Remember there was a storm in India when the former President of India, Abdul Kalam, was body searched while boarding an American airline? Now the security-obsessed US officials have again kicked up a storm by asking the Chief Minister and other senior officials of the state of Maharashtra (whose capital city is Mumbai) to present their identity cards before attending any Obama-related events in the city.
Obama is scheduled to reach Mumbai early morning tomorrow (November 6) and will stay at the Taj Hotel, one of the sites of the deadly terror attacks carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists in November 2008. The US President will pay homage to victims of the 26/11 terror attacks.
India’s popular TV channel NDTV reports: “A day ahead of the visit of the US President Barack Obama to India, several politicians in Mumbai are asking one question – Just whose city is it anyway? That’s because Obama’s security detail is asking for all sorts of personal details from them if they are to be anywhere close to Obama at the ceremonies he attends in the cities.” More here…
Some may ask what are the limits of the US embassy officials in India? Or, has the Indian top leadership in New Delhi already surrendered their powers as the Pakistan government has in Islamabad?
Reports The Hindustan Times: “The US Consul General in Mumbai on Friday ‘personally apologised’ to Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal after they reportedly planned to boycott US President Barack Obama’s events in the city to protest against consulate officials asking them personal details.
“US consulate officials reportedly asked the politicians to give their date of birth, nationality, passport number and PAN numbers before attending Obama’s events in the city like a memorial service for victims of the 26/11 terror attacks.
“Many top Maharashtra politicians and bureaucrats may also skip the high profile meet for the same reason. Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil and Home Secretary have already declined to attend an event graced by President Obama.” More here…
This does not bode well for the promotional pitch being made by the US and the Indian government to make Barack Obama’s visit a success. Why should the US president visit India when he has no faith in the Indian intelligence agencies? Why doesn’t Obama call prime minister Manmohan Singh to Washington and get whatever done there?
Here’s a pictorial guide to see how Mumbai is getting ready to receive Obama…
Here’s from an American blog: “[Updated: No Invasion. India Relieved ] Obama to Invade India.”
Swaraaj Chauhan describes his two-decade-long stint as a full-time journalist as eventful, purposeful, and full of joy and excitement. In 1993 he could foresee a different work culture appearing on the horizon, and decided to devote full time to teaching journalism (also, partly, with a desire to give back to the community from where he had enriched himself so much.)
Alongside, he worked for about a year in 1993 for the US State Department’s SPAN magazine, a nearly five-decade-old art and culture monthly magazine promoting US-India relations. It gave him an excellent opportunity to learn about things American, plus the pleasure of playing tennis in the lavish American embassy compound in the heart of New Delhi.
In !995 he joined WWF-India as a full-time media and environment education consultant and worked there for five years travelling a great deal, including to Husum in Germany as a part of the international team to formulate WWF’s Eco-tourism policy.
He taught journalism to honors students in a college affiliated to the University of Delhi, as also at the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication where he lectured on “Development Journalism” to mid-career journalists/Information officers from the SAARC, African, East European and Latin American countries, for eight years.
In 2004 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) selected him as a Trainer/Mentor for India under a European Union project. In 2008/09 He completed another European Union-funded project for the BBC WST related to Disaster Management and media coverage in two eastern States in India — West Bengal and Orissa.
Last year, he spent a couple of months in Australia and enjoyed trekking, and also taught for a while at the University of South Australia.
Recently, he was appointed as a Member of the Board of Studies at Chitkara University in Chandigarh, a beautiful city in North India designed by the famous Swiss/French architect Le Corbusier. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students there.
He loves trekking, especially in the hills, and never misses an opportunity to play a game of tennis. The Western and Indian classical music are always within his reach for instant relaxation.
And last, but not least, is his firm belief in the power of the positive thought to heal oneself and others.