Gabbard Welcomes Modi To DC
The Indian prime minister addressed a joint session of Congress Wednesday.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the only Hindu in the U.S. House of Representatives, had positive words to express about the to the nation’s capital.
Gabbard was among a group of lawmakers that welcomed India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The Prime Minister’s fourth visit to the United States in just two years signifies just how important the burgeoning relationship between our countries is as we continue to address the many challenges that face our nations today — strengthening our economies, promoting renewable clean energy, protecting our planet, improving cyber security, and combating terrorism,” the Democratic Hawaii congresswoman said in a statement Wednesday.
Gabbard commented on Modi’s speech to Congress:
“As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, the United States and India have long shared many mutual goals of peace, stability, and economic growth. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the progress our countries have made by partnering in business, national security, and renewable energy “U.S. bilateral trade with India has grown to nearly $100 billion over 15 years—a nearly five-fold increase—and India trades more with the U.S. today than with any other country. Similarly, India remains one of our strongest partners in the region in the fight against terrorism. India conducts more security-related exercises with the U.S. than any other country.”
Not everyone welcomed Modi’s D.C. visit.
On the lawn near the Capitol, a large group of separatist Sikhs loudly protested the prime minister’s presence.
“Sikh community leader Gurdev Singh said that Sikhs from across the world won’t rest until independence of Punjab and creation of Khalistan,”  in a story that preceded the protest.
