“I have always been looking for an opportunity to know the people of this country and today is a big achievement,” he said, adding that this was the first time he was visiting an “Islamic Educational Institute”.

The interactive session at JMI was part of the Secretary's visit to India to seek ways to enhance the quality and safety of Indian food, drugs and medical products exported to the US. Speaking on the topic, he said, “Today, the consumers dictate that food should be safe so the concern over safety is consumer-driven and not government-driven.”

His speech was followed by a questioning round by the students and the faculty members on issues as varied as education in the US to the country's attitude towards the survivors of its war against terror. And while the Secretary spoke a great deal about health, he steered clear from answering the “uncomfortable” questions.

"War in any form is painful. But the US has always supported freedom and the war on terror was a way of maintaining it," was the only thing he was willing to say. However, O Leavitt said in future India might see more student exchanges between the two countries.