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DIPLOMACY: INDIANS ABROAD
Privilege Posting
The appointment of a roving ambassador may help tap NRI
clout but there are fears that he could get his wires crossed with the
Indian Embassy in the US
By Raj Chengappa
Ambassadorial postings
to key countries have seldom gone through without considerable heartburn
and not-so-veiled charges of favouritism against the caliphs of the Ministry
of External Affairs (mea). Yet few appointments have sent eyebrows skyhigh
as that of Bhisma Kumar Agnihotri, a chancellor of a US law university.
Last week, he was designated Ambassador at Large for Non-Resident Indians
and People of Indian Origin apart from being adviser in the Indian Embassy
in the US with the personal rank of ambassador.
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NEW CZAR OF THE DIASPORA
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AGNIHOTRI: The going
is tough for the new envoy |
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IS HE GOOD NEWS ...
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# Agnihotri is one of the few
NRIs who enjoys considerable influence with Democrats and Republicans.
# He will be able to understand
NRI needs better and get the Government to move on them.
# He identifies with the diaspora.
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# With no infrastructure,
the new envoy will be a lame duck in trying to deal with all overseas
Indians.
# He will begin to tread
on the toes of the Indian ambassador to the US and harm relations.
# Is seen as a BJP appointee.
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This is perhaps the first appointment of its
kind in the ministry's annals. On the face of it, though, there appears
to be little cause for so much rumble in the mea jungle. Consider the
facts:
# Agnihotri's academic credentials are impeccable.
He is possibly the only Indian to be the longest-serving dean of a law
school in the US apart from being a chancellor of the Southern University
Law Center, Louisiana.
# His clout among US power circles is acknowledged.
Former President Bill Clinton refers to him as "BK" and even
conferred on him an Israel Peace Medal for promoting liberty and justice.
# His standing in the NRI community is high.
Among other things he has been adviser to the influential American Association
of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) for 16 years.
# His political connections, though suspect,
are not so troubling. He admits that he is an rss sympathiser and has
been active supporter of the Overseas Friends of BJP but swears that it
will not come in the way of the task at hand.
Yet even before Agnihotri can get down to the
job, criticism has come in thick and fast. Not only has the need for such
a post been questioned but foreign policy experts such as former foreign
secretary J.N. Dixit believe it would undermine the efficacy of Lalit
Mansingh, India's ambassador to the US. Some NRI associations in the US
read darker conspiracies into the appointment. S.S. Malhotra, president
of the New York-based Indian National Overseas Congress, sees it as part
of a "hidden agenda" of the Government to "saffronise"
and communalise the NRI community. There were some cynical reactions too.
Limousine driver Gurbir Singh complained, "Instead of spending money
on two ambassadors, India should open more consulates and not make us
stand in the line for hours to get visas."
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TURF FEARS: Mansingh may be undercut
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Agnihotri is not short on supporters either.
Many of those who questioned the Government's motives in choosing the
law professor admit that he has helped the community in many ways. Organisations
such as the AAPI readily acknowledge the help they have received from
Agnihotri. "He is one of the few Indian Americans who have the ear
of top Democrats and Republicans," points out AAPI President Lal
Lalmalani. The Overseas Friends of BJP has been vocal in its backing of
Agnihotri's appointment. Its founder president Shekar Tiwari, who has
been critical of the lobbying efforts overseen by the Indian Embassy in
Washington for a long time, credits Agnihotri with fostering a clearer
understanding among Democrats and Republicans about India and its foreign
and trade policies. Agnihotri himself is clear: "I have no politics
nor am I seeking a career. I just want to ensure that bonds between NRIs
and India are strengthened further so that everyone benefits."
The need for specialised attention to tap and
channelise the growing clout of NRIs and people of Indian origin in their
respective countries for India's benefit has been felt for a long time.
Tenured mea officials serving in embassies in countries with large migrant
Indian populations have proved inadequate in handling the task. After
much prodding the Government had set up a separate division to look into
the affairs of the Indian diaspora last year. It also formed a high-level
committee headed by former high commissioner to the UK L.M. Singhvi to
suggest ways to "deepen India's linkages with them". The Government,
however, seems to have jumped the gun by appointing Agnihotri without
waiting for the committee's report which is expected in November.
Much of the concern is over what the ambit of
the new "ambassador at large" covers. Is Agnihotri to focus
primarily on the powerful Indian community in the US or will he advocate
the cause of the diaspora all over the world? If his canvas stretches
across the globe, then with an office in New York and no official structure
and personnel to assist him, Agnihotri would be a lame duck ambassador
from day one. And if it is just to focus on NRIs in the US then how will
he and Mansingh divide their duties? Mansingh diplomatically says, "I
will depend on him for advice on NRI matters." For his part, Agnihotri
clarifies, "We will complement and supplement each other. There won't
be any turf battles. I am a team player." If that happens then things
may actually work out for the better.
But many mea observers are sceptical. They predict
the two will soon start stepping on each other's toes. If they do, it
could blunt India's diplomatic thrust in the world's most important capital.
Agnihotri brushes aside such fears and says he will "hit the ground
running". Whether he would be able to get ahead is another matter.
—with bureau reports
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