Category: Politics

Kamala Harris considering a presidential run in 2020

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Profiles 0

There are over three years and the 2020 presidential election. But, with Donald Trump in the White House, Democratic politicians are already eagerly jockeying for position with the expectation that the party’s nominee will have a very good chance of ousting the incumbent — if his poll numbers stay anywhere as low as they are at the moment.

There are several hopefuls who want to beat Trump in the next presidential elections, but one of the leading candidates is none other than, a first-term U.S. Senator from California, considered a rising star, hoping to lead the party in the 2020 presidential race. The newly-minted California senator is avoiding any talk about her future ambitions. But her history-making Senate bid — she’s the first Indian American and first black senator from California — and the state’s size and massive Democratic dominance makes her appealing, CNN commented last week.

She is Kamala Harris who, according to her Senate bio, “was the first African-American and first woman to serve as Attorney General of California and the second African-American woman to be elected to the United States Senate in history.”

While she has denied interest in running in 2020, she appears to making the moves that a potential candidate would, including speaking to key groups and on high-profile panels, fundraising for fellow Democrats, and connecting with journalists.

As Democratic political adviser Bob Shrum told the news outlet, “From everything I’ve seen of her she’d be an attractive candidate, she could be a compelling candidate, and I think she’d have a lot of appeal for primary voters.” Others have agreed, with the Washington Post calling her “formidable” due to her “California fundraising and activist base coupled with her historic status in the party…”

And in the wake of Hillary Clinton’s failure to become the first female president, the Huffington Post has suggested Harris could be “the next best hope for shattering that glass ceiling.” Both outlets compared her rise to that of former President Obama who also ran with just one Senate term under his belt.

Even if she decides to join the race in 2020, she may have some tough competition for the Democratic nomination in the form of former Vice President Joe Biden, Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Andrew Cuomo, a two-term governor of New York with a record of liberal accomplishments and a famous last name.

However, when the Los Angeles Times’ Patt Morrison asked her about running for the top job a few months ago, Harris deflected the question, saying, “I don’t know why my name is in that context. I’m focused on being the junior senator from California and very proud to be representing our beautiful state.”

 

Vaisakhi Campaign With U.S. Congressional Offices Reaches 9 Million Americans

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

50 bipartisan Members of Congress joined the Sikh Coalition to celebrate Vaisakhi by sharing over 60 social media posts that reached a potential nine million Americans. The #Vaisakhi campaign trended on Twitter throughout the day, and for many congressional offices, it was the first time they had ever publicly celebrated Vaisakhi with their constituents. Click here to learn more, and click here to view tweets from U.S. Senate and House offices around the country.

The #Vaisakhi campaign trended on Twitter throughout the day, and for many congressional offices, it was the first time they had ever publicly celebrated Vaisakhi with their constituents.

The successful initiative that reached a potential audience of nine million Americans is part of the Sikh Coalition’s multi-year media and communications plan. This work is successfully raising Sikh awareness and reaching millions of Americans in a sustainable and cost-effective way.

In 2016, the Sikh Coalition reached a potential 150 million Americans by averaging nearly 300 news stories a month in local and national media markets while facilitating groundbreaking broadcast segments on CBS Evening News, The Daily Show and CNN. As this exciting work continues in 2017, we look forward to sharing many more successful Sikh awareness initiatives like our 2017 #Vaisakhi campaign.

Neil Chatterjee tapped for key energy dept. job

Staff ReporterBusiness, Politics, U.S. 0

President Donald Trump has nominated Indian American attorney Neil Chatterjee to fill one of the vacancies on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees electricity, natural gas and oil at the national level.

Chatterjee will play a key role in Trump’s program to reshape energy policy, most of which is opposed by environmentalists and Democrats, if his appointment is confirmed by the Senate, reports IANS.  He is the second Indian American to be tapped by Trump for a major regulatory position with a controversial mission.

The other is Ajit Pai, current chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, who is spearheading the administration’s drive to end net neutrality, a policy that prevents internet service providers from giving special treatment to preferred web companies.

Chatterjee holds the influential position of energy policy advisor to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and helped shape energy legislation.  His work backed the senator’s campaign against regulations to restrict use of coal for electricity generation.

A lawyer by training, Chatterjee started as an intern with the House Works and Means Committee. Between his stints on Congressional staff, he has been a lobbyist for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Chatterjee, 40, grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, where his parents worked in cancer research. He is married with two sons and a daughter. Among the issues he will likely deal with are Trump’s plans to allow the construction of the Keystone pipeline to carry crude oil from Canada to Texas, which was stopped by former President Barack Obama, and several gas pipeline projects.

Politico reports that Chatterjee was named along with Rob Powelson, a Pennsylvania regulator, to fill two of the three vacancies in the FERC leadership, according to an official White House statement. If confirmed by the Senate, the new Republican members will take positions that expire in 2021 and 2020, respectively, and restore the agency’s quorum

As energy policy advisor to McConnell, Chatterjee serves as his liaison to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition. Over the years, according to his bio, he has played an integral role in the passage of major highway and farm policy and he has been a leader in the energy policy space shepherding efforts to combat cumbersome regulation and most recently working to lift the decades old ban on U.S. crude oil exports.

Prior to serving with McConnell, Chatterjee worked as a Principal in Government Relations for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and as an aide to House Republican Conference chairwoman Deborah Pryce of Ohio. He began his career in Washington with the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Chatterjee was recently named one of the 25 Most Influential People on Capitol Hill by Congressional Quarterly and has also been named a top energy staffer to watch by National Journal and Energy and Environment Daily. He is a graduate of St. Lawrence University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Some praise, many criticize Trumpcare passed by Congress

Ajay GhoshHealth, Politics, U.S. 0

Indian-American groups have divergent views about the new Republican healthcare bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 4th. Seema Mehra, Trump’s administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, praised the GOP bill, even as Democratic Congressman Ami Bera, of California, one of the 10 physicians, 8 of them Republicans, in the U.S. House,, lashed out at it warning millions might lose healthcare. The GOP bill passed by a slim margin of 4 votes.

Bera said the American Health Care Act, that expects to keep President Trump’s top campaign promise to “repeal and replace” Obamacare, leaves “millions of hardworking Americans “worrying about whether they will be able to stay on their health care plans.  It also eliminates protections for pre-existing conditions, he said.

“We cannot play politics with people’s lives, and what happened today put political goals ahead of the lives of hardworking Americans.,” Bera said. All four Indian-American lawmakers on Capitol Hill voted against the Republican bill.

Meanwhile, Mehra, a 20-year veteran in the healthcare industry, called it a “historic” day as the country moves “toward patient-centered healthcare instead of government-centered healthcare.”

“I have worked in the field of Medicaid for 20 years and have heard from many mothers like myself who have shared their struggles and their hopes for a more affordable, more sustainable healthcare system,” Mehra said in a statement May 4 after the passing of the bill in the House.  “It is important that our most vulnerable citizens, the aged, the infirm, the blind and the disabled have more choices, greater access and peace of mind when it comes to their healthcare,” she added. “The bill that was passed today is a great first step achieving this goal,” Mehra claimed.

The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin however, has taken a measured stand calling on Congress to “Amend not end” the existing system under Obamacare. The AAPI, during its Legislative Day May 3, on Capitol Hill, urged lawmakers to increase the number of residency slots, foreseeing a shortage of doctors in the future; reforming the Stark law relating to physician referrals for Medicare and Medicaid patients;  and allowing the selling of insurance across state lines.

The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, the nation’s only pan-Asian children and families advocacy organization, expressed its deep disappointment by the House that voted 217-213 to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The repeal bill, known as the American Health Care Act, sets out to dismantle major provisions of the ACA including consumer protections for those with pre-existing conditions; it dramatically cuts Medicaid; and it reduces financial assistance available. This repeal bill now goes to the Senate. If passed and signed by President Trump, 2.7 million New Yorkers will stand to lose coverage including over 1.6 million individuals living in NYC’s 5 boroughs.

“We’re dismayed by the House’s repeal vote. Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, we have witnessed a significant drop in the number of uninsured Asian Pacific Americans (APAs). The uninsurance rate among APAs has been slashed in half nationally,” said Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Director.

“As a navigator agency, we have helped hundreds of individuals and families enroll in health insurance and linked them to an array of health resources because of the ACA. In New York, Asian Pacific Americans account for roughly 20% of Medicaid, over 25% of Essential Plan, and 10% of Child Health Plus enrollees. Many Asian Pacific Americans are also solo-preneurs and small business owners who, before the ACA, would not be able to access affordable coverage for themselves and their employees. The ACA continues to be an essential lifeline for our children and families,” said Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, Director of Policy.

“The work to protect our health care is not over. We will advocate with the Senate to ensure that the ACA is upheld.  We will stand together with our partners to continue fighting so that all communities have opportunities to live healthy and productive lives and have access to quality and affordable health care,” Anita Gundanna, Co-Executive Director.

