Time to confirm Ambassador to India, says Congressman Ro Khanna
Darpan News Desk IANS, 15 Nov, 2022 12:46 PM
It is time to confirm an Ambassador to India to strengthen the critical relationship between the two countries, top Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna said.
"The US needs a strong defence and strategic partnership with India especially in the face of escalating aggression from China," Khanna wrote in a tweet, which was in response to a Washington Post op-ed.
"Two years into this administration, it's time to confirm an ambassador to India to strengthen this critical relationship & our national security," Khanna tweeted.
This is the longest period since 1947 that the US Embassy in Delhi has been without an envoy.
The op-ed by Ronak Desai, says that the inability to fill this vital post is just just one small part of a broader failure.
"By failing to confirm Garcetti, politicians in the Senate have deprived the United States of an essential instrument for shaping our relationship with this indispensable partner. The cascade of international crises upending the international order underscores the importance of preserving and strengthening foreign relations with India," Desai wrote in the Washington Post.
The position of the US envoy in New Delhi has been lying vacant since President Joe Biden assumed office in January 2021, as Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's nomination is still in limbo.
Republican Senators from Iowa, Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley have placed a hold on Garcetti's nomination.
The President's pick is also facing resistance from a few Democrats "over his professed lack of knowledge about sexual assault and harassment allegations against a top adviser", as reported by Politico.
The Biden administration named diplomat Elizabeth Jones as Charge d'Affaires ad interim in its Embassy in India -- the sixth interim envoy in 19 months since January 2021.
Before her, Patricia A. Lacina was the Charge d'Affaires at the embassy.
Experts say the absence of a full-time envoy in such an important country could prove detrimental to US interests in the region.
Kenneth Juster, who was the last US ambassador to India from 2017 until early 2021, described the delay as "less than ideal".
"The Slow Disappearing", part memoir and three parts fiction that suggests fading relationships as well as a fading memory, the writing of which she describes as a "wonderfully cathartic experience".
Maharastrian filmmaker Chaitanya Tamhane has had a year. His second feature, The Disciple, not only found its way to the Toronto and Venice Film Festivals, it won Best Screenplay at the latter and was acquired by Netflix.
Darpan Magazine had an opportunity to host him and listen to his incredible Light Journey at the 7th Annual Extraordinary Achievement Awards where he was the recipient of the International Sensation Award. Darpan is saddened to learn about his passing away and we offer our heartfelt condolences to his family.
Established in 2013, GloPID-R brings together research funding organizations on a global scale to facilitate effective and rapid research in response to a significant outbreak of an infectious disease with epidemic and pandemic potential.
Young social entrepreneur Ravina Anand is a 2020 recipient of the coveted 'DIANA AWARD' and has been recognized for her work in the field of social technological entrepreneurship.
