Burton withdraws anti-India amendment

Burton who had earlier filed three anti-India amendments to the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill to castigate New Delhi especially for its alleged human rights violation in Kashmir, chose to offer only one which was opposed by all the members barring two in the house on Monday.

Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone who had urged the members earlier to reject the anti-India amendment said, 8220;India, the world8217;s largest democracy, is increasingly important to us as a trading partner and strategic partner. India has what billions of people round the world yearned for: a secular, stable political system like that of the US, based on universal freedoms.

The former co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans said, 8220;The human rights problem in Kashmir is that there is a violent separatist movement there supported by Pakistan and carried out by followers of Osama Bin Laden and other extremists and terrorists who destroy homes and lives of thousands of peace-loving Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir8221;.

Opposing the amendment, chairman of the international relations committee, Republican Benjamin Gilman said that India is living in 8220;a tough neighbourhood,8221; with China occupying a part of Indian territory in the north and giving nuclear and missile aid to Pakistan in the west and selling over a billion dollars worth of weapons to a dictatorship in Myanmar in the east. India, he said, 8220;is the only truly democratic nation in the subcontinent8221;.

Chairman of the International Relations Subcommittee dealing with South Asia and the Pacific region Republican Douglas Bereuter said that India, a nation of one billion people, is too important to American interests to threaten or punish 8220;or to send a message8217; to as Burton had put it or show a pro-Pakistan tilt8221;. 8220;The gentleman8217;s Burton8217;s amendment,8221; he said, 8220;does not serve our national interests.8221;

Giving a technical reason for his action, Burton said he agreed with Republican floor leader Sonny Callahan that as the way the amendment was clumsily drafted, the President would actually be authorised, if it was passed, to increase aid to the government of India.

Since the bulk of the US aid is distributed through non-governmental organisations, and so to reach the level of aid to the government of India the amendment would have actually permitted an increase in aid by a few million dollars instead of cutting it, he felt.

Congressman Gary Ackerman, co-chairman of the house Caucus on India and Indian Americans and floor leader on the democratic side, opposed Burton saying, 8220;Does he not know that terrorists are responsible for numerous abuses, including extra-judicial executions, torture and extortion in Kashmir? Does he not know that there is state-sponsored terrorism from across the border?8221;

8220;Just recently, there was an egregious invasion by forces from Pakistan. It would have become a full-fledged war but for the notable restraint shown by New Delhi. For several years there has been unbridled violence and lawlessness in Kashmir by the mujahideen8217; and groups of terrorists coming in from all over the world, from overseas, aided and given arms by the Pakistanis,8221; he told the house.