Washington, June 06: India, the world's largest democracy, deserves a permanent seat in the Security Council, and with its economy now the world's fourth largest in purchasing power parity, it should be given membership of the G-8, delegate to the US Congress from American Samoa, ENI F H Faleomavega, has said here. Faleomavega, who was addressing a business audience of Indians and Americans and the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum, also stressed that the US must pressurise Pakistan to reintroduce democracy.

Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott, former co-chairman of the India Caucus, stressed the burgeoning relationship between the US and India. He said he wanted to see American businessmen investing more in a democratic country like India than in China. Republican co-chairman Joe Wilson said that both India and the US are victims of the same type of terrorism.

Kapil Sibal, co-chairman of the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum, said that 9/11 brought out the fact that both India and the US are in danger because of terrorism. He stressed the importance of Indo-US cooperation in the development of nuclear power.

Sibal stressed that the US and India both face the challenge from China. The US has to recognise that India needs the nuclear weapon in that context. He said that not only Iraq but also Pakistan needs democracy.

Co-chairman V P S Badnore pointed out that the US need have no worries about the continuity of economic policies in India such as liberalisation and globalisation.

These policies were initiated by the Congress and the BJP is carrying them forward, he said.

Badnore said India is getting a bum rap on the communal issue, adding that India is a secular state, which has had three Muslim presidents, including the current president who is also a brilliant scientist. Secretary general of Ficci, Amit Mitra also emphasised the growing relationship between the US and India.

Indian ambassador to the US Lalit Mansingh pointed out that there never have been so many high level missions between the US and India as now, and this reflected the new Indo-US relationship.

Bureau Report