Washington: With an aim to bring the world's oldest and the largest Democracies - the US and India - more closer, the Senate India Caucus was launched yesterday (April 29, 2004).

The Caucus, launched by Republican Senator John Cornyn and Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton, co-chairs, includes Senate Majority Leader Republican Bill First and Senate Minority Leader Democrat Tom Daschle who vowed to do their best to bring the two Democratic nations "even closer".

Senator Cornyn said the Caucus had 32 members and added more are expected to join it soon, an impressive achievement in a chamber of 100 members.

Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh pointed out that there was a similar Caucus already in the much larger House of Representatives, which began with 9 members and has grown to 185.

Senator Clinton made it clear that she wanted old differences over such issues as nuclear non-proliferation left behind while Cornyn played down the differences over such issues as outsourcing.