With results of the nine phases Lok Sabha elections due on May 16, and the likelihood, as projected by media, that Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Narendra Modi could be the next Prime Minister, many voices in the United States are counseling the White House that it should pay more attention to India.
In case Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister, one of his first international engagements is expected to be at the United Nations at New York - which holds a general assembly of all its members every year in the month of September.
According to many experts, the Obama administration has neglected the India relationship over the last years, and inviting the next Prime Minister to the White House will be the right thing it can do to repair and refresh the relationship. According to experts this becomes even more important if the next PM is Modi who has been vilified by the U.S. administration in the past.
Reacting to reports that there is increasing consensus among observers and the Indian American communities that President Barack Obama must seize the initiative and opportunity of the UN General Assembly to invite Modi to the White House, Dr. Stephen Cohen a senior analyst on South Asia affairs said, "It is indeed very important that White House shrug off its low interest in India and invite Modi to the White House if he becomes the Prime Minister. If President Obama has any concerns he can have a private conversation with Mr. Modi and set the future tone of U.S. -India relations".
Meanwhile the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), a leading Indian American organization says that many of its members are reaching out to their elected representatives to educate them about the importance of inviting Modi to the White House in case Modi becomes the PM, and visits New York for the UN meetings.
"According to various independent polls there is a strong likelihood of Mr. Narendra Modi becoming the next Prime Minister of India next month. President Obama must seize this opportunity of the UN General Assembly to invite Mr. Modi and give leadership to a relationship which seems to be languishing presently", said Mr. Sanjay Puri, the chairman of USINPAC.
India's relationship with the U.S., and especially if Modi becomes the Prime Minister, is poised at a critical juncture according to experts. Earlier this month, a hearing on human rights at the U.S. Congress drew sharp criticism from several Congressmen for its blatant attempt to vilify Modi.
Among others Republicans Tulsi Gabbard and Eni Faleomavaega had strongly castigated the timing of the briefing which they interpreted as an attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of India when the country was holding its elections.