MEDIA REACTION: POTUS VISIT,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002078 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: POTUS VISIT, NAXALISM/TERRORISM, AFGHANISTAN, SENTIMENT TOWARD THE U.S.; NEW DELHI. This countrywide cable reports on relevant media reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. The Mission reports on English-language media via email through the daily "Early Edition" summary. -------------- POTUS VISIT -------------- ¶1. "OBAMA TURNS HIS BACK TO INDIA," editorial in October 9 centrist Marathi daily, NAVSHAKTI: "U.S. President Obama has often shown high regard for India, Indian culture and values. In his presidential election campaign, he often mentioned the image of the Hindu god Lord Hanuman that is close to his heart. Obama's reverence for Mahatma Gandhi has won him respect in many Indian hearts. Against this backdrop, it is rather shocking that Obama will not come to India in his upcoming Asia tour. Obama's tour starts on November 11th, and we are soon approaching the first anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks. In his first Asian trip as president, he will be visiting Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea, the White House has announced. What message is he sending across? Is India low on his priority list?" -------------- NAXALISM/TERRORISM -------------- ¶2. "BULLET FOR BULLET IS THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO MAOISTS," editorial in the October 9 centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "The cold-blooded killing of 18 policemen in Maharashtra's Gadhchiroli district yesterday is another chilling account of the brutality unleashed by these extremist elements. This also suggests that Maoists are in a state of war and now it is up to the government to pay them back in the same coin. This is India's not just internal security problem but is also fraught with danger on borders as Maoists derive their support from China. If India is to secure her borders then she will first have to crush the enemy within." -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶3. "AL-QAIDA IN AFGHANISTAN," editorial in October 8 right-of-center Urdu daily, SIASAT: "In order to enfeeble the Taliban in Afghanistan, NATO and its allies are busy day and night. Thousands of guileless citizens are being massacred during skirmishes between the government and the Taliban. Millions of people are migrating in search of safer places. The very pertinent question is from where terrorists are getting their strength? Why do the intelligence agencies, that know about al-Qaida's plans and strategies, fail to find out the sources from which al-Qaida gets its strength?" NEW DELHI 00002078 002 OF 002 -------------- SENTIMENT TOWARD THE U.S. -------------- ¶4. "A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE," editorial in October 7 Islamist Urdu bi-weekly, DAWAT: "People's apathy against America and the West is increasing day by day. Earlier, the feeling of hatred was seen amongst the general masses only. There was no such hatred at the level of the ruling class. Some courageous leaders have come up in feeble and trampled nations. Yesterday, it was only Fedel Castro, but now there is Ahmadinejad too, to challenge the West. Muammar Qaddafi of Libya and President Lolo from Brazil are also in the list of anti-West and anti-American leaders amongst many others. They have a common feeling to forge an alliance. If Asian, African and Latin American countries keep making an effort to forge unity among themselves, the present tyrant and oppressive world order could be changed." ROEMER