India-US Partnership Celebrated as Defining Relationship by Top Biden Officials at Special Reception

The India-US partnership has been hailed as one of the most defining relationships by several top Biden administration officials during a special reception hosted by India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, in honor of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. The event saw the attendance of notable figures from the Biden administration, including US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma, President Biden's domestic policy advisor Neera Tanden, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Dr. Rahul Gupta, and Director of the National Science Foundation Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan.

During the event, Jaishankar's commitment to the bond between India and the US was lauded, with him being referred to as the "architect of modern US-India relations." Veteran diplomat Richard Verma highlighted the role of hard-working Indian Americans in building the strong ties between the two nations. He emphasized that while disagreements may arise, this partnership, founded on shared values and the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., has staying power and real impact.

Jaishankar, in his address to members of the Indian diaspora at the Colors of Friendship event in Washington DC, underscored the importance of people-to-people connections in strengthening bilateral ties. He acknowledged the Indian diaspora as a bridge between India and the US. Neera Tandon, a prominent Indian American in the White House, emphasized the significance of a strong person-to-person relationship based on the strength of the diaspora, with Indian Americans holding prominent positions throughout the administration.

Tandon also praised the Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, as one of the strongest ambassadors India has ever had, advocating fervently for the US-India relationship and partnership. The event also paid homage to the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, with floral tributes and remarks about the core values of truth and Satyagraha. US lawmakers Shri Thanedar and Rick McCormik, from both the Democratic and Republican parties, were also present at the event, further showcasing bipartisan support for the India-US partnership.