The Indian-American community’s efforts are critical to strengthening bilateral relations between India and the U.S. which now span virtually every sector of human endeavor, according to India’s new envoy in Washington, D.C.
Ambassador Arun K. Singh, who presented his credentials to President Obama in May, was feted by U.S. lawmakers at a special reception on Capitol Hill June 10, hosted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in association with the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
The Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Ed Royce, R-California, and Ranking Member Elliot Engel, D-NY, together with co-chairs of the India Caucus, Congressman George Holding, R-N.C., and Rep. Ami Bera, D-California, addressed the gathering of some 100 attendees including several lawmakers, members of the Indian-American community, representatives from various Think Tanks, and academics.
“As the largest single country specific Caucus in Congress, House India-Caucus is our pillar of support,” Singh is quoted saying in a Press Trust of India report. He praised the Indian-American community. “Our common values and shared interest are strengthened by the contributions of people from both our countries. In this, the Indian-American community plays a vital role by bringing us closer and shaping our discourse and deepening our understanding,” Singh said.
News India Times publisher Dr. Sudhir Parikh, recipient of India’s Padma Shri award, was among the community members invited to the event. “It was a great gesture by the Foreign Affairs Committee to honor the new Indian Ambassador,” Dr. Parikh said, “It showed the level of importance given to the bilateral relationship under the (Indian Prime Minister) Narendra Modi administration.”
In his welcome remarks Rep. Royce welcomed the Ambassador back to Washington D.C and reiterated his commitment to promoting India-U.S. ties. Singh served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy from 2008 to 2013.
Engel described India and the U.S. as ‘natural partners’ with common strategic and geo-political outlooks. Rep. Holding advocated strengthening bilateral economic ties. Congressman Bera called the relationship ‘non partisan’ and acknowledged that the diaspora lends a vibrancy to bilateral ties.
Singh praised the Foreign Affairs Committee and the India Caucus which was established in 1993 by Reps. Frank Pallone, D-NJ, and Bill McCollum, R-Florida, for the bipartisan support it brought to bear over the years on the relationship and for bringing the people and governments of the two nations closer.
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