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Friends of India return

NEW DELHI: With the attention of the world riveted on the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, another development of significance occurred on November 4 — re-election of several key figures in the U.S Congress who are supportive of India.

The nearly two-decades-old India Caucus of the House of Representatives is one of the strongest groupings on the Capitol Hill with over a third of the 435 Members of Congress in it.

The November 4 election saw the return of both Democrat Jim McDermott and Republican Joe Wilson to the House. They are co-chairs of the 186-member bipartisan India caucus. Mr. McDermott, a psychiatrist by training, is an old India hand, who takes pride in having visited India on 22 occasions, nearly as many years he has been in Congress.

Mr. McDermott was re-elected for the 12th term with 85 per cent popular vote, while Mr. Wilson, who returned, secured 54 per cent. Among the influential Congressmen who romped home victorious with votes in the range of 70 per cent include Gary Ackerman from New York, Barney Frank (Massachusetts), Rush Holt (New Jersey), Steny Hoyer (Maryland), David Price (North Carolina), Neil Abercrombie (Hawaii), Mike Honda (California), Anna Eshoo (California) and Joe Baca.

Incidentally, Howard Berman, who is also a member of the India caucus, was elected unopposed. Mr. Berman, chairman of the all-important House Committee on Foreign Affairs, played a significant role in the passage of the Bill on civil nuclear cooperation in September.

Mr. Hoyer is the current Majority Leader in the House of Representatives while Mr. Ackerman heads the important sub-committee with jurisdiction over South Asia and the Middle East. Mr. Holt and Ms. Eshoo were among the select members of Congress to have toured India with Speaker Nancy Pelosi in March this year.

Mr. McDermott is of the view that election of Mr. Obama is not good news just for America but for the rest of the world in general and India in particular. The Congressman from Washington said he would urge the new President to tour India as a gesture of America’s friendship and commitment to India that began under the last Democrat President, Bill Clinton.

“The President-elect already has indicated that the problems in Afghanistan are high on his list and, therefore, a trip that re-traces the historic trip to India and Pakistan made by President Bill Clinton could be the first step in a process of a resolution,” Mr. McDermott told The Hindu. “I will urge President Obama to consider such a trip.”

Mr. McDermott said that from his own personal experience he knew that India-U.S. relations must be based on mutual trust and respect and “there is no doubt in his mind that Mr. Obama will build his own relationship with India according to the same values and principles.”

PTI reports from Washington:

Indian-American Sonal Shah, an eminent economist who heads Google’s philanthropic arm, has been appointed an advisory board member by Mr. Obama to assist his team in smooth transition of power.

Ms. Shah is part of a panel comprising individuals with significant private and public sector experience who will offer their expertise in their fields to Mr. Obama’s team.

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