news details |
|
|
| Delhi's US Embassy in action | | Washington for war on flesh trade in India | | BL KAK
NEW DELHI, Apr 30:
India is confronted with a serious problem. It is, of course, a threat, emanating from the uninhibited talk of US economic sanctions that this country can face. Why such an extreme step? Answer to this question is not far to seek. India, in fact, has attracted a good deal of attention from the US administration in recent years on the unabated trafficking in children and women.
Even as the working relationship betwen India and America has, as officially explained, entered an encouraging phase, Washington has taken seriously to continuing trafficking in children and women in this country. If appropriate laws are available in India for adequately dealing with and curbing the menace of traficking in children and women, the United Statesw is equipped with a harsh legislation. It is known as US Victims of Traficking & Violence Protection Act.
After the none-to-old meeting the Delhi-based US Ambassador to India had with the Minister for Home Affairs, Shivraj Patil, on the menace of trafficking in children and women, the cat was out of the bag: If India failed to stop traficking in children and women, the US will not take long to act by putting in place economic sanctions. That the US Ambassador left no choice for Shivraj Patil but to take due cognizance of the former's warning was borne out by the latter's hurried consultations with top functionaries of his Ministry on the crucial issue. And Shivraj Patil's advisory to all States and Union Territories on the urgency of preventive measures came after his quiet meeting with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh.
The Home Minister's consultations have also covered the Finance Ministry and Department of Women and Child Welfare. Shivraj Patil did not conceal his response--that is,tough measures are called for to deal with the problem of trafficking of women and children.
And after the US Ambassador, who had equipped himself with sufficient evidence on the menace, clearly hinted at US economic sanctions in the event of India's failure to stop trafficking in children and women, official circles in Delhi decided to give currency to reports that a word had gone out from the North Block to all States and Union Territories in favour of crack-down on women and child trafficking.
India has already tasted how bitter the US economic sanctions were years ago. New Delhi has reasons to be a bit nervous in view of the US-sponsored talk of economic sanctions India may face in the next few months for not taking concrete action against the menace. The menace has, significantly, set in motion the two important centres--US Embassy in Delhi's Chanakyapuri area and Ministry of Home Affairs in North Block.
In plain language, the US Ambassador has undertaken the role of monitoring the situation in close cooperaztion with the Indian Home Minister. The American law provides for classification of countries into three categories. Category number one is classified as the 'best', while category number tghre is labelled as 'worst'. At present, India has been placed in category number two. If it is downgraded, the posibility of US action is not ruled out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
