Dr. Chandra Mohan, speaking on management of diabetes at ‘Continuing Medical Education (CME)’ workshop at the convention. (Photo: Mohammed Jaffer/SnapsIndia)

ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Even though India and the United States have strengthened relations after 9/11 because of a commonality of interests, Indian Americans need to call their legislators to account on what they have done to further the nexus between the two democracies.

At a panel discussion on ‘India-U.S. Relations Post 9/11’ at the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) annual convention, Louisiana Gubernatorial candidate and former Bush administration Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Bobby Jindal said: “I don’t think 9/11 changed the attitude toward terrorism. It made them (India and U.S.) more aware of the commonality in terms of international threats and global terrorism.”

“It helps us rediscover that we are on the side of angels,” Jindal added.

Former State Department’s Intelligence Bureau’s Walter Andersen recalled how India was the first and only country to offer the U.S. unconditional help after 9/11. And while Secretary of State Colin Powell and Undersecretary Richard Armitage may not always articulate their concerns, “I know that for them terrorism in India must end,” he said.

Andersen also recommended India respond positively to Washington’s request for help in Iraq. “It is a very important step for United

States to ask India to help. I think it is to India’s advantage to play a security role in the Indian Ocean.”

From left, Ambassador-at-Large Bhishma Agnihotri, Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), India’s Minister of State for Human Resources Development Vallabhbhai Kathiria and Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL), at a panel discussion on ‘India-U.S. Relations Post 9/11’ at the AAPI convention. (Photo: Ela Dutt)

Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL), a practicing physician for 15 years before being elected to Congress, said he was elected because of the strong support from Indian Americans and joined the India Caucus because of that. “I am very sympathetic with the call for India to have a permanent seat in United Nations (Security Council). That body is dominated by non-Democratic countries,” he said.

Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), the youngest member of the House at 26, said that as a younger member, “I feel we have unfettered attitudes to what the relationship could be, unshackled by the past. Events of 9/11 have given us an insight into what that relationship could be.”

Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)pointed to historically commonalities between India and U.S., both being colonies of Britain. Taking office this January, he said he would soon become a member of the India Caucus.