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The J N Dixit Chat

Raja Hindustani: I agree with u on the Internet being centrstage, But I think Mr. Dixit probably means being in the hurly burly of Indian public life as being more centrstage, well it is his perspective:-)

Yikes! why is this Raja guy shouting?????????!!!!

Rediff Staff: Has Mr.Dixit left for his dinner? Please request him to earn it!

There was a question about India's failure to get NRIs involved in Indian developments compared to overseas Chinese playing a role in China. The answer is simple: In my assessment, non-resident Indians were not terribly interested in participating in the Indian economic effort because of the control system of economic management in India. This was to be accepted and logical. But I think over the last five or six years, there is greater effort by the Indian government and Indian business community to get involved with NRIs and to request them to participate in India's economic reconstruction. This is a slow process because NRI friends should feel secure about it economic involvement in India, and the government of India should actively get them interested in India, an effort which is continuing. As far as Chinese are concerned, China has perhaps a more open economy, with a decisive regime unhampered by democratic considerations. I don't think the comparison between China and India is very valid. Our circumstances are quite different.

Raja Hidustani:Are you a Commi?

Mr. Dixit:Pax Vobiscum !! When my generation catches up with your generation, we shall ask you how you let us be robbed while your eyes were open...it is quite obvious that some of your chelas don't like what we asked but then they, too have right. So do we?

HAve you

earned your dinner

You must have met V Pirbhakaran. Asc someone who speaks Tamil yourself what kind of person did he come across as? Was he a Pol Pot-like figure? I have never been able to understand the blind loyalty he commands from his cadres.When did he turn against India?

sir,what strategy should india adopt to ensure its stand on ctbt finds common ground at the u.n though it has been signed?

Raja Hidustani: Why are you shouting like pakistani!!!!!!, Be like an Indian

Renuka: I think Raja Hindustani speaks for an entire generation! At least for those who feel! Have seen the Bharat as against India! . Mr. Dixit! You did not adress Fiji! Why did India fail there!

The Inter Serviceds Intelligence directorate of Pakistan is a favourtire whipping boy for Indian diplomats and home ministry officials. Is the ISI interefrence in Indian security real? Do you think they are actually inciting trouble in the north-east as you once pointed out? And do you think they are promotiing Muslim unrest in India?

Mr Dixit: I would like to ask you whether China poses the greatest threat to India's security and wellbeing in the next half century? Or are the forces of radical Islamic fundamentalism, more dangerous?

:-):-)

Qui s'excuse s'accuse? What say? (he who excuses himself, accuses himself) Mr.Dixit:Unlike what you said, a few of us Do come centre stage..or don't you see the difference in the media nowadays?

Do you really think the alod warning in the Bible.... "The Yellow Race shall rule" is going to come true? How close are we to the End of the world?

Renuka! Indians have the capacity to think reasonably Question the establishment! I m sure Raja is an Intelligent Thinking Indian! Dont behave like Bitta brigade! I think U have frightened him off! Raja: R U There?

Mr. Dixit: Samir's question on V.Pirabhakaran is interesting.. Now you might ot might not admit (which I can understand) that V.Pirabhakaran was created, funded and maintained by India's Intellegence agencies until the IPKF and all that... How else could he have gained the money and intellegence for it?..Now is that not what I meant about India's bullying?..If we did it against Pakistan, I would agree..we need more leverage as our integrity as a country is directly impacted.. But with SL..don't we share common ideologies and political perspective on peace...

Good evening, Sir. As a student of Indian foreign policy, it is wonderful to have an opportunity to discuss issues with you. I would like to ask what in your opinion has been the three greatest achievements of Indian diplomacy in the last decade?

Ashish Ramanujam: China in our subconscious has been perceived as a threat since the war with them in 1962. As a big power with nuclear weapons, they can pose a threat if they feel that Indian policies affect their interests. At present, China is concentrating its internal development. It is keen on peace and stability in its neighbourhood. In consequence, India's relation with China have been gradually improving. We have to continuously monitor China's policies, and if they assume any threateining dimensions, we will have to take counter measures. I don't see immediate prospects of antagonism with China. But we have to be alert about China's political and strategic postures. AS far as Islamic fundamentalism or extremism goes, any kind of religious fanaticism is a destabilising impulse. Religious extremism imbued with violence is always a threat to a plural society like ours, which has citizens from different religions, different ethnic groups, speaking different languages. We must firmly resist religious extemism making inroads into our political processes. This is a deeper threat.

