Source: The Statesman
KOLKATA, 9 MARCH: Mr Narendra Modi seems to have found another cheerleader in the USA ~ American Samoa Congressman Eni Faleomavaega, whose earlier statement praising the Gujarat Chief Minister’s “extraordinary leadership” has been widely circulated over the last few days.
The high-profile presentation two days back of a framed copy of Mr Faleomavaega’s statement ~ which he had inserted into the U.S. Congressional Record ~ to Mr Modi, comes close on the heels of an international embarrassment for the BJP leader. Protests by students, faculty and alumni prompted US-based Wharton Business School to cancel on 3 March a planned video address by Mr Modi.
While Mr Modi’s supporters have been quick to point to the Congressman’s endorsement as proof of Mr Modi’s growing global appeal, a closer look at Mr Faleomavaega ~ a long-serving non-voting delegate who is the top Democrat on the Republican-controlled U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee ~ shows he is not averse to speaking up for controversial regimes.
In April 2012, as the monarchy in Bahrain continued its bloody crackdown on pro-democracy activists, Mr Faleomavaega issued statements in line with the regime’s position, one of which he inserted into the Congressional Record, according to U.S. investigative journalism organisation ProPublica. Monarchy-linked lobbying firm Policy Impact Communications was Mr Faleomavaega’s second-largest donor in 2010.
More recently, Mr Faleomavaega has been publicly supporting the Sri Lankan government, criticising the United States’ decision to move a resolution at the United Nations to press Sri Lanka for greater accountability in light of the government’s alleged war crimes.
At a 26 February committee hearing, Mr Faleomavaega said: “The USA simply cannot afford to lose Sri Lanka due to its strategic importance.” He noted a trip he had taken to Sri Lanka a week earlier, meeting with President Rajapaksa, and the governor of the Northern Province. At this same committee hearing, called The Rebalance to Asia: Why South Asia Matters, Mr Faleomavaega also took up Mr Modi’s cause. “I want to suggest that it is time for the USA to begin a dialogue with chief minister Narendra Modi of India’s Gujarat state who may very well be India’s next Prime Minister,” he said.
This wasn’t the first time he’d spoken out for Mr Modi. On 13 February, the Congressman inserted a statement into the Congressional Record congratulating him on his reelection as chief minister, calling it a “historic achievement,” and noting that “since 2001, Mr Modi has led a decade of unprecedented growth and development in Gujarat. Because of his extraordinary leadership, Gujarat is now an economic powerhouse”.
In the same statement, Mr Faleomavaega thanked Mr Sanjay Puri, founder and President of the Alliance for US-India Business (AUSIB), “for the outstanding work he has done and continues to do in the U.S. Congress to promote US-Gujarat trade.”
Mr Puri is also the chairman of the U.S. India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), which has given at least $22,500 to Mr Faleomavaega re-election committee since 2003, according to U.S. Federal Election Commission records. Mr Puri himself has given at least $3,500.
Mr Modi’s official Facebook page on Wednesday featured a post saying, “Was presented with a copy of Representative Eni Faleomavaega’s statement, congratulating us on the victory in the Gujarat Elections 2012.” Mr Puri tweeted, “Mr Sanjay Puri presenting Mr Narendra Modi with a framed copy of a letter from rep. Mr Eni Faleomavaega congratulating him.”
It is not only Mr Puri working to burnish the images of Mr Modi and Gujarat. U.S. lobbying and public relations powerhouse Apco Worldwide in January announced a partnership with Ahmedabad-based Aakriti Promotions and Media. Aakriti’s website now says it is an Apco Worldwide affiliate and lists the Government of Gujarat, the Vibrant Gujarat 2011 summit, and Gujarat Tourism as clients.
