Seventy lawmakers from the US House of Representatives have signed a petition to Speaker Dennis Hastert, asking that he approve an address by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to a Joint Session of Congress.

The speaker's response is yet to be received but, in all probability, he will make time for the address, signalling the importance of India in the newly defined strategic relationship between the two democracies.

The drive to get Hastert's approval started June 7 with a letter that called for a Joint Session address when Manmohan Singh comes to Washington July 17 on a three-day visit.

The move was spearheaded by the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus for India and Indian Americans, Democrat Gary Ackerman and Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Of the 70 signatories, 17 are Republicans and the rest Democrats.

Text of the letter that went to Speaker Hastert:

"Dear Mr. Speaker:
 
Dr. Manmohan Singh, who became Prime Minister of the Republic of India a year ago, will be in Washington, DC, this coming July for his first official visit to the United States and the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly five years. We write to respectfully request that you accord Dr. Singh the privilege of addressing a joint session of the 109th Congress during his upcoming visit.
 
India is the world's largest democracy and the second most populous country on the planet. Its economy is already the second fastest growing in the world and is also the world's fourth largest in terms of purchasing-power parity. Indeed, Dr. Singh made his reputation as the architect of India's original economic liberalization and reform program in the early-1990's, when he was finance minister. These policies are the foundation upon which India's current impressive economic growth is built. As Prime Minister, Dr. Singh has also embarked on an active engagement policy with all of India's neighbours, including resolving difficult issues with Pakistan. Given the strategic significance of the South Asian region to the US, the importance of Dr. Singh's diplomacy, the role India can play in contributing to US objectives cannot be overstated.
 
In recent years, the relationship between India and the United States has made rapid and striking advances in all areas - economic, political, security, defence and science and technology, to name only a few. Our two countries are cooperating on a range of issues related to regional political and economic stability in the world. We believe this relationship between the world's largest and oldest democracies will get stronger still. An official invitation to address a Joint Session of Congress would send an unequivocal message to the Government and people of India that the United States stands in full support of their commitment to democracy, peace, and prosperity for all; and it will show the American people the enduring significance of the relationship between our two great nations.
 
For this reason we would encourage a Joint Session of Congress to allow Prime Minister Singh to share his thoughts directly on India's role as a regional power, its economic development, its progress towards religious tolerance, and the benefits of increased economic, security, and cultural cooperation between India and the United States.
 
Mr. Speaker, over the past several years, Congress has invited numerous important world leaders to address Joint Sessions of Congress, including Mexican President Vicente Fox, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Spanish President José Maria Áznar, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayyad Allawi, and - most recently - Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko. We are confident that all Members of Congress share our belief that Prime Minister Singh is equally deserving of this honour.
 
We understand the time constraints involved, and we stand ready to provide you with any assistance in arranging for Prime Minister Singh to address a Joint Session of Congress. Thank you for your consideration of this request."