Terming the snooping activity against BJP leaders and others in India as “unacceptable,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday told her American counterpart John Kerry that there was a lot of public anger on this issue.
The matter came up during the 5th Strategic Dialogue between India and US, and Swaraj told Kerry that people in the country were unhappy since both countries were engaged in friendly dialogues.At a joint Press conference on Thursday, Swaraj was asked if she had raised the issue of surveillance of BJP leaders in 2010 by the US National Security Agency (NSA), as was revealed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
Swaraj replied: “I raised this issue with Secretary Kerry. I told them that when this news appeared in Indian papers, Indians were agitated and they had expressed their anger too. I told him, I want to make you aware of that anger. “I even told him that both countries consider each other friendly nations and it is not acceptable to us if one friendly country spies on another friendly nation. This is unacceptable to us.”
When pressed for a response on this, Kerry evaded a clear answer. “We do not discuss Intelligence matters in public. We value our relationship with India. We also value sharing of information on counter-terrorism and other threats to both of our countries. Usually, we try to have our Intelligence communities work to resolve any questions or differences that may exist. We will continue to work actively with India wherever we see a threat to our shared interest and we fully respect and understand the feelings expressed by the Minister. President (Barack) Obama has undertaken a review of Intelligence gathering and articulated US approach. We will continue working actively with everyone. We fully respect the concern raised by the Indian FM,” he said.
With the deadline on signing the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement ending at midnight, Secretary Kerry used the opportunity to convince India to come on board. However, India reiterated its position saying it needs subsidies for its Food Security programme to feed the poor.India is insisting on a parallel agreement which would give it more freedom to subsidies and stockpile food grains, than is allowed by WTO rules. While Swaraj said consultations are still on in Geneva and all have to wait till then, Kerry said he was “optimistic”.
“We do not dismiss India’s concern for the poor and the need for food security for them. But we feel there can be a way for that. We are trying to find a way and a compromise is achievable,” Kerry said.
During the meeting India raised its concerns over the USA’s protectionist attitude through Senate Bill 744 on the new immigration policy, which adversely impacts Indian IT companies. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce and Finance, raised the matter with Kerry. “We told him that this Bill will impact the Indian IT sector if passed in the present form. This is a bad signal when India is opening up its market,” Swaraj said.
While agreeing that there was scope for amendment in the Senate Bill 744, Kerry ruled out any changes in it in the near future.
With some of the countries pressing for sanctions on Russia after the bombing of the Malaysian aircraft in Ukraine and Kerry too adding that it would “welcome” India joining in, Swaraj said India has a stated foreign policy and it did not change with the change of Governments. On the Gaza issue too she reiterated the Indian position of pursuing Palestine’s cause while maintaining a friendly relationship with Israel as well.
Kerry reiterated US support for India’s ambition to be in the United Nations Security Council. But before that he added that delivering on the potential by this Government is the key. “The action will define the relationship in future. We have a lot of homework to do. We share a clear understanding where we can begin,” Kerry said. He suggested breaking down barriers in trade by limiting the obstructions related to tariff, price control or preferential treatment as important steps.
India on its part raised concerns with regard to US patent restrictions and its impact on Indian generic medicine and the Indian pharmaceutical sector. It is learnt the US delegation urged India to increase FDI cap to 51 per cent from present 49 per cent in the Defence sector. Since the US is looking at enhancing trade partnership with India from present $100 billion to $500 billion by 2020, it expressed concerns over the slow pace of reforms and stringent legal bindings clouding investment and the business atmosphere in India. Swaraj expressed that a new Government is settling in and her Government has to work hard after the huge mandate.
There were discussions related to Intelligence sharing and cyber security, cooperation in space and science. Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, Home Secretary Anil Goswami, ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan and also attended the meeting.
The talks between Sushma and Kerry set the tone for a comprehensive dialogue between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barak Obama to be held in September. Kerry will meet Modi on Friday. In an interview to a TV channel Kerry said his Government cannot be blamed for visa denial to Modi in the past. He said Modi was denied visa by the previous Government but his Government has extended a hand of friendship to the new NDA Government.
Before his meeting with Sushma, Kerry called on Defence and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and termed his meeting as “very good.”