Congressman to host Indian envoy, discuss was to enhance ties

An influential Democratic Congressman from California will host Indian Ambassador to the US Arun K Singh in Los Angeles to celebrate India's Independence Day and discuss ways to enhance bilateral ties.
"During the Ambassador's visit to Los Angeles, I plan on discussing ways we can further enhance the US-India friendship -- a relationship based on the shared values of democracy, individual freedom, religious pluralism, and economic prosperity," Congressman Brad Sherman said in an email to his constituents.
Sherman said on August 22, 2015, he will host Ambassador Singh, in Los Angeles and together they will attend the events at Granada Hills Charter High School to commemorate India's Independence. Both of them will speak on the US-India relationship.

As the top Democrat on the Asia Subcommittee, which oversees US policy and relations in South Asia and East Asia, Sherman said he has been able to advocate for initiatives that further India-US cooperation.
This past March, the subcommittee focused on India's flourishing democracy and the US-India economic relationship, when senior Obama Administration officials testified before the Asia Subcommittee about their budget requests for India and other countries in the region, he said.
State Department's Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal, who testified at the March hearing, stated that since the historic election that brought of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power, US' relations with India have never been stronger.

"She also assured me that for India to be a strong partner in the region and around the world, it must be strong at home. So we support India's economic rise, including its domestic economic transformation. I couldn't agree more," Sherman said.

He said he supports efforts to increase this relationship to USD 500 billion and will work to ensure that it benefits both countries.
Noting that what Hindus face in Pakistan and Bangladesh is particularly concerning, Sherman said in his role on the Asia Subcommittee, this is another issue that he has focused on.
"In both countries, Hindus are facing religious persecution and in some cases, forced conversions. This is something that no religious or spiritual group should face. I have advocated that the US State Department take religious tolerance into account when dealing with countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh," he said.

"I will keep on fighting for Hindus, Sikhs, and other religious and ethnic minorities so that they can freely express their beliefs without fear of persecution," Sherman said.