Chip Rogers, president and CEO of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, released the following statement regarding the House of Representatives vote on the American Health Care Act: “The House of Representatives voted today to take a critical step forward in reforming our health care system by approving the American Health Care Act. We’ve continually urged Congress to adopt changes to our health care system that would benefit AAHOA’s 16,500 members and their 600,000 employees nationwide. We support provisions that would simplify employer reporting requirements, restore the definition of full-time employee and alleviate complex tax policies. While not perfect, the American Health Care Act is a step in the right direction. We’ll continue to speak to Congress about more reforms that will lower costs for employers and workers alike while leading to greater and more affordable coverage.”

Meanwhile, the nation’s premier medical body, the American Medical Association, strongly opposed the bill saying if it were to become law, “millions of Americans would lose health insurance coverage, and the safety net provided by Medicaid would be severely eroded.” It also criticized “Last-minute changes” to the bill allowing states to apply for waivers from critical consumer protections under current law and providing additional funding for high-risk pools and reinsurance mechanisms, saying those changes “failed to remedy the fundamental flaws of the bill.”  Six other specialty medical associations also issued a statement against the bill.

N. Chandrababu Naidu leads delegation to US

Staff ReporterCommunity, India, Politics 0

A high level delegation led by Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh visited Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday, May 07, 2017. The delegation comprised of Mr. Y. Ramakrishnudu, Finance Minister of Andhra Pradesh and other senior officials of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Ms. Neeta Bhushan, Consul General of India and Mr. D.B. Bhati, Consul (Political, Commerce & Visa) joined the delegation from the Consulate General of India, Chicago.

The Chief Minister was welcomed at the Des Moines airport by Ms. Neeta Bhushan, Consul General. During the visit, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in the field of agriculture between the Andhra Pradesh government and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship was signed in the presence of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Consul General Ms. Neeta Bhushan and the accompanying delegation in Des Moines, capital of Iowa. The Chief Minister also visited the World Food Prize Foundation where he was welcomed by Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, President of World Food Foundation, Mr. Bill Northy, Secretary of Agriculture, Iowa and Mr. Craig Hill, Director of World Food Prize Foundation.

N. Chandrababu Naidu leads delegation to USSignalling the importance the Chief Minister attaches to the agricultural sector in the state, the delegation also visited Seed Research Center at Iowa State University. The delegation also visited the horticulture farms to study the best practices followed there.

Referring to the signing of the MoC, Chief Minister Mr. Naidu said it would help in increasing the seed production and research, leading to increase in crop output. He informed the gathering about the farm producers’ organizations and water users association established in Andhra Pradesh. He stated that Andhra Pradesh is adopting a number of best practices from seeds to cultivation practices to storage and post-production processes. Mr. Naidu stated that he was delighted to have this MoC in place. He also complimented the work being done by the World Food Prize Foundation.

Chief Minister Naidu also addressed a gathering of Telugu community at Des Moines. He appreciated the contribution being made by them towards development of the state of Andhra Pradesh and for promoting the values and culture of India in the United States as well.

Prof. Gyan Prakash to lead “The Culture and Politics of Resentment.”

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0
Professor Gyan Prakash, an Indian-American professor at New Jersey’s Princeton University will lead six scholars from around the world in a program focusing on “The Culture and Politics of Resentment.”
The Fung Global Fellows Program, administered by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, brings together international research scholars from the social sciences and humanities around a common topic. For the 2017-18 academic year, the scholars will work on “The Culture and Politics of Resentment.”
“Resentment is a powerful emotion for expressing culture and politics,” Prakash said. “Experiences and memories of humiliation, oppression and marginalization have stimulated emotions of resentment, and produced compelling demands for political inclusion and justice around the world. Alternatively, rage against what is seen as the ‘tyranny of the minority,’ inequality, the corruption and aloofness of elites, the ‘foreign,’ and the illegitimate have generated powerful populist upsurges against the perceived enemies of a homogeneous body of ‘the people.’
“The goal for our new cohort will be to explore the full range of phenomena involved in the culture and politics of resentment, the conditions that produce such sentiments, and the projects they advance,” he said.
“Given that the rise of populist politics that relies on a powerful sense of resentment has important implications for democracy across the world, our idea is to explore it from a historical perspective and from different disciplinary points of view,” Prakash explained. He will hold a series of seminars, lectures, and conferences on the topic during the year.
The program is funded by a portion of a $10 million gift from Princeton alumnus William Fung of Hong Kong that is designed to increase substantially the University’s engagement with scholars around the world and inspire ideas that transcend borders.
The first group of fellows came together around the theme of “Languages and Authority” — an examination of how languages interact with political, social, economic and cultural authority. The second cohort focused on “Global Diffusion,” an examination of how certain policies, specific modes of social categorization, and cultural templates spread to nations around the globe while others never catch on. In the program’s third year, fellows focused on “Ethnic Politics and Identities” — the causes, narrative modalities and consequences of the politicization of ethnic, racial and national divides from a comparative perspective. The cohort completing the current academic year is focused on “International Society — Institutions and Actors in Global Governance.” The scholars are working on examining the emergence, functioning and effects of international organizations and transnational associations of all types from a cultural, historical, political, sociological or other perspective.
Prakash specializes in the history of modern India. His book “Mumbai Fables” (Princeton University Press and Harper Collins, India), was adapted for the film, “Bombay Velvet”, released in 2015, for which he wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay. His general field of research and teaching interests concerns urban modernity, the colonial genealogies of modernity, and problems of postcolonial thought and politics. He advises graduate students on modern South Asian history, colonialism and postcolonial theory, urban history, global history, and history of science.
He is the author of several books including “Bonded Histories: Genealogies of Labor Servitude in Colonial India” (1990), and “Another Reason: Science and the Imagination of Modern India” (1999), and has co-authored a book on world history, “Worlds Together, Worlds Apart” (2002). He has also produced an edited volume, “Noir Urbanisms: Dystopic Images of the Modern City,” and a co-edited volume, “Utopia/Dystopia: Historical Conditions of Possibility” which were published by Princeton University Press in Fall 2010. “The Tower of Silence”, a book based on a 1927 detective novel manuscript that he discovered and edited, was published in 2013.

Rep. Frank Pallone to pressure Trump against hate crime

Staff ReporterCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0
Rep. Frank Pallone has promised to pressure the Trump administration to do more to prevent hate crimes. The Congressman from New Jersey held a roundtable discussion with Indian American leaders to discuss issues like immigration and hate crimes April 20, at a Hindu temple in Edison, N.J. Pallone,  a co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, called it an honor to interact with community leaders and praised the South Asian communities for their “tremendous contributions” to the country.
Organized by Amit Jani, Pallone’s former Congressional aide, the event discussed about concrete steps that could be taken. Among those steps, the need for sensitivity training for the community and law enforcement, and “shooter training” in places like temples and mosques, that have been subjected to attacks around the country.
“The hate crimes we have seen in recent month are completely unacceptable and this bigotry must strengthen our resolve to work towards tolerance and provide justice and protection for victims who have been targeted,” Pallone is quoted saying in a press release. “I will also push the Trump administration to do more to combat the growing number of hate crimes throughout our nation and step back from the toxic rhetoric on immigration, race, and religion that is dividing our nation.”
The attendees included Edison Councilwoman Sapana Shah; South Brunswick Board of Education Member Deven Patel; Kanu Patel, CEO of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS); BAPS representative – Vinay Limbachia; Indian Business Association (IBA) President Dhiren Amin; – South Asian Registration Initiative (SARI) Chairman – Ritesh Shah; Sudhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus – Board Member – Savith Sampath; Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund representative, Raj Groomer; South Asian American Caucus (New Jersey Democratic State Committee) Co-Chair – Satish Poondi; TV Asia Senior Vice President and News Director Rohit Vyas; New Jersey South Asian Bar Association President Bhaveen Jani; South Asians for America (SAFA) Co-Chair Neha Dewan; Association of Indian Americans in North America (AIANA) President Sunil Nayak; Rutgers Indian American Group Leader Priya Kantesaria, a student leader; Edison Indian Senior Citizen Association President Ghansyam Patel; Bengali American Women’s Development Initiative (BAWDI) Founder Nadia Hussain; and Bengali community leader Kumud Roy.

US Senate Confirmation Hearings held for Judge Amul Thapar even as civil rights groups express concerns

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

Judge Amul R. Thapar, who was on President Trump’s short list for the Supreme Court, faced questions from senators on Wednesday, April 26th regarding his nomination to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Thapar, who hails from Kentucky, was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, who praised Thapar as “a bright, fair, and dedicated man who will make a tremendous addition to the Sixth Circuit. He is a keen legal mind who applies the law fairly to all who enter his court-room.”

The Sixth Court of Appeals serves Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Thapar currently serves on the district court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. He is the first Article III judge of South Asian descent. The American Bar Association – which does not recommend judges but does rate them – gave Thapar its highest ranking of “well qualified” on April 24. The judge has also received approbation from the South Asian Bar Association of North America, and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Democrats were much less charitable. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin questioned Thapar at length about his membership in the Federalist Society, an organization the Illinois Democrat said had an outsized role in selecting the people on Trump’s short list to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.

