FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 1, 2014

Contact: Brendan Thomas
Phone: (202) 225-0664
E-mail: brendan.thomas@mail.house.gov

ROKITA GREETS MODI IN NYC; THANKS INDIAN PM FOR US VISIT

Rep. Todd Rokita, a member of the House India and Indian Americans Caucus, joined fellow Congressmen and Senators in New York City on Sunday to greet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Madison Square Garden. “He spoke about free markets and democracy, as well as reducing government red tape and corruption,” said Rokita, praising the new leader of the world’s largest democracy.

Modi departed the U.S. yesterday, after a five-day tour that culminated in Washington, D.C. “India and the U.S., the world’s oldest and second-largest democracy, are natural allies,” said the Congressman. “That seems especially true, knowing all the proud Indian Americans in Indiana’s 4th District.” He expects greater international cooperation in the future, especially at Lafayette’s Purdue University, already a popular destination for Indian students.

As president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, the Hoosier Congressman led a delegation to India. More recently, he advocated to House Speaker John Boehner for improved relations with Modi’s India, shortly after the Prime Minister took office in 2014.

Modi’s reform platform is partly due to Indian Americans’ influence on their home country, said Rokita. “In the U.S., Indians have embraced democracy and entrepreneurialism,” he said, adding that Modi is a ground-breaker, ushering his country into the 21st Century.  

In his Madison Square Garden speech, Modi promised to lower trade barriers with the rest of the world, enlisting its help to “Make in India.” Modi later told the Council on Foreign relations that young people there “don’t want to live on dole-outs anymore.” He has suggested that he would relax labor restrictions, as well as help fight terrorism.

“I especially enjoyed the Prime Minister’s comments that his government would remove ‘obsolete laws’ -- and that he would not be taking any vacations soon,” said Rokita. “I’d like to hear more of that from our own president.”  

Rep. Rokita discusses India-Indiana relations with Prime Minister Modi in New York

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