Independence Day 2023: US lawmakers to attend PM Modi's Red Fort address celebrations
Washington, August 08: US lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are set to participate in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Red Fort address on India's Independence Day on August 15, according to an official statement. Leading the bipartisan Congressional delegation are Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna and Congressman Michael Waltz, who co-chair the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
For Congressman Ro Khanna, this trip holds immense personal significance as his grandfather, Amarnath Vidyalankar, was a freedom fighter who fought alongside Mahatma Gandhi and served in India's first parliament. The visit to India to celebrate Independence Day is a meaningful journey for him and a chance to strengthen the US-India relationship.
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During their stay in India, the lawmakers plan to hold meetings with various prominent figures, including Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, cabinet ministers, MPs, as well as leaders from the business, technology, cricket, and Bollywood industries. The agenda of these meetings is to foster cooperation and partnership between the two nations on important matters such as decarbonization, digitization, economic ties, defense cooperation, and the promotion of pluralism and human rights.
Apart from attending the Red Fort address, the delegation will visit significant landmarks such as Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, in addition to meeting with leaders in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi.
The delegation will also include lawmakers Deborah Ross, Kat Cammack, Shri Thanedar, Jasmine Crockett, Rich McCormick, and Ed Case, all of whom are expected to contribute to the strengthening of bilateral ties.
Congressman Khanna, as one of the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, emphasizes the importance of the US-India relationship, believing it will be a defining partnership of the 21st century. He sees India as a crucial partner in maintaining multi-polarity in Asia and preventing China from becoming a hegemon.
In addition to this trip, Congressman Khanna and Congressman Waltz previously hosted a significant US-India Summit on Capitol Hill, which featured discussions and speeches from government leaders, experts, and Indian-American representatives from across the United States.
The delegation's visit to India is viewed as a historic opportunity to deepen collaboration and advance shared goals between the two nations. The discussions and engagements during this visit are expected to pave the way for further cooperation and mutual understanding between the oldest and largest democracies in the world, based on shared values of democracy, freedom of the press and assembly, and human rights.
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- With inputs from agencies
