Meeting with Indian PM, other world leaders give Palin exposure in world diplomacy

New York, Sept 25 : Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met the republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin in New York on Wednesday on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly session.

The meeting had generated considerable interests in American political circles with analysts saying that it would give an exposure to Palin in international diplomacy given the clout that India enjoys in the world arena.

Political observers said that the meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Singh and other world leaders would credit her with foreign policy experience and enable her to take to international diplomacy if it fell to her.

Indian observers said that the meeting gave India an opportunity to cultivate her in case she is elected Vice President of the United States.

"Well one has to acknowledge that Sarah Palin represents grassroots conservative values in this country. She has turned around completely the November elections for the president and in our own interest it is important to cultivate her and this is the time to cultivate her," said K P Nayar, Chief Diplomatic Editor, The Telegraph, Washington DC.

One of the media persons present at the event said the meeting was held in a very cordial and eloquent atmosphere.

"Here I think he (Manmohan Singh) managed also very eloquently with the Governor of Alaska (Sarah Palin). It could be the reason that may be, you know, depends on the, how the voting in this country may go. May be today she is the Governor and tomorrow she might be the vice president of the whitehouse so Dr. Singh has a reason to deal with that," said Joy Mandal, photo journalist, New York.

Palin, faces a debate on October 2 in St Louis with her democratic opponent Biden, who is considered a veteran in foreign policy matters and heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Palin's meeting with world leaders in New York is expected to give her a boost in meeting the challenge from her democratic opponent.

ANI