Incredible rich diaspora truly an asset to both countries, says Biden's top aide Neera Tanden

PTI

Washington, May 27

The "incredibly rich" diaspora is truly an asset to both India and the United States, Neera Tanden, a top Indian-American aide to President Joe Biden, has said as the White House prepares to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an Official State Visit next month.

Indian-Americans, who constitute about one per cent of the US population, and are said to be having the highest per capita income among various ethnic groups in the US, over the years have played a key role in strengthening the India-US relationship, a fact that has been acknowledged at the highest level, including by President Biden.

“One thing that is truly an asset to both countries is the incredibly rich diaspora here in the United States. I have been engaged with organisations that have really focused on the diaspora in the United States, and the rich connections between Indian-Americans, Indians who've been born here, who are first generation, second generation, and their families in India. This is a major asset to the relationship,” 52-year-old Tanden, senior advisor and staff secretary to President Joe Biden, told PTI in an exclusive interview.

Friday was her last day as the senior advisor and staff secretary to the President. From Monday, Tanden would take charge as the White House Domestic Policy Advisor, making her one of the most powerful Indian-Americans in the White House. She replaces former National Security Advisor and former US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, as the White House Domestic Policy Advisor.

“I'm excited for the (Indian) State Visit,” Tanden said in response to a question.

Modi has been invited by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for an Official State Visit on June 22.

“I'm really also excited for us to highlight the deep relationships between Indian-Americans and their families in India and really how we learn back and forth. That's not just a one-way conversation. We learn a lot from them, and they learn from us. It's a big asset to the relationship that those organisations' voices are so strong, and they are all throughout the country, not just in the east coast or the west coast, but really, all throughout the country,” Tanden said.

Tanden started working in politics and policy in government in the late 1990s. She has been working in Washington at different levels for the last 25 years.

“I am just really proud of the role Indian-Americans are playing. There were very few Indian-Americans in the Clinton White House. There were very few Indian-Americans in the Clinton administration. A lot of families have pushed their children in other directions, sometimes in medicine, business, and other areas. But what's really gratifying is to be in the White House and sit at the table, and see not just Asian-Americans, but a lot of Indian-Americans,” she said.

Tanden has served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations, as well as presidential campaigns and think-tanks. Most recently, she was the president and CEO of the Centre for American Progress and the Centre for American Progress Action Fund.