Narendra Modi Has Opportunity to Bring New Energy to Indo-U.S. Ties: American Lawmaker

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “an opportunity” to not only reinvigorate India’s economy, but also bring new energy to the Indo-U.S. relationship, according to a top American lawmaker.

“Prime Minister Modi’s historic victory has granted him a mandate unseen in decades. If Modi is successful, far more Indians will have an opportunity to unleash their abundant economic talent and potential, as Guajaratis have. He now has the opportunity to reinvigorate India’s economy and bring new energy to U.S.-India relations,” Congressman Ed Royce said.

Royce, Chairman of the powerful House Foreign Relations Committee and former Co-Chair of the influential Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, in an op-ed to the ethnic India West newspaper wrote that he is optimistic that the mandate given to Modi will help India thrive economically, lifting countless people out of poverty.

Praising Modi for his Gujarat model of development, Royce said under his leadership, Gujarat, home to a mere five per cent of the country’s population, now accounts for nearly 25 percent of all Indian exports.

“Modi’s election as prime minister comes at a time when India’s economy could use a boost. Once enjoying a GDP growth rate near 10 percent, it is now growing at less than five per cent each year. Inflation also remains high due to bottlenecks in production and infrastructure, preventing companies from growing,” Royce said.