Mukesh Ambani, Arundhati, Abhishek-Aish on Obama State Dinner Wish List
With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh scheduled for his high-profile state visit to the US, an American news outlet has published its own top 10 wish list of the invitees.
In the list released by ‘Politico’, known for coverage of the Capitol Hill and the White House, appears top industrialist Mukesh Ambani, who met the President early this year, followed by writer-turn activist Arundhati Roy.
“As India has assumed a larger role on the global stage, Roy has spoken out against globalisation, Indian poverty and the country’s nuclear weapons programme – though she has often stirred up controversy,” ‘Politico’ said.
Thomas Friedman, author of ‘The World is Flat’ is place next on the list, followed by Bollywood stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
“Rai and Bachchan (or Ash and Abhi, as they are known to their fans) are the biggest stars of Bollywood. They have billions – not millions – of fans; Bachchan has starred in more than 40 movies, and Rai can earn up to USD 15 million per film. If Obama needed to boost his popularity around the world, here is his ticket to the heart of India,” it said.
As Obama personally admires the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, his grandson, also makes it to the wish list.
“But politics and admiration for Mohandas aren’t the only things that Gopalkrishna and Obama have in common – both have written books, and both have two daughters,” it said.
Bobby Jindal, the first Indian-American to be elected as Governor of a US State, Raj Goyle – the fast emerging young Democratic leaders are the two Indian American politicians in the wish list; which also includes Raghubir Goyal, White House Correspondent, ‘India Globe’.
Politico’s wish list also includes Jeffrey Immelt, General Electric.
“As CEO of General Electric, Immelt knows a thing or two about India. His company is one of the biggest US investors in India. And since GE owns NBC Universal, Immelt knows a thing or two about celebrity and the news business.
With NBC and GE stock both struggling, an invite for Immelt might be a much-needed vote of confidence,” it said.
