The Tribune – Special to The Tribune; Copter scam may cast shadow on UK PM’s visit

Shyam Bhatia in London

British Prime Minister David Cameron’s forthcoming visit to India is in danger of being overshadowed by allegations of an unfolding commercial scandal. Cameron and his entourage of businessmen, including defence and aerospace executives, are due to touch down in India next Monday, but the timing of their arrival is embarrassing as it comes in the wake of corruption allegations involving the sale of AgustaWestland helicopters to the IAF.

Although the helicopters are manufactured in the UK, AgustaWestland is owned by Milan-based Finmeccanica, Italy’s biggest defence company.

Finmeccanica’s chairman Guiseppe Orsi and AgustaWestland’s chief executive Bruno Spagnolini have been arrested by the Italian police.

Both men and state-controlled Finmeccanica, the head office of which in Milan was searched this week, deny any wrongdoing.

The company has sold some 50 helicopters to India and recently secured a 560 million euro contract to sell another 12 luxury models for use by the President, Prime Minister and other VIPs.

At the heart of the scandal are allegations that Finmeccanica paid 51 million euros in bribes to Indian contacts to secure the latest contract against competition from French, US and Russian competitors.

So far, three out of the nine helicopters have been delivered, but the delivery of the remaining nine has been put on hold pending the outcome of an inquiry by the CBI.

A Defence Ministry spokesman said earlier this week that the CBI inquiry was ordered after no information was received from the Italian and British Governments about the allegations concerning the deal.

“Since no specific input has been received so far from the two governments, the Ministry of Defence has decided to refer the case to the CBI for inquiry,” the Defence Ministry statement said.

The importance of the Indian market for AgustaWestland was underlined six days ago by the company’s Managing Director for International Business, former British Defence Minister Geoff Hoon.

Speaking on the eve of the Aero India air show in Bangalore, Hoon said, “India is an important and growing market for AgustaWestland, so at Aero India, we are promoting the most modern and capable rotorcraft available today, confident that we can build on our past successes and fulfil the future requirements of both the Indian armed forces and commercial customers.

“We will also be using Aero India to help pursue our strategy to expand and develop our relationships with Indian companies to ensure we are a part of India’s growing aerospace industry.

“Indian Rotorcraft Limited, our joint venture with Tata Sons, is a prime example of this strategy and our long-term commitment to India.”

In London, India’s High Commissioner to the UK said on Tuesday night that Cameron’s visit to India is expected to boost bilateral ties. “There will be significant advancement in India-UK relations with the forthcoming visit of the British Prime Minister to India in the near future,” Dr Jaimini Bhagwati was quoted as saying.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130214/world.htm#1

The Tribune – Suu Kyi seeks India’s support for her struggle in Myanmar; Says Gandhi and Nehru were leaders she felt closest to

Ashok Tuteja, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 14. As New Delhi pulled out all the stops to accord her a warm welcome, Myanmar’s pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi today made an emotional appeal to the people of India to support the democratic movement in her country so that it could be taken to its logical conclusion.

“I was saddened that India moved away from us during our struggle for democracy,’’ she said delivering the Nehru Memorial Lecture to an august gathering at the Vigyan Bhavan this evening.

Underlining that Mahatma Gandhi and Pt Jawaharlal Nehru were the two Indian leaders she felt the closest to, Suu Kyi referred to the generally-held view that India had not stood staunchly by democratic forces in Myanmar during the prolonged military rule. “However, I have always held the view that expectation is not something one can indulge in…disappointment is not something one can indulge in.”

She made it clear that what mattered to her most was the friendship between the people and not the governments.

“Governments come and go and that’s what democracy is all about. As long as people remain with each other, the friendship will last,” she added.

Noting that her country had still not attained the goal of complete democracy, the Myanmar leader said, “I hope in this last and most difficult phase of our struggle, the people of India will stand by us and help us achieve what they have achieved.”

Her visit comes two years after elections in Myanmar that formally ended the military rule. A new nominally civilian government, led by President Thein Sein, took office in 2011 and has since implemented a series of economic and political reforms, which have been appreciated by the global community. Suu Kyi, who spent many years under house arrest, was released shortly after the November 2010 polls. Her party, the National league for Democracy, has now joined the political process and won a small presence in Parliament in the by-elections held in April this year.

During his visit to Myanmar this May, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had met Suu Kyi and also invited her to visit India to personally receive the Jawaharlal Nehru Award, bestowed on her in 1993 at the height of the pro-democracy movement in her country.

Suu Kyi’s six-day trip to India, which began yesterday, had all the trappings of a state visit as she met the PM and Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai. She will meet Vice-President Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, among other Indian leaders, tomorrow.

She will visit also her alma mater, Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi, where she will interact with the faculty and students.

She had spent several years in India during her early days when her mother Daw Khin Yi was the Ambassador to India.

During her 30-minute meeting with the Indian PM, Suu Kyi discussed the process of national reconciliation and democratisation in her country. “Our good wishes are with you as indeed with your struggle for democracy. We admire you for the indomitable courage you have shown,’’ Manmohan Singh said while welcoming her at his residence.

The two leaders also called for greater people-to-people contacts between their two countries, including between Parliament and judicial bodies.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20121115/main2.htm

The King and Queen of Bhutan pay a visit to India

The Hindu photograph

A Tribune photograph

India rolls out red carpet for Bhutan’s royal couple

Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck shakes hands with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as President Pratibha Patil and Bhutan’s Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck look on at the presidential palace in New Delhi on Monday. The King and Queen are on a nine-day state visit, their first foreign trip after marriage. They will leave for Rajasthan on Tuesday.

BBC News – Afghan President Karzai begins key visit to India

4 October 2011

By Sanjoy Majumder

BBC News, Delhi. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is due to hold key talks in India.

The two countries are expected to sign several strategic agreements, including ones on development aid and security.

India is a major player in Afghanistan and has already pledged $2bn (£1.3bn) in assistance.

Mr Karzai’s visit comes at a critical time for his country, following a series of high-profile attacks and Kabul’s deteriorating relations with Pakistan.

In a recent statement, Mr Karzai said his government would work closely with the US, Europe and India to plan Afghanistan’s future.

Many in India see a key role for the country in the light of these developments.

Delhi is also very concerned about the security situation in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, specially as foreign troops begin to withdraw from the region.

During his visit, the Afghan president will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and sign a series of agreements mostly related with Indian-funded development projects.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15161776