Washington: Influential Republican lawmakers joined India's 66th Republic Day celebrations at the Indian embassy here, which was attended by a large number of community members. Congressman Ed Royce along with George Holding, Co-Chair of the House India Caucus on India and Indian Americans, made a rare appearance at the Indian embassy here joining some 250 community members in celebrating the Republic Day yesterday.

Deputy Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, unfurled the national flag at the embassy premises. Addressing the Indian American community members, Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, reaffirmed his commitment to India-US relationship and the need to strengthen it. One of the founding members of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Royce had played a key role in the passage of the civilian nuclear deal.

Republican Senator John Cornyn, joined people of India and the large Indian American population in celebrating the anniversary of India's first democratic Constitution. "America's strong relationship with India brings together the world's largest and oldest democracies in shared global interests, values, and goals. I'm proud to celebrate India's past 65 years of democracy and look forward to our bright future as allies," Cornyn said in a statement. Republic Day was also celebrated at other Indian missions in the US including the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York and the Indian Consulates in New York, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta and San Francisco.