US President Barack Obama’s maiden visit to India was a significant step forward in fostering improved relations between the world's oldest and largest pluralistic democracies, an American Hindu rights group has said.
“Hindu Americans are pleased that President Obama visited the cradle of the ancient Hindu civilisation, and is focused on bringing two natural allies even closer,” said Suhag Shukla, managing director and legal counsel of Washington-based Hindu American Foundation.
“Announcing several business initiatives, a hands-off policy over the Kashmir issue and a belated support for India’s candidacy as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council are perhaps the first tangible fruits of this visit,” Shukla said in a statement.
“After celebrating diwali in Washington, and Mumbai now over two years, and following his support on the popular Indian position over conflicts in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir, Obama is connecting positively with the sentiments of many Hindu Americans vis-à-vis conflicts in India,” senior director of HAF, Sheetal Shah said.
The US President should now follow through on the commitments that he had made there and prevail upon Pakistan to end its policy of fomenting terror in India, she said.
Foundation leaders were heartened to see footage's of the US President and First Lady boisterously celebrating the Hindu and Sikh festival of diwali during the visit, the HAF said.