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NRI Lords laud Sonia's win
Rather than complexities of coalition politics, NRIs and PIOs are more worried about the leadership issue facing the Indian government-in-waiting.
For many Indians in UK and USA the attack on Sonia Gandhi over her foreign origin has proved to be a double-edged sword.
Many of the prominent members of the Indian diaspora are not just of foreign origin in the countries that they call home, some of them migrated to the West from African countries and are hence twice removed from their roots. Lord Navnit Dholakia, leader and elected president of UK ’s third largest party, the Liberal Democrats and member of the House of Lords is perhaps one of the best examples of such global Indian political leaders.
And not surprisingly, the issue of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin d oesn’t cut ice with him. "As the world’s largest democracy, India needs to take the traditions of democracy and secularism forward. That’s what the whole world expects. We are people of Indian origin and are participating in a foreign Parliament in UK . The Indian Constitution allows it and Congress President Sonia Gandhi too should be given the right to hold the highest office in the country,’’ he told ET from his office in London .
UK-based NRI and prominent businessman Lord Swaraj Paul who founded the Caparao Group and is also a member of the House of Lords was more ecstatic in his reaction about the Congress victory in the polls. "The voters have won a great victory for democracy which should make every Indian proud,’’ he said.
Other prominent NRIs, especially those with business interests in India, were less excited and felt that the uncertainty factor needed to be dispelled with and the reforms agenda kept on track.
"While this is a victory for democracy, India could be seen as entering a period with some degree of uncertainty. It will be a challenge for the new government to bring stability and confidence for foreign investors and also take the reforms process ahead. Foreign investors are nervous and will be keenly watching. As for the BJP, the party too is entering an exciting time when it will need to do some rethinking at the top. We NRIs would also like to see a more youthful leadership taking over at the helm,’’ said Manoj Ladwa, a solicitor in London who advises companies in UK wanting to do business in India . He is also a senior leader of the non-resident Gujarati community.
In the US too, reactions from the diaspora community were mixed. Uganda-born Mike Patel, a founder member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, who along with his elder brother R C, owns the rapidly growing Atlanta , Georgia , based Diplomat Hotel chain, was surprised at the emphatic Congress coalition victory The BJP was doing well in its outreach to the diaspora through programmes like the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. We hope such steps will be taken forward and that the new coalition doesn’t do anything to backtrack on reforms,’’ said Patel who had accompanied former US President Bill Clinton during his visit to India after the Gujarat earthquake.
He was on Clinton ’s advisory commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
On the leadership and foreign origin issue, Patel felt that it was not patriotism or family ties that should determine India ’s political leadership.
"Leaders need to be experienced and capable and not just belonging to political families. In the US , we have succeeded because of our determination and skills, not because of dynastic influence. In India too there are capable political leaders like Pramod Mahajan and Arun Jaitley who don’t have any family baggage,’’ he said.
"My first reaction is not very happy, but this is what elections and democracy are all about and that’s what excited me too. Also the address to the nation by PM Vajpayee was very impressive. Now, it will be the issue of capable leadership rather than Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin which will be important for India . A leadership that is committed to India is what the country needs,’’ felt Ravi Singh, a global political analyst and founder & CEO of ElectionMall Technologies in Washington DC .
A second generation immigrant, Singh is an entrepreneur whose company offers e-campaigning services for US politicians and has himself contested US state polls from Illinois .
It was the surprise element of the poll results that had many NRIs excited. "Indian voters need to be congratulated and have proved that they are too smart to be taken for granted with campaigns like feel good factor," felt H.R. Shah, chairman of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce in Canada .
Shah has been in India for the past few weeks in a role of political observer and supported a few of his friends in their political campaigns in his home state Gujarat as well as Maharashtra . "We hope that the new Congress-led government will invite NRIs to play a more active role in the Indian political arena," he said.
Canadian NRI and regional director South Asia and South East Asia of National Road Dynamics, Aman Kishore was also taken by surprise at the Congress win.
"This was not expected going by media reports and exit polls but I feel that it will not effect business in any big way. A Congress government at the Centre has to be reforms friendly too. It is now the issue of leadership of the coalition which is of concern and Sonia Gandhi has to develop the necessary skills. I have been a manager in Europe and North America and feel that coalition leadership definitely needs management skills,’’ said the Delhi-base Kishore. |
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