US, India relationship on right course: Ed Royce

WASHINGTON: The relationship between India and the United States is on the right course, a top lawmaker has said, noting that ever since the two countries inked the civilian nuclear deal, their ties are irreversible.

"This relationship is now irreversible, regardless of the political party in India and the United States. But I do think that we can do a lot of things to improve that relationship," said Congressman Ed Royce, Co-chair of the powerful India Caucus in the House of Representatives.

Royce was addressing a Congressional luncheon hosted by National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) at the Capitol Hill.

Leaders of the NFIA, who had gathered in Washington from all over the US, also attended a special meeting at the White House, besides attending a reception hosted for them by the Indian Embassy.

"We have got to oppose the type of Neanderthal type of attitude which is protectionists. We got to work better on cooperation in terms of cooperation, which I am pushing," Royce said.

Praising the contribution of Indian Americans in strengthening India-US relationship, Deputy Indian Ambassador Arun Kumar said: "You can take pride in the success that has been achieved in the transformation of this relationship."

The respect and the credibility that the Indian Americans have earned in this country has also helped in perceptions related to India, he said.

Indian Americans, Kumar said, are the bridge symbolizing the friendship between the two nations.

"It is perhaps for the first time in the Obama Administration that the White House is holding special briefing for an ethnic group," said Lal K Motwani, president NFIA, which represents more than 200 Indian American organizations from across the US.