Congressional Vice President Rahul Gandhi has said that intolerance and unemployment are the key issues that pose a serious challenge to India’s national security and development.
Mr. Gandhi, who is in the United States for a two-week tour, held a series of meetings, including a panel discussion with eminent experts from India and South Asia, organized by the Center for American Progress (CAP) tank.
Attendees included Neera Tandon, CAP chief, former US ambassador to India, Richard Verma, and Hillary Clinton senior adviser John Podesta.
Lisa Curtis, who heads the South Asia division of the White House National Security Council, held talks with Mr. Gandhi during a breakfast meeting during which the Trump government official asked for his opinion on the relationship between the United States and India. Asia politics of the president of the USA Donald Trump, according to the participants of the meeting.
The President and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, Thomas J. Donohue, met with Mr. Gandhi and other senior congressional leaders at an event hosted by the USIBC.
During the meeting, Mr. Gandhi expressed concern about the government’s inability to create jobs in India, which he felt was leading the country into a dangerous situation.
Mr. Gandhi also had an unofficial interaction with the editorial board of the Washington Post, where he shared his anguish at growing intolerance globally, but particularly in India.
Later, Mr. Gandhi had another closed-door meeting co-hosted by Republican strategist Puneet Ahluwalia and the American Institute of Foreign Policy.
“I would say that he did not seem to be someone who did not understand the subject.He has an understanding of the issue.He came across more than one leader’s basic understanding.Everyone when they left, were quite positive with the interaction, Ahluwalia said.
It is also believed that Mr. Gandhi met with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
The participants in these meetings broadly agreed with Mr. Gandhi that the “central challenge” vis-a-vis India was employment and intolerance.
They left the meeting generally impressed with Mr. Gandhi’s knowledge, clarity of thoughts and candor.
“They said it’s logical, think well and understand the issue,” said Sam Pitroda, head of the Overseas Congressional Department who has accompanied Mr. Gandhi to all of his meetings.
He claimed that the full-time staff hired by Mr. Gandhi’s opponents has been creating the negative image about him.
Mr. Pitroda said that Gandhi believes in decentralization.
Actual decisions must be made at the district level.
Mr. Gandhi is scheduled to address students at Princeton University in New Jersey. The National Congress of India would organize a reception for him in New York on September 20.
