White House ready to work with the new Indian government

Washington, May 16 (IANS) Congratulating the Bharatiya Janata Party on its "historic" poll victory, the White House Friday said it looks forward to working with the new Indian government without mentioning the architect of the victory, Narendra Modi.

"US congratulates BJP on its victory in India's historic election; we look forward to working with the government once formed to advance our partnership," the National Security Council (NSC) of the White House said in a tweet.

There was no immediate comment available on the Indian election from either President Barack Obama or the State Department, which had both Tuesday said that the US was looking forward to working "closely" with the next Indian government.

But even as it became clear that Modi whom the US has shunned for over a decade over his alleged role in 2002 Gujarat riots, was all set to become the new prime minister neither made a reference to the BJP leader.

During the course of the election, various US functionaries have twisted themselves into knots time and again to suggest that America is ready to do business with a new leader with any label chosen by the Indian people, while acting cagey on the issue of a visa for Modi.

The formulation seemed to be that Modi, the man whose business visa was denied in 2005, is still unwelcome, but Modi as prime minister would be another matter.

However, Washington has been now making preparations for months to face the prospect of Modi as prime minister of a country that Obama has famously described as "one of the defining partnerships of the twenty-first century".

Though late in following other western nations, the US signalled a major change in its outlook since the emergence of Modi on the national scene with outgoing US ambassador Nancy Powell meeting Modi in February.

In fact, Powell's impending departure from New Delhi has also been linked to the prospect of Modi becoming prime minister as Powell, a career diplomat, was said to have dragged her feet on reaching out to Modi.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)