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Rice remarks

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s advice to India to “move past old ways of thinking” as the Non-Aligned Movement had lost its meaning (Pranab assails Rice remarks, June 30) is a gross interference in India’s internal affairs. Ms. Rice’s remarks show that she is unaware of the contribution made by India, a co-founder of NAM, to the world through the movement. The comments also expose the emptiness in the U.S. foreign policy and its inability to think ahead to plan for a resurgent new world. The UPA Government has to deal firmly with this unwanted interference in our internal affairs.

Capt. T. Raju (retd.),
Secunderabad

* * *

The U.S.’ unsolicited advice, be it on India’s relationship with Iran or on its commitment to NAM, is certainly not made in the interest of India. It seems that Washington is desperate to take New Delhi into its fold — either by appeasement or by coercion. So far the official reaction to Ms. Rice’s comments has been mild. While countries such as Cuba and Venezuela are asserting their sovereign rights strongly, the timid approach adopted by a country like ours with apopulation of more than one billion is puzzling.

M.A. Hakeem,
Hyderabad

* * *

As pointed out by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, NAM is still relevant in the post-Cold War world. Since its birth, the movement has been playing an active role in fostering cooperation among countries, particularly the developing ones. Ms. Rice’s statement is politically motivated. India should remain true to its policy of non-alignment.

Deepak Kumar,
New Delhi

* * *

Ms. Rice’s statement is uncalled for. It is for member countries of NAM to assess whether the movement had lost its meaning. India will be well advised to guard against falling into the U.S. trap, compromising its independent foreign policy, nuclear deal or no nuclear deal.

E. Sivasankaran,
Coimbatore

* * *

Globalisation has made economic dependence and cooperation an unavoidable reality but this doesn’t mean India should shun the path of non-alignment and become the stooge of any economic superpower.

New Delhi should categorically dismiss any advice regarding NAM and reassert its faith in the values and ideals of non-alignment.

Pragati Vidyarthi,
New Delhi

* * *

Ms. Rice is right in saying that NAM has lost its relevance in the post-Cold War era. Just to keep the Left parties, ardent supporters of NAM, in good humour, Mr. Mukherjee had to hasten to deny Ms. Rice’s contention and uphold the relevance of NAM even after it has become ineffective.

Pratibha V. Srivatsan,
Chennai

* * *

The present requires all countries to align for economic development and to strengthen the fight against poverty and terrorism, and to uphold democratic values.

There should be a World Aligned Movement and not NAM.

K.R. Viswanathan Pillai,
Chennai

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