Top Senator Proposes First 100 Days Action Plan for India-U.S.

WASHINGTON: A powerful American Senator has proposed "100 days action plan" for the Modi government and the Obama administration to "refresh" the India-U.S. relations.

Senator Mark Warner, who is the Democratic co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, has suggested the Modi government to modify the defense-offset regime, agreeing to build community colleges in India, lifting the foreign direct investment caps in some of the sectors, and announcing a new electronic payment systems.

In the first 100 days of the Modi government, Waren has proposed to the Obama administration to name a senior official for defense trade, review tourist visa policies and access to high skill visas. Among other action plans for the first 100 days, he has advised the Modi government and the Obama administration to announce a joint energy project, convene a meeting of India-U.S. strategic dialogue, hold bilateral talks on Afghanistan, restart negotiations to achieve a bilateral investment treaty, re-launch the defense policy group, and establish a public-private working group on infrastructure investment.

"I believe we have an opportunity, in the early days of the new Indian administration, to refresh the U.S.-India relationship and work cooperatively to make progress that will benefit both of our countries," Warner said in a four-page 100-days action plan.