Cutting across party lines, MPs termed US President Barack Obama’s speech positive, inspirational and forthcoming.
The MPs appreciated Mr Obama’s remark welcoming India “as it prepares for a seat in the United Nations Security Council”.
Congress MP in the Rajya Sabha Janardan Dwivedi said, “It was a positive speech. I liked the way in which Obama showed his understanding of the Indian values, especially values developed during India’s freedom struggle.”
BJP leader L.K. Advani said, “Obama has met with the expectations of the Indian people. What a person expects from the leader of the strongest democracy in the world, Obama has measured up to the expectations in his address.”
Former BJP president Rajnath Singh welcomed Mr Obama’s remarks that the US would like to see India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Congress Rs. MP Rajeev Shukla said it was fabulous speech and the US President addressed all the issues. “He delivered more than we had expected. He played the role of a global leader and said India had emerged as one. He also said India should play a role in developing other countries,” said Mr Shukla.
Observing that the visit of the US President was historic and he gave powerful message, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said the speech was inspirational. “Obama showed that the US recognises India as a regional power. But it also brings responsibility on us.”
Observing that the speech acknowledged India’s equal status, SP leader Mohan Singh said it lifted the spirit of many Indians who were thinking that the visit only served US interests.
However, the Left parties asked the government not to succumb to US pressure on strategic and economic issues maintaining that Mr Obama had failed to offer anything “tangible”, including on the issue of permanent seat for India in the UNSC.
CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said that the Left parties staged demonstrations all over the country on Monday against the US proposals to India as it wanted Mr Obama to “listen” not only the government but also the “voice of the people of the country”. “We are not only staging demonstration against American imperialism. We have a question facing us that how much this Manmohan Singh government is going to compromise and surrender before the American pressure,” he said.
He alleged that the US was putting pressure on India to facilitate entry of American MNCs in retail and agriculture sectors and claiming that if it materialises, it will be an “attack” on lakhs of small shopkeepers and businessmen of the country. America also wants to make India its military ally and is pressuring the UPA government to sign a defence logistic agreement with it, he charged. “We want to warn the Congress-led UPA government (that) you are still not in majority in Parliament and people of this country have not given you mandate to become a military ally of America,” Mr Karat said.
CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury, who was present in Parliament during Mr Obama’s speech, said that references have been made (by Mr Obama) on every major issue, but there is nothing tangible.
CPI national secretary D. Raja said that Mr Obama “stood as the President pursuing the known US positions”.