Mr Guru

'Obama called Manmohan Mr Guru'

Agencies Posted: May 09, 2010 at 1549 hrs

New Delhi "Mr Guru" was how US President Barack Obama greeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the Copenhagen Climate Summit, which showed the degree of respect he has for the Indian leader, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Sunday.

"President Obama has certainly got the right instincts on India. I know for fact, when Obama was in negotiating room, three times he mentioned word Guru when he referred to our PM. Your Prime Minister is our Guru," Ramesh, who is here on a visit, told an interactive session with the members of Foreign Correspondent Club.

At the end of the negotiations the US had with BASIC countries - Brazil, South Africa, China and India – the first person Obama went to was Singh and said: "Mr Guru what will we do?"

The BASIC countries hammered out the Copenhagen Accord, which has now been recognised by over 100 countries.At the same time, Ramesh said no "US President can match the warmth President Bush showered on India.President (George) Bush was bad for the world but great for India. He was outstanding for India. There is no question. With Bush yard stick any US President will fall short," he said.

Compared to high degree of warmth Bush showered on India, "it may appear we are not having the same degree of prominence in Republican administration which considered India as a bulwark against China."

"I do not think one should worry about Obama's strategy in Afghanistan. I do not think it is anti-India in a sense of the term if it means for him to build close relationship with Pakistan that is American policy objective."

India's concern is that military equipment should not be used against it, he said.

"By and large we recognise the compulsion under which he (Obama) is operating. He is suffering (in India) because of his predecessor where as Obama is glowing in all other areas because Bush had set extraordinarily high degree for warmth in India," Ramesh said.