Former top US diplomat urges Obama for early meeting with Modi

A former top American diplomat, considered to be the architect of the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, on Friday urged US President Barack Obama to reach out to India's prime minister-designate Narendra Modi for an early meeting.

"With massive BJP victory (in) India elections, time for US to make peace with Narendra Modi. President Obama should reach out for early meeting," former Deputy Secretary of State Nicholas Burns wrote on Twitter, the micro blogging site.

Burns as the Deputy Secretary of State in the previous Bush Administration was a key player in the signing of the civilian nuclear deal that changed the face of the India-US relationship.

He is currently Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Politics at Harvard's John F Kennedy School of Government and a member of the Board of Directors of the school's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

Joe Crowley, the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, congratulated people of India for their participation in the general elections, saying the power of democracy was on display throughout the country.

"I congratulate the Indian people for their participation in these historic elections. From Kerala to Jaipur, from Mumbai to Kolkata, the power of democracy was on display throughout the country," Crowley said in a statement.

"I applaud India's commitment to the democratic process and wish the Indian people and government the very best," the Democratic Congressman said.

Image: Former Deputy Secretary of State Nicholas Burns

Photograph: Susan Cornwell/Reuters