US shouldn't be protectionist, says BJP ahead of Obama visit

BJP today welcomed the visit of President Barack Obama to India but said being a major economy, the US should not play the role of a "protectionist".

"BJP welcomes the visit of President Obama to India later this week...US is the biggest economy in the world. But we hope that US does not play the role of a protectionist," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters in New Delhi.

He said the party will come out with a detailed statement on Obama's tour after he completes his visit.

Party sources said leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj would firm up her "talking points" with Obama when the two meet after consulting chairman of BJP's parliamentary party LK Advani, leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and party chief Nitin Gadkari in the coming days.

Swaraj is likely to raise the issue of outsourcing and terrorism emanating from Pakistan during her meeting with the US president.

India today said it will not make any "hasty conclusions" on the outcome of discussions with Obama on "complex" issues of outsourcing, seat for India in UN Security Council and withdrawal of US ban on export of dual-use technology.

Seeking to downplay Obama's remarks yesterday in which he did not hold out any assurances on these key concerns, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said it would be wrong to prejudge the US leader's discussions with the Indian leadership.