The Naresh Chandra Chat II
Gurpreet Singh Dhillon (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:7 IST)
Mr Ambassador,
if we could turn our attention for a moment to the happenings inside "the world's largest democracy", I would appreciate a response to the following question:
When will the people of Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and the other minority nations within India's borders be allowed to exercise their
right of self-determination in a free and fair vote, the democratic way? America is a democracy that allows Puerto Rico to vote on whether
to stay with the United States. Canada is a democracy that allows
Quebec to vote on whether to stay within Canada. When will India follow
their democratic example?
Ambassador Naresh Chandra (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:33 IST)
Sardar Gurdeep Singh Dhillon: Thank you for acknowledging India as the world's largest democracy. Let me first inform you that all the people in India -- whether in Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir or in Nagaland -- have a right to free and fair vote and they are all proud to be part of one great nation. I am aware that a hopeless minority is still dreaming of so-called minority nations. These are people who have lost all contact with the people of these areas and unnecessarily dream of things which are patently untrue.
In the recent conflict at Kargil, soldiers from all these areas as well as other states stood united and fought bravely to repel the intruders. These brave soldiers included Sikhs, people from Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, Muslims and members of all other communities in India. I think insinuations contained in your question constitute an insult to the bravery and national spirit of these true Indians.
I was in India recently and many officers of our armed forces belonging to various minority communities were very unhappy at some of the statements which were made by members of their community "flourishing" outside and shedding tears on their behalf without lifting a finger to help in their development.
Mr Dhillon, you have suggested the example of America and Canada. You have forgotten the example set by President Abraham Lincoln in the 19th century. You have also forgotten that people of all states in India have been taking part in various elections and electing their state governments. There is no demand at all of the type you are imagining in these states.
To take the example of Sikhs in particular, I am sure you will be very happy to know that they are not only flourishing in Punjab but also in all other parts of India. They are held in high esteem for their courage, hard work and enterprise and that is why they are the most successful community in India. Please do not attempt to belittle their contribution to India by harping on demands which they just do not have.
Sanjai K (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:19 IST)
Ambassador Chandra, the Clinton administration has thus far rebuffed India's request to have Pakistan declared a terrorist state. Why should India take the US seriously on South Asian issues, if it persists in turning a blind eye to Pakistani terrorism?
Ambassador Naresh Chandra (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:36 IST)
Sanjai: The Clinton Administration has to decide about Pakistan being a terrorist state according to its own law. There is no question of India making a formal application in this respect. However, the facts about developments in Pakistan are well known. What the activities of Pakistani agencies are in India, are invariably brought to the notice of all friendly governments including the United States. Our view is that there is a lot of evidence of Pakistani agencies supporting terrorist activity in India and other countries in the neighbourhood. This is something which US Administration keeps under constant view.
guru (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:13 IST)
Ambassador Chandra, do you think that the flow of information from India to you has been sufficiently fast and efficient?
guru (Wed Aug 11 1999 6:54 IST)
Welcome Mr Ambassador. I like the way you presented India's case as an invitee on CNN but yesterday, I felt that your answer to the question why India is not allowing Western journalists to verify their claim fell far short of my expectations. I was wondering if you had improper briefing on it by the Indian govt. Your comments please.
Ambassador Naresh Chandra (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:42 IST)
Guru: Yes, flow of information from India is fast and quite efficient. About India not allowing Western journalists to verify their claim, the question related to their being taken to the site. I did not say that Western journalists may not be allowed to verify their claim. In fact, material from the fallen aircraft has been shown to the Western journalists. What I said was that there is no point in taking the journalists to the site because all that will be available on the marshy land would be bits and pieces of fallen aircraft.
Another thing that you have to understand is that Pakistan is always trying to bring in third parties to internationalise any situation. India does not want to be in the position of a petitioner or a litigant presenting a case before a court of Western journalists. There is something smacking of the old colonial era to treat Western journalists on a pedestal where representatives of developing countries present the case to them for their consideration. At any rate the issue is well settled that the encounter took place on the Indian side of the international border. You will see that there was no improper briefing as far as we are concerned.
aslimog (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:26 IST)
Why do children of Indian diplomats settle down in Western countries? Statistics put together by the Govt show that 78 pc of all diplomat children settle down abroad, since 1962 onwards. Any idea? Do their parents also wish to leave the country?
