U.S. Lawmakers In Strength At Modi's Reception


NEW YORK: Several U.S. lawmakers, including the only Indian-American Congressman and the first Hindu House member, made a beeline for the Madison Square Garden in New York to hear Prime Minister Narendra Modi and boost India-U.S. relations.

It was quite a change for a man U.S. had shunned for nearly a decade over his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots under his watch as chief minister to have four U.S. Senators, 36 House members and one state governor in the audience.

Besides meeting them individually backstage before starting his speech, Modi also sat down separately for nearly 15 minutes with Robert Menendez, Democratic chairman of the crucial Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Ami Bera, the first U.S. lawmaker from Modi's home state of Gujarat, said in a statement:"I am excited for America to realise the full potential of our relationship with India."

"Today was a key step toward what I believe can be a defining relationship of the 21st century between the U.S. and India."

"The world's oldest democracy, and the world's largest democracy share many key interests, including growing our economies and ensuring stability in South Asia," he said.

Thanking Modi "for his inspirational words and for the vision he laid out," Bera said he looked "forward to continuing to work together to reinvigorate the U.S.- India relationship."

Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu U.S. lawmaker, said "Modi's visit marks a significant positive step toward growing the relationship between the U.S. and India, which is a bond based on shared democratic values and a focus on mutual prosperity and security."

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Source: IANS