U.S. Reaches Out To Modi Government, India Says Cyber Snooping Unacceptable


NEW DELHI: The U.S. reached out to the new Indian government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising to partner it in its vision of "Sabka saath sabka vikasa or development for all", even as India raised the issue of America's cyber snooping and termed it unacceptable between friends.

Visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas" is similar to that expressed by U.S. President Barack Obama and that the U.S. private sector is eager to be a catalyst to the India growth story.

The meeting between Kerry, who arrived Wednesday at the head of a high level delegation and Sushma Swaraj, also laid the groundwork for the summit meeting between Obama and Modi in Washington in September.

Addressing a joint press briefing after their over three-hour long talks, Sushma Swaraj said that she had raised the issue of the U.S. cyber snooping and conveyed to Kerry that the people of India were very agitated over the U.S. surveillance activities.

"I also said if we consider each other friends then a friendly country spying on another is unacceptable."

Kerry, in reply, said that the U.S. "fully respects and understands the feelings expressed" by the minister and that the U.S. would continue to work with India wherever they saw a threat to their shared interests.

Source: IANS