Thapar noted that he was a member of group, which he identified as an “open-debate” society, for three or four years before he became a judge. Durbin expressed concern and said, “They like you and that’s the point I’m trying to get to.” Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse defended the Federalist Society during his questioning of Thapar.

The People for the American Way, and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights – which will be led by Indian American civil rights activist Vanita Gupta, beginning in June – expressed “serious concerns” about the jurist’s record.

The Leadership Conference noted that Thapar had a history of controversial rulings, including a case in which he allowed a diabetic inmate to continue to be denied insulin; and sentencing three pacifists – including an 82-year-old nun – to lengthy prison terms after they broke into a nuclear power plant in Oakridge, Tennessee, and spray-painted peace slogans.

As his wife, father, mother, former law clerks and children looked on, Thapar was grilled on several issues, including controversial rulings, his alleged support of corporate and Republican interests, and his allegiance to Trump and to the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization which has had great influence in getting conservatives appointed to judicial roles.

“I’ve always ruled fairly to the best of my ability,” responded Thapar to a question regarding his alleged allegiance to corporate interests. “I’ve ruled time and again against corporations and in support of the little guy.”

The judge cited his ruling in a 2016 case regarding a woman who was stripped of her $800 per month Social Security benefits. In that case, Thapar said that the Social Security Administration had violated the due process rights of the woman by not allowing her to challenge evidence presented against her. “When the government re-determined her right to disability payments – and categorically excluded some of her medical evidence because it had ‘reason to believe’ the evidence was fraudulent – she never got a chance to challenge that factual assertion before anyone,” wrote Thapar in his 33-page ruling, saying that the SSA had acted unconstitutionally. He also referred to a 2010 case where he ruled against Massey Energy, in support of coal miners who were suffering from hazardous conditions underground, in violation of labor safety laws.

Shri Thanedar to run for Governor of Michigan

Ajay GhoshCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

Ann Arbor, Mich.-based entrepreneur Shri Thanedar, the former chief executive officer of Avomeen Analytical Services LLC and three-time winner of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, has filed papers to run for governor of Michigan in 2018.

The Indian American filed papers with the Secretary of State’s Office April 5, allowing him to raise funds for his campaign. Though he has filed for his candidacy, Thanedar has made no formal announcements of his candidacy, according to a Detroit News report. Thanedar, who filed as a Democrat, launched Avomeen in 2010 and made headlines late last year when he gave his employees $1.5 million in holiday bonuses, collectively.

Thanedar, former CEO of Avomeen Analytical Services, was named 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year by multinational finance giant Ernst and Young and made local headlines in December for giving his employees a collective $1.5 million in holiday bonuses.

The India native submitted paperwork to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office on April 5 that would allow him to raise funds for a gubernatorial campaign, but he has not yet announced any formal plans to seek the post. If he runs, Thanedar would join a growing Democratic field that includes former state Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, former Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed and former Xerox executive Bill Cobbs. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, is also considering a run for governor.

Thanedar, who earned an M.B.A. from Fontbonne University and a doctorate degree from the University of Akron, was named an EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 1999, 2007 and 2016. Thanedar made and lost a fortune in Missouri before moving to Michigan and finding new success. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported he bought and built up a chemical analysis firm there, eventually purchasing a Ferrari and constructing a 13,000-square-foot mansion.

But the Great Recession and financial industry crash hit his company and acquisitions hard, reportedly prompting a lender to take him to court, where a bankruptcy judge appointed a receiver to sell the business.

Jim Hines, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Saginaw and president of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, has announced his candidacy on the GOP ballot. Attorney General Bill Schuette and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley are contemplating bids, the report added. Incumbent Gov. Rick Snyder cannot seek re-election in 2018 under Michigan’s term-limits law. The Michigan 2018 primary is Aug. 7.

Surya Dhakar announces candidacy for Virginia House of Delegates

Staff ReporterCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

Indian American physician Surya Dhakar is running for the Virginia House of Delegates District 56. A Republican candidate, Dhakar is vying for the seat currently held by Republican Peter Farrell, who is not seeking re-election. Dhakar has put his name in the pool of candidates looking to fill the seat being vacated by Republican Peter Farrell, who is not seeking re-election.

Dhakar has had a dental practice in Henrico County for more than 20 years, and has served on a number of state and county advisory boards, including the Virginia Board of Dentistry from 2011 to 2015. He lives in Henrico County with his wife, where they raised their two children, who now have children of their own. “We want our children and grandchildren to have the same freedom and opportunity we’ve cherished (since emigrating to Henrico County),” Dhakar said on his campaign page. “As your delegate, I will continue that service and I promise to be honest, devoted and accessible to you,” he said.

If elected, Dhakar promises to advance and protect a fiscally responsible conservative agenda of lower taxes and end wasteful spending; exceptional public schools that deliver an excellent education; healthcare that functions for families at lower costs; and to restore the sense of community.

A past and present member of several state and county advisory boards, Dhakar is one of the seven contestants. He served on the Viriginia Board of Dentistry from 2011 to 2015; and served as president of the Indian Association of Virginia, twice. Dhakar’s poll promises include lower taxes, improved public schools and lower costs of healthcare services.

Among the other GOP candidates are John McGuire, Graven Craig, George Goodwin and Matt Pinsker. The 56th District includes Louisa County, portions of Goochland, Henrico and Spotsylvania counties. The area is heavily Republican; so much so that the Democrats did not run for this seat since 2009. This year, however, two Democrats are in the fray. From January till March, the Indian American physician raised more than $58,000; nearly equal to all others, combined. The district has been held uncontested by Republicans since 2009. The primary election is scheduled for June 13. Should Dhakar advance, the general election is slated for Nov. 7.

Vishal J Amin, Neomi Rao join Trump administration

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

US President Donald Trump has named two more Indian Americans to key senior positions in his administration. He named Vishal J Amin as the intellectual property enforcement coordinator in the president’s executive office and Neomi Rao as administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget.

When confirmed, they will join Nikki Haley, Seema Verma, Ajit Pai and others of Indian descent in key positions. As US ambassador to UN, Haley holds a cabinet position, the highest federal office ever held by an Indian American.

Vishal J Amin, Neomi Rao join Trump administrationAmin is currently serving as senior counsel on the House Judiciary Committee. His earlier positions included stints in President George W Bush’s White House as associate director for domestic policy and in the department of commerce. He studied neuroscience for his bachelors degree from Johns Hopkins University and received his law degree from Washington University in St Louis.

Rao is a professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University and also serves as a public member of the Administrative Conference of the United States. She was associate counsel to President George W. Bush; counsel for nominations and constitutional law to the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary; and law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas of the US Supreme Court. Rao went to the University of Chicago and Yale University.

Narendra Modi on TIME’s ‘Most Influential People List’

Staff ReporterIndia, Politics, Profiles 0

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma and British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed have made it to TIME magazine’s annual list of the “100 Most Influential People” in the world. In a rare feat, Ahmed has not only scored a spot on the list but has also made it to the magazine’s cover.

The list, which was released on April 20, recognizes the most influential pioneers, titans, artists, leaders and icons for “the power of their inventions, the scale of their ambitions, the genius of their solutions to problems that no one before them could solve.”

Alongside Modi, U.S. President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un and Pope Francis have also been honored in the most powerful leaders’ list.

The profile of Modi has been written by author Pankaj Mishra, who wrote that in May 2014, long before Donald Trump seemed conceivable as a U.S. president, Narendra Modi became the prime minister of the world’s largest democracy.

“Once barred from the U.S. for his suspected complicity in anti-Muslim violence, and politically ostracized at home as well, this Hindu nationalist used Twitter to bypass traditional media and speak directly to masses feeling left or pushed behind by globalization, and he promised to make India great again by rooting out self-serving elites,” he said. Nearly three years later, Mishra writes in the essay that Modi’s “vision of India’s economic, geopolitical and cultural supremacy is far from being realized, and his extended family of Hindu nationalists have taken to scapegoating secular and liberal intellectuals as well as poor Muslims.”

He adds that yet Modi’s aura remains undimmed, and describes him as a “maestro of the art of political seduction, playing on the existential fears and cultural insecurities of people facing downward or blocked mobility.”

For Sharma, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani writes that when India’s government unexpectedly scrapped 86 percent of the country’s currency notes in November, Sharma “seized the moment.”

As Indians scrambled to exchange the banned notes for new currency, Paytm, Sharma’s digital payments startup, went on a promotional spree. With a flurry of ads, Sharma invited Indians to start using Paytm’s digital wallet to pay for everyday goods and services.

It worked, he says. By the end of 2016, Paytm had 177 million users, compared with 122 million at the beginning of the year, he adds.

Now backed by Jack Ma of Alibaba, an investor in Paytm, Sharma is branching out into the more heavily regulated world of banking, with plans to offer digital accounts.

