- Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Sunday (15) said the country’s ties with the US are on a steady, upward trajectory but they still need to collaborate more in key sectors like education, health care, climate change and defence to achieve the true potential of the relationship.
Addressing a gathering of Indian-Americans at India House, the Indian envoy’s official residence in Washington DC on the occasion of India’s 75th Independence Day, Sandhu said India’s Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US remained of importance in bringing development and prosperity to people of both the countries and the world at large.
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The Indian envoy unfurled the Indian Tricolour in the presence of a select gathering of officials and community leaders because of the Covid-19 protocols.
“Our ties with the US are on a steady, upward trajectory – prime minister Modi’s telephone calls with president Biden and vice president Harris; PM’s participation in the Quad, Climate and G-7 Summits; the recent visits at Cabinet and high officials level to both sides all reflect the strength and closeness in our ties. The India-US relationship has indeed come a long way,” Sandhu said.
“However, given the true potential that the relationship holds, we still have a lot to achieve together. We need to work towards more and more collaborations in key sectors such as, Healthcare & pharma, Digital & IT, Education & Research, clean energy and climate change, and strategic and defense,” he said at the event that was telecast live over various social media platforms and was watched by a large number of Indian-Americans across the country.
Speaking on the Covid challenge, Sandhu stressed on the need to remain vigilant.
“Today humanity’s very survival is linked to how well we support each other. India extended its helping hand to the US last year. This year during the surge in India the US Government, Congress, Private sector, and diaspora provided overwhelming support to India. I take this opportunity to thank each one of you for your generous efforts. I am confident that with our collective action we will come out of this stronger and more resilient,” he said.
The ambassador also highlighted ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ that is being celebrated to mark 75 years of India’s Independence in 2022. A message from Indian president Ram Nath Kovind was played during the event followed by a cultural programme.
Flag-hoisting ceremonies were also held in all the five consulates of India in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and San Francisco. Events were also held at iconic and historic locations, including Times Square in New York, Gadar Memorial and City Halls in San Francisco, and State Capitol Building in Providence and Rhode Island.
The New York State Assembly passed a Resolution commemorating India’s 75th Independence Day on August 15 and recognising August 2021 as Indian American Heritage Month. Leaders from the US, including senior members of the Senate and the House, State administrations and legislators and dignitaries from various fields such as business, arts, sports and science conveyed their greetings.
