Obama's State Department to Indian officials in India: "Show us your papers !"

[Sandra]

Obama's State Department to Indian officials in India: "Show us your papers !"


URL Source: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog ... s_state_department_to_ind.html
Published: Nov 5, 2010
Author: Phil Boehmke

Obama's trip to India may not be the great diplomatic success that the administration was hoping for. Our friends in the world's most populous democracy are getting steamed over
the state department's heavy handed tactics. High ranking officials from
the state of Maharashtra were invited to an event at the Taj Mahal
hotel with Mr. Obama, but were told that they would have to show their
papers to get in. According to The Times of India:

"Miffed by the US consulate demanding personal details like birth date, nationality and passport number, Maharashtra's top politicians and
bureaucrats have decided to pay it back in the same currency. While the
home minister and the home secretary have declined to attend an event
graced by President Barack Obama, four others, including chief minister
Ashok Chavan and deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, are mulling the
same.

"We are shocked over the tone of the invitation letter. (US consul general Paul) Folmsbee expects Chavan and Bhujbal to produce their identity cards before entering the venue. They have been asked to
submit their details like date of birth, nationality, passport and PAN
to the consulate," said a senior official on condition of anonymity. "We feel this is no way to treat the chief minister of a state. Chavan and Bhujbal are undecided on whether to attend the event."

When consulted on the matter by a Maharashtra official, Sunil Lal, the chief protocol officer with New Delhi's Ministry of External Affairs
(MEA) said that the private event was arranged by the U.S. consulate
without consulting either the MEA or the state government and that
"Under such circumstances, it was felt that Chavan and Bhujbal should
not attend." The final decision has been left up to the chief minister.

For an administration that has made such an issue with law enforcement officials in Arizona asking for papers, it seems awfully hypocritical
for them to demand that high ranking state officials of a sovereign
nation (which is graciously hosting their large entourage) to produce
their papers. Will Indian customs officials be asking Mr. Obama for his
papers?

Update: The US consul-general in Mumbai has apologized

The Indian news site Sify reports:

" A mild threat of Maharashtra's top politicians to boycott US President Barack Obama's functions on being asked to produce
identification papers forced the US government to apologise Friday.

'I have visited Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and personally apologised. It was just a clerical
error,' US Consul-General in Mumbai Paul A. Folmsbee said."

[Sandra]

Excuse the pun, but isn't that "the pot calling the kettle black."

[Sandra]

India should ask for his birth certificate and NOT he Hawaii live birth one either.. Just refuse to let him land unless he does, LOL would be toooo funny!