PM to take up with Obama concerns over US visa rules

New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan
Singh will raise with President Barack Obama next month
concerns over the recent US decisions on visa rules and
outsourcing amid hopes that these would not affect the rapidly
growing bilateral ties.
Stating this here Friday, External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna also allayed apprehensions in the US over the Nuclear
Liability law, asserting that it would not affect interests of
American companies but rather provide a level-playing field to
firms from various countries.
The nuclear issue as also the growing Chinese
assertiveness will also figure in the wide-ranging discussions
that Singh will have with Obama during his five-day visit to
India from November 5.
"The nuclear deal (between India and the US) was one of
the biggest things that happened around which a number of
issues are revolving," Krishna told a group of journalists.
Talking about Obama's visit and the expected agenda of
talks, he said Indian IT companies have expressed reservations
over recent US decisions on outsourcing and tightening of visa
rules for Indians.
"Certainly, these issues will come up in discussions,"
the External Affairs Minister said.
He, however, added that the complementarities and
commonalities between India and the US were "so decisive" that
"different perceptions" on some issues would not affect the
ties.
The US has lately tightened visa rules for Indians and
unveiled policies that discourage outsourcing, a sector in
which India is a huge beneficiary.
Asked whether growing Chinese assertiveness would also
figure in the talks between Singh and Obama, Krishna said it
would be one of the issues as China is "an important factor"
in the global matters.
"We will exchange notes on China to see what is their
(US) approach and what is our approach (on China)," he said.
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