This is one tactic that the United States has adopted, saying it will wait for the final results of India’s general elections before it can give its evaluation. The remarks were stated by the US State Department at a briefing for journalists.
We haven’t seen the final results. It will be premature to make any comment until the results are out in black and white. That’s why I thought that the statement might be speaking for me. And on winners, I am not going into that. What is most significant for us and what we witnessed is the people of India voting over the last six weeks in the largest exercise in democracy anywhere.
The spokesperson, in addition to what has already been said, stated that on behalf of the United States, they wish to extend their congratulations to the Government of India, but more importantly, the voters for managing to engage in this enormous electoral process. In its response, the spokesperson expressed his/her anticipation of the outcome as follows:
The spokesperson refuted any claim of external influence or ‘interference’ by America or other parts of the West in the Indian elections. “We will always speak out…and listen… freely, for we do so with other foreign governments in private.
When we have things that we are worried about, we are equally frank in public, including from this pulpit. That is what I have done here today. I make no claim it was an effort to meddle with the Indian elections or any other”.
The spokesperson also spoke to the effects of the “close partnership” between the two nations, saying that there is a great partnership not only between the two governments but also between the citizens, and he believes that this will always remain so.
