Obama: Looking Forward To Working With Next Indian Govt

WASHINGTON: As exit polls suggested that the Narendra Mod-led Bharatiya Janata Party was set to win the Indian election, President Barack Obama said the U.S. looked forward to "working closely" with India's next administration.

"I congratulate the people of India on concluding their national elections" he said in a statement on Monday without any reference to the polls or likelihood of Modi, whom Washington has shunned for years for his alleged role in 2002 Gujarat riots, becoming the prime minister.

"India has set an example for the world in holding the largest democratic election in history, a vibrant demonstration of our shared values of diversity and freedom," Obama said.

"The United States and India have developed a strong friendship and comprehensive partnership over the last two decades, which has made our citizens safer and more prosperous and which has enhanced our ability to work together to solve global challenges," he said.

"We look forward to the formation of a new government once election results are announced and to working closely with India's next administration to make the coming years equally transformative," Obama said.

Earlier, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki also signalled that the U.S. "looked forward to working with the next leader" of India even as she declined to comment on the issue of U.S. visa for Modi, whose business visa was revoked in 2005.
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