NEW DELHI, 4 March 2006 — Describing ties with India as “closer than ever before,” US President George W. Bush said yesterday that he had come to India as a friend. On the last day of his three-day India visit, Bush was addressing a select gathering of parliamentarians, industrialists and a few other dignitaries at Purana Qila (Old Fort).

The 16th century fort, constructed during the reign of Mogul Emperor Humayun, was chosen as the venue for the president’s address after lawmakers threatened to heckle him if he addressed Parliament.

Bush began his address with the traditional Indian greeting, “Namaste” and acknowledged the ancient land, which had so many religious communities living together peacefully, had “dazzled” him. He described trade as “a powerful engine” and asserted that the United States and India were working “to expand the circle of prosperity and develop the world.” Calling India a “natural ally” of the United States, Bush referred to both countries as “global leaders.”

Describing the nuclear deal signed Thursday by the two countries as historic, Bush asserted that it would strengthen the economy of both countries.

Saying that India-Pakistan animosity is no longer a headache for the US, Bush said: “There was a time when US relations with Pakistan were a cause of concern for India. Those days are over. A prosperous Pakistan will be useful for India.”

Referring to the common concern of terrorism, the president said: “In the long run we have to change the conditions that give rise to terrorism.” The US president, who earlier visited the technology city of Hyderabad to talk up the benefits of global trade, defended the outsourcing of thousands of American jobs to India that has caused much grumbling from US labor unions and led to calls for action from some members of Congress.

Outsourcing and software exports are forecast to earn India more than $20 billion in the fiscal year ending March, with about 60 percent of that coming from US companies.

Bush said Americans are benefiting from an expanded market for US goods in India and vowed Washington would not give in to “the protectionists” but said India needs to do its part.

“India needs to continue to lift its caps on foreign investment and make its rules and regulations more transparent and to continue to lower its tariffs and open its markets to American agricultural products, industrial goods and services,” Bush said.

He also said India should enforce laws that protect children and workers from trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

Hours before Bush began his address, police reported rioting in the northern city of Lucknow that saw three people killed, dozens injured, cars, shops and vehicles torched and shops looted. The rioting had been sparked when Muslims staged anti-Bush protests after Friday prayers, said Lucknow police chief Ashutosh Pandey. “Muslims after offering prayers went around ordering shops to down their shutters to protest Bush’s visit to India which sparked off the clashes because the Hindus objected,” said Pandey.

Police in the city, capital of Uttar Pradesh state, used tear gas and truncheons to break up the clashes, he added.

Protests by Muslims also turned violent in the southern city of Hyderabad during Bush’s visit there. Five people were injured in clashes between riot police and protesters, who were kept well away from the visiting president. In Srinagar, 35 people were hurt in clashes between police and Muslims protesting Bush’s visit as well as the publication of Danish caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

In Parliament, the Congress party-led government was harshly criticized by its leftist allies and opponents. Some lawmakers said the agreement with the United States for development of civilian nuclear energy was against national interest.

Bush later arrived in Pakistan on a two-day visit.