Honoring Ahmed in the pioneers’ list, actor, playwright and composer, best known for creating and starring in the Broadway musical “Hamilton,” Lin-Manuel Miranda writes that “Look, Riz Ahmed has been quietly pursuing every passion and opportunity for many years as an actor (‘The Road to Guantánamo,’ ‘Four Lions,’ ‘Nightcrawler’), rapper (‘Post 9/11 Blues,’ ‘Englistan’) and activist (raising funds for Syrian refugee children, advocating representation at the House of Commons).”

Miranda adds that “to know him is to be inspired, engaged and ready to create alongside him. The year 2016 was when all the seeds he planted bore glorious fruit, and here’s the best part: he’s just getting started.” He concludes with “Look! We’re alive at the same time as Riz Ahmed! Look!”

The list also includes Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen, philanthropist Melinda Gates, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, FBI director James Comey, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, actresses Emma Stone and Viola Davis, and musician Ed Sheeran.

India, US reaffirm strategic partnership; shared perspectives in region

Ajay GhoshIndia, Politics, Travel, U.S. 0

The United States and India reaffirmed a strategic partnership that involves not only a growing defense relationship but also shared perspectives of the region. Rounding off his first regional visit, US NSA, HR McMaster held talks with prime minister Narendra Modi, NSA, Ajit Doval and foreign secretary S. Jaishankar. According to the PMO, the two sides “exchanged views on how both countries can work together to effectively address the challenge of terrorism and to advance regional peace, security and stability.”

A statement by the US embassy said the US reaffirmed India’s status as “major defence partner”. “The two sides discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues, including their shared interest in increasing defense and counterterrorism cooperation. The visit was a part of regional consultations that included stops in Kabul and Islamabad.”

A new era of cooperation between the US and India was ushered in on July 18, 2005 in Washington DC when President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh concluded a set of far reaching initiatives which will pave the way for a closer economic and strategic partnership between the two countries at Government and at industry levels.

The US and India share common values based on their democratic, multi–cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious societies, as well as a strong entrepreneurial spirit, all of which support the bilateral Strategic Partnership.

Both the US and India are committed to full exploitation of the mutual benefits of globalization, which is an irreversible process driven by technology and the development of human resources in an increasingly knowledge-based world. Through mutual harnessing of technology and human capital, the US and India can forge a unique partnership to achieve greater competitiveness and prosperity for the citizens of both nations.

In this context, the planned visit by PM to travel to Washington DC for his first summit with Donald Trump this summer, assumes importance. It is believed McMaster’s discussions included talks on the visit, though there was no official confirmation.

Official sources said the discussions with the Indian leadership covered situation in Afghanistan, West Asia and DPRK. McMaster has separately been quoted as saying that the North Korean issue was “coming to a head”.

On the issue of Afghanistan, Indian sources said there appeared to be a continuation of US policy, based primarily on counter-terrorism and supporting building up of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). “We both want the same outcomes in Afghanistan. The difference is in our resources and approach,” said high level sources.

Huma Abedin in talks for planned memoir for $2 Million

Staff ReporterPolitics, Social Media 0

Huma Abedin, a long time Hillary Clinton aide and the estranged wife of former Congressman Anthony Weiner, is reportedly making a foray into the literary world. Abedin has been meeting with literary agents about her new project, which could detail her side of the sexting scandal and her role in Clinton’s run, according to a report in the Hollywood Reporter.

The report quotes sources as saying that she has been meeting with top literary agents during the past few weeks to discuss a book that is envisioned as a reflection on how her personal and professional lives collided during the campaign.

Abedin, 40, may forgo a rep and sell directly to a publisher. She’s said to be seeking as much as $2 million for the book, which has received Clinton’s blessing, added the report.

Just days before the 2016 presidential elections, FBI director James Comey created controversial headlines when he announced that the investigative agency, while looking into Weiner’s illicit text messages sent to a 15-year-old, chanced upon emails related to Clinton’s private server, severely damaging Clinton’s campaign.

Abedin, who is of Indian and Pakistani descent, has mostly maintain her silence throughout the sexting controversy, only making an appearance in the 2016 documentary “Weiner,” which offered a behind-the-scenes look at the disastrous mayoral bid of Weiner, amid a previous sexting scandal, that saw Weiner exchange salacious messages with multiple women under the pseudonym “Carlos Danger.”

‘You don’t drain a swamp with a slogan’: Bharara knocks Trump for replacing ‘muck with muck’

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0
Former Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara took several shots at the administration of President Donald Trump on April 6th calling for “facts not falsehoods” as the basis for political discourse and a more welcoming stance towards immigrants in his first public speaking event since being fired one month ago.
Bharara sprinkled the hour-long speech with humor, including a joke about the size of the crowd clearly aimed at Trump. But Bharara also made a series of thinly veiled criticisms of the new administration, referring multiple times to Trump’s campaign pledge to “drain the swamp” in Washington. “You don’t drain a swamp with a slogan. You don’t drain it by replacing one set of partisans with another. You don’t replace muck with muck,” Bharara, 48, said at the Cooper Union in New York.
“To drain a swamp you need an army corps of engineers, experts schooled in service and serious purpose. Not do-nothing, say-anything, neophyte opportunists who know a lot about how to bully and bluster but not so much about truth, justice and fairness.”
Bharara was fired by Trump on March 11 after refusing to step down. While he was among 46 U.S. attorneys told to submit their resignations, his dismissal was a surprise because Trump had asked him in November to stay in the job.
In his first public appearance since being fired, Indian American former top federal prosecutor Preet Bharara took swipes at President Donald Trump. “To drain a swamp you need an army corps of engineers, experts schooled in service and serious purpose, not do-nothing, say-anything neophyte opportunists who know a lot about how to bully and bluster but not so much about truth, justice and fairness. Draining a swamp takes genuine commitment to justice and fairness and not attention to what benefits one group over another or divides one group against another,” he said.
Bharara acknowledged the presence of some of his former colleagues, including some from his press office who he said “were the only people who stood between me and the dishonest media,” in another swipe at Trump. “That’s called tongue and cheek,” Bharara said.
He also thanked New York University’s School of Law for giving him a job as the distinguished scholar in residence. “My father-in-law was really happy to hear that I was going to have a job,” he said. During the lecture, Bharara reflected on his time as Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor and his office’s accomplishments in rooting out corruption and fighting terrorism and insider trading cases. Even when Bharara was in office, he repeatedly dismissed speculation that he will eventually run for public office and reiterated that he will not enter politics. “I don’t have any plans to enter politics just like I had no plans to join the circus. I mean no offense to the circus,” he said to laughter from the audience. Bharara called on American citizens to unite and continue the fight against injustice, saying active citizenship matters and is “desperately needed now more than ever, individually and collectively.”

Nikki Haley booed at Global Women’s Summit Over Trump, Russia

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Women 0
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley received an icy reception at the Women in the World summit in New York City Wednesday, April 6th. Nikki Haley, the tough-talking and blunt U.S. Ambassador to the UN, was heckled during an annual summit on women as she spoke about President Donald Trump and Russia. The Indian American envoy was speaking on April 5 at the ‘Women In The World’ summit, a premier annual gathering of influential women leaders, politicians and activists organized by media personality Tina Brown in association with the New York Times.
Following a panel discussion that featured two doctors who’ve been on the front lines of the Syrian civil war and have witnessed the Assad regime’s attacks on hospitals, Haley expressed outrage over the “heartbreaking” situation in Syria and, once again, pointed the finger at Russia. “If they supposedly have so much clout in Syria, they need to do their job,” Haley said of Vladimir Putin’s government, as a largely nonresponsive crowd began growing restless.
“Keep in mind I work for the Trump administration,” Haley said, as a wave of boos rippled softly through the audience. “I have hit Russia over the head more times than I can count,” she continued, despite rumblings from the crowd. “Because if they do something wrong, we’re gonna call them out on it.”
Haley, who said that she had spoken to the president earlier in the day, insisted that Trump is concerned about Russia, an assertion that further incited the audience. As she was answering questions during the session titled ‘Trump’s Diplomat: Nikki Haley’ moderated by MSNBC anchor Greta Van Susteren, Haley was booed and heckled on several occasions. At one point someone in the audience shouted “what about refugees” while another asked, “when is the next panel.”
She was heckled again when asked how America deals with some of the world leaders who are dictators. “You call them out when they do something wrong and you work with them when you can find ways to work with them,” Haley said.
As some members of the audience shouted at her remarks, Haley said, “we have to express America’s values. We are always the moral conscience of the world,” to which someone from the audience shouted “what about the refugees,” cutting off Haley. Haley went silent. Van Susteren paused, and then said, “Moving on.”
At the end of the day’s program, Brown commended Haley for attending the event even as she got a “boisterous reception” and for remaining gracious as she was heckled. “We often complain and sneer and say Republicans never want to come on any kind of forum except Fox News or places where they can be asked questions that are soft,” Brown said, adding that Haley did not put on any pre-conditions and sat very “graciously” while the audience heckled. “She didn’t get agitated about it, and she’s in the middle of a lot of world crises. So I feel that we should really applaud the fact that she did come.”

