MEDIA REACTION: NEPAL, H-1B VISA RESTRICTIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000922 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: NEPAL, H-1B VISA RESTRICTIONS, TALIBAN; 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. -------------- NEPAL -------------- ¶1. "NEPAL RATTLED AGAIN" op-ed article in May 6 centrist NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "China is quietly playing its anti-India games in Nepal. Beijing has for long been working on Nepal's leaders to shake off their leanings toward India. China's slow convincing seems to have worked, and it is evident in Prachanda's allegations against India in this episode.... Prachanda has accused India of siding with the Army to the detriment of democracy in Nepal. While playing its role in Nepal, India needs to be careful to be on the right side of history." ¶2. "FAILED DIPLOMACY IN NEPAL," op-ed article in May 6 centrist DAINIK HINDUSTAN Hindi daily by Pushpesh Pant, professor of international relations: "Prachanda's grouse against India's backing the Army chief is weird. Not just India, the U.S. and Europe also opposed the sacking of the NEPAL army chief.... India's foreign ministry needs to shed its old condescending and patronizing attitude toward Nepal. NEPAL is neither a colony nor a protected state of the Indian empire. We should be very careful about appropriate diplomacy." -------------- H-1B VISA RESTRICTIONS -------------- ¶3. "OBAMA'S AXE," editorial in the May 7 centrist Kolkata Bengali daily, SAMBAD PRATIDIN. "If American companies manage to make some profit even without the tax relief then outsourcing of jobs may not end... Obama, however, will have to tackle pressures from big corporations in the U.S. because business sense will always dominate...." ¶4. "HOUR OF CATASTROPHE," editorial in May 7 independent Bengali daily ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "It will be unfortunate if politics compels President Obama to move in reverse gear in the wake of the meltdown. But this is a reality and there is no way other than to accept it. Politics will now prevail over economics." ¶5. "IMPRACTICAL DECISION" editorial in the May 7 centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT. "President Obama's anti- outsourcing policy is neither wise nor practical. It is a retrograde mechanism in the wake of a debilitating economic recession. The policy will affect India, but it may not serve America's interests in the long run.... Also it is worth noting that American companies, which are vying for a global presence, cannot shift their headquarters to the U.S. merely due to the fear of a steep hike in taxes." NEW DELHI 00000922 002 OF 002 -------------- TALIBAN -------------- ¶6. "TALIBAN SURGE SPELLS DANGER FOR PAKISTAN'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS," editorial in May 7 centrist Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA. "The rapid advancement of the Taliban in Pakistan is worrying for America and India. While India hasn't done much except issue statements, the U.S. has taken some concrete initiatives. President Obama's attention is rightfully focused on devising strategies for containing the Taliban. Global peace will be threatened if Pakistan's nuclear arsenal falls into rogue hands.... Obama has also offered some sane advice to Pakistan to get rid of its obsession with India and to instead clamp down on domestic terror." BURLEIGH