Modi Will Usher in India's New Era: U.S. Lawmaker

WASHINGTON: Describing Narendra Modi as "a man of vision", an influential U.S. lawmaker said in the House of Representatives that the Prime Minister-designate will usher in India's new era.

"Modi is a man of vision and he, together with each and every citizen of India, will create something special -- an India that will assume its destined role. Without a doubt, Prime Minister Modi will usher in India's new era. He will make the 21st century India's century. This is his destiny," Congressman F H Falomavaega said in his remarks in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Mr Speaker, I rise today to congratulate India's next Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his resounding and historic victory. The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory on May 16, 2014, is the first time after Independence that a non-Congress party has got absolute majority on its own, and Narendra Modi is the reason why," the Congressman from American Samao said in his remarks.

On April 7, at the request of Falomavaega, a U.S. national flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol in honour of Modi.

"I pay tribute to Shri Modi for his clarion call for change, to save a nation from ruin. I applaud his leadership and recognise his victory -- the people's victory -- in the Congressional Record...I firmly believe Shri Narendra Modi should be included not only in the annals of India's history but U.S. history, too, because he was elected with a resounding victory despite the United States using every recourse it could to disrupt his destiny," he said.

Observing that the India-U.S. partnership could be one of the most defining of the 21st century, Falomavaega expressed disappointment that the U.S. "failed to develop" a strong friendship and comprehensive partnership with Modi when it mattered most.

"U.S.-India relations matter strategically, politically, and economically. And even if they didn't matter, the United States should be a fair and honest broker about human rights," he said.

"Nonetheless, despite the United States getting it wrong with India, Shri Narendra Modi is looking ahead. He is dedicated. He is determined. He is dynamic. He is different. He is the leader of the world's largest democracy. And he is the key player for improved relations between the U.S. and India," the lawmaker said.