Post-Clinton, India may scale down lobbying in US

Post-Clinton, India may scale down lobbying in US
CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

WASHINGTON, APRIL 12: India is scaling down its lobbying efforts in Washington, apparently secure now in its belief that Indo-US relations have been mended and the ill wind that emanated from the May 1998 nuclear tests has blown over.

New Delhi had engaged two Washington lobbying firms in the aftermath of the nuclear tests amid widespread criticism of the tests and its sudden isolation in the international community. Now, the contract for one of the firms headed by former Congressman Stephen Solarz, which ended on March 31, is unlikely to be renewed.

The contract for the other firm, Vernon Liipfert, is on till the end of the year. Vernon Liipfert costs India about $ 50,000 a month while the Solarz tab was $ 30,000 a month. The Vernon Liipfert contract would be reviewed at the end of the year, say sources.

The Indian Government believes it was money well spent, although there was plenty of criticism by Congressional forces and former lobbyists were trying to get a piece of the cake.

In fact, one former lobbyist, David Springer, reportedly mounted a serious effort to get back the India account even as the Solarz contract came to an end. Backed by lawmakers from both the U.S and India, questions were raised in the standing committee meeting of India's Ministry of External Affairs about the effectiveness of the Indian lobbying in Washington.

But MEA mandarins, based on inputs from the Indian embassy in Washington, weathered the storm. Officials maintain the fact that Indo-US ties were put back on even keel so quickly after the nuclear tests and the resulting trauma is a good enough indication of whether the lobbying efforts were effective or not.

Now, after the conclusion of what India believes is a highly successful visit of the US President to the region, the Government and the embassy seem to believe that they can afford to scale down the lobbying without harming the country's interests.

Sources said Solarz had served India well, but there was a realisation that as a former Congressman he brought home both advantages and disadvantages. He brought good access to the lawmakers he had worked with but he also carried the baggage of those who opposed him on the Hill.

There is also increasing confidence in Indian circles that the fast agglomerating Indian community can be forged into a more effective lobbying unit. In recent months, especially in the weeks leading to the President'svisit, the Indian Government interacted extensively with the Indian-American leadership here and got a first-hand insight into the community's clout and access, about which there was some scepticism earlier.

The new darlings of the Government are the high-tech gurus of Silicon Valley who appear to be eclipsing the long sought after Indian physicians as the fighting arm of the Indian community lobbying in the US.

All groups will be seen in action again when the Prime Minister makes the return visit to Washington later this year at the invitation of President Clinton. Dates for the visit are still being worked on. Logically, it wouldmake sense for the Prime Minister to come here in September when he will also be attending the UN General Assembly and the millennium celebrations.

But typically, the US administration discourages trips tied to the UNGeneral Assembly because it could potentially lead to a line of leaders headed for Washington.

New Delhi too is concerned about whether a September visit would be too far towards the end of the Clinton adminstration, what with the country being in the throes of the Presidential election.

India's top `America official' Alok Prasad, who is joint secretary (America) in the MEA, is here to wrestle with this and other issues. Prasad is also slated to have talks with US officials on drafts of the international convention on terrorism to be held shortly.

Several changes in the Indian embassy in Washington are also tied to the Prime Minister's visit. Ambassador Naresh Chandra, who has completed almost four years here spanning five governments, has been asked to stay till after the PM's visit, and will possibly stay till the changeover in the White House.

Deputy Chief of Mission T.P.Sreenivasan, whose term ends in summer and who was to go as Ambassador to Argentina, may also be asked to stay on. The Argentina posting is itself is said to be under reconsideration. His successor though is likely to be Leela Ponappa, who is currently joint secretary handling Banglabe under reconsideration.