NEW DELHI: US President-elect of United States Barack Obama called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday morning ending speculations here on why was India so low down in the list of world leaders the former had rung up immediately after being declared the winner.
Singh congratulated Obama “warmly” and said that “his historic victory was a source of inspiration for oppressed people all over the world,” according to a press release from prime minister’s office.
Obama praised Singh’s contribution to progress of India earlier as finance minister and now as prime minister. Describing US-India “strategic relationship” as a “very important partnership,” Obama said the “new administration wanted to work together with India on all important global issues.” Though “relations between India and the United States were very good,” but “we could not be satisfied with the status quo,” Singh said.
Singh conveyed his “best wishes for the success of the new administration in the meeting the enormous challenges that face the world.” The Indian premier also invited the president-elect and his wife to visit India, saying a “warm welcome awaited them.”
Obama responded positively saying that he “wished to make an early visit to India.” Obama’s call ends speculation entertained here about India being “ignored” by the new US administration. The call came a day after Singh downplayed questions regarding whether Obama had “ignored” New Delhi by not calling him.
“No, this is not true,” Singh had replied. “President Obama wanted to talk to me day before yesterday (Nov. 8) but we could not establish contact because the time that was suggested was too short for me (to establish contact). Since then, I have been traveling. As soon as I go back we will try to establish contact,” Singh said.
Though Singh was unable to meet Obama during his September visit to US, he remains confident that Indo-US ties would become stronger under his presidency.
In his letter to Singh, Obama wrote that broadening US-India friendship would be a “first order priority.” Despite the letter being a “warm” one, it also referred to India signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
