Washington, DC – A multi-party delegation of visiting Indian parliamentarians recently held a series of meetings with top American government officials, lawmakers, and think-tanks to exchange views on bilateral and regional issues.
Led by BJD leader Baijayant (Jay) Panda, the delegation met with US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns at the State Department and US defense officials at the Pentagon. They also met officials from the National Security Council of the White House.
Other members of the delegation include Supriya Sule (NCP), Bhakta Charan Das (Congress), Uday Singh (BJP), Partap Singh Bajwa (Congress), Manicka Tagore (Congress) and Prem Das Rai (Sikkim Democratic Front).
The delegation, with seven Indian members of Parliament (Lok Sabha), representing six different states and five political parties, met Secretary Burns on June 3. According to the US State Department’s post-meeting statement, “Deputy Secretary Burns reviewed bilateral relations and regional priorities with the parliamentary group and welcomed the strong political support from across the political spectrum in the United States and in India for advancing US-India relations.”
During the discussions, the visiting Indian Parliamentarians were assured by top American officials that under no circumstances would the US let Afghanistan redevelop into the terrorist safe haven that it was more than a decade ago.
A panel discussion titled, “US-India: Prospects for Partnership – A Discussion with Members of the Indian Parliament,” was hosted at The Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based think-tank, during which the visiting lawmakers emphasized cooperation in the fields of education and healthcare.
According to sources privy to the consultations and meetings, the overall agenda included the Basmati Rice dispute, ongoing immigration reforms in the US and the implication for issues related to H-1B visas, the Totalization Agreement, and the upcoming US-India Dialogue later this month in India.
The delegation also met the co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn, and the co-chairs of the House Congressional Caucus, Congressmen Joe Crowley and Peter Roskam. The Indian Members of Parliament stressed the proposed changes in the H-1B visa allotment, which they argued would only hurt Indian companies, but also the bilateral relationship with the US.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Bajwa, upon arrival at Dulles International Airport, spoke to India America Today, outlining the bilateral business issues the delegation would address during the trip, which was organized by the Forums of Parliamentarians of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
PPCC Chief Pratap Singh Bajwa at the airport
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PPCC President Bajwa also addressed the Indian community at a reception which included supporters of the Congress Party and journalists, where he urged the community to contribute to the development of Punjab.
Citing the continued deterioration of the situation in Punjab under the present Akali Dal (Badal) rule, Bajwa lamented, “Punjab is one of the Bimaru (sick) states now.”
PPCC Chief Pratap Singh Bajwa addressing Audience
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“There has not only been a decline in industrial productivity, Punjab is being left behind by other states in a number of key areas, including agriculture,” he stated.
Water levels in the state are on a constant decline and Punjab Congress leader Bajwa warned that there is a danger that Punjab could become another desert like the neighboring state of Rajasthan. “We have a land locked state and we must improve relations with Pakistan so that business can be resumed, because of the present situation, the borders are totally closed,’’ urged the newly appointed President of the PPCC.
Highlighting the resilience of the Punjabi community globally, Bajwa hoped that the electorate would, in the coming elections, give Congress a chance to rebuild and restore the glory of Punjab, which was once the land of the Green Revolution in India.