The US House of Representatives has for the first time passed a resolution recognising the "religious and historical significance" of Diwali.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved a legislation to recognise the religious and historical significance of Diwali. The legislation was introduced by Congressman Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, on the urging of the Hindu American Foundation. Now the Rules Committee has to schedule a date for the full House to take up this legislation on the floor and vote to formally recognise Diwali
Congressman Frank Pallone, the founder and former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, believes the Bush Administration and Congress blundered by selling the US-India civilian nuclear agreement as a nuclear and not as an energy deal. Pallone also argues that the deal was projected as a sign of the burgeoning strategic partnership between India and the US, which raised the hackles of the Leftists in the government.
Joe Wilson, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has exhorted India-Americans to support the deal
Participants included members of the House Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
McDermott last co-chaired the Caucus from 2000-2002 and Wilson from 2002-2004. They will succeed Representatives Gary Ackerman, New York Democrat and Ileana Ros Lehtinen, Florida Republican.
Congressman Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican and the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, was the first one to take to the House floor to congratulate Piyush 'Bobby' Jindal on his election as the next Governor of Louisiana. Wilson was the only Congressional colleague of Jindal's who went to Louisiana to help in his campaign. He also attended a rally in New Orleans the day before the election on October 20.
Joe Wilson told the US House of Representatives that the strategic partnership would ensure future security and prosperity.
Crowley said that Sri Sri's "...commitment to helping those who may not help themselves is striking."
Pointing to The Washington Post piece on Monday about the dramatic expansion in Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme, Ackerman said the import of the story is "truly alarming" in the context of a pending sale by US of F-16 fighter-bombers.
The official added that this could be shelved unless Pakistan provides the US government with access to renegade nuclear scientist A Q Khan.
"I am concerned that this decision by the Bush administration, coupled with their continued policy of increased military assistance for Pakistan, will mean a step backward in the US-India relations," Pallone said.
Gary Ackerman, New York Democrat, while acknowledging that he has been one of the strongest critics of President George Bush on his foreign policy, has said however, that in the case of India, Bush had got it "absolutely right."
South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson has been named the Republican Co Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans.
'India has to think about modulating its position on Iran,' says US Congressman and India ally Gary Ackerman.
'That they don't have a say in the UN, like China, is hard for me to understand,' says US Congressman Joseph Crowley.
In the brief, the 11 lawmakers argued that the District Court was wrong in refusing to consider India's statement requesting cleanup of the Bhopal plant.
A Republican Congressman has mooted a proposal to amend the US Atomic Energy Act, 1954, so that it could formalise the civilian nuclear deal reached between India and the United States early in March.
United States Congressman Joseph Crowley has nominated India's Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for the Nobel Peace Prize saying that the godman had helped bring peace to thousands of people through his Art of Living Foundation.
'The United States stands with India, and we remain dedicated to defeating terrorists who attack our allies,' Congressman Joe Wilson said on the floor of the house.
'Since neither al Qaeda nor the remnants of the Taliban have submarines, armoured fighting vehicles or airplanes, we are gravely concerned that the systems being provided to Pakistan are intended to be used against Indian capabilities.'
This is the highest number of Indian-Americans in the history of the US Congress.
Sunayana Dumala has been invited by Congressman Kevin Yoder to attend Trump's State of the Union address, an annual message presented by the US president to a joint session of the Congress.
Royce, 66, one of the founders of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, said he wanted to spend the remaining months of his term on "urgent threats" the US is facing.
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