LONDON, SEPTEMBER 20, 2004
IANS
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lavished generous praise
on the Indian diaspora, particularly in the US and Britain, calling
them a "bridge" between their adopted land and India and said
the country took "pride in their achievements".
Ahead of his five-day trip to New York, where he will
meet with US President George W Bush and address the UN General Assembly
among many other engagements, he said the large Indian community in
the US was "second to none" and its creativity, valuable contribution
and resources would help accelerate the pace of development in India.
Looking at the huge Indian diaspora in Britain and the
US to promote a more vibrant image of the country overseas, Singh spoke
of how the community has become a valuable resource for any Indian government
in reaching out to these countries, as the Times of London said in the
course of an interview with him published here Monday.
The Joint Declaration, to be issued on Monday after
talks between Singh and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, speaks of
1.5 million people of Indian origin in Britain who are "at the
heart of our relationship".
"Their cultural values contribute significantly towards making
Britain the vibrant, dynamic society that it is toady. They are a vital
bond between our two communities," it said.