New Delhi: The “level of tolerance” in India as well as the US has witnessed erosion under the present governments even as the bilateral relationship between the two countries is now “transactional” and singularly focussed on defence, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said.
Gandhi made the comments during a conversation with former American diplomat Nicholas Burns, which the Congress released Friday.
“I think our partnership works because we have tolerant systems… You are an immigrant nation, we are a tolerant nation. We are supposed to have new ideas, we are supposed to be open. But the surprising thing is that open DNA is disappearing… I don’t see that level of tolerance that I used to see. I do not see in the US and I do not see it in India,” Gandhi said.
WATCH: In conversation with Ambassador Nicholas Burnson the Covid19 crisis. https://t.co/qXkUbx2mxx
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 12, 2020
Burns, who is an international relations professor at the Harvard Kennedy School, spoke about the ongoing protests across the US over the killing of an African-American man, George Floyd, by a white police officer on 25 May.
“In the US we have a problem of race, mistreatment of African-Americans since the beginning of the founding of this country… Race has come back now. The horrible murder of George Floyd, a young African-American man in Minneapolis… We are trying to protest peacefully, as is our right, as is your right in India,” said Burns.
However, he added that unlike China, the US can “correct” itself as a democracy through free and fair elections – similar to that in India. “My country will be back, we will strengthen our democracy,” said Burns.
According to Gandhi, deep divisions are appearing in both Indian and American societies, which could prove to be “tremendously weakening”. People who encourage these divisions, be it in the US or in India, call themselves “nationalists”, he added.
“Democracies go through trials. We play out our differences in political campaigns… Authoritarianism (is) coming back in Russia, in China…” said Burns. He stressed that “we democracies” are going through “painful episodes” due to “our freedom” but “we are so much stronger because of that”.
The conversation came as part of Gandhi’s ongoing series of ‘interviews’ with experts amid the Covid-19 crisis. He earlier spoke to economists Raghuram Rajan and Abhijit Banerjee, among others.
Talking about the crisis in India, Gandhi said this was the “most rigorous lockdown” that has instilled a sense of “fear” among people.
Also read: Congress doing politics only sometimes, says Sandeep Dikshit, echoes Sanjay Jha’s concerns
US and India ties have become ‘transactional’
According to the Congress leader, the relationship between the US and India has gone from being that of a “partnership” to being “episodic and transactional”.
“When we look at the relationship between India and the US, there’s been a lot of progress in the last couple of decades. One of the things I have noticed is that the relationship that used to be a partnership seems to have become very transactional. It has become episodic and transactional,” said Rahul Gandhi.
He added that the ties used to be broad-based encompassing education, defence and healthcare among others, but is now “focussed down mainly on defence”.
Nicholas Burns agreed that the military relationship between the US and India is robust, and that defence has become the only defining aspect of the relationship. However, he said that H1B visas should not be restricted.
“Keep the doors open for each other. Lower the restrictions on movement of people between the two countries. The H1B visas have been severely limited in recent years, we simply do not have enough engineers to run our economy and India can supply those,” he said.
Burns also said that during the former Manmohan Singh government, the bilateral relationship was focussed on trade and military ties while both sides explored ways to bring in new ideas.
Both Gandhi and Burns also praised the Indian-American community and its contribution to the US, which the former Congress president believes is an “asset” for both countries.
Also read: Delhi govt, others reach out to Covid-positive journalist after Rahul Gandhi tweets video
‘Covid crisis has made people insular’
On the issue of China, Rahul Gandhi said India should look at a relationship of “cooperative cooperation” with Beijing without any violence.
“Yes they have a different worldview, yes they have an authoritarian worldview, yes we have a democratic worldview. And I believe the democratic worldview will do well. But in order to achieve that it has to start from insides our countries,” he said.
Gandhi added that around the world people are becoming “insular” and the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated this.
According to Nicholas Burns, the Covid crisis gave an opportunity to the world leaders – US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi – to work together to overcome the pandemic for the “common global good”.
“I would have predicted that countries would have put down their differences and worked for a vaccine together and how to distribute it in an equitable and humane fashion. It has not happened, because Donald Trump is a unilateral and Xi Jinping has to compete with Trump,” he said.
Also read: India has a guns, germs and steel crisis. But India Inc rather stay silent
PM Rahul Gandhi – if we had him, there would be no economy nose-dive because he would have listened to experts including MMS. PM Rahul Gandhi – if we had him, there would be no widening circle of hunger because he would have listened to the poor, the migrants. He would have ensured Nyay – justice. And most of all, PM Rahul Gandhi would not let our borders be nibbled at and our territory be gobbled up – he would have followed his illustrious ancestor in putting in place diplomacy and a strong army correctly backed up by strong politics. The current band is not only intolerant, they are uninterested in governance. All they care for is minority bashing and amassing wealth.
Why is Pappu crying and complaining to every foreigner he meets about internal affairs of India? And other side desperately trying to avoid these prickly conversations and embarassment. Every meeting he proves he is a spoiled rich family son who has bothered to develop no skills, intelligence or IQ. Classic demonstration of Lazy, rich, pampered destroyed misguided youth and he is the youth congress icon. Pity congress future if this is the leadership they have to look up to.
Why Is Congress not tolerant of any non-fake-Gandhi as it’s leader?
Baqwas of Rahul is not worth commenting.
If there will be Congress gov. then three is no intolrence . Now the 80 percent population is not ready to accept the indian Muslims congress . They are 55 in next election they will be only 5 . 80 percent are not ready to be fooled .
It is high time to revive Congress in a democratic way not GANDHI way. Survival of the fittest.
Yes india has become intolerant towards RaGa and Congress. And rightly so. They keep cribbing about nonsensical issues. They keep shouting about and inexistent intolerance owing to which communities become even more sensitive!!
Yes RG is right, people of India have became intolerant. They have become intolerant of Corruption. They have become intolerant of dynastic rule in the name of democracy.. They have become intolerant of sub -standard leadership for the country and even for captive parties like congress also.
There are still many intelligent leaders in left in Congress party . It is obligatory on the part oF people like Shashi Throor , to coach Rahul Gandhi that –in international relations there is nothing like being partnership of like-minded , it is/was always for one s own national interests. No friendship in permanent in international affairs. It always to promote own countries strategic , political and business interests. With paradigm shifts in international scenario friends and foes change .Even personalities do not MATTER any thing. It was USA which has not issued Visitor Visa ,at instance of Congress party s leaders, under so-called liberal regime of Obama , to Mr. Modi . And when Indian Voters in their wisdom chose him the PM pf india, IT IS ALWAYS GIVING RED CARPET WELCOME.
Does anyone take the Congress seriously? Does Congress take itself seriously? Does anyone take Rahul Gandhi seriously?
The Congress exists only for 1 reason – it’s a proxy for Pakistan, China, naxals, militant Islamists and other powers inimical to India.
Even the common man has become aware of this by now – and this is reinforced every time Rahul Vinci Gandhi appears on TV – a hollow and shallow middle-aged man with the intellect of a camel. A good looking guy – but dumb as a donkey; and that’s being polite.
Not even good looking. Just look at the picture above. An unhappy and tired looking middle aged man in need of a haircut and a smile. The poor chap is in the wrong profession.
Letters to a Daughter – written by Pandit Nehru when he was in prison – became a readable book. Perhaps a collection of these Conversations could become a coffee table book. Launched at a wine and cheese event.
Yawn….