Manish Swarup/Associated PressU.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addressing a conference “US-India Partnering for Innovative Solutions” with Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in New Delhi, May 8, 2012.While top officials of the Indian and U.S. governments pledged cooperation during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to India this week, a fierce behind-the-scenes battle Tuesday put the Americans on their heels.
“You need to move to the back, you need to move to the back,” repeated Stephanie F. Morimura, an official with the U.S. Embassy in Delhi to the massive group of Indian journalists at a press conference at the Taj Palace Hotel on Tuesday morning.
The Indian journalists were demanding spots near the front row of chairs which had been reserved for Indian officials and other V.I.P.’s – including the American reporters who tag along with Mrs. Clinton, a spot often referred to in American journalist circles as “inside the bubble.” The U.S. press corps had been given two privileged rows of chairs near the front with power cords for their laptops, while the local press were relegated to the back of the auditorium.
Ms. Morimura promised to have security officials remove any Indian journalist who defied her order. They moved to the back of the room, but they were not happy.
American state visits to India have been marked frequently by friction between the U.S. press corps and Indian officials and press. During President Barack Obama’s visit in November 2010, the U.S. press secretary threatened to cancel the president’s discussion with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India if the agreed-upon number of U.S. reporters were not allowed to attend.
On Tuesday morning, Don Lu, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, came to the microphones well after the speeches were expected to start with what sounded like a peace offering.
“The secretary and the science and technology minister are about to arrive,” Mr. Lu said. “You can stand if you wish, but please stay where you are.” Members of the Indian press corps glared at him.
Finally, the Indian minister and Mrs. Clinton came into the ballroom. A stampede of Indian photographers burst into the aisle and surged toward the front of the room, snapping photos in just the spot from which they had been banned. Officials working for the Americans physically pushed them back. Snapping away, they finally retreated.
Calm was restored long enough for Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Indian minister of science and technology, to deliver an eight-minute speech about the “new chapter” in Indian-American technological relations.
Mrs. Clinton nodded diplomatically throughout the speech, then delivered her own pep talk along the same lines. With the speeches done, the photographers at the back burst from their confined area and surged out into the hallway to get photos of the officials in movement. The hunt was on.