PM Modi's US Visit: US Senate designates September 30 as 'US-India Partnership Day'

WASHINGTON: The US Senate has unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution designating September 30 as 'US-India Partnership Day' recognising the contribution of the two countries to one another and the relationship that will continue to help define the 21st century.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be at the White House on September 29-30 for talks with President Barack Obama.

Introduced by Senators Mark Warner of Democratic Party and John Cornyn from Republican on September 17, the resolution was passed unanimously moments before the Senate was adjourned last night. The Senate would now reconvene on November 12 after the Congressional elections.

Warner and Cornyn are Co-Chairmen of the Senate India Caucus - the only country specific caucus in the Senate. It has 42 members.

The resolution resolves that the Senate "designates September 30, 2014 as the ' United States and India Partnership Day' recognising the contribution of the US and India to one another and their relationship that will continue to help define the 21st century" and recognise that the relationship the two countries is "a special and permanent bond".

The 2014 Indian general election was the largest in the Indian history, proving that democracy in India is as strong as it is encompassing of its religious, ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural diversity, the resolution said.

It said President Obama congratulated Modi after his electoral victory and emphasised the "deep bond and commitment to promoting economic opportunity, freedom and security" in India and the US.

The two largest democracies in the world, the US and India, have further developed their governments, businesses, non-profit organisations, non-governmental organisations, artists, entertainers, athletes, scientists, engineers, doctors, nurses, universities, schools, and faiths and the dignity of their citizens by demonstrating the value of an enlightened democratic rule of law, a peaceful government, and freedom from terror, tyranny and oppression, it added.