[BRIEF NOTE] Sarkozy and Bruni in India

[rfmcdonald]

The status of the new relationship of the ambitious French president Nicolas Sarkozy with Franco-Italian supermodel, singer and frequent travelling companion Carla Bruni has created some uncertainty as to how Bruni fits into diplomatic protocol. In Saudi Arabia, Bruni was asked not to come. AFP reports that India's government will treat Bruni as France's First Lady, but Siddharth Srivastava at Asia Times ("For India, Sarkozy's significantly 'other'") suggested that the public attention paid to a Sarkozy-Bruni visit might complicate things significantly.

Until Bruni became public, Indian analysts were discussing the French president's visit in terms of drier issues, such as India's cancellation of the recent multi-million dollar Eurocopter helicopter deal due to supposed US pressure and a controversy over French Scorpene submarines.

Yet, the visit of a French president never attracts the kind of frenzy or attention that accompanies a US presidential visit or the interest that a Russian or Chinese head of state can create.

Sarkozy, with the comely Bruni, however, tilts the balance and has already evoked the expected response from tabloids and the increasingly aggressive Indian paparazzi that feed the very competitive TV channels. Sarkozy's pictures with his pretty companion during recent travels to Egypt have been given prominent display.

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However, Bruni and Sarkozy will perhaps need to watch out for the rising numbers of hyperactive, hypersensitive radical elements referred to as the "moral police" who love to pick on celebrities, especially film and sports stars, usually on charges of indecent portrayal of women, hurting religious sentiments and - a more recent concern - "disrespecting the national flag".

Srivastava cited as an example of this the kiss between Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty that sparked public outrage in some segments of Indian public opinion.