US lawmakers line up to meet Modi at Silicon Valley

New York: A number of influential American lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties are lining up to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is scheduled to arrive at Silicon Valley on Saturday, organisers of the community reception have said.

Leading the group of lawmakers who have confirmed their presence at SAP Center in San Jose on September 27 include former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ed Royce.

Congressmen Ami Bera and George Holding, two co-chairs of the influential Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, would be present at the SAP Center reception which would be attended by a record 18,500 crowd of Indian-Americans.

Bera is the only Indian-American in the current Congress who represents a Silicon Valley district in the House of Representatives.

Among other lawmakers are Loretta Sanchez, Eric Swalwell, Mike Honda, Tulsi Gabbard, Sheila Jackson Lee, Pete Sessions, and Jim McDermott.

In addition, Jerry McNerney, John Garamendi and Dana Rohrabacher will also join their fellow Congressmen in welcoming the Prime Minister, said the Indo-American Community of West Coast, the newly formed organisation mandated to host Modi's reception.

Congressman Eric Swalwell, who represents a large Indo- American constituency in the 15th Congressional district of California, released a video message in which he said that he is "pleased to welcome Indian Prime Minister Modi to our home in the Bay Area."

Royce said Modi's visit to Silicon Valley will bring the US and Indian tech sectors closer together, in large part because of the Indian-American community's outstanding achievements here.

"Prime Minister Modi has already done much to help grow our economic partnership, setting the stage for economic growth," he said.

Gabbard, a strong supporter of Modi, said "I'm looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi... He'll be meeting with a variety of tech entrepreneurs and CEOs, seeing how we can further develop partnerships that will benefit both the Unites States' and India's economy." MORE PTI LKJ YAS CPS

Though unable to attend the reception, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren posted a video message stating, "India and the Silicon Valley share the ideals of innovation and entrepreneurship."

She exuded confidence that Modi's meetings with Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs, leaders and CEOs, can help build a stronger, profitable and more lasting relationship between the two nations.

Frank Pallone in a video noted the growth in the US-India relationship over the past 20 years and potential for continued expansion of the partnership in many arenas including shared strategic and economic interests.

Two prominent Senators joined their Congress counterparts in welcoming the Prime Minister to the US.

In a video message, John McCain, who was one of the first top officials to meet Modi on his last visit to the US, outlined the vision he has for a US-India partnership.

Senator Roger Wicker in a video message said he is very familiar with the common bonds and shared interests between the US and India, the largest free market democracy in the world.