By IANS,
Washington : US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is the only American public figure of note to have condoled the death of Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, prime architect of India’s 1971 victory over Pakistan to liberate Bangladesh.
“I offer my deep condolences to the people of India on the passing of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw,” Obama said, describing the former Indian Army chief of staff as “a legendary soldier, a patriot and an inspiration to his fellow citizens”.
“Field Marshal Manekshaw provided an example of personal bravery, self-sacrifice and steadfast devotion to duty that began before India’s independence and will deservedly be remembered far into the future,” he said.
In contrast, there was no such statement from Republican candidate John McCain, himself a war hero who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam at a camp famously nicknamed “Hanoi Hilton” when Manekshaw’s victorious army was marching into then East Pakistan.
Nor has President George Bush or any other US leader, either Democratic or Republican, issued a statement on Manekshaw’s death.