Nikki Haley actively engaged with Indian-Americans and has been a great advocate of the India-US relationship, eminent community members told news agency Press Trust of India, adding they believe she would emerge in a stronger role soon.
Haley, the first ever Indian-American in any presidential cabinet, resigned as the US Ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday (9).
US President Donald Trump has accepted the 46-year-old Haley’s resignation and her successor will hopefully be confirmed by the Senate by the end of the year.
“Nikki Haley has been one the most successful Indian-American politician. She has been a relentless supporter of strong US-India partnership,” Mukesh Aghi of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) told PTI. “We will definitely miss her presence in the current administration where she was seen as a true champion of US-India alliance. We also believe she will re-emerge soon in a stronger position because she has a very bright future.”
Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist and philanthropist M R Rangaswami praised Haley’s engagement with the Indian diaspora saying she was always ready to listen to their issues. “We fondly remember the interaction with her Sikh parents at the dinner we hosted for her in New York,” he said. “We wish her well in her future endeavours!” Rangaswami added.
The recently formed Indian-American Impact Project, a group of Indian-American philanthropists, community leaders, and political operatives, said Haley has served the US with distinction.
“We are proud of her service and leadership, and grateful that she has inspired countless Indian Americans aspiring to careers in public service and foreign service. We wish her the best in her future endeavours,” it said.
Indian-American Republican Ashok Mago said Haley has done an outstanding job of representing the United States at United Nations.
“Wish she had stayed for another couple of years. President admired her outstanding work. She may not be running in 2020 to be president but it is a matter of time. Hope eventually she will decide to run maybe in 2024,” Mago said.
The daughter of Indian immigrants from Punjab, Haley said she wanted to take a break after nearly eight years of hectic public life including six years as the governor of South Carolina.
Haley is the latest Republican to exit the Trump administration.
