Despite tall claims that India is quietly pushing for changes in military-ruled Burma, Burmese activists said the visit by the Burmese Foreign Minister to New Delhi exposes India's hypocrisy towards genuine changes in the Southeast Asian nation.
Burma's Foreign minister Nyan Win, who is on an official visit to India, on Wednesday met the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and External Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee.
While the Indian Ministry of External Affairs did not disclose details of the meeting, reports suggest that both Man Mohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee had stressed the need for Burma to implement political reforms and national reconciliation.
Dr. Tint Swe, Member of Parliament of the Burmese government in exile – the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma – said, "Inviting Nyan Win at this point of time only proves that India is continuing its relationship with the Burmese regime despite increasing international isolation of the generals for their brutal crackdown on protesters in September."
Nyan Win, who is the highest ranking Burmese official visiting India after a bloody crackdown on protesters in September, is reportedly meeting his Indian counterpart to finalize a 100 million US dollar Kaladan multi-model project that will link India's landlocked northeastern states with Burma and the development of Sittwe port in Burma's western coast.
However, reports cited MEA official as saying that during the meeting both the Indian Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister stressed on the visiting Burmese Foreign Minister the need to implement political reforms and national reconciliation.
"India is contradicting itself. First it invites the Burmese generals and tries to pose as if it is pushing for changes," Tint Swe added.
Opposing Nyan Win's visit to India Burmese activists today held protest rallies in New Delhi. Protesters demanded that India implement a clear cut policy that will send a strong message to the Burmese generals.
Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, an Indian journalist working with the Lok Sabha television, said India's claim of supporting democracy is " typical hypocrisy of the government of India's foreign policy."
India has been loud in proclaiming its support for democratic changes in the region including Burma. But "[It is] mainly for pubic consumption" as India continues to engage the military dictators in the neighbourhood, Thakurta said.
Nyan Win, who on Thursday is reportedly visiting Bodh Gaya, a Buddhist holy place in the Indian state of Bihar, is scheduled to head back to Burma on Friday.
