ID :
43401
Fri, 01/30/2009 - 21:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/43401
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Obama holds Indians in high regard:Obama's fmr policy director
Chicago, Jan 30 (PTI) Relations between India and the
US will be very positive and friendly under the Presidency of
Barack Obama, who has high regard for Indians, an
Indian-American former policy director and "close friend" of
the US President said.
"President Obama would develop a very positive and
friendly relation with India. He holds Indians and
Indian-Americans in very high regard," Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Obama's policy director during his US senate campaign, told
PTI.
Krishnamoorthi, who currently is the Deputy Treasurer
for Policy and Programs in the Illinois State Treasurer's
office, has known Obama for the last 10 years and has worked
with him as policy director and senior advisor for his US
Senate Campaign during 2002-04.
Referring to Indian influence on Obama's life,
Krishnamoorthi recalled Obama had portraits of just three
leaders in his Senate Office, that of Abraham Lincoln, Martin
Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi.
"Each of the individuals means a great deal to him.
They represent how he views not just America but the rest of
the world," he said.
Krishnamoorthi was among the select few "family and
friends" from the President's hometown to be invited for the
Inauguration in Washington on January 20.
In December last year, Krishnamoorthi received an
invitation from the Presidential Inaugural Committee to be
among friends and family invited to attend the ceremony.
"My wife and I were touched and surprised that we were
included in that select group," he said adding while they got
tickets to all the inaugural events, "unfortunately we could
not use all the tickets. But we attended everything on the
inauguration day".
Krishnamoorthi, who has known "intelligent and
compassionate" Obama for "a long time and became close
personal friends", said they were given a police escort and
provided shuttle buses for the inauguration.
"We were 100 yards from the Capitol Hill. It was one
of the most moving experiences I have had. The pageantry and
historical nature of the event was overwhelming," he said.
The other feeling was of jubilation, regardless of
where one came from or whom one had voted for. "Everybody
seemed to be unified behind the President".
Later the Krishnamoorthis were also part of the "small
group of people" that Obama met after being sworn in as the
nation's first African American President.
"He was in extremely high spirits and was very
cordial. He asked me about my family and seemed at ease in
his new position. I have known him for the past 10 years and
he has not changed much," he said.
President Obama would "bring a common touch to his
office. He has lived a middle class life through much of his
adult life and he and has wife Michelle know the challenges
of living and working in the US.
"They would bring those experiences to the White House
and use them in steering the country forward," he said. PTI
YAS
RKM
NNNN
US will be very positive and friendly under the Presidency of
Barack Obama, who has high regard for Indians, an
Indian-American former policy director and "close friend" of
the US President said.
"President Obama would develop a very positive and
friendly relation with India. He holds Indians and
Indian-Americans in very high regard," Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Obama's policy director during his US senate campaign, told
PTI.
Krishnamoorthi, who currently is the Deputy Treasurer
for Policy and Programs in the Illinois State Treasurer's
office, has known Obama for the last 10 years and has worked
with him as policy director and senior advisor for his US
Senate Campaign during 2002-04.
Referring to Indian influence on Obama's life,
Krishnamoorthi recalled Obama had portraits of just three
leaders in his Senate Office, that of Abraham Lincoln, Martin
Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi.
"Each of the individuals means a great deal to him.
They represent how he views not just America but the rest of
the world," he said.
Krishnamoorthi was among the select few "family and
friends" from the President's hometown to be invited for the
Inauguration in Washington on January 20.
In December last year, Krishnamoorthi received an
invitation from the Presidential Inaugural Committee to be
among friends and family invited to attend the ceremony.
"My wife and I were touched and surprised that we were
included in that select group," he said adding while they got
tickets to all the inaugural events, "unfortunately we could
not use all the tickets. But we attended everything on the
inauguration day".
Krishnamoorthi, who has known "intelligent and
compassionate" Obama for "a long time and became close
personal friends", said they were given a police escort and
provided shuttle buses for the inauguration.
"We were 100 yards from the Capitol Hill. It was one
of the most moving experiences I have had. The pageantry and
historical nature of the event was overwhelming," he said.
The other feeling was of jubilation, regardless of
where one came from or whom one had voted for. "Everybody
seemed to be unified behind the President".
Later the Krishnamoorthis were also part of the "small
group of people" that Obama met after being sworn in as the
nation's first African American President.
"He was in extremely high spirits and was very
cordial. He asked me about my family and seemed at ease in
his new position. I have known him for the past 10 years and
he has not changed much," he said.
President Obama would "bring a common touch to his
office. He has lived a middle class life through much of his
adult life and he and has wife Michelle know the challenges
of living and working in the US.
"They would bring those experiences to the White House
and use them in steering the country forward," he said. PTI
YAS
RKM
NNNN
