A primary announcement of the formation of a bipartisan organization, Friends of India, in the U.S. Senate was announced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) at the Capitol Hill Gala Dinner of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), on March 30. Seen in the photo are Sen. Cornyn, seventh from left, rear center; India’s Ambassador to U.S Lalit Mansingh, front center; Ambassador at large for NRI/PIO’s Bhishma Agnihotri, sixth from right, with other members of AAPI at the Capitol Hill gala. (Photo: Mohammed Jaffer/SnapsIndia)

WASHINGTON - A new bipartisan organization called ‘Friends of India’ has been formed in the U.S. Senate, an organization unique in the annals of the Senate.

In a first in the history of U.S. Senate, a caucus has been constituted focused on a country. The announcement was made by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), keynote speaker at the second annual Capitol Hill Gala Dinner by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), on March 30.

It is modeled on the Congressional Caucus of India and Indian Americans, which is now over 10 years old and has 183 lawmakers from the House of Representatives.

The Congressional Caucus of India and Indian Americans has widely been recognized as having played an important role in promoting ties between India and the U.S.

The official announcement of the formation of ‘Friends of India’ will be made by co-chairs Senators Cornyn and Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Mansfield Room of the Capitol Building on April 20, Don Stewart, Director of Communications at Sen. Cornyn’s office told News India-Times. Among those who have said they will be present at the announcement are Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Tom Daschle.

Sen. Cornyn, who has been the driving force behind the effort visited India in January as a member of a Congressional delegation when he was won over by the country. Cornyn said he took the initiative to create an India Caucus in the U.S. Senate, because of the “incredible experience” he had in India and because of the “importance of U.S-India relations.”

“The response has been really outstanding across the political spectrum to the formation of such a Caucus and to me that says a lot to work on the good relationship we have in the Senate toward promoting ties between our two democracies,” he added.

Cornyn said 18 senators from the Republican as well as the Democratic parties had agreed to join the Senate Caucus.