Next coalition government in India should not let its CMP be influenced by recent U.S. policies
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Date: May 6, 2009
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Imagindia Institute Press Release

New Delhi – Recent policy developments emanating from the Obama administration on a troika of issues very sensitive to India - Non-proliferation Treaty, Pakistan, and outsourcing – are coming at a time when the heat of elections is at its peak in India. Left un-explained, these issues have the potential to hamper smooth and strategic growth of US-India relations.

Calls at the UN for India to adhere to NPT by Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Rose Gottemoeller; former U.S. ambassador, Mr. Robert Blackwill’s caution about pressure on India re Kashmir and Pakistan; and proposals to plug the tax loopholes for U.S. corporations operating in foreign countries – are evoking a mix of reactions and knee jerk rhetoric in India. 

“In coming weeks a coalition government is expected to take office in India – and the “common minimum program” (CMP) of which ever coalition takes power, has not yet been framed. The critical section of foreign policy in such a CMP may therefore unfortunately be affected by rhetoric and perceptions of U.S. intentions on these important issues which are presently making headlines”, said Mr. Robinder Sachdev, president, Imagindia Institute. “Political leaders in India, and U.S. diplomacy, should urgently pay attention to these developments, and ensure that such policy discussions are kept at an even keel for mature and strategic U.S.-India relations”, he further said. 

Given the nature of Indian polity, any CMP on which a range of political parties come together to form the government at centre will assume strategic value. The U.S.-India nuclear deal saw the Indian government facing a vote of confidence last year since its coalition partners challenged the nuclear deal as being at variance to the mutually agreed CMP.              


About Imagindia Institute – Imagindia is an independent think tank with a mission to add value to the imagination and image of India, and people of Indian origin, for the good of global and Indian communities. Towards its mission, Imagindia promotes initiatives in public and economic diplomacy across cultures.