SARCOZYS, INDIA'S GUESTS OF HONOUR OR ...-2

The present Government of India's attitude towards President of France, Monsieur Nicolas Sarkozy, and his fiancee, Mademoiselle Carla Bruni, is totally in contrast to what happened during Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's regime. If one remembers correctly, King Saud of Saudi Arabia had been invited to January 26 - India's Republic Day - parade, just like M. Sarkozy, and he came with his entourage of wives, servants and plenty of gold coins.
He showered the gold coins on everybody, and, if the newspaper reports of that time could be believed, he left India with additional wives and concubines.
When Mr Nehru was told of this he is reported to have said : "That is not my business."
The present Government should have adopted the same approach, without infringing on M. Sarkozy's personal life, however angry it might have been on the Eurocopter switchover in France from combat to civilian version. Could be when we signed the deal, we did not read, or understand, the French version. The deal stands cancelled and new global tenders are on the cards.
Upgradation of Mirage-2000s is still pending, with the quotation of Euro 1.5 billion as charges seemingly too high to India. Will President Sarkozy put in his influence to swing the deal in India's favour ?
Whichever way we look at it, the Sarkozy affair has become very murky - and God help our future cooperation with France.
Whatever murmurs we hear from France are a matter to be sorted out between Elysee Palace and the French; India has no comment or role to be played here. M. Sarkozy is an elected - and constitutional - President and India should accept that fact.

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