US envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who is on a two-day trip to India to solidify Indo-US relations, touched on the importance of religious freedom saying it was as important as freedom of rights and freedom of people.
Haley is scheduled to visit several religious places in New Delhi on Thursday.
Indian-American Haley on Wednesday (27) visited the tomb of Mughal emperor Humayun in Delhi and termed her visit as coming back home. "It makes my heart happy to be back in India, it is as beautiful as I remember it to be. Its always good to be back home. My parents said I was crazy to come at this time of the year because it is so hot. But, I will tell you that the heat is worth it to be back in India," she said.
Haley, daughter of Sikh immigrants from Punjab, last came to India in 2014 when she was the South Carolina Governor. The 46-year-old is the first Indian-American to serve in a Cabinet-level position in any US Presidential administration.
On Wednesday, Haley also met Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi where the duo spoke about the need to end child trafficking.
"It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every child is safe and afforded every opportunity to have a full life. I look forward to sharing our commitment to end child trafficking," said Haley after meeting Satyarthi at the Mukti Ashram, a rehabilitation home for rescued children. She also interacted with the children who had been rescued from various factories by Satyarthi's team.
"We visited a @K_Satyarthi supported children’s shelter to discuss the challenges of child labor, trafficking & sexual abuse. We heard many stories from children who thankfully have been freed & encouraged them to pay it forward by helping children in similar situations," she wrote on Twitter.
(With inputs from PTI)
Bob Blackman MP speaks during the event