WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- A "Friends of India" caucus, the first such country-specific body, has been set up in the U.S. Senate.
The caucus, similar to the decade-old bi-partisan caucus in the House of Representatives, will be led by John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., the Times of India reported Wednesday.
The new group currently is comprised of about 20 Senators, including Senate Majority Leader and Tennessee Republican Bill Frist and Minority Leader Thomas Daschle, D-S.D.
The Senate caucus will address the long-standing belief in the Indian community that while India lobbied effectively on the House side, it lacked punch in the Senate.
The newspaper said the Indian community reportedly believes Senators have often been uncaring or unapprised about India's concerns.
The India Caucus in the House has nearly 150 members.
Creation of the Senate Caucus comes at a time when the Bush administration is seen as going overboard in its support and promotion of the Pakistani military dictatorship, the Times of India said.
