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'The PM could not have chosen a worse time to visit USA'

Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000, 07:00:03EST -0500
Subject: PM arrives in New York

I write this in great disappointment over PM Vajpayee's US trip. Either the PM's foreign policy advisors are a bunch of idiots, incompetent buffoons, self-serving pompous asses or those without an iota of concern for India's self interests.

The PM could not have chosen a worse time to visit USA. The presidential election campaign is in full swing. Nobody cares about President Clinton or who he receives at the White House. There has been practically no mention in the mainstream US media about Vajpayee's visit to the US. I think one major objective of any overseas visit by India's prime minister has to be to showcase, focus positive attention on India, a vibrant democracy in the world since her birth and an exciting economy today. If this objective is not achieved, the visit should be deemed a failure. I think, sadly, that PM Vajpayee's visit already is a failure.

I cannot believe that the prime minister of India is visiting US for nearly 14 days, one of the longest by any PM ever, and it has been virtually ignored by the US press!

Gopala Ganesh

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000, 16:59:10EST
Subject: When Staten Island wore saffron

This is a negative article designed to denigrate Hindus and Hindu organizations in this country. The article is written with a view to tarnish the image of Hinduism. The writer is, perhaps, allergic to everything Hindu.

Narain Kataria

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000, 17:31:21EST -0400
Subject: When Staten Island wore saffron

Your reporter seems to be biased against reporting an event wherein the majority of the participants are Hindus. At least, that is the attitude conveyed in subtle terms in this report.

Suresh

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000, 16:22:36EST
Subject: `Aren't there other religions in India?'

I too think that India is not one country, it was united during the British raj. However, it is one big land where people have shared a very unique way of life for thousands of years before the Moghuls came in. The people who sacrificed their lives for independence where unselfish and patriotic. Today, more than 95 per cent of our people are very selfish and unpatriotic.

People living in the US and other countries are the biggest hypocrites who neither understand Indian culture or Hinduism. They are only interested in earning wealth. Unfortunately. I don't think anyone today understands either Indian culture or Hinduism. Hindutva is a political stunt.

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000, 14:04:47EST
Subject: `Aren't there other religions in India?'

I am a computer programmer working in Canada. I hail from South India and I belong to the so-called forward community amongst Hindus.

It is nice to hear that persons like Mr Saini want to incorporate the Indian way of life though I do believe that by attending a function arranged by the VHP, Mr Saini will never be able to learn about Hindu culture. The VHP, BJP and the RSS may talk loudly about Hindutva, but they themselves don't know what Hinduism is. People like Mr Saini should take up studying the Bhagavad Gita, the Upanishads etc.

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000, 13:19:23EST
Subject: When Staten Island wore saffron

If the people who hosted Vajpayee in Staten Island think that they alone are the voice of Hindus or of India, they are soon going to find out that they are mistaken. There are many of us Hindus who are watching the increasing intimacy between Hindu holy men and Indian politicians with growing concern. We don't for a moment buy the pesudo-nationalism of these people and their grievance that Hindus are second-class citizens in India. But most of all, we repudiate the abhorrent idea that India is, or should be, a de facto Hindu state.

On behalf of like-minded Hindus, I say to these people who pretend to speak in our voice, "You do not speak for us and we will not stand idly by as you destroy Hinduism and the secularism of the Indian state."

To our minorities, I say, "We are not misled by the conduct of a few who claim that their acts of violence, physical or cultural, are sanctioned by your respective faiths. Please believe in us, your Hindu compatriots, however difficult that may be. Your well-being is our responsibility as well. We will ultimately prevail over the forces of primitivism and darkness that threaten to envelop our noble nation. India can realise her destiny and her greatness without becoming another Germany or Iran."

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2000, 12:24:51EST -0400
Subject: When Staten Island wore saffron

I used to be a great fan of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But today I am very dissappointed in him. Raja Rammohan Roy and Swami Vivekananda must be turning in their graves at the definition and exposition of Hinduism as given by the VHP and the BJP today.

Jyoti

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