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Ackerman Urges Clinton Not to Embrace Kargil Invader

A P Kamath in Washington

Congressman Gary L Ackerman urged Washington not to go easy on the man who had plotted the Kargil invasion, asserting that the world has witnessed "two contrasting events within a span of 24 hours. In Pakistan, democracy was aborted by the barrel of the gun; and in India, the nation reaffirmed its faith in the democratic process as hundreds of millions of voters participated in free and fair elections."

The "autocratic overthrow of the democratically elected prime minister and his government, comes soon after Pakistani troops, under the direction of General Pervez Musharraf, attempted an armed aggression beyond the Line of Control in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir," Ackerman said.

Ackerman (Democrat, New York), the co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and member of the House International Relations Committee, was speaking on October 19 at the banquet of the Indian American Forum for Political Education in Washington, DC.

Dr Joy Cherian, who holds a doctorate in international law, started the forum, the first Indian American organization of its kind, nearly two decades ago with the explicit purpose of getting Indian Americans involved in mainstream politics. Dr Cherian subsequently became the first Asian commissioner of the powerful Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

In his speech, Ackerman urged Washington to move even closer to India than in the last year, applauded the efforts of Indian Americans to influence the Congress and the White House, and paid a tribute to Dalip Singh Saund, the only Indian American ever elected to Congress. He also chided the "nuclear theologians" in Washington for condemning India's nuclear programs.

Complimenting the Indian American community for fighting for better relations between New Delhi and Washington, he pointed out that the Washington Post newspaper too had lauded Indian American accomplishments in a lengthy front-page article.

"Yes, you are being heard and, yes, the Washington power structure is taking notice of you. We in Congress take your legitimate concerns seriously."

Ackerman, who describes himself as a honorary Indian American, and reminds Indian Americans 'Mey-rah daftar, aapka daftar (My office is your office}' reminded his audience that the banquet was held on Vijay Dashmi Day.

"That you have chosen the most auspicious day in the Indian calendar for your confabulations here shows that you are very serious about your wonderful community's political empowerment process," said Ackerman, a devout Jew who has attended many Hindu festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi.

"There could have been no better day than today.

"For, after all, today all Indians celebrate Vijaya Dashmi, one of the most holy days in your calendar. Anything started today, I am told, is bound to be successful. And I am convinced that whatever you endeavor to do will also be highly successful."

He urged the community to continue to keep an eye on Washington events and ensure Indian interests are served well.

The President has been given the right to waive provisions of the Pressler and Glenn Amendments, which prohibit military assistance to Pakistan, Ackerman said. "I do not believe that it is in the national security interest of the United States to resume any military relationship with the government of Pakistan.

"One of the main reasons Congress is giving the permanent waiver authority to the President is [to push] US-India relations to a higher plane so that Washington and New Delhi could emerge as strategic partners," he said.

The new waiver authority is not meant to be a tool for beginning a new arms relationship with Pakistan, he said. "On the contrary, it is meant to be a tool for strengthening our ties with India."

Asserting the relationship between the United States and India should not be held hostage to the nuclear issue, he said:

"Our policy toward India should not be dictated by unrealistic demands. We have to acknowledge and accept the fact that India can no more put the nuclear genie back in the bottle than can we."

"The nuclear theologians in the Administration must quit insisting on this single issue policy and work toward deepening and broadening our ties in all areas with New Delhi."

Discussing how for the past 50 years America's relationship with India has been "clouded more by mistrust than by trust", he said:

"For too long, many in the US administration have viewed the Indian subcontinent through the rather simplistic prism of India-Pakistan rivalry. The south Asian drama is much more complex. I believe it's time for all of us to closely examine our basic premise in policy-making toward south Asia, especially toward India.

"We simply cannot have business as usual with the military dictators of Pakistan. And we must elevate our relations with India."

Washington must realize that India is its natural ally, he asserted.

The Indian American community has very significant role to play in this endeavor, he said. "You have to articulate your views and concerns in a united voice. As the best ambassadors that India can have here, it is your historic obligation to explain to lawmakers on the Hill and members of the administration your views about how vital India is for our national interest."

Ackerman recalled the pro-India tilt in the Congress in the past 10 months, relished the passage of a tough resolution against Pakistan during the Kargil crisis, the defeat of "the outrageous" Goodling measure on the floor, which was "transparently" aimed at India, and the beating back the Burton Amendment.

"I guess I wouldn't be wrong if I assert that never in the history of the Hill have four, strongly pro-India measures impacting US-India relations have been successfully handled in a single session of Congress.

"These legislative successes are huge victories for you. And they are spectacular accomplishments for the members of the India Caucus, who have worked tirelessly in partnership with the Indian American community.

"These victories have been possible only because of the passionate involvement from some very active members in your community. These victories, let me assure you, did not materialize out of thin air," he added.

"These victories came about because of the sustained hard work put in by members of this Forum and other Indian American outfits. These victories came about because your community, and the Caucus that I have the honor to lead, worked together and never gave up."

The Indian American migration saga began nearly 100 years ago when Punjabi farmers and laborers arrived in British Columbia, and dejected by the racism there, moved to Washington state and then to California.

Though Dalip Singh Saund came to America through another route -- he came for his graduate studies and entered America through Ellis Island on the east coast -- he became part of the Sikh community in California.

But he was also drawn into mainstream politics, joined the Democratic Party and successfully contested for the position of a judge before being elected to the Congress in the 1960s.

"Dalip Singh Saund was a pioneer -- a man who was ahead of his times," Ackerman said.

About a dozen Indian Americans have sought to contest for Congressional seats -- most of the contests took place in the past decade, and except Peter Matthew's in California and Yash Agarwal in New York who were defeated by their Republican rivals, other candidates lost at the primary level.

"After Saund, we have had no Indian American in Congress -- and it is time you all resolve to follow the pioneering path set by him," Ackerman said.

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