US Senators asked to join India caucus to strengthen relations

The Congress should fortify strategic partnership with India and the US after the historic nuclear deal signed last year, top Senators have said, even as they asked their colleagues at the upper house to join an initiative to better relations between the two nations.  

Top Senators, John Cornyn and Christopher Dodd who are the co-chairs of a Indo-US friendship initiative, 'Senate India Caucus' now want to expand the membership of this powerful caucus in the Congress.  

"There is no clearer evidence of the benefits of this strategic partnership than the US-India Civilian Nuclear Agreement, passed by Congress and signed into law last fall," they wrote in a joint letter to all members of the US Senate.  

This landmark initiative paved the way for cooperative efforts in peaceful civilian nuclear power, representing the latest example of the "US and India working together" on an issue of mutual benefit, the letter said.  

"In the coming years the US Congress should aim to fortify the strategic partnership between India and the US."  

Cornyn is a Republican while Dodd is a Democratic.  

"The Senate India Caucus provides a forum for members of the Senate to work closely with Indian government officials, Indian Americans and other friends of India in the US to help promote the already flourishing relationship between our countries and candidly discuss issues of common concern," they said in the letter dated June 1.

"We ask you to join us as a member of the Senate India Caucus. In so doing, you would help send a message that the US and India stand together as friends to face even the most difficult and pressing issues of our time. An inaugural 2009 event will be planned for this summer," they wrote.  

Contents of the letter was released by Ram Narayanan of the US India Friendship, urging Indian Americans to approach their Senators to join the India Caucus.  

"A strong relationship between the US and India, based on mutual trust and respect, will enable close collaboration across a broad spectrum of strategic interests, such as counter-terrorism, promotion of democracy, fostering regional economic development, encouraging respect for human rights, and expanding scientific research," Cornyn and Dodd said.  

The two Senators said in recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that India, the world's largest democracy, and the US, the world's oldest democracy, are well suited for not only a partnership, but also a friendship.  

"Robust cooperation between the US and India means increased economic opportunities for both nations, as well as the chance to join together to spread the fundamental principles of freedom, democracy, tolerance and the rule of law throughout the world benefiting Americans and Indians alike," they argued.  

The Caucus provides a forum for members of the Senate to work closely with Indian government officials, Indian Americans and other friends of India in the US to help promote the already flourishing relationship the two countries.