Nikki Haley proposes; India rejects offer to mediate with Pakistan

Staff ReporterIndia, Politics, U.S. 0
India has rejected an offer from the U.S. to help de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan April 4, saying that its position on the bilateral redressal of all issues between the two countries has not changed. India further said that the international community needed to address the terrorism coming out of Pakistan. “Government’s position for bilateral redressal of all India-Pakistan issues in an environment free of terror and violence hasn’t changed,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Gopal Baglay said.
“We, of course, expect the international community and organizations to enforce international mechanisms and mandates concerning terrorism emanating from Pakistan, which continues to be the single biggest threat to peace and stability in our region and beyond,” he said.
“I would expect that the administration is going to be in talks and try and find its place to be part of that process,” the former governor of South Carolina said, adding that she “wouldn’t be surprised if the president participates as well.”
The reaction came after Indian American Nikki Haley, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, said April 4 that the U.S. was concerned about relations between India and Pakistan, and that President Donald Trump might get involved in a peace process between the two South Asian countries.
“This administration is concerned about the relationship between India and Pakistan and very much wants to see how we de-escalate any sort of conflict going forward,” Haley, who holds a cabinet rank in the Trump administration, said. During his campaign in 2016, Trump had offered to mediate between India and Pakistan, but was careful to add that it was only if the two nations wanted him to. In an interview to The Hindustan Times, Trump said that he “would be honored” to be a moderator. “I think if they wanted me to, I would love to be the mediator or arbitrator.”
Haley’s comments were in response to a question from a reporter at her news conference on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of April.  The reporter pointed out that India does not want a mediator for talks with Pakistan, while Islamabad wanted the U.S. or another country to facilitate talks, and asked if the U.S. would get the leaders of the two countries to meet.
Her statement about India-Pakistan relations, therefore, is important, and is the first high-level Trump administration statement on India’s relationship with Pakistan. While it is not clear what steps the U.S. could take, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Trump in Washington in May where the two could potentially discuss the matter.
“We don’t think we should wait until something happens,” Haley said. “We very much think we should be pro-active in what we are seeing, tensions rise and conflicts seem to bubble up and so we want to see if we can be a part of that. So, that will be something you will see, that is something that members of the National Security Council participate in,” she said
Haley also said that she sounds strong because that’s how her Sikh parents raised her in Punjab. She said she does her “job to the best of my abilities and if that comes out blunt, comes out strong, I am one of two brothers and a sister and my parents raised us all to be strong.”
Her father Ajit Singh Randhwa, is from Amritsar district. He is an agriculture science professor. Her mother is Raj Kaur Randhwa. One of her brothers, Mitti Randhwa, was an Army officer who saw action in Operation Desert Storm, 1990-91, leading a company tasked with finding chemical weapons.
Just over two months into her office as the first Indian American to be appointed to a cabinet-level position, she has made waves by calling a spade a spade. She has called the UN Human Rights Council “corrupt”, the UN of being a partner of a “corrupt” government, and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a “war criminal”, and declared she was free to “beat up on Russia”.
And she perceives her job as shaking up the UN and pulling it by its purse strings, kicking and screaming, to carry out reforms.

21-yr-old Chetan Hebbur to run for NY City Council

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Chetan Hebbur is giving a run for New York City Council. A New York University senior, 21, Hebbur wants a shot at succeeding Rosie Mendez, who is term-limited out. “The city needs younger voices who represent change,” he told the media. Hebbur, who expects to earn his bachelor’s degree from NYU in 2017, said in a New York Post report that the city needs younger voices who represent change.

Hebbur, an Indian American student majoring in mathematics and economics at New York University, has announced he is running for the New York City Council District 2 seat. If he wins, the Democrat would tie former Bronx Councilman Joel Rivera for the title of youngest city lawmaker in Big Apple history. Rivera was 22 when he was elected in 2001. The budding politico plans to rely on his fellow students to secure a spot on the ballot to represent the East Village, Lower East Side and Murray Hill. “You only need a tiny slice of the pie and there are 50,000 students at NYU,” Hebbur said.

Hebbur, a Democrat, is counting on his fellow classmates to earn a spot on the ballot for the District 2 seat representing the East Village, Lower East Side and Murray Hill, which will become open as incumbent Rosie Mendez is termed out. A Dallas native, Hebbur works as a marketing consultant at Toews Corporation in New York. He announced his candidacy for the council in March.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Hebbur has intentions of rebuilding the city’s critical infrastructure while sending a clear message of the need for fact-based politics in America. “My time at NYU has made me attached to the area and community, and changes need to be made,” he said in his profile.

Added Hebbur in the report, “I want to get my peers on the same page and actively make a difference in our community,” adding that he hopes to change NYU students’ anger at President Donald Trump through a local movement.

Among the issues Hebbur is campaigning to resolve, if elected, are implementing a fact-based policy, a review of all public health legislation, supporting nonprofits and advocacy groups, and supporting criminal justice. He hopes to launch an online portal for people to vote on policy proposals, and to measure local support for each piece of legislation, the Post reported.

Hebbur, who is running a grassroots campaign, criticized the current council for proposing progressive policies but not executing them, according to the report. He cited the Save a Life, Carry Naloxone campaign, which touted expanding access to the life-saving overdose antidote to 700 pharmacies, it added.

“I plan to do things differently and create change,” the Dallas native said. He wants to transform NYU students’ anger at President Trump into a local movement. “I want to get my peers on the same page and actively make a difference in our community,” he said.

He wants to use the internet and social media to create more government transparency. He hopes to launch an online portal for people to vote on policy proposals, and to measure local support for each piece of legislation.

Hebbur also believes in a “grass-roots approach” to his campaign. That means he has no money. “We already have a full staff pro bono, and when I meet officials for lunches, they usually offer to pay anyways,” he joked. New York’s primary election is Sept. 12 with the general election slated for Nov. 7.

Hirsh Vardhan Singh enters New Jersey Governor’s race

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Hirsh Vardhan Singh, a successful businessman and engineer, will announce his run for Governor of the Great State of New Jersey.  A Republican, Singh said he believes the state has been suffering due to petty partisanship and offers a bold vision to improve the lives of New Jersey residents through the Fairness Formula, strategic infrastructure development, medical malpractice and tort reform, tax cuts for small businesses and the legalization of cannabis, according to a statement from his campaign office.

Hirsh explains his main concerns from the highest property taxes nationwide, to a lack of well-paying manufacturing jobs, below par K-12 education, and State over-regulation, which have harmed the realization of the American Dream by attacking social mobility.  He will explain his plan to bridge the gaps of division in the state.

Hirsh is a product of New Jersey.  He grew up in Atlantic County, New Jersey and earned an engineering degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.  Hirsh is a results-driven leader who directs and manages small and large teams of corporations providing the most cutting edge engineering solutions and services nationwide across civilian and defense government agencies.

Last week, on February 21, Hirsh addressed the Ocean County GOP – one of the most influential county organizations in New Jersey.  In his speech, Hirsh pointed out that problems faced by New Jersey are a result of a flawed philosophy of government held by state leaders, and believes the solution has always been right in front in the state motto: Liberty and Prosperity. Through Liberty we attain Prosperity.

As New Jersey Governor, Hirsh plans to work tirelessly to bring prosperity back, fix the state’s sky rocketed property tax, the broken education system, fix transportation infrastructure, and make New Jersey a national leader in technological innovation.

Singh will focus his campaign on fixing property taxes, wages of manufacturing jobs, K-12 education and state overregulation, the campaign team said. The candidate added that state overregulation has harmed the realization of the American Dream by attacking social mobility.

The New Jersey primary is on June 6, 2017. Voting information can be found at http://singhfornewjersey.com/vote/.

Indian Americans in Connecticut raise funds for Dr. Prasad Srinivasan’s Gubernatorial Bid in Republican Primary

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Indian Americans have come together to raise funds for Connecticut State Representative Dr. Prasad Srinivasan’s Gubernatorial Bid Republican Primary. Fund raisers are being held across the state by the community. According to Dr. Srinivasan, the support has been overwhelming which has enabled the campaign to show a strong report for the quarter ending March 31st.  The fund raising event in Stamford, on Friday, March 24th, was hosted by Dr. Thomas Abraham, Ravi Nichani, Anita Bhat and Viresh Sharma.

Dr. Srinivasan is currently serving his fourth term as the State Representative from Glastonbury. He is the Assistant Republican Leader and is the Ranking member of the Public Health Committee. He also serves in the Environment and Judiciary Committees. He serves on the Health Information Technology Council and as Co-Chair of the National Health Policy Council. A. medical practitioner in the Greater Hartford area since 1980, Dr. Srinivasan was named “Top Doctor” by Connecticut Magazine, eighth year in a row. Connecticut’s Fairfield Medical County Association established a Prasad Srinivasan Award for medical advocacy.

