A top American Senator has called for holding the next round of India-US strategic dialogue in New Delhi this year as against the scheduled venue of Washington, to show a good will gesture towards the new Narendra Modi-led government.

"The (India US strategic) dialogue (in New Delhi) would provide an early opportunity for the US government to engage with the new government in India," Senator Mark Warner, told a Washington audience yesterday.

The strategic dialogue, which was launched by the previous secretary of state, Hillary Rodham Clinton, is held every year alternatively in India and the United States. Last year it was held in New Delhi, for which the US Secretary of State John Kerry travelled to India.

As such the dialogue for this year is scheduled this year in Washington. But Warner and many friends for India in the US have been arguing that this year it should be held in New Delhi.

"Since the new Indian government will just be getting started, holding the dialogue in Delhi will be less disruptive to organizing meetings and will provide both sides the opportunity to meet and get to work early in the term on joint initiatives," Warner said.

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