Washington DC, Nov. 24, 2009 (ANI)

 

Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi today thanked India for extending hospitality to the Dalai Lama saying, "India is a country that is value based. " These were welcoming remarks that she made while receiving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Capital Hill. She said that from Martin Luther King who received inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, to the present generation, Americans has learnt "about non violence and how to get results (by using non violence).

 

Ms Pelosi invited the Prime Minister to revisit the US soon and address the joint session of Congress. She also made a mention of the Mumbai attacks saying, "Almost one year to the day when India suffered the terrible loss of Mumbai, we gather today today to see how we can learn from that experience." An awkward statement but nonetheless an acknowledgement that the Mumbai attack is not being ignored in America.

 

Ms Pelosi dressed in a gray trouser suit, seemed almost deferential in her manner. She reminded members of the press "the red carpet has been laid for the Prime Minister from the White House to the Capital Hill" as Dr Singh "is perhaps one of the most respected leaders in the world." The Prime Minister thanking the Speaker said that he was honoured and was here to give a new thrust to Indo-US relations.