In terms of community involvement, Dr. Srinivasan had established the Prasad Family Foundation in 1999 to promote Education and donates Legislative Salary for worthy causes. He also serves as Ambassador of Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and as a Corporator for Hartford Hospital.

A physician by profession, Srinivasan opposed the legalization of cannabis for medical use in 2012, saying he believed in its efficacy, but was troubled by questions of practicality. But he relented in 2016 and voted to expand the law to allow the limited use of cannabis to treat children with conditions not treatable by conventional means.

He voted against repeal of the death penalty in 2012. He supported passage of the sweeping gun-control law passed in 2013 in response to the Sandy Hook School shooting of 26 children and staff. “I am old enough,” he said, “and I am young enough.”

An eloquent speaker and totally committed to high ideals in public and private life, Dr. Srinivasan has been serving as the Assistant Republican leader in the House, a Ranking member of the Public Health Committee, and a National Co-Chair of the Health Policy Council. He has been presented with numerous awards for his legislative leadership. He was the Top Doctor 7th year in a row by Connecticut Magazine.

Prasad Srinivasan is married to Mrs. Kala Prasad, a professional musician for  over 30 years. Their two children graduated from Glastonbury High school. Son, Sashank Prasad, M.D., is Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School. Sashank’s wife, Kerry, is a high school teacher by profession, currently a stay home mom taking care of their two children. Daughter, Anusha Prasad-Rodriguez is the Head of Alternate Investments at Oppenheimer. Her husband, Paul, is a manager at Analysis Group, Inc.  They have two daughters.

Meeting with Sen. Sanders, Ambassador Sarna discusses bilateral ties

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

The Indian Ambassador to the United States Navtej Sarna met with Sen. Bernie Sanders and discussed bilateral ties between India and the United States. A tweet by the Indian Embassy in the US on Wednesday, last week said: “Ambassador Navtej Sarna warmly received by Sen. Bernie Sanders; enjoyed discussing positive outlook for Indian economy, strong #IndiaUSbonds & shared regional perspectives.”

According to the Indian Embassy, the Sarna-Sanders meeting was restricted primarily to discussions on US-India relationship and the Indian economy. Sarna, who only recently presented his credentials on Capitol Hill, has been making the rounds with various US legislators.

Sanders, who is the longest-serving independent in the US congressional history, had lost to his fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is now serving his term in the US Senate after winning re-election in 2012 with 71 per cent of the vote.

The left-leaning socialist values Sanders and President Donald Trump are on opposite sides when it comes to some of the major decisions taken by the latter. Sanders, who was the top contender to eventual Democratic Party nominee in the party primaries for the presidential elections, had attacked Trump’s position on climate change and called it “pathetic and an embarrassment to the world”.

Ambassador of India Navtej Sarna hosted a reception for a record 26 Governors of the States of the US at his residence on February 24 in Washington, DC. The gathering of governors from across the nation, representing both the major political parties, described as the first of its nature held in recent years, was attended by a record number of Governors, including Governors of Virginia, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Senior representatives of Governors of California, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania were also in the audience.

Chicago OFBJP chapter celebrates party’s victory in Indian state polls

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

The Chicago chapter of the Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party celebrated the party’s historic victory in the recently concluded elections in Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarkhand and Manipur. The event was held March 25 at the Rana Reagan Center in Carol Stream, Ill.

The program started with a welcome speech from OFBJP National General Secretary Amar Upadhyay. He extended a welcome to the Bharatiya Senior Citizens group, United Senior Citizens group, OFBJP members, VHPA members and HHS members who were all present at the event. Upadhyay then congratulated the newly appointed Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Aadityanath, Chief Minister of Uttarkhand Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh and Chief Minister of Goa Manohar Parikar. Upadhyay also shared the experiences and hard work, he, along with Chicago OFBJP coordinator Rohit Joshi and others put in during the election campaign in Uttar Pradesh.

A lamp lighting ceremony was conducted after the welcome speech. Joshi invited guest of honor Dr. Bharat Barai and BJP Communication Cell Convener Khemchand Sharma from the Delhi BJP unit, along with other OFBJP members including OFBJP youth convenor Nirav Patel to light the inaugural lamp.

n his speech, Joshi talked about some of the challenges that currently existed in Uttar Pradesh and the work that needs to be done after experiencing the situation first hand, while Patel highlighted the importance of contributing to the New India pledge wowed by Prime Minister Modi. The hope and aspirations of New India need to be fulfilled by contributions from all of it’s citizens and from all possible sources, he said.

Sharma talked about the upcoming elections for the municipal corporation of Delhi. He also shared ways to contribute to this election campaign through social media, use of voluntary services by making phone calls and any resources that could make a positive impact for the BJP Delhi unit. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Patel.

INOC, USA expresses disappointment over Yogi Adityanath as the CM of U.P.

Staff ReporterPolitics, Profiles 0

‘It is a recipe for disaster for the state of Uttar Pradesh however; it is part of a carefully calibrated plan by the BJP to further sow the seeds of polarization and conflict to profit from especially looking at the upcoming Parliamentary election. The real face of the RSS will be on full display soon’ said George Abraham, Chairman of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA.

‘We are indeed shocked to see that this firebrand Yogi Adityanath whose virulent public pronouncements often borders outright contempt for the minorities in India is anointed by the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah combine as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the largest state in India’ said Harbachan Singh, the Secretary-General of INOC.

According to the New York Times report, Mr. Adityanath, 44, was born Ajay Mohan Bisht, and studied mathematics before joining the priesthood. He rose to prominence as part of the campaign to rebuild the Ram temple, and has repeatedly been charged with fanning religious tensions.

In 2007, he spent 15 days in jail on charges of inciting riots, The Hindustan Times reported. He was booked again later in the year, when riots broke out after he made a speech. He is still facing trial in the two cases, the newspaper reported.

Adityanath was a forceful defender of the Hindu mob who lynched Muhammad Ikhlaq, a Muslim man suspected of slaughtering a cow, and argued that Mr. Ikhlaq’s family should be prosecuted for possessing the meat. When some Indians complained that they should not be required perform a “sun salutation” as part of International Yoga Day celebrations, saying it was a religious act, he recommended that those who were offended should “drown themselves in the sea.”

Adityanath has openly called for India to be enshrined as a “Hindu Rashtra” and supports the rebuilding of the temple in Ayodhya in place of razed 16th-century mosque. During the State Assembly polls, Adityanath was a major campaigner for the party across UP. The Gorakhpur-based politician enjoys a substantial following in Eastern U.P. where he founded Hindu Yuva Vahini whose volunteers are known to use strong-arm tactics during communal riots, cow-protection drives and to prevent ‘love-jihad.’

INOC urges the NRIs in America to strongly express their disapproval of the selection of a Hindutva extremist to be the leader of the most important state in India. ‘Opposing Trumpism in America while remaining silent on the fundamentalist ascendance in India would tantamount to nothing less than duplicity’ the statement added.

Jubilant crowd in USA welcomes Capt. Amarinder Singh’s party’s landslide victory in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Elections

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

New York, NY:   A large crowd of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA officials, members and supporters welcomed the long-awaited news of Capt. Amarinder Singh’s party’s landslide victory (77/117) in the state elections in Punjab.

Led by Harbachan Singh, Secretary-General of INOC, USA, loud chants of “Congress Party Zindabad, and Capt. Amarinder Singh Zindabad,” resonated in the hall where a large gathering had assembled.  He congratulated the gathering and announced”, “Congress party has scored a phenomenal success.  The vibrant Congress spirit is fully focused again.  There is no stopping now.”  Singh, who congratulated party president Sonia Gandhi and each MLA for his or her victory, was addressing the assembly in the absence of George Abraham, Chairman and Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of INOC, USA. who were both in Punjab to welcome the election results.

Tejinder Singh Gill, Senior Vice President, Karamjit Singh Dhaliwal, Vice President, and Jasvir Singh Nawanshr, President of Punjab Chapter of INOC, USA greeted the crowd and thanked everyone for their hard work and expressed full confidence in the great leadership of Capt. Amarinder Singh.  They believed that the enthusiasm which Capt. Amarinder Singh witnessed in New York during his last visit strengthened his resolve to fight harder for the people.  It was acknowledged that Mohinder Singh Gilzian and Tejinder Singh Gill had spent considerable time meeting people in Punjab.  Others had kept in touch with their relatives and friends from here.

Harbachan Singh declared that voters are very educated now and know how to stand for their rights and for what is right.  The respect for truth and integrity is on the rise as evidenced by the social media stronghold.  “Let’s therefore stand up and roll up the sleeves now and respond to the Capt.’s call, “he added.   The Capt. wants to hit the ground running and immediately begin work on his progressive agenda and with the help of science and technology, bring hope and relief to people. The Congress Party is over 127 years old and has the most experience of all the political parties in India.  “Economic recovery is paramount,” the Capt. laid out, “and it is the will of the people that shall guide his administration in all areas, using state of the art strategies, in the creation of jobs, improving health and education system, eliminating drugs,  increasing development,  dealing severely with corruption,  encouraging industries, modernizing agriculture, transportation and infrastructure, etc.”

