrist NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily by Bharat Jhunjhunwala: "The U.S. sub-prime housing-loan crisis is the fundamental reason of the current global financial crunch. Actually, China dragged the U.S. into this quagmire by providing money for these loans to the Americans and also sold its cheap goods with the same money.... It purchased a large quantity of bonds, whose price will fall with U.S. dollar weakening, issued by the U.S. government. Its export-oriented economy will, obviously, suffer double loss with the export-failure. The recession will affect the import of Chinese toys more than Indian exports like software etc." ¶4. "LET LIBERALIZATION BE STOPPED," editorial in the NEW DELHI 00002800 002 OF 003 October 26, 2008 CPI (M) Organ GANASHAKTI Bengali daily, Kolkata. "Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram, who used to blow the trumpet in favor of economic liberalization and opening market access, can no longer show the courage to do so. The devotees of liberalization are now busy holding the reins. Still the situation cannot be tackled. Relying on American gurus, they thought that the crises pertained merely to the ups and downs of the stock market and to deficiency of cash inflow. But now they realize that the problem is much deep-rooted. It started to impact the basic economy. Fearing imminent danger, the ruling coalition is shuddering over the prospect of the upcoming parliamentary election. They cannot escape people's fury that is brewing over the current economic crises. People understand that advocates for liberalization as well as wooers of foreign capital are responsible for this crisis. Therefore, pro- liberalization reformists must be driven out of power and all the process of liberalization must be stopped." -------------- WAR AGAINST TERRORISM -------------- ¶5. "RADICAL OUTBURSTS" editorial in the October 27, 2008, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL. "The suspected involvement of Hindu organizations in the Malegaon bomb blasts is shocking. As per the arrests made by the Anti-Terrorists Squad, little-known Hindu radical organizations, the Rashtriya Jagran Manch (RJM) and Abhinav Bharat, masterminded the September 29 blasts. The RJM is said to have been formed after the July 3 communal riots in Indore this year in which eight people were killed, whereas AB was floated by five disgruntled saffron radicals. All these developments might give temporary solace to those who feel for the 'Hindu' cause. But this is certainly bad news. It indicates the level of insecurity in a society scarred by terrorism. Terrorist outfits, Hindu or Muslim, are doing no good to anyone." Similar editorial appeared in the October 27, 2008, edition of Marathi daily LOKMAT. ¶6. "HIGH TIME TO TACKLE HINDUTVA ORGANIZATION", editorial in October 24 right-of-centre Urdu daily "INQUILAB", Mumbai: "It is not the first occasion when police saw hands of Hindu extremist organizations in connection with bomb blasts. A few persons have also been apprehended. Earlier, evidences of involvement of Hindu extremist organizations have also been found in connection with bomb blasts at different places in different states. Despite, the police and the administration never took pain to link these blasts with those occurring in different parts of the country. Instead, they blamed any Muslim organization and ensured the arrest of Muslim youths. On the contrary, past of Hindutva organizations is stained with aggressive tendencies and activities. With such a stained past, giving clean chits to the soldiers of Sangh Parivar(RSS),without any investigation is nothing short partisan attitude. Now, if Jagran Manch is involved in bomb blasts at Malegaon and Modasa, the government should form a high level enquiry committee to NEW DELHI 00002800 003 OF 003 investigate into all bomb blasts throughout the length and breadth of India." MULFORD