New Delhi, July 13 -- In May 1994, Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao visited the US, addressed a joint session of the US Congress and met President Bill Clinton at the White House during which Clinton lauded Rao for leading India through "an absolutely astonishing period of economic transformation" and hoped it will be the beginning of "a very close working relationship as our two countries forge stronger partnership".

It was in many ways then considered a breakthrough meeting as it was the first between the leaders of the two countries since Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited the White House in 1987 for a meeting with President Ronald Reagan. Rao spoke of "an unprecedented opportunity to free India-U.S. bilateral relations from the dis...