No outsourcing, no nuclear deal (India)

[OhioChick]

6 May, 2009, 1840 hrs IST,PTI

NEW DELHI: A BJP-led government will not implement the nuclear deal with the US if the Barack Obama administration withdraws tax incentives to companies outsourcing works, a senior party functionary said today.

"We will tell the Americans very clearly that we will not implement the Indo-Us nuclear deal, if this is the policy (removal of tax cuts for those outsourcing), you (will)follow with a friendly country like India," former Finance and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told PTI in an interview.

He said the US cannot be using all its laws against India and expect it to go ahead and support them in everything.

"Why should India buy nuclear reactors from them, create employment opportunities in the US. If it (US) wants to extinguish employment opportunities in India by theses methods, why should we then generate employment for Americans by importing nuclear reactors from them," said Sinha, whose party has said it will renegotiate the deal if it comes to power.

When asked if the BJP will rework the deal, Sinha said for the time being, it should be made very clear to the United States that there will be no question of implementing the nuclear deal in the current scenario. He said the deal could be considered on the basis of reciprocity.

"The Nuclear deal is held out as a great piece of the friendly relations India has with US. You (the US) are looking at your own interest. So we will not care if you are a friendly country or you are not so friendly. That is what reciprocity means. Then we will consider," Sinha said.

In a decision that could harm outsourcing of jobs to India and other countries, US President Obama on Monday had proposed removal of tax incentives to American companies shifting jobs abroad.

Sinha asked if India should take the US stand on outsourcing lying down. "Look at what Obama is doing. First the H1B visas and now the taxation proposal that they will not give tax benefits to companies which outsource jobs outside. This is directed at India and the formulation is Buffalo and not Bangalore. Should India take it lying down," Sinha said.

Hitting out at the loopholes in the country's corporate tax code, President Obama had commented, "It’s a tax code that says you should pay lower taxes if you create a job in Bangalore, India, than if you create one in Buffalo, New York."

The Indo-US nuclear deal had made the left parties withdraw support to the UPA government.

http://infotech.indiatimes.com/News/BJP-No-outsourcing-no-nuclear-deal-/articleshow/4492045.cms

Sounds like India is threatening President Obama. Did they forget that he does NOT support THEIR best interests, but the interests of the American people?

[babylonsister]

1. Definitely sounds like a threat to me, too. I don't think

this admin is going to take too kindly to that.

[asjr]

2. It is blackmail!

[Deja Q]

10. The President has responded to people with aggressive intent before.

I'm more inclined to trust him, and his staff, on this.

It's sad, President Obama has been trying to work with people and he gets this shit shoveled back at him from other countries and their leaders. It's like the rest of the world learned from Bush in a perverse sort of way...

I'm still not over Chavez' stupid and equally antagonistic remarks after Obama's visiting with him. That's just dumb.

[bemildred]

19. Sounds like a "threat" to me. nt

[belpejic]

3. Uh, Mr. Sinha, screw yourself

I don't want to sound like an arrogant American, but I really don't think the Indian government has much leverage here.

[Deja Q]

12. I understand the 'arrogant' comment, or I misinterpreted it as not being about wanting good jobs.

[sledgehammer]

26. "former Finance and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha"...

former being the key word.

He's not a member of the Indian government. Hasn't been for around five years. He's not even from the same party as the ruling govt.

His words are not the opinion of the Indian govt.

Still, his opinion is pretty laughable, but let's separate it from being the words of India's govt.

[xchrom]

4. recommend -- america needs new friends. nt

[Deja Q]

9. At this point, I'm in 95% agreement.

This turn of events is nothing less than sheer arrogance; hubris on their part.

It's disgusting.

I cant' say 100% because I think we all want to see a positive outcome, but these latest developments are a genuine shock.

And then they will whine when we talk about protectionism while they actively engage in it.

The line is starting to be drawn and they are the ones that will drive us to it.

[xchrom]

16. i certainly don't want this to turn enirely sour.

but by the same token -- neither can we the people let those who negotiate for us take statements like these sedately.

and boy oh boy -- we seriously need both political parties to get very very different on the issue of outsourcing -- which is it's own kind of bomb.

