Only 'Jung' Is Missing

IN the UK, many NRIs are seeing the beginning of a new shadow game, a competition between them and nonresident Pakistanis. "We will be able to do more than them," says R.K. Mahaan, who chaired a meeting between commerce minister R.K. Hegde and NRIs in Birmingham last week. "The problem is that we do not have a newspaper with us like Jung that can encourage people by listing donors and all that." As a result, he says, "even though we do more, they may be able to show off more." But the about-to-be parallel that enthusiastic BJP supporters are beginning to see between the overseas Chinese and the NRIs may not happen. The overseas Chinese propped up the Chinese economy after Tiananmen Square, when the world had turned against China. NRIs talk on similar lines, but there are indications they may not take the same steps.

The NRIs at the gung-ho meeting addressed by Hegde in Birmingham were proud of India's nuclear muscle. But money to strengthen India against sanctions? Here businessmen spoke more business than India. Conrad Dave (Bengali surname) who is investing in a $12 million state farm in Bengal said later: "I believe commercial enterprises won't be affected by sanctions." But would NRIs place money in Indian banks? "The fall in the rupee value in India will have a major impact on the banking sector," he replied. "There is a problem with Indian banking." India, he said, "needs new administrative systems for NRIs to work through."

About contributions from NRIs, S.K. Thukral, an importer of textiles and other goods from India, says "nobody has suggested that yet." And if NRIs were바카라 웹사이트 to pool in to balance the sanctions, "how much money can they pool in?" Such issues have to be tackled, he says, "by political means." Karnail Cheema, who is putting up a polythene bags plant at Dera Basi near Chandigarh, and a group of other businessmen have written to the Indian government "that they have done a very good thing, these people should know our strength." Says he: "Our overall view is that we are happy." But he feels there is no question of NRIs countering sanctions because the sanctions are "only drama." Nobody is thinking of the economic fallout for India yet. But this could turn out to be the true test of the overseas friendship.

Prime minister Vajpayee is under no illusions about the NRIs. On his last visit to London, he made it clear that their interest in India should not be driven by profit and interest alone, but by some love for the country. He reminded them of the vast withdrawals of money when they thought India is in trouble. Not a reassuring precedent if India faces trouble now. The NRI, more than any Indian, thinks of what the country, or better, two countries can do for him. Nobody may be thinking of surrendering profit or investment for India for any competition with Pakistani businessmen.