Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

A new era

Mr. Bush's visit is a welcome sign for the people of the two largest democracies of the world. It will herald a new era of friendship. Those protesting his visit and all that it entails should realise that politics of convenience is not in the interests of the country. The Indian tradition has always been to treat the guest with honour, whatever our differences with him or her.

A.V. Narayana Sarma,
Secunderabad

The protests are uncalled for. There is no indication whatsoever that the Indian foreign policy has been tailored to toe the U.S. line. The Iran vote was in our own national interest.

R.A. Padmanabha Swamy,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.

Such protests can make a world of difference if they are staged against female foeticide, corruption, bonded labour, and many other evils that have the potential to stay long after Mr. Bush is gone.

K. Kitchlu,
Bangalore

We may not like Mr. Bush but it is unwise not to like the U.S. The two largest democracies have to support each other for mutual benefit.

K.R.A. Narasiah,
Chennai

What Mr. Bush did in Iraq is not our business. It is the problem of Americans. If it is about human lives or sovereignty, we should have protested against Pervez Musharraf's visit. In fact it was India that stood to gain when the U.S. ousted the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which was fuelling violence in Kashmir.

M. Srinivas,
Hyderabad

Mr. Bush may be world nightmare incarnate ("George Bush go home," Feb. 28). But can anyone stop the mad rush of the Indian youth to the U.S.? By not allowing the U.S. President to walk through the streets of our country, can we bring about a change in Mr. Bush or his policies?

Arun Dash,
Hyderabad

Our intellectuals, politicians, writers, and the media have never said anything against the visit of Russian leaders from time to time. Russians deserted the country they occupied. On the other hand, the U.S. contributed for the reconstruction of Germany, Japan, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

R.S. Rajkumar,
Thiruvananthapuram

The economic, diplomatic and cultural capital that India can leverage from a U.S. partnership is enormous. The purpose of the protesters seems to be to divert the attention of the Bush visit from matters of real importance to unnecessary rabble rousing.

Sankara Narayanan,
Bangalore

Besides the nuclear deal, Mr. Bush will take home a lesson or two on hospitality. While the U.S. rejected visa to an elected Chief Minister citing the post-Godhra riots, our Government has extended a red-carpet welcome to him knowing fully well that he is responsible for the killing of many civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq, and of many soldiers belonging to his country and coalition partners.

Sannapareddy Krishna Reddy,
Nellore, A.P.

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