Several prominent community leaders took the rostrum and spoke passionately about the dire needs of Punjab which had been neglected for the past 10 years and which, for sure,  will be addressed now.  Kulbir Singh, Jagir Singh, Piara Singh Bernala, Harminder Singh Panam, Ms.Malani Sshah,  Harry Singh, Ms.Jaya Sundram, John Joseph,  Baldev Singh,  Rajesh Alladad,  Ms.Leila Maret, Shangara Singh Rana and Devindra Vora were amongst the many important speakers.

Indian Envoy hosts ‘largest gathering of US governors’

Ajay GhoshCulture/Religion, Politics 0

Ambassador of India Navtej Sarna hosted a reception for a record 26 Governors of the States of the US at his residence on February 24 in Washington, DC. The gathering of governors from across the nation, representing both the major political parties, described as the first of its nature held in recent years, was attended by a record number of Governors, including Governors of Virginia, Nevada, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Guam, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virgin Islands, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Senior representatives of Governors of California, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania were also in the audience.

Ramping up its diplomatic profile in Washington with an eye on the Donald Trump administration’s orientation towards business, the Indian embassy, for the first time, hosted a reception for US governors who gather in the capital every year for their winter meeting. It’s a prestigious event that India won the chance to host, over stiff competition from other missions.

Founded in 1908, NGA is one of Washington D.C.’s most respected public policy organizations and is called the “collective voice” of the nation’s governors. Its prestigious membership includes the governors of all 55 US’ states, territories and commonwealths.

The reception aimed at showcasing for the governors the business potential of the partnership not only between the United States and India, but also between US states and India — Sarna called for “even greater attention” on the need for “state-to-state relations”.

Welcoming the guests, Ambassador Sarna noted that this evening interaction reflected the solid ground of bipartisan political and popular support on which the India-US strategic partnership is based. He emphasized that the India-US relationship is a symbiotic one which embodies our shared values of freedom, democracy and federation.

The Indian Ambassador underlined the particularly fruitful economic relationship between India and the United States that has greatly benefitted the two countries- providing jobs, creating resources and making both countries globally competitive.

Urging US companies to be part of the Indian success story, Ambassador said that India’s booming economy creates strong demand for U.S. goods, helping to create jobs and prosperity. Ambassador added that Indian companies operate in most U.S. states and are present in diverse sectors like IT and telecommunications, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, education, financial service and manufacturing.

Ambassador drew attention to the immense contribution of the high tech sector in promoting bilateral economic cooperation. From 2011-15, studies by reputed business houses reveal that more than 400,000 jobs have been directly and indirectly supported by the Indian tech companies recording a growth of 10% annually. Over the last 5 years, Indian tech companies have paid over $20 billion as taxes, $7 billion towards social security contributions and impacted over 120,000 American lives through Corporate Social Responsibility contributions.

While summing up, Ambassador said that since US and India are both federal in their polity and governance systems, States will always have a critical role to play in spurring growth and facilitating investments. India’s Prime Minister, who has himself been the Chief Minister of a State for more than a decade, is a strong believer in ‘cooperative federalism’. This platform of cooperation between the Indian Embassy and NGA thus provides us with fertile ground for fruitful and active cooperation between State level authorities of our two countries.

On the behalf of NGA, its Chair, Gov. McAuliffe of Virginia highlighted the rapid strides and holistic growth in the bilateral relationship. Fondly recalling his eleven day visit to India in November 2015 (as the head of a Trade and Investment Mission), he highlighted the various opportunities that a growing Indian market represents to US companies and investments. On behalf of NGA, he assured the gathering that NGA and its components- the US State Governments, will continue to work closely with India to assure a safe and secure work and living environment for Indian citizens in the US as well as a productive business environment conditioned by a favourable regulatory and legal set-up.

To express their appreciation and regard, Vice Chair of NGA, Gov. Sandoval then presented a memento to Ambassador Sarna. The evening’s formal programme concluded with the screening of several visual presentations showcasing the themes of ‘Invest and Make in India’ jointly prepared and produced by the Ministry of External Affairs, Invest India Corporation, NASSCOM and the Embassy of India in Washington D.C.

The ambassador reminded his guests — who included CEOs and business leaders from India and the United States — the importance that Prime Minister Narendra Modi attaches to the development of states in India under the larger concept of “cooperative federalism”.

The reception comes close on the heels of a combined delegation of 27 US members of the House of Representatives that visited India last week, and set another record for the maximum number of lawmakers the country hosted at the same time.

Vin Gopal launches bid for N.J. State Senate

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Vin Gopal, a well known Indian-American Democratic Party activist and small-business owner in New Jersey, has formally announced his run for the New Jersey state Senate on February 22. Gopal recently stepped down after serving for four years as the chair of the Monmouth County Democratic Party, a perch from where he is credited with engineering several electoral victories to mayoral, city councils and the state assembly.

If Gopal wins, he will be the first Indian-American state Senator. His first fundraiser March 1 is in the home of a Bangladeshi-American couple Nasreen and Ghulam Suhrawardi in Colts Neck, N.J. A Senate race, he estimates, will cost around $2 million and he is counting on the community support for the elections in November 2018.

According to Gopal, the most pressing issues facing the district and the state: “We have pressing property tax issues. We have a mass municipality problem in 566 towns — parking authorities, sewage authorities, school districts. These are not popular issues to take on and I think both parties have failed on this issue and I want to go in and try to bring some consensus and work hard to really help the taxpayers of the state.”

Gopal believes that “We need to seriously look at our school funding formula. We need to seriously look at our overall property tax structure. We need to look at this grip of municipalities and government that New Jersey currently has.”

In his opinion, New Jersey, because of the last several governors, not just Gov. Christie, has severe, severe economic problems. Gopal wants both parties to come together, with a Democratic governor which I believe will be Phil Murphy, to come together and solve some of these economic problems. “And we can do that by solving the school funding program, by solving the issue of 566 municipalities. We have towns in Monmouth County that have a population of 200, 300, 400 people and they have full municipal services. That hurts every taxpayer in the state.”

On Gov. Christie’s “Fairness Formula” Gopal, says, “I think it’s a terrible formula that he has. I support the one that Senate President [Steve] Sweeney and Assemblyman [Eric] Houghtaling and Assemblywoman [Joann] Downey have in the 11th District which takes the politics out of it and actually gives fairness. That way you don’t have legislators in different areas of the state wanting to get money for their district. I think we need a fair formula.”

According to him, his hard work and dedication have paid off. Gopal, who owns a successful business that now has 14 employees, recalls, “When I started my business 10 years ago, I was the only one there. I went months without taking a paycheck. I worked very hard. I’ve been a board member of our county chamber of commerce. I am very passionate about the economy, creating jobs and ending the political gridlock that exists. I think Sen. Beck has been in office for nearly 20 years as a lobbyist and as a legislator and I think it’s just simply time for a change.”

INOC confident of Congress Victory in Punjab

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of INOC, USA met with some senior Congress Party Leaders in New Delhi to debrief on his efforts to energize the various Party candidates in their respective election bid in Punjab.  As per a report from the INOC office, Gilzian spent almost two months in accompanying the party leader Capt. Amarinder Singh in some of his campaign swings throughout Punjab as well as spent considerable time to help his brother Sangat Singh Gilzian who was running from the Tanda District for an MLA seat in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections.

Mohinder Singh Gilzian visited Shri Anand Sharma, a member of the Raj Sabha followed by visits to Shri K. Raju (Chief ST/SC wing of AICC) and Shri Oscar Fernandes (AICC General Secretary).  He informed them that the Congress party expectations of victory were very high and the party apparatus was very much in top gear throughout the campaign period.  He was very encouraged and pleased with the great response they received from the voters who recalled the great advancement in education, employment, industries and infrastructure by Congress Party under the leadership of Capt. Amarinder Singh. Voters desperately wanted a change from the present regime, and they were very happy that the Congress Party offered an excellent option.   The great achievements of Capt. Amarinder Singh was strong and glorious testimony as to his capability, experience and integrity in their favor. He received solid endorsements from voters that the fielded candidates had brilliant credentials.

George Abraham, Chairman and Harbachan Singh, Secretary General of INOC, USA noted that the President’s efforts were augmented by the visit of Tejinder Singh Gill Sr. Vice President who also visited Punjab in the last few days of the campaign.  He too traveled to several areas of Punjab and lent his support to Congress party candidates to boost their victory.  Tejinder Singh Gill stated that the voters appreciated his traveling from New York to give them confidence and reassurance that better days are yet to come under the Congress Party administration.

INOC, USA had been actively helping in all legitimate ways to support the Congress Party initiative in Punjab. The election results are scheduled to be released on March 11, 2017.  The mood is indeed upbeat in the Congress Party camp.

Photo attached.

