The new U.S. ambassador to India Richard Rahul Verma, arrived in New Delhi Dec. 2, a few weeks before President Obama arrives as chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations.
Verma also arrives just a week before the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an annual to-do where close to 2,000 Indians from the diaspora gather from Jan. 9 to 11 to network and discuss ways to help grow India’s economy, its health services as well as familiarize new generations of youth living abroad with the land of their ancestors.
“I am honoured to serve as US ambassador to India at such an exciting time in our bilateral relationship,” Verma is quoted saying in a release from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi upon his arrival. “I look forward to meeting the Indian people and working together with the Indian government on our shared goals of security, development, and prosperity.”
Verma, 46, is the first Indian-American to be made an envoy to the country his parents hail from. He is also the first Indian-American to be made ambassador to an increasingly important strategic ally, a large country which is expected to play a key role in the U.S. “Pivot to Asia.” Earlier ambassadorships handed to a couple of Indian-Americans have been more political appointments to much smaller countries.
Verma main task at hand is to iron out some of the kinks that appeared in the last year or two that involve new Indian regulations on nuclear liability which are hindering American companies from investing in nuclear power projects in India. According to news reports, Prime Minister Modi is drafting an insurance plan to cover that lacuna prior to President Obama’s visit.
The President’s visit will mark the first time a U.S. president will be attending Republic Day, which commemorates the adoption of India’s constitution. It also marks the first time a sitting U.S. president has visited India twice during his terms in office.
The President will meet with the Prime Minister and Indian officials to strengthen and expand the U.S.-India strategic partnership, a press release from the State Department said.
Verma also has to work at smoothing ruffled feathers over the arrest last September of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade, deputy Indian consul general in New York, over visa fraud charges.
That appears to be on the back burner after the Modi administration came to power, and in fact, news reports say Khobragade may face some disciplinary action in the future.
A seasoned foreign service officer and expert on South Asia and international law who was national security advisor to House Majority Leader Harry Reid. He reportedly played an important background role in negotiations over the U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation deal.