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Sonia woos NRIs in New York

Suman Guha Mozumder
India Abroad Correspondent in New York

Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday called upon Indian Americans to be partners in India's social and economic development and to play a "more creative role" to accelerate the country's progress.

Addressing a dinner reception organised by the Indian National Overseas Congress at the Imperial Ballroom of the Sheraton Centre Hotel and Tower in Manhattan, Gandhi said her party was proud of the achievements of Indian expatriates in the United States. "All of you have struggled very hard [here] and built new companies, new businesses and have contributed to the service economy," she remarked.

"Now, you must fashion a more effective and more creative role for India's social and economic development," she told an estimated 600 guests, some from far-off states like California.

Her half-hour address, peppered with references to former prime ministers Indira and Rajiv Gandhi, her late husband, was repeatedly interrupted by slogans in praise of the Congress president.

Among those seated on the podium with Gandhi were former minister of state for external affairs K Natwar Singh, former finance minister Manmohan Singh, Congress MP Murli Deora and INOC president Surinder Malhotra.

Gandhi noted that Indian Americans have distinguished themselves in education, medicine, science and technology as well as in cultural life and in journalism and the arts. "And recently, we find that Indians have emerged as an influential political force as well and we applaud your efforts and your accomplishments."

Indian Americans have succeeded in changing America's perception of India and in the process have been doing more than politicians and the diplomats could achieve, she said.

"What we need to do now is to mobilise them and harness their resources, experience, skills and expertise for India's faster growth and development."

Gandhi, who is in the US for the first time since her visit in 1993 in connection with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, said Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh had launched an innovative scheme to involve expatriate Indians in the implementation of the primary education programme in the state and Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna was building a biotechnology network to assist in the state's agricultural growth. Other Congress chief ministers also want to involve overseas Indians in areas like primary education and public health, she said.

"We will spare no efforts in making you partners in India's progress," she added.

Gandhi, who spoke briefly in Hindi, said the INOC has the same motto as that of the INC, that of unity in diversity and commitment to secularism and strengthening the foundations of democracy.

She also referred to the growth rate of the Indian economy, which she said has shown great resilience in the face of odds, as also the country's willingness to integrate itself into the global economic system.

After her address, Gandhi came down from the podium to meet the guests, much to the discomfiture of the Secret Service agents as well as her Special Protection Group bodyguards, who had a tough time keeping the crowd at bay. She was escorted out of the ballroom before she could meet all the guests.

Gandhi, leader of the Opposition in Parliament, arrived in New York on Sunday night from Iceland for a five-day visit to the United States, during which she is expected to meet senior administration officials in Washington, DC.

Gandhi, who had a meeting with former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger on Monday, will address a closed-door meeting organized jointly by the Asia Society and the Council of Foreign Relations on June 26.

Kissinger's call on Gandhi at her hotel suite was described as a courtesy visit since he had known her mother-in-law, the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Gandhi also held an hour-long meeting with members of the American Jewish Community, including its president Bruce Rammer, who had come from California. Sources said the AJC leaders discussed how India and Israel, which have common business interests, could come closer together.

Gandhi will address the UN General Assembly and is expected to meet Secretary General Kofi Annan on Tuesday before leaving for Washington, DC, on the morning of June 27.

"She has a number of meetings, both official and unofficial, in New York and in Washington," said sources close to Gandhi. "Sonia Gandhi wants the Congress party to reach out to people [of Indian origin] in different countries."

EARLIER REPORT: Sonia Gandhi arrives in New York

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