More than three dozen US lawmakers attend Madison Square event

In an unprecedented show of solidarity for India-US relationship, more than three dozen top US lawmakers on Sunday attended the public reception hosted for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the iconic Madison Square Garden here.

This is for the first time that such a large number of US lawmakers attended an event organized by the Indian-American community and the rarest occasion when so many Congressmen participated in a diaspora event.

The closet being that of Israeli-American community – the most influential diaspora groups in the US.

Topping the list of Senators were Robert Menendez, Chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The other two being Senators Joe Donnelly from Indiana, and Cory Booker from New Jersey.

Indian-American Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley also attended the event and was present on the dias along with Modi and other lawmakers.

Among other lawmakers who attended the mega-event were Congressmen Steny Hoyer, the Democratic Whip; Frank Pallone (founder of the House India Caucus) , Eliot Engel (Ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee), Nita Lowey (Ranking Member of the House Appropriations), Jim McDermot (former chairman of the House India Caucus), Jerrold Nadler, Sanford Bishop, and Carolyn Maloney.

Congressman Ed Royce (Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee and former chairman of the House India Caucus), Chaka Fattah, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Danny Davis, Pete Sessions (Chairman of Rules Committee), Gregory Meeks, Joe Crowley (Co-Chair of the House India Caucus), Steve Israel former House India Caucus Democratic Co-Chair), Joe Wilson, Charlie Dent and Al Green attended the event.

Among others who were present on the occasion were Congressmen Dan Lipinski, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, hank Johnson, Jim Himes, Cynthia Lummis, Pete Olson, Aaron Schosk, Mike Fitzpatrick, Randy Hultgren, Todd Rokita, Rob Woodall, Ami Bera, Tulsi Gabbard (first Hindu Congressmen) and Grace Meng.