Vowing to strengthen ties with ‘natural partner’ India, Democratic presidential hopeful, Barack Obama, has noted that the hardworking Indian-American professionals are adding to the ‘richness’ of the US society and invited the community to join him in ‘renewing the strength of this country.

“The world's oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy are natural partners, sharing important interests and fundamental democratic values,” Obama said in a yet to be published article in the ethnic India Abroad newspaper, excerpts of which were given in a write-up on Friday. He also took a direct hit at the hate crimes that attracted a lot of attention in the US in the aftermath of the terror attacks.