INOC, USA President with AICC spokesperson and Deputy Chairman of Foreign Affairs and MP Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, AICC Secretary Oscar Fernandez and AICC SC/ST Chief of AICC section K. Raju

“Celebrate India’s engagement with the 115th US Congress” hosted by Ambassador Navtej Sarna

Ajay GhoshIndia, Politics 0

WASHINGTON, DC: The Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna hosted a Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill “to celebrate India’s engagement with the 115th US Congress”, on Tuesday, February 14th.

Addressing an impressive gathering of members of Congress, prominent Indian Americans, congressional staffers, business representatives and media, Sarna said that he was looking forward for a more robust economic and commercial cooperation as India retains its spot as the fastest growing major economy.

Desccribing the upcoming visit of 27 distinguished members of Congress as a very important milestone, demonstrative of the high degree of interest in India, and the strong bipartisan support for the India-US relationship, based on shared democratic values and converging strategic interests.

Congressman Steny Hoyer, House Democratic Whip, echoed the bipartisan support for the relationship with India and emphasized the cooperation on security issues between the two largest democracies. Congressman Pete Olson said about the positive contributions of the Indian American community. He emphasized on the significance of the port of Houston for energy exports.

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Sub-committee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats, said about the importance of US-India cooperation while addressing the threat arising from the extremist radical terrorism. He spoke on the potential of US companies contributing in the economic transformation of India.

Congressman Ami Bera, Democratic Chair of the House India Caucus said that the increase in the number of elected Indian Americans currently in the Congress is a testimony to the remarkable strides, the Indian American community has made and growing closeness between the two countries based on shared values. Bera said that the India Caucus is the largest one in the Hill and his firm belief is that the US-India relationship will be a defining one for the 21st century.

Other members of Congress present were Senator Jeff Flake, Congressman Bob Goodlatte Chairman of House Judiciary committee, Congressman Andy Harris, Congressman Ted Poe Chairman House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Non-proliferation and Trade and Congressman Joe Kennedy. During the reception, Republican Niraj Antani was awarded with 2016 Legislator of the year award.

Asia Society captures Asian Voices on Trump administration

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

During the 2016 general elections, exit polls suggested that despite Hillary Clinton’s defeat to Donald Trump, Americans of Asian descent supported the former secretary of state by a 65 to 29 percent margin. In the aftermath of the election result, Asia Society decided to give Asian Americans a chance to give advice to the 45th president — on camera.

“We recently asked Asian Americans in New York to offer their advice to President Trump. Here’s what they had to say. the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Asian American voters made their preferences clear,” a statement issued by the Society stated.

During two days of filming, the participants — who traced their ancestry to several different Asian countries — discussed a wide variety of specific topics, from LGBT rights, tension in the South China Sea, and climate change. But there were also sentiments shared across several responses, such as a strong desire for President Trump to govern on behalf of all Americans, particularly immigrants and religious minorities. Though the interviews were filmed prior to the president’s inauguration, these issues have assumed a special relevance to the infancy of his presidency.

Asia Society is the leading educational organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context. Across the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, the Society provides insight, generates ideas, and promotes collaboration to address present challenges and create a shared future. Founded in 1956, Asia Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit educational institution with offices in Hong Kong, Houston, Los Angeles, Manila, Mumbai, New York, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Washington, DC and Zurich.

Indian American partnership with Capitol Hill continues

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

Indo-American Community Services (IACS), a national non-profit supporting the South Asian Community is continuing its annual partnership connecting collegiate students with Congressional internships in Washington, D.C. The non-partisan organization places exceptional students in Congressional offices on both sides of the aisle. This program continues the organization’s efforts to encourage civic and political engagement within the Indian-American community.

For eight weeks, both graduate and undergraduate students are exposed to policy making in the nation’s capital, firsthand. Along with gaining unparalleled insight into public service, legislation construction, and constituent care, selected interns are awarded a $2000 stipend after successful completion of the program. Congressman Bill Foster, Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce, Senator Dan Sullivan Senator Mark Kirk, Congressman Danny Davis, and Congresswoman Robin Kelly advocate for and hosted IACS interns in their D.C. offices.

IACS is excited to see the growth of Indian-American service in government, with this year’s election of five Indian-American representatives to Congress. In its sixth year, the IACS internship program is looking to expand the reach of this enriching opportunity to more students across the country. “We have already begun outreach efforts to Indian-American student groups across the country, in hopes of shedding greater awareness to this program,” said Joy Dhar, co- IACS internship liaison. “Sruthi Rao and I are looking forward to continuing our correspondence and helping place candidates with an interest in public service in Congressional internships.”

The summer 2017 internship program application is live & will be accepted through January 31st, 2017. For more information, please visit www.iacsinfo.org

Ambassador Nikki Haley wants new ways working with UN, countries

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

“You’re going to see a change in the way we do business,” Nikki R. Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said in her maiden address to media personnel after assuming g charge as the US ambassador to the United Nations. “Our goal with the administration is to show value at the U.N., and the way we’ll show value is to show our strength, show our voice, have the backs of our allies and make sure our allies have our back as well.”

The first ever Indian American to be appointed to a Cabinet post in the US history, ambassador Nikki R. Haley, issued a stark warning last week to allies and rivals abroad, saying in her first remarks at the headquarters of the world body that the Trump administration would hold to account those who do not back the United States. “For those who don’t have our back,” she added, “we’re taking names; we will make points to respond to that accordingly.”

Haley, 45, a former Republican governor of South Carolina and one of Trump’s most outspoken critics during the campaign, had tried to distance herself from some of what Trump has said about international diplomacy. She has said she favors continuing sanctions against Russia, for instance, but also cooperation with the Kremlin on counterterrorism. She has said she is concerned about security threats posed by refugees, and while she said climate change was “on the table,” she said she did not favor policies that imperiled business.

In her brief remarks to reporters, Haley offered no further details in brief remarks to reporters, nor did she take questions, before presenting her diplomatic credentials to the secretary general, António Guterres. A former socialist politician from Portugal who took over the United Nations at the start of the year, Guterres is under pressure to persuade the Trump administration to not gouge the organization and to uphold America’s international obligations, including on climate change.

The United States is the United Nations’ largest single donor, providing 22 percent of its regular budget, according to the terms of an international agreement that sets a country’s contribution based on its wealth. That assessed contribution pays for operating expenses like the electricity bills at its headquarters and human rights investigations in places like Syria and South Sudan. The United States also contributes voluntarily to other United Nations programs, including those that provide food and blankets to refugees fleeing war zones and that immunize children against preventable diseases.

President Trump had dismissed the United Nations as a social club and suggested the United States could cut its funding of the organization’s efforts. His “America first” pledges have raised concerns among diplomats at the United Nations about his commitment to international cooperation. The administration’s antipathy toward the United Nations has been sharpened since a Security Council resolution last month condemning Israeli settlements. Trump and Haley have criticized the Obama administration’s decision not to veto the resolution. And several

Republican senators have supported legislation threatening to defund the United Nations unless the Security Council reverses the terms of the resolution, which Council diplomats say would be politically unworkable.

“This is a time of strength, this is a time of action, this is a time of getting things done,” Ms. Haley said, adding that she was prepared to re-evaluate the United Nations’ efforts.

“Everything that’s working we’re going to make it better. Everything that’s not working we’re going to try and fix. And anything that seems to be obsolete and not necessary we’re going to do away with,” she said.

See You in Court, Mr. President

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Deepak Gupta leads lawsuit against Trump

Deepak Gupta of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is part of the watchdog team that sued President Donald Trump for violating the Emoluments Clause, a constitutional provision that prohibits federal officials from accepting “any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever” from a foreign state without congressional approval.

The Trump International Hotel, along with Trump Tower in New York and many other of Donald Trump’s business interests, all figure in a federal lawsuit filed, claiming that President Trump is violating the Emoluments Clause when foreign entities book rooms at the D.C. hotel or lease Trump office space.

The emoluments lawsuit against Donald Trump is an audacious gamble. The clause clearly bars Trump from receiving payments from foreign governments, including from state-owned corporations. Yet Trump’s business empire, from which he refuses to divest, is continually receiving emoluments from foreign states in the form of cash, loans, licensing deals, and building permits. (In 18th-century parlance, an “emolument” was any good or service of value.)

So CREW has asked U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams to rule that Trump’s acceptance of these emoluments is unconstitutional and prohibit him from taking any more. This suit may well fail. If it does, it could help Trump, taking emoluments off the table as grounds for impeachment and allowing his administration to dismiss the issue as fatuous harassment. Democrats would lose a potent rallying cry, and the emoluments criticism would fade from the political arena. The suit is an audacious gamble; it could certainly backfire. But even if it does, it will have a silver lining—functioning as the opening volley in a sustained assault on Trump’s unlawful conflicts of interest.

The Emoluments Clause has never before been tested in court—although the legal luminaries who joined CREW’s complaint appear convinced that judicial intervention is necessary. Eminent constitutional law professors Laurence Tribe and