Rajnath Singh, President, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), offered the following remarks in a written message to mark the occasion:  “Thank you for your good will towards India.  The people of India and our karyakartas have handed not only a victory, but also a heavy responsibility to our party and Shri Narendrabhai Modi as the Prime Minister of India.  We look forward to fulfilling the mandate given to us by the people of India … The BJP is looking forward to strengthen bilateral relations with the United States and we will take the large Indian-American community on board in this endeavor. … I congratulate USINPAC for its active role … and all friends of India who are working to promote mutual understanding and strong relations between both the countries.”

Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated:  “I sent out an invitation immediately after the election inviting the Prime Minister here on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Committee and we look forward to his visit.”

Nisha Desai-Biswal, the first Indian American Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, commented: “It is indeed a time for us to be looking forward and looking ahead.”  She added that the BJP’s political mandate focused on “economic opportunity and effective governance is what the United States supports and wants to partner with.”

Others who delivered remarks include: Senator Jean Shaheen (D-NH), Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY), Congressman Todd Rokita (R-IN), Congressman George Holding (R-NC), current Indian Deputy Chief of Mission Sandhu, former US Ambassador to India David Mulford.

We are sure that the next Ambassador appointed by President Obama shall be a person of senior and influential background – either from the career diplomat services, or from public service. New Delhi, April 1

The United States and India can together be the pillars of a stable and democratic world in the 21st century, and jointly help solve many of the world’s challenges, as well benefit their own nations.

In addition, if over the last 10 years, trade between the world’s two largest democracies can grow four times, going from $24B in 2003 to $93B in 2012, at an annual growth rate above 16%; then, with the right political and trade policies there is scope for U.S.-India trade to cross US$ 500 billion in the near future.

Having a senior leader in New Delhi is vital to ironing out differences on some of the issues that have crept up between the two countries so that a purposeful new beginning made to turbo-charge the relationship.

Over the past year, surplus production of LNG (liquefied natural gas) in the US has given impetus to the prospect of LNG exports to countries such as India, Ukraine, and Japan. The surplus is largely due to rapid advances in the technology and extraction of shale gas and oil over the past few years.

However the process of exporting LNG is complicated by the fact that U.S. law does not allow exports of LNG to countries with whom it does not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), unless with special exceptions. This leaves out important partners like India, which do not have a FTA with the US. It also leaves out Ukraine, a country that U.S. would like to see less dependent on Russian gas.

“We welcome introduction of the legislation H.R. 6, the “Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act”, to remove archaic bottlenecks on American exports.  Having pursued this matter on Capitol Hill since over a year, we shall continue to stay engaged with lawmakers such as Congressman Ted Poe to ensure that our efforts meet the desired result of heralding a new era in US-India LNG trade without restrictions”, said Sanjay Puri, Chairman of the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC).

The proposed legislation removes the requirement of an FTA with the importing country, and instead would allow exports to any countries listed under the WTO, of which India is a member. In fact USINPAC has also set up a dedicated website that tracks latest developments on US-India LNG issues, at http://www.usinpac.com/LNG-Initiative/.

At a time when the price of gas has become a burning issue in India’s elections, India is actively looking at additional and newer sources of gas. It presently imports from Qatar and Australia, with several other suppliers in consideration to feed India’s voracious appetite for energy security.

“Our effort is to help remove policy hurdles in U.S.-India trade. Energy is a great example of a growing partnership that will help with India’s growing energy needs and reduce its dependence on middle east for energy and it will help fuel American jobs.”, said Sanjay Puri.

Washington D.C.: US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), a leading advocacy organization representing the over 3 million Indian Americans in the US, strongly condemns the arrest procedures undertaken by the U.S. Marshal Service and the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Officials in last week’s arrest of Devyani Khobragade, the Deputy Consul General of India, in New York City.

Ms. Khobragade, who is accused of making false statements in a visa application for a household staff and paying less than minimum wage, was led away in hand cuffs in front of her young daughter at the child’s school and then strip-searched, cavity-searched and swabbed for DNA at the police precinct like a common criminal.

USINPAC found comments by State Department Spokesperson Marie Harf particularly offensive given Ms. Harf is reported in press stories as having said that “standard procedures” were followed and that this is merely “an isolated episode.” USINPAC maintain that strip search, cavity search and DNA swabbing is not “standard procedure”. USINPAC unequivocally asserts that the dignity and respect due to any person and any diplomat is non-negotiable.

Chairman Sanjay Puri commented: “We are making inquiries and asking our Members of Congress to investigate the arrest procedures of Ms. Khobragade.” Mr. Puri responded to a deluge of USINPAC member questions today and concurred with their general sentiments that failure in diplomatic protocol can cause irreversible damage to US-India Relations, a country viewed by a majority of Americans as a critical ally in a troubled region. However, Mr. Puri urged diplomatic and political restraint both in India and in the US while a full investigation of the circumstances surrounding the arrest is underway.

About USINPAC

The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) is the voice of over 3.2 million Indian- Americans and works on issues that concern the community. It supports candidates for local, state and federal office and encourages political participation by the Indian- American community.