Indian anger at Bush's petal tribute to Gandhi

Telegraph-UkIndian anger at Bush's petal tribute to GandhiBy Peter Foster in New Delhi03/03/2006

President George W Bush faced a chorus of protest as he honoured the memory of Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to India.

Before signing a historic nuclear deal yesterday, Mr Bush, a believer in the doctrine of military pre-emption, sprinkled rose petals over the memorial to the philosopher of non-violence.

President Bush, with wife Laura, during a visit to the Mahatma Gandhi's memorialArundhati Roy, the Booker Prize-winning novelist and social activist, wrote that millions of Indians would "wince" as Mr Bush paid his tribute.

"It will be as though he has poured a pint of blood on the memory of Gandhi," she said.