Review stand on outsourcing, Sushma urges US president

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged Barack Obama to review his stand on outsourcing jobs to India and said outsourcing was beneficial for both the countries. It was one of the key issues taken up by senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj when she called on him on Monday.

During the meeting that lasted for 30 minutes, Swaraj discussed issues ranging from outsourcing, to Pakistan sponsored terrorism targetting India and to Bhopal gas tragedy that involved US multinational company, the erstwhile Union Carbide Co.

Swaraj reportedly tried to convince the US president how outsourcing was economically viable for both India and America. “It gives jobs to Indians but makes corporations in the US more competitive adding to the efficiency of US economy,” she told Obama.

Tracing back to close Indo-US ties that she felt had started with the initiatives of the Vajpayee government, Swaraj said BJP had always considered India and America as natural allies. At the same time, she made it clear that Washington should not create an impression that Pakistan is an ally and India merely a market for it.

She emphasised that occasional utterances by US authorities on granting special status to relationship with Pakistan or treating it as the most important non-NATO ally caused severe concern in India.

The BJP leader also opposed Chinese intervention in any of the regional issues. “China cannot have a role in resolving any issue in South Asia. The US must dispel this notion,” she told Obama.
Swaraj also urged the US administration to have a fresh look at the entire case. “Bhopal even today requires a resolution. The US must realise the importance of finding a solution on the lines of BP Oil spill case,” she reportedly said to the US president.