Do you think it is impossible for India and Pakistan to be friends? Do you see a way out of the impasse, the lack of faith, the supicion and the dishonesty on both sides?

Comments on Fiji? Mr. Dixit?

(aside) Renuka:Are there certain censorship laws on this chat room we are not aware of? Raja/another Indian/me:we wuz robbed!! Peter tyson:in the last three decades we sent all children of Indian diplomats to expensive private schools in usa. What can be a greater achievement!!

Fiji? Mr. Dixit?

Mr. Dixit!?

I think we should keep this discussion at the level of honest debate. I would appreciate if we could have an opprotunity to find out from Mr Dixit his perceptions of Indian foreign policy. Sir, why does the US State Department continue to despise us? Is it our stance on the CTBT? Our friendship with Teheran? Someone once told me eight years back that Foggy Bottom's South Asia desk was manned by people who were pro-Pakistan.

sir my question on ctbt?shying away?

sauve qui peut!!voila!!qui vive?? Sir:Why was our generation robbed while you had your eyes open? indeed upset!!:(

Would U include India's Fiji Policy as one of the three Outstanding sucesses of Indian foreign Policy?

Supplementary to Shrikant Dutt: If the ISI is indeed doing all that mischief it is being accused of, why the hell is India not able to do anything about it?

Please sir, what are your comments on the Big Bully role that the US is trying to play? First the Jews make the arms & ammunition,then they sell it to other nations,causing imbalance basically pacific regions, Americans try them out ....never on their OWN soil, always on some poor defenceless country either by blackmail or conning them into false security. WHY HAVE WE ALLOWED THE SELFISH BEAST TO DESTROY ASIA?? All credit to Saddam Husain for teaching the beast to stay in his own backyard.He reminds me of Scott's poem ---he is proud to defend his country! When we stop being sycophants?

Ashish Ramanujam: China in our subconscious has been perceived as a threat since the war with them in 1962. As a big power with nuclear weapons, they can pose a threat if they feel that Indian policies affect their interests. At present, China is concentrating its internal development. It is keen on peace and stability in its neighbourhood. In consequence, India's relation with China have been gradually improving. We have to continuously monitor China's policies, and if they assume any threateining dimensions, we will have to take counter measures. I don't see immediate prospects of antagonism with China. But we have to be alert about China's political and strategic postures. AS far as Islamic fundamentalism or extremism goes, any kind of religious fanaticism is a destabilising impulse. Religious extremism imbued with violence is always a threat to a plural society like ours, which has citizens from different religions, different ethnic groups, speaking different languages. We must firmly resist religious extemism making inroads into our political processes. This is a deeper threat.

Ashish! Mr. Dixit has great vibes with the lady in Question! (The one at foggy bottom). Read his book!

Mr. Dixit now since the cold war is over what policy is India adopting towards China? US?

Ashish Ramanujam,Esq.:You think honest debate only, fair enough. Ab few of us think we need answers, why not? *level playing fields* (If you can't stand the heat get outa da kitchun* FOGGY BOTTOM indeed!

Peter Tyson: Achievement #1: We successfully avoided getting enmeshed in the Cold War. #2: We successfully safefguarded our unity, and territorial integrity despite many challenges, and retained our freedom of option to adopt policies for our national consolidation without excessive external influence from any quarter. #3: We have effectivley adjusted to the profound changes in the international situation after the end of the Cold War.

concerned (Fri Oct 11 21:59:41 1996 IST): Please sir, what are your comments on the Big Bully role that the US is trying to play? First the Jews make the arms & ammunition,then they sell it to other nations,causing imbalance basically pacific regions, Americans try them out ....never on their OWN soil, always on some poor defenceless country either by blackmail or conning them into false security. WHY HAVE WE ALLOWED THE SELFISH BEAST TO DESTROY ASIA?? All credit to Saddam Husain for teaching the beast to stay in his own backyard.He reminds me of Scott's poem ---he is proud to defend his country! When we stop being sycophants?