[MNDemNY]

5. We must disarm this evil regime. The WMD's must be taken out.

This would be a war of necessity.}(

[ChromeFoundry]

6. Screw India

The last I checked, Obama was the President of the U.S.....NOT India.

[Deja Q]

11. We should work with allies, but India has NO right to pull this toddler act. What would Carly say?

"No Indian has a God-given right to a job anymore, just like how it's the same for Americans in our Global Economy(tm)".

I do have some sympathy in all this, but they were being myopic too.

President Obama cannot let the US economy fail because IT WILL HAVE A DOMINO EFFECT AND DESTROY INDIA'S ECONOMY TOO!!!

We're all in this together!! Are these Indians and other anti-Obama people unable to grasp this concept??

[angstlessk]

7. you mean the 'we get mangos and they get nukes' deal? that deal?

:wtf: OH NOES...NO MANGOS!!!!

[Deja Q]

8. Didn't Chavez pull some blackmail a few weeks ago too?

As with Chavez's pigheaded statements, I am going to have the same reaction to these guys: You don't engage in blackmail and expect a free pardon. That's immoral, unethical, the rest of us don't do it...


President Obama has to keep a lot of people happy. But I think the best way is to work with him. Non-veiled blackmail like this is just unacceptable.

Especially when nukes are involved, geez louize...

Can't India make opportunities on its own too? I mean, companies keep saying we're all dumb and all Indians are the smartest people on the planet...

it's like a bad relative. They only like us when THEY want something.

[sledgehammer]

28. Sinha is not from the Indian govt

He was a minister around 5 years ago with another govt, and is not speaking for the Indian govt.

It's possible he might be back after India's elections are over (if BJP wins), but for now he's just voicing his opinion from the sidelines.

I agree that India should be making opportunities. They are way too reliant on US outsourcing. That's a very dangerous situation to be in. Because either they can be outsourced themselves, or the US can start protecting jobs.

[ihavenobias]

13. Interesting, thanks for posting. n/t

[MasonJar]

14. Do not bend to their threat, President Obama. People need jobs HERE!!!!!!!!

[Dr.Phool]

15. Fuck India!

They do know how to appeal to capitalist greed, though.

[TheCoxwain]

17. THE nuclear deal is in India's favor ...they have much more to lose

so this is a HOLLOW threat...


It is like a Chocoholic saying .. If you dont give me apple pie - I will not let you give me Chocolate cake.


Does that sound like a threat?

[kaygore]

18. I can't tell you how tired I am talking to non-US/Canadian help desks

Once I realize that a company has outsourced consumer services such as help desks, I try my best to avoid them. Did you see the film, "Outsourced"? The irony is that if it can be done to us, it can be done to them.

[bemildred]

20. It will be done to them. The question is how soon? nt

[imdjh]

21. We'll remember the sentiment when they need a shipload of vaccine.

[sledgehammer]

27. Do you avoid them primarily because...

...of communication issues? Or because of the economic issues of taking jobs away from America?

Because Canada is a foreign country too. So if helpdesks are going there, then that's as bad from an economic perspective.

From a communication perspective, ok. As long as the helpdesk is not in Quebec I guess!

BTW, I have seen Outsourced - interesting movie. Yes, everyone and anyone can be outsourced. It's all about $$$. No one should be sitting pretty. India's advantage is that schooling is in English, which is why so many companies went there instead of Brazil, China, Russia, etc. But other countries are playing ball now and are teaching English in school.

[Skittles]

22. Indian can FUCK OFF

Obama better stick to his promise - he works for the AMERICAN PEOPLE, not these outsourcing bastards in India

[The Traveler]

23. OK with me.

Sorry, Mr. Sinha, but doing business with India must be mutually beneficial to the workers of both nations ... or it does not make sense at all. And so far, it has been a royal screw job for us. Nothing personal. No offense. But the American taxpayer is done subsidizing the outsourcing of jobs to foreign lands.

[Jeep789]

24. Not so sure nuclear deals of any kind in the region

(or anywhere else in the world) are in our best interest anyway. Who do they benefit anyway, some corporation? Certainly not our security.

We got India on its feet. Time for India to start supporting its own people.

[struggle4progress]

25. The Nuclear Deal was part of the Bushista attack on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

so perhaps it's best if the deal dies

[Azlady]

29. That is a threat! Kick n/t