EP 153 - Khalistan Showdown, CAA Row, India-U.S. Ties, Bollywood & Cricket with U.S. Envoy Eric Garcetti

Eric Garcetti, currently serving as the U.S. Ambassador to India, stands out as the sole U.S. envoy to have toured 22 states of India within just 12 months since his appointment in March 2023.

He also served as the Mayor of Los Angeles, where he held the position of City Council President, becoming one of the city’s youngest mayors. Garcetti announced he would not run for president in 2020, opting to finish his term as mayor.

In the latest episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he discusses the U.S. stance on the Khalistan issue and addresses whether Washington is ‘protecting’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist in India, or not.

Ambassador Eric also speaks on why the U.S. keeps ‘meddling’ in India’s internal affairs, whether it’s the Delhi CM being arrested by a Central agency or the Congress party’s account being frozen over income tax ‘evasion.’

He defends his comments on the CAA implementation in India and talks about the lengthy waiting procedure for getting a Visitor Visa for the U.S.

He also discusses the rise in attacks on Indian students in the U.S. and delves into topics such as India-U.S. ties, military exercises between both countries. Additionally, he shares his experience on the India tour, Bollywood, and Cricket.