https://sputniknews.in/20240722/little-enthusiasm-in-india-for-a-kamala-harris-presidency-despite-indian-roots--7880930.html
Little Enthusiasm in India for a Kamala Harris Presidency Despite Indian Roots
Little Enthusiasm in India for a Kamala Harris Presidency Despite Indian Roots
Sputnik India
There seems to be little appetite in India for another term for a Democratic Party president, be it Kamala Harris or someone else, after the US Presidential election this year.
2024-07-22T18:53+0530
2024-07-22T18:53+0530
2024-07-22T18:53+0530
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There seems to be little appetite in India for another term for a Democratic Party president, be it Kamala Harris or someone else, after the US Presidential election this year.Even as the India-US "Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership" has significantly advanced to encompass collaboration in defence as well as crucial and emerging technologies during Joe Biden's tenure, there has been palpable friction on the surface of the bilateral relationship due to Washington's tendency to pressure the Modi government on the issue of human rights.The head of an influential think tank told Sputnik India that New Delhi would welcome Trump's presidency over a Democrat President, despite the challenges.He further pointed out that the Biden administration had increasingly deployed human rights as a "tool" to pressure India, without giving due consideration to its concerns.Significantly, Harris pressed Modi on the question of human rights during their brief meeting in Washington in September 2021, as reported in American media.Meanwhile, the apparent US pressure on India was witnessed during the Lok Sabha election campaign, when the State Department's comment on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on corruption charges evoked a strong response from the Indian foreign ministry. Besides, the Biden administration has consistently accused the Modi government of discriminating against Muslims and other minorities, a charge rebutted by the Indian Prime Minister during his state visit to Washington last June.The expert stressed that the most pressing example of "sustained" US pressure on India is that of pro-Khalistan extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American citizen who is a designated terrorist in India. The US Justice Department has accused the country's officials of being involved in a foiled assassination plot against Pannun.The Indian think-tanker cautioned that there would be "repercussions" over how the Biden administration handled the Pannun affair.In the meantime, Zhiqun Zhu, a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Bucknell University, told Sputnik India that it would be a "tall order" for Harris to defeat Trump, if the incumbent vice-president manages to secure a Democratic party nomination in Chicago next month.He highlighted that Biden's decision to drop out of the race was widely expected before he made the announcement. However, his quick, simultaneous endorsement for Kamala Harris to be the Democratic candidate is surprising, he added.Zhu said that it was anybody's guess at the moment as to what Harris' foreign policy would look like, in case she clinches the nomination and the presidency."She has kept a low key and not appeared in Biden's inner circle for every major foreign policy decision," he concluded.Earlier, during Biden's National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan and Deputy Sectretary of State Kurt Campbell visit to India days after Modi was sworn in for his third term in June, the US' officials said that they continued to seek accountability from India on the foiled assassination plot against Pannun.On the surface, the Modi government has expressed confidence that there is a "bipartisan consensus" in the US Congress in favour of strong bilateral relations, a sentiment captured by past statements by PM Modi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar.Trump's stance on mediating an end to the Ukraine conflict, through ceding of some Ukrainian territory, if need be, also finds a resonance in India, which has been under increasing pressure from Biden to tone down its time-tested ties with Moscow.
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Little Enthusiasm in India for a Kamala Harris Presidency Despite Indian Roots
US President Joe Biden has said that he would be standing down from re-election with Republican nominee Donald Trump in November. Biden has endorsed his 59-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency, though a final decision would be made at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago on 19-22 August.
There seems to be little appetite in India for another term for a Democratic Party president, be it Kamala Harris or someone else, after the US Presidential election this year.
Even as the India-US "Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership" has significantly advanced to encompass collaboration in defence as well as crucial and emerging technologies during Joe Biden's tenure, there has been palpable friction on the surface of the bilateral relationship due to Washington's tendency to pressure the Modi government on the issue of human rights.
The head of an influential think tank
told Sputnik India that New Delhi would welcome
Trump's presidency over a Democrat President, despite the challenges.
"But even a Trump presidency would come with its own set of challenges for India, particularly in the sphere of trade given his rhetoric on slapping tariffs on foreign imports to boost American manufacturing," the Indian expert said on condition of anonymity.
He further pointed out that the Biden administration had increasingly deployed human rights as a "tool" to pressure India, without giving due consideration to its concerns.
Significantly, Harris pressed Modi on the question of human rights during their brief meeting in Washington in September 2021, as reported in American media.
Her Indian roots fail to inspire confidence that she would be much different from Biden on these issues, which India perceived as "interference" in its domestic matters, the think tank head said.
Meanwhile, the apparent US pressure on India was witnessed during the Lok Sabha election campaign, when the State Department's comment on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on corruption charges
evoked a strong response from the Indian foreign ministry. Besides, the Biden administration has consistently
accused the Modi government of discriminating against Muslims and other minorities, a charge rebutted by the Indian Prime Minister during his state visit to Washington last June.
The expert stressed that the most pressing example of "sustained" US pressure on India is that of pro-Khalistan extremist
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American citizen who is a designated terrorist in India. The US Justice Department has accused the country's officials of being involved in a foiled assassination plot against Pannun.
"Khalistani extremists like Pannun are publicly threatening our Prime Minister and talking about dismembering India. Despite these provocations against India, which US calls a global comprehensive strategic partner, the Biden administration has been seen defending such extremists and rather accuse us of carrying out transnational repression against these entities," the expert stressed.
The Indian think-tanker cautioned that there would be "repercussions" over how the Biden administration handled the Pannun affair.
In the meantime, Zhiqun Zhu, a Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Bucknell University, told Sputnik India that it would be a "tall order" for Harris to defeat Trump, if the incumbent vice-president manages to secure a Democratic party nomination in Chicago next month.
"The shooting of Trump helped energize his supporters. It is hard to imagine Harris or any other Democratic candidate will be equally energizing and able to unite the fraction voters," stated Zhu.
He highlighted that Biden's decision to drop out of the race was widely expected before he made the announcement. However, his quick, simultaneous endorsement for Kamala Harris to be the Democratic candidate is surprising, he added.
"Biden's endorsement of Harris will be a major boost for her candidacy. With more endorsements from Democratic leaders and donors now, it is almost certain that Harris will be their presidential candidate," the American academic underscored.
Zhu said that it was anybody's guess at the moment as to what Harris' foreign policy would look like, in case she clinches the nomination and the presidency.
"She has kept a low key and not appeared in Biden's inner circle for every major foreign policy decision," he concluded.
Earlier, during Biden's National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan and Deputy Sectretary of State Kurt Campbell visit to India days after Modi was sworn in for his third term in June, the US' officials said that they continued to seek accountability from India on the foiled assassination plot against Pannun.
On the surface, the Modi government has expressed confidence that there is a "bipartisan consensus" in the US Congress in favour of strong bilateral relations, a sentiment captured by past statements by PM Modi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar.
Trump's stance on mediating an end to the Ukraine conflict, through ceding of some Ukrainian territory, if need be, also finds a resonance in India, which has been
under increasing pressure from Biden to tone down its time-tested ties with Moscow.
