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.

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NEPAL
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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."

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H-1B VISA RESTRICTIONS
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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


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TALIBAN
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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