Obama Is Not Insulting But Cheering India: Wall Street Journal

"Too bad the political class isn't as united in recognising that India's lack of reforms is souring its ties with friends abroad. Mr Obama noted that he was relaying the complaints of American business organisations that are usually one of the great champions of the U.S.-India partnership," the paper said.

"These businesses not only find decreasing opportunities to invest in India, but also detect an undercurrent of resentment against them. It was bad enough when Delhi's backtracked on opening retail to foreign investment, but new plans such as retroactively taxing cross-border deals have inspired alarm," the daily said.

The paper said some Indians may find it hard to accept Obama preaching liberalisation abroad when he campaigns against outsourcing jobs back home, and it's true that this President often appears cynical. Washington dents its credibility every time it betrays free-market principles.

"Such hypocrisy doesn't mean that Delhi can ignore the truth in Mr. Obama's message, that India's standing in the world will fade without an open economic system. America doesn't want that to happen.

"The West has every interest in seeing this liberal democracy grow into a partner for wealth-creating trade and a bulwark against authoritarianism in Asia. India's elite think Mr Obama is insulting them, but in fact he's cheering them on," The Wall Street Journal said.