Thousands protest against Bush’s India visit

NEW DELHI – Some 50 000 Muslims staged angry protests in New Delhi yesterday ahead of the arrival of US President George W.

Bush, who on his maiden trip to India is hoping to seal a landmark deal on sharing civilian nuclear energy. Bush was expected in the Indian capital Wednesday evening after an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, where he was due to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai during a brief stopover.Protesters at the sprawling Ram Lila grounds near New Delhi’s main commercial area shouted “Bush, Bush die” and “Bush, go back”.”We do not want Bush here as he is the world’s biggest terrorist.He has no place in the land of (Mahatma) Gandhi,” said Abdul Hameed Naumani, spokesman for Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind which organised the protest.Left-wing parties and workers’ organisations were preparing for similar protests today.US officials, who said they had expected protests because of India’s long-standing democratic traditions, say that aside from the nuclear issue, Bush’s visit was aimed at boosting the fast-warming relationship between Washington and the world’s biggest democracy.”Rather than any specific single announcement …what I think you’ll see on display is a broadening and deepening of the relationship between the United States and India,” National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told reporters travelling with Bush en route to New Delhi.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the briefing that the two countries were still working to try to secure agreement on the nuclear deal.”Obviously, it’s an important – would be an important breakthrough, not just for the United States and India, but also for the role of nuclear power in energy development, for our relationship with India on …global issues,” Rice said.”And the one thing that is absolutely necessary is that any agreement would assure that once India has decided to put reactors or safeguards, that it remains permanently under safeguards,” she added.The agreement will acknowledge India’s military nuclear status and allow the energy-starved nation to accept help for its civilian nuclear programme.- Nampa-AFPBush was expected in the Indian capital Wednesday evening after an unannounced visit to Afghanistan, where he was due to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai during a brief stopover.Protesters at the sprawling Ram Lila grounds near New Delhi’s main commercial area shouted “Bush, Bush die” and “Bush, go back”.”We do not want Bush here as he is the world’s biggest terrorist.He has no place in the land of (Mahatma) Gandhi,” said Abdul Hameed Naumani, spokesman for Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind which organised the protest.Left-wing parties and workers’ organisations were preparing for similar protests today.US officials, who said they had expected protests because of India’s long-standing democratic traditions, say that aside from the nuclear issue, Bush’s visit was aimed at boosting the fast-warming relationship between Washington and the world’s biggest democracy.”Rather than any specific single announcement …what I think you’ll see on display is a broadening and deepening of the relationship between the United States and India,” National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley told reporters travelling with Bush en route to New Delhi.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the briefing that the two countries were still working to try to secure agreement on the nuclear deal.”Obviously, it’s an important – would be an important breakthrough, not just for the United States and India, but also for the role of nuclear power in energy development, for our relationship with India on …global issues,” Rice said.”And the one thing that is absolutely necessary is that any agreement would assure that once India has decided to put reactors or safeguards, that it remains permanently under safeguards,” she added.The agreement will acknowledge India’s military nuclear status and allow the energy-starved nation to accept help for its civilian nuclear programme.- Nampa-AFP