Terming the Bharat-US ties one of the most defining partnerships, many
top Biden administration officials praised External Affairs Minister (EAM) S
Jaishankar’s commitment to this bond, calling him the “architect” of modern
US-India relations.
These accolades came during a special reception hosted by Bharat’s
Ambassador to US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, in honour of EAM S Jaishankar.
The event was attended by notable figures from the Biden
administration, including US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, State’s Deputy
Secretary Richard Verma, President Biden’s domestic policy advisor Neera
Tanden, White House Office National Drug Control Policy Director Dr Rahul
Gupta, and National Science Foundation Director Dr Sethuraman Panchanathan.
Jaishankar was on a visit to US from September 22 to September 30
during which he addressed the 78th session of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
In Washington, Jaishankar met several top US officials including
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, US State Secretary Antony Blinken,
Ambassador Katherine Tai and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Veteran diplomat Richard Verma emphasised the role of hard-working
Indian Americans, who have built the Bharat-US ties and said, “It’s one of the
most consequential relationships of this century. Do we have disagreements? You
bet. Will we have bumps in the road? Of course. But two close friends aligned
with these shared values, bonded together by the great ideas of Mahatma Gandhi,
and Martin Luther King…this is a partnership with staying power, with real
impact, and that will continue to have an outside influence in the world.”
The former envoy praised Jaishankar as the architect behind the
modern Bharat-US relationship and exuded confidence that strategic ties have
enhanced under his watch.
“I have also known (Jaishankar) for a long time over many capacities,
and who I can also say, he is the architect of modern Bharat-US relations. We
would not be in the strong place that we are today, but for the External Affairs
Minister, your leadership,” said Verma in his public address.
At the “Colors of Friendship” event in Washington DC, Jaishankar
addressed members of the Indian community, underscoring the importance of people-to-people
connections in building stronger bilateral ties.
Hundreds of community members from across United States participated
in the event. Giving credit to the Indian Americans, Jaishankar noted the
importance of people-to-people connections in building stronger bilateral ties
and that the Indian community was a “bridge between the two nations.
Biden’s top advisor, a prominent Indian American in the White
House, Neera Tandon said it’s important Bharat and US have a strong person-to-person,
community-to-community leader relationship based on the strength of the
community and today the Indian Americans are throughout the administration at
prominent positions.
“In fact, you can’t throw a stone in the White House and not hit an
Indian American these days,” Neera Tandon told the community.
“Our community has honestly matured and recognized that we can
participate and contribute in so many ways. And I think it is the strength of
that relationship and the strength of the democratic participation that we are
part of that really builds on the Bharat-US relationship. And it is an honour
to be here with the foreign minister, Jaishankar, who’s a great leader across
so many issues and has recognized for years the important strength of the
community,” she said.
Talking about the Indian Ambassador to US, Sandhu, Neera Tandon
said, “He’s one of the strongest ambassadors India has ever had. He is a real
and fierce advocate for the Bharat-US relationship and more importantly, an
advocate for the Bharat-US partnership.”
Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti, Jaishankar paid floral tributes to Mahatma
Gandhi in US. He and other guests made several remarks about the legacy of
Mahatma Gandhi.
ANI
