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Budget Episode

Abnormal increase in India's defence budget this year

Dear Sir,
India is wasting too much money on Kashmir operations. Now it has come out in the open in the Budget. The finance minister has put such a huge sum on defence only due to Kargil operations.
Leaders of all political parties as well people of the country must realize that we cannot win over this war like situation with both our neighbours, Pakistan and China. We must be practical and settle our differences with our naighbours through negotiations bilaterally or we must seek the help of the superpower - America. We should take notice of all nations having problems with their naighbours. Middle East and Africa have realized that America can help resolve their differences. What is holding us back for not considering this option, when President Clinton had very clearly said in Washington DC. 'He would be more than happy to help resolve this complex problem, destrying both India and Pakistan since last 50 years and is a hurdle in their economic progress and development.
This is the right time. President Clinton is scheduled to visit South Asia. India should take the advantage of his visit and instead of creating hurdles for him visiting Pakistan, they should try to utilize this opportunity and let him bring both the parties on a platform in USA like he had done with others. Clinton is intelligent, influencial and powerful and will be able to convince both India and Pakistan to see reason.
J & K Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah had already started efforts to solve this problem by proposing 'autonomy' for the state. It should be given wide publicity and public understanding created in reference to this thousands of crores of increase in defence expenditure.
It is upto Indian senior political leadership and known personalities in every field to ask the BJP led Government to think on this matter.

M. James, New York