Amit Bera hopes more Indian-Americans will join US politics

Proud of his Indian heritage, Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera has hoped that a day will come soon when there would be several members of his community not only in the House of Representatives but also in the Senate.

"I am in the Congress today, because I am an Indian American... because of the values of making sure of giving it back to the community, giving back to the country. Those were values that got us here and those are values that are going to propel us forward," said 47-year-old Bera, the Democratic lawmaker from California.

Bera, only the third Indian-American lawmaker ever to be elected to the US Congress, was speaking at a reception hosted by Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao in his honour and that of Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu to be elected to the House.

"We got here, because of the generation that came before us. Now that the door is open, it is our obligation to make sure that we reach back and build that path. Because when I look at the talent in the Indian-American community, it is not

enough that only two of us get elected. It is now about building the path for next generation," he said.

"We are celebrating our election to the Congress today. But I would like to be invited back when we are celebrating several members of the Congress in few years. I would like to come back to this residence (of the Indian Ambassador) when we

are celebrating a Senate election," said Bera, who is the only Indian-American in the current US House of Representatives.

Bera said the strategic partnership between India and the US needs to grow stronger - between the world's oldest and largest democracy.

"There is so much that we need to be doing together as we move forward in the 21st century," he said.

... contd.

ALSO READ

Najib Razak sworn-in as Malaysia's PM, opposition cries foul

Radical Islamic outfit strikes terror in Bangladesh, 18 killed

Syrian civil war: Israeli PM visits China after Syria strikes

US horrified by reports of Syria massacre