Bush in India

The press reports:
Bush began the day by paying respects at a memorial to Mohandas K. Gandhi, India’s independence leader and apostle of nonviolence. Following tradition, the president and his wife, Laura, left their shoes behind. Bush also conferred with the CEOs of Indian and American businesses, religious leaders and the head of India’s political opposition.
Bush and Singh announced new bilateral cooperation on issues from investment, trade and health to agriculture, the environment and even mangoes. Bush agreed to resume imports of the juicy, large-pitted fruit after a 17-year ban.
The president ended the day at a state dinner with Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam under a crescent moon in a lush courtyard of the presidential palace. Waiters in red tunics and red-and-white turbans scurried to serve broccoli-almond soup, seafood and peach ice cream after toasts of mango juice by the two heads of state.
The writer Arundhati Roy is not in a welcoming mood. Baby Bush Go Home, she says. At the same time, a report on the writer’s campaign against the Bush visit offers a quote that she is “at the end of the rope, in terms of this kind of work.”

To put the Bush visit in proper perspective, of course, there is this article by Mike Selvey.

Joan of Arc had nothing on our beloved Arundhati!
Comment by Jay — March 3, 2006 @ 11:11 am