New York: Indian American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal said here on Friday that America was lobbying to be India`s best friend now while earlier they used to pay more attention to Pakistan.
"Prime Minister Modi has made a smart move: he visited Japan and Brazil and met with the Chinese Premier in India. Now America is a little concerned that India may know how to say `no`. Now they are lobbying to convince India to be their best friend. Earlier they used to pay more attention to Pakistan and India was ignored," Chatwal told ANI.
"I feel really great and proud of being an Indian American. I have been living here for the last 37 years. So far, America has been neglecting India but now, with a clear mandate, can you imagine the man who didn`t have a visa, today, the President of the United States Barack Obama is eager to talk to him," Chatwal added.
Chatwal also said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA government exudes confidence as it came to power with absolute majority.
"Compared to previous governments, the Prime Minister Modi-led government exudes the confidence because it came to power in absolute majority. So, there is no danger of coalition parties backing out over proposed legislature," said Chatwal.
"As Indian Americans, we are looking forward to a strong relationship between India and the US so that we can invest money in India. We can see a strong relationship economically. Already the stock market has gone up, India is growing and the rate of growth is really good," he added.
"American business leaders who are interested in investing in the Third World countries are not going to Brazil, Japan or China. They will look to invest in India instead," Chatwal added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the United States on a five-day visit, had earlier called the United States a vital partner for India`s national development.
"Shared values, convergent interests and complementary strengths provide the foundation for natural partnership between the world`s oldest and largest democracies," Prime Minister Modi said in his departure statement.
"I see the United States as a vital partner for our national development, drawing especially on the rich possibilities of partnership in education, skills, research, technology and innovation - and, above all, a shared commitment to human values. Working together, and with others, we can bridge the many divisions of our times and contribute to building a more peaceful, stable, secure, sustainable and prosperous world," he added.
The Prime Minister also said that he was confident that his visit will mark the start of a new chapter in India, U.S strategic partnership.