aslimog (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:32 IST)
The country is full of sanctimonious civil servants. I once sat next to an IFS type on a plane, and asked him what he did, he said I am from the IFS. I said fine but what do you DO and he did not have an answer. Ambassador, question, what do you DO???
aslimog (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:36 IST)
This is fun, the Ambassador sits backs and pontificates or farts, whichever is easier and comfortable (guess?) while we bust our asses . . . standard operating procedure for us, par for the course . . .
aslimog (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:40 IST)
I just want to know: what does the IFS do to justify its existence? Why do most of the IFS types move into cushy jobs with the Western world eventually? Have they all sold their souls?
aslimog (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:41 IST)
For example, I will give readers here an example: In 1982, the Indian embassies put out a notification saying that Indians were forbidden to get into the software business anywhere in the world without going through the embassy. Mr Ambassador, can you try and guess where we would have been if we had listened to you?
Ambassador Naresh Chandra (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:45 IST)
aslimog: Your question indicates that you are an expert on civil servants but it seems that you got the opportunity only once to sit next to an IFS type. I do not know who was the one suffering from acute indigestion at that time. I would suggest you take a course of antacids before you get on to the Internet next.
Andrew Ball (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:18 IST)
Why did the Indian Foreign Minister organize and lead a meeting with the ambassadors from China, Cuba, Russia, Iraq, Libya, and Serbia "to stop
the US?" Why is a democratic country in league with these tyrannical dictatorships?
Ambassador Naresh Chandra (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:48 IST)
Andrew Ball: I am not aware of which meeting was organised and led with the ambassadors from China, Cuba, Russia, Iraq, Libya and Serbia. This is not correct. You should see the record of some of the developed countries in this respect who have had remarkably cosy relationships with dictators at one time or the other. India's record is much superior in this respect.
Deepak (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:46 IST)
Dear Ambassador,
in this day and age of information technology, why is India slow to bring infrastructural facilities within India to allow for the rapid growth of IT industry? Could you shed some light on the BJP govt's efforts in this direction?
Ambassador Naresh Chandra (Wed Aug 11 1999 7:50 IST)
Deepak: You have raised an important question on information technology. I agree that we have to expedite the provision of infrastructural facilities within India to allow a more rapid growth of IT industry. You of course know that the IT business has grown manifold in India in recent years. But I agree that much more remains to be done. The present government set up a high powered committee on IT whose major recommendations are being implemented. This report took suggestions and views of experts in India and abroad and their recommendations have been well received. The finance minister has given many incentives to the IT industry and this is a very high priority programme for us.
Ambassador Naresh Chandra (Wed Aug 11 1999 8:1 IST)
There are many interesting questions which I would have liked to respond to but I am told I have already taken more than the allotted time. I would, therefore, give some general replies which would cover a number of questions without my identifying the questioners by name.
1. About information to people of Indian origin, NRIs and others, I would like to say that our embassy website gives updated information on all major issues on a continuous basis. This could be accessed by Mr Varghese and others. Those interested also send us their email addresses.
2. On the question of human rights, it is difficult to answer specific cases just now. However, I would earnestly request that in such cases a detailed letter maybe written to me for inquiry and that I would get all the facts from India. Our National Human Rights Commission is headed by a former Chief Justice of India. They have sufficient status and powers to deal with such complaints. However, I would request my friends living in the US not to believe one-sided version and propaganda. Much of these allegations are manufactured by unfriendly governmental agencies and vested interests, some of whom are in league with declared unlawful organisations. It would be a pity if well meaning persons fall prey to such manipulations.
3. There are a number of questions on Kargil and beyond. In brief, the Govt of India policy is to limit the possibility of any further escalation and to take all meaningful steps in a spirit of restraint to normalise the situation as soon as possible. This does not mean that India would remain inactive and passive in the face of provocative and terrorist activity. Our approach is two fold. First, to encourage all responsible sections to create a proper atmosphere for dialogue and negotiations and secondly, to discourage the hawkish and irresponsible elements in pursuing a violent course of action. Only with a minimum level of trust and confidence can disputes and issues be resolved at a diplomatic level.
4. Many of the questions posed today were very supportive of our case and somehow it is these questions that I have not been able to respond to today.
5. I thank all of you for coming on to the chat show and doing me the honour of listening to my answers. Have a good day.
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