WASHINGTON, D.C. - Appreciating the appointment of a large number of Indian Americans at high level positions in the Obama administration, the Hindu community here has said this would further strengthen bilateral relations between US and India.

On the US President Barack Obama completing 100 days in the White House, Hindu Collective Initiative (HCI), a network of Hindu temples and religious organizations, said that during his presidency the relationship between India and the US would grow further.

The appointment of Indian Americans like Preeta Bansal, Neal Katyal, Sonal Shah, Kalpen Modi, Rajiv Shah, Neera Tandon, Aneesh Chopra and Vivek Kundra to high level positions is a very postive sign, it said in a statement.

“Hindu American community has a very strong presence in the medical profession and we hope to see one serve as the Surgeon General in the future,” it added.

It is gratifying to note that, for the first time, Barack Obama in his Presidential inaugural speech included the word ‘Hindu’ ... thus explicitly recognizing the faith of a billion people on earth and the faith of the vast majority of Indian Americans, now over 2 million strong in America,” said Ved Choudhary of the HCI.

Also for the first time, a Hindu representative, Dr Uma Mysorekar, President, Hindu Temple Society of North America, New York, was invited to the National Prayer Service following the Presidential Inauguration. “These firsts are very significant events for the Hindu community in America,” he said.

Another major development for the community was the appointment to the President’s Council on Faith Based and Neighbourhood Partnerships, of Anju Bhargava, president of Asian Indian Women in America. (PTI)