SARKOZYS, INDIA'S GUESTS OF HONOUR OR...

Monsieur Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, and Mademoiselle Carla Bruni, his fiancee, were supposed to be the guests of honour at this year's Republic Day Parade in India on January 26, 2008. But India's efforts to save its modesty has angered the French President and his fiancee; he has cut short his visit and she may not come at all. To put it mildly, India has through and through insulted a Head of a State, whose country - and Germany - had given a boost to India's defence efforts when other western super powers had turned their back on India facing "terrorist" menace.
India will also lose French beneficence from M. Sarkozy, which in China's case was about $30 billion. Evidently, China does not have any modesty to save. They are also more pragmatic than India. Indian private business will also suffer long term losses due to this short-sighted effort.
Mme Bruni is a top model and folk singer. And she loves her profession. In Europe, espeially in liberated France, models pose in nude. This is a common practice and no stigma is attached. M. Sarkozy recently divorced his wife and fell in love with Mme Bruni. This is also common in Europe.
But India felt uncomfortable to accommodate both on the Presidential dais during the parade. It seems strange that with Indian courts accepting the right to alimony of live-in partners, the Government of India should feel coy about the French couple. Hopefully, India has not allowed itself to be used as a pawn by another power against France.

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