Mr. Dixit ! Why are U obsessed withe Neighborhood! There is more to the world ! Why this Myopia! Tell us about Fiji! Guyana! Suriname! Mauritius! Your perspective on distal ends of The Indian Ocean! Its littoral I mean! What about Indians in Uganda! East Africa! HongKong 1997! Did you leave behind a policy Mr.Dixit!

Hello out there.....are you going to answer ?concerned (Fri Oct 11 21:59:41 1996 IST): Please sir, what are your comments on the Big Bully role that the US is trying to play? First the Jews make the arms & ammunition,then they sell it to other nations,causing imbalance basically pacific regions, Americans try them out ....never on their OWN soil, always on some poor defenceless country either by blackmail or conning them into false security. WHY HAVE WE ALLOWED THE SELFISH BEAST TO DESTROY ASIA?? All credit to Saddam Husain for teaching the beast to stay in his own backyard.He reminds me of Scott's poem ---he is proud to defend his country! When we stop being sycophants?

Hello out there.....are you going to answer ?concerned (Fri Oct 11 21:59:41 1996 IST): Please sir, what are your comments on the Big Bully role that the US is trying to play? First the Jews make the arms & ammunition,then they sell it to other nations,causing imbalance basically pacific regions, Americans try them out ....never on their OWN soil, always on some poor defenceless country either by blackmail or conning them into false security. WHY HAVE WE ALLOWED THE SELFISH BEAST TO DESTROY ASIA?? All credit to Saddam Husain for teaching the beast to stay in his own backyard.He reminds me of Scott's poem ---he is proud to defend his country! When we stop being sycophants?

Concerned: I don't think Saddam Hussein can be characterised by Scott's poem..he was a man who foolishly destroyed a very thriving economy in Iraq by his foolish actions. The world has no room for such maniacs..his people live in constant fear of reprisal. I think he committed a grave act which destroyed the successful econmy of Iraq.., here again Mr. Dixit what would you like to say about the fact that Mr. I.K Gujral met Saddam, thus sending out wrong signals to the world as to where we stood on the Kuwaiti annexation?

Mr. Dixit:Seems you have a wee bit of a superiority complex? REDIFF:Suggest you clarify on future chatsthe kind of questions people are willing to field.

One more achievemnt you missed, Mr. Dixit:A passportoffice in Delhi straight out of Dante's inferno!! Tell it like it is...

Well, I am about to get off this Chat on Rediff On The NeT. It was a pleasure participating in the programme. I am sorry I could not answer all the questions because of shortage of time, but I read all of them, and it gave me insights into the wide spectrum of views and concerns about India's foreign policy. I am glad that I did not have to answer some of the more abrasive questions. Answering them would not have served any purpose. It was a pleasure chatting on the Internet with all of you. I thank you all for your time, and Rediff for providing me with this opportunity. Good night, and have the dreams which you wish!

What then would you do if an alien walks into your home and tells you what you may or may not do in your house.....just because his standards are different than yours? Would cowtow, or bash him between the eyes,and ask him to mind his own busines?HUH?

Mr. Dixit! U sound like the Inspiration for T S Eliot's poem"Gerontion" .Please read the lines "After such knowledge....... wrath-bearing tree. If u r unable to sleep tonite!

Good bye?

Wish you were more concerned about our welfare1 Sigh!:-(

Mr Dixit, Many thanks for your time. I do hope you will appear regularly on the Rediff Chat. It would be wonderful.

Good Nite! Mr.Dixit! Sweet Dreams!

NIkhil Lakshman: Thanks for this most interesting evening. I would be happy on the Rediff Chat show whenever you feel it would be useful. Special thanks for thoughtfully giving me this chance to talk about India's foreign relations. Warm regards.

Nikhil : If U R the Master of Ceremonies! Please let him continue! Unless if he needs his scotch desperately!

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