Vice President targets USA

In a significant development, India's Vice President Hamid Ansari defied the diplomatic norms and criticized the USA on terrorism issue. Addressing a seminar in New Delhi, Ansari accused the US of adopting a policy that encourages terrorism. He even criticized the USA on Iraq crisis. Ansari's remarks came at a time when India is trying hard to strengthen relationship with the USA.

The Vice President showed his Left-leaning while making this observation, which is against the official line vis-a-vis the United States. While Congress distanced itself from the Vice President's remarks, BJP expressed surprise over it. On the other hand, Left parties have lent support to the Vice President on this issue. The latest development is likely to put the Indian government in further embarrassment and cause some damage to the Indo-US relationship.