"The United States and India, separated by half the globe, are closer than ever before, and the partnership between our free nations has the power to transform the world," Mr. Bush declared in the cool March air of New Delhi on the grounds of a 16th century fort.
Their ability to lead largely depends on how the world sees their practice of democratic values, i.e. whether they walk the talk.
The US has an image problem in its treatment of the Guantanamo Bay detainees. Sure, of late there is positive action from the highest court. The US is also addicted to siding with autocratic regimes from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan under one pretext or the other. And, the only silver lining to the hard-to-forget Abu Ghraib black-eye was the whistle blew from within and some of the wrongdoers were sentenced.
India, with the non-aligned past and a penchant for the high moral perch, has its share of cozying up to the worst dictators in the southern hemisphere. Neither is it known to bring up democracy with the Sauds, Pakistani generals or the Irani mullahs. Worse still is India's track record of treating its own people in Kashmir and the North East undemocratically. That is changing for better. However, widespread corruption continues to deprive most ordinary Indians of justice and real democracy.
3 comments:
Welcome to blogger.
Nice start.. would love to see some posts about the comparison of the corruption [history, present state, effects] in both these countries.
Yes, it is a nice start. But Sanjay, what point are you trying to make!
Eager to see where your analysis is getting to.
I want to become a whistle blower. Any regestration required? If so please guide me. I want to enlighten the road encroachment. Can I. I directly introduce the concerned officials as whistle blower?
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