India lobbying for US Congress invitation for Modi

India lobbying for US Congress invitation for Modi

-Dr. Abdul Ruff

__________________

Even as the White House has not responded to Indian appeal to invite new Indian prime minister Narandra Modi for a direct talks with US president  Barrack Obama in Washington on the sidelines of UN session in  New York, India and lobbyists in USA have begun campaigning around the US Congress (parliament)  to invite him to address a joint session of US Congress.

Indians and the paid pro-India American groups have launched a campaign to win US lawmakers’ support for a move to invite Narendra Modi to address Congress when he visits USA in September for UN Assembly summit.

Their argument is three former Indian Prime Ministers, Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh have all been accorded this honour and it should be extended to Modi also.

The previous Bush administration had revoked Modi’s tourist/business visa in 2005 for his alleged inaction during the 2002 Gujarat riots under a 1998 US law barring entry to foreigners who have committed “particularly severe violations of religious freedom”. Though late in reaching out to Modi in the run up to the elections, the US quickly made amends with Obama congratulating him on his victory and inviting him to visit Washington as a courtesy. Modi has accepted the invitation, though no dates have been announced. Washington also announced withdrawal of objections to Modi as premier of India. .

.

Under immense pressure from India, Ed Royce, Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee and a fellow House member George Holding writing to House Speaker John Boehner with the suggestion in India favor. “As you know, India is a critical partner of the United States. In every aspect – whether it be in political, economic or security relations – the United States has no more important partner in South Asia,” they wrote.

The Speaker’s office has not yet announced a response to the two lawmakers’ letter, but an invitation to Modi is considered highly likely given how US leaders from President Barack Obama down have reached out to the Indian leader since his resounding victory.

As Washington is trying to forge profitable strategic ties with India as part of Obama’s Asia Pivot project to contain China’s influence in the region and Asia at large, India tries to make maximum out of the current international trend. .

Nowadays, India follows the Israeli model of influencing US law makers as well as policy makers to make USA totally pro-India.  Following up on the letter, the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), which calls itself the voice of Indian- Americans, has launched a “state-by-state grassroots campaign” to win support for a Congressional invitation to Modi. USINPAC activists and chapter leaders in North Carolina, Indiana and New York among others have actively reached out to members of Congress in their states to win their support for such a Congressional invitation

Bridging Nations Foundation, a nonprofit policy and advocacy organization founded by an affluent Indian-American entrepreneur to “promote shared prosperity by developing international dialogue through collaboration and learning,” has also initiated a similar move. By granting “Prime Minister Modi the honour of addressing a joint meeting of Congress, the US would show to the Indian people and the world our sincerity in rebooting and elevating US-India relations,’ it said.

It is like USA granting India the most favored nation status. The foundation urged Indian-Americans to “pick up your phone to contact your own congressmen” and request them to write to Boehner in support of the invitation.

Every nation that seeks favors from USA spends huge sums in locating suitable lobbyists abroad to pursue its global interests.  India deliberately even  wastes huge resources in its strenuous efforts to influence big powers to advance its veto  goal.

——–

د. عبد راف
Col Dr. Abdul Ruff, Specialist on State Terrorism; Educationist; Chancellor-Founder of Centor for International Affairs(CIA); Independent Columnist-Analyst;Chronicler of Foreign occupations & Freedom movements(Palestine,Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Xinjiang, Chechnya, etc);Former university Teacher;  abdulruff.wordpress.com/