I come here as a friend: Bush

BUSH IN INDIA

India's best and brightest, 714 in all, were invited to Delhi's Purana Qila to hear US President George Bush, but on the condition that they congregated, without bags or cellphones, two hours before the President's arrival.

With nothing to do but socialise, invitees chatted, air-kissed and embraced acquaintances and friends, eyes darting ceaselessly to check out who else had been called.

With who's who of industry, politics and bureaucracy in attendance, there was sincere applause when Bush strode in. His speech was simply worded but had a strong political message.

Saluting India as one of the great nations, he quoted Martin Luther King, who had once said, "I go to other countries as a tourist but I come here as a pilgrim" and added, "I come here as a friend".

Bush referred to Indian respect for learning and family values and said that this, along with freedom and democracy, were values India and the US had in common and added that Indians in the US had given a lot to the country, from political leadership in Louisiana (Bobby Jindal) to Kalpana Chawla.

Bush asked India to open up its economy and referred to the outcry in his own country about outsourcing: "True, some people have lost jobs to people in India. Losing a job is painful".

But, he added, the answer was not to build walls. "The US will not give into protectionism and lose opportunities," he said.