I look forward to meet Modi in the US: Royce.
By Sujeet Rajan
WASHINGTON, DC: U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and an active member of the India Caucus, has become the first legislator here to congratulate Narendra Modi “on being elected as the next Prime Minister of India.”
“This is a historic moment for India, and I will work closely with Prime Minister-elect Modi to strengthen the important relationship between our two countries. It is now time to look to the future,” said Royce in a statement issued to The American Bazaar.
Royce is the former chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. Starting with only eight members, Royce helped build the caucus to become one of the largest in the House. In July 2006, Royce managed legislation on the House floor to pass the historic U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.
Royce also urged the State Department to guarantee a visa to Modi, a subject which has generated needless controversy and is still a bone of contention between the two countries. In recent days, the State Department has also come out with strange noncommittal comments on the issue, which has thrown some doubt as to what exactly the course of action would be.
Like the Khobragade issue, where some actions and later comments by junior staffers at the State Department soured relations between the two countries, provocative comments by the State Department could still make this a thorny issue if care is not taken.
“I urge the Administration to assure the Prime Minister-elect that he will be granted a visa. I have met with Mr. Modi in India, and I look forward to meeting him again in the United States,” said Royce.