Modi visit heralds a significant moment in India-US ties: lawmakers
“Excited” and “eager” US lawmakers say Modi visit is another opportunity to appreciate Indian Americans and their contributions
As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a state visit to the US “excited” and “eager” American senators and Congressmen have hailed it as a “significant moment” in India-US relationship.
In a series of video messages posted on Twitter, several “excited” and “eager” lawmakers said that the official state visit by the Indian leader heralds a significant moment in bilateral ties.
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Modi’s four-day visit to the US from June 21 to 24 includes a state dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, and an address to the Joint Session of Congress on Thursday.
He will also address an invitation-only gathering of diaspora leaders from across the country at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington on Friday.
Modi will be the third Indian leader to make a state visit to the US after former president Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in June 1963 and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November 2009.
“I would like to join the vibrant and important Indian community in my home state in saying welcome to Washington DC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister’s state visit is a significant moment in the India-US relationship,” New Jersey Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Menendez said.
Congressman Frank Pallone, who founded the Congressional Caucus on India in 1993, said Modi’s visit to the US is another opportunity to appreciate Indian-Americans and their contributions to the community.
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“I am really looking forward to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington… Many years ago, I founded the India Caucus and we have seen a steady increase in activities between the US and India… shared values between the two countries like democracy, market economy,” Pallone said.
Pallone represents the 6th district in New Jersey, which boasts of over a million Asians with Indian-Americans making up the largest ethnic group.
“The Indian-American diaspora have continued to contribute to the improved relations between the US and India. All the things they do to help our community here in New Jersey and Middlesex… So, this is another opportunity for us all to appreciate the India-US relationship, appreciate Indian-Americans and how they contribute to the US,” Pallone said.
He hoped that Modi’s visit will continue the “upward trend where Indian and the US work together on defense, security, economy and culture”.
“I am excited to welcome Prime Minister Modi… The US-India relationship is one of the most important in the world. We are looking forward to hearing Prime Minister Modi address the joint session of Congress,” Buddy Carter, serving in Georgia’s 1st Congressional District, said in his video message.
“I am excited that (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) is coming to America to extend goodwill between our two nations in one of the most strategically important relationships we have in the world,” Rep. Richard McCormick said.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit is an opportunity to deepen our collaboration in areas such as Trade, Defence, Technology, Healthcare which will shape the future trajectory of our relations,” Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith said.
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Congressmen Greg Landsman and Don Bacon said that the visit is an opportunity to strengthen democratic values in India, the US and across the world.
“The largest and oldest democracies will have (a) great opportunity to strengthen our bonds. We share common threats and believe in common values,” Congressman Don Bacon said.
Congressman Gregory Meeks, who serves the Fifth Congressional district of New York, said that India-US relationship will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century. Meeks said he wants to see the two nations work in unison to advance peace and prosperity.
“I look forward to hearing from the Prime Minister during our joint meeting of Congress on his vision for India, for India’s relationship with the US, and I see us work together to advance peace, prosperity, democratic values and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Meeks said concluding his message with ‘Jai Hind’.
Responding to the video messages, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar thanked all the lawmakers and senators, and expressed confidence that the bilateral ties “will keep growing from strength to strength” with their support.
