A month after PM Narendra Modi historic official state visit to the US, top US lawmakers and the White House said India-US relationship ties are stronger than ever. PM Modi’s powerful address to the US Congress and the presence of more than 8,000 Indian Americans on the White House lawns on June 21 are being praised by lawmakers and officials, and a key output of bilateral ties, reflected in the joint statement issued after the meeting between Modi and President Joe Biden.
Senate Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer says “I like him (Modi)”.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre says “The (Indian Prime Minister’s) visit last month was extremely successful and important. Relations with India are stronger than ever and, as you know, we have announced a number of key deliverables, some of which are being implemented” at conference.
Congressman Ro Khanna, co-chairman of the India Caucus, who led the push for Modi to address a joint session of the US Congress, said strengthening defence, the economy and technology were key highlights of Prime Minister Modi’s trip.
He also said “I am very optimistic about Indo-US relations and this president has really helped take them to the next level”.
Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost, who represents Orlando in the House and was one of 70 lawmakers who wrote a letter to Biden about discussing human rights in India with Modi, was very optimistic about India-US relations.
Frost told “When PM Modi came, the streets were lined with people waiting to see him. He is obviously one of the most popular leaders in the world. So it was great to welcome him here”.
Senator Ben Cardin, another signatory to the letter, said India is an important partner of the United States. “I thought Mr. Modi did an excellent job of pointing out the beneficial importance of this relationship to India as well as to the United States. I thought he did a really excellent job of underscoring the importance of this relationship, we had some frank discussions, some of our concerns, about some regional security issues and also some human rights issues. We had a good conversation, but India is an important partner of the United States”.
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver highlighted the Indo-US relationship. The prime minister “hit all the bases, which is almost a requirement when he’s picking at a joint session of Congress. And he did. I think (he hit it) smoothly. And nobody got offended when he left, which is remarkable. Not because he’s a speaker, but right now we have a Congress composition that can be too judgmental at times” at conference.
