“India and the US are looking at working together on strengthening homeland security,” Indian Ambassador to the United States, Nirupama Rao, said here on Tuesday. “The homeland security dialogue is on at the ministerial level. There is a great deal of cooperation on the issue as India and the USA – two largest democracies in the world –face threat from terrorism and there is an enormous scope for strengthening security. To counter terrorism, the two nations are looking at working together,” she said.
On the US Consulate in Chennai suspending visa processing after violent protests against controversial film Innocence of Muslims, Ms Rao said: “We are committed to ensuring security of diplomatic personnel and diplomatic establishments.” Asked when the visa processing would restart, she said it was up to the US officials to decide and she could not comment on it.
Answering a question on L1 visa cancellation rate being higher in India, she said: “We are aware that there has been a reduction in the number of H1B and L1 visas given, particularly to our people. We hope that this will not continue to prevail in the future.” On the US welcoming India’s economic reforms, she said: “The US is an important investment partner for India. There are many Indian companies based in the US who are investing and are willing to invest in India. However, we would like to see more investments from the US coming in.”
Ms Rao was in Bengaluru to speak at Ten Talks, organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and The Teacher Foundation. Speaking on the issue of Education and Global Citizens, she said: “We need an education system that makes global citizens who have an amplified vision that extends beyond local and still have a strong sense of identity. As global citizens, we should be open to ideas and ready to adapt and also have curiosity and the ability of critical analysis of issues. As a global citizen, one should be transnational and also engage with the local community.”
She termed the Right To Education as a watershed development for education in India. She emphasised the need for having good public libraries in every village and city and improvement in quality and standard of intake at schools. She said that history, philosophy and ethics should also be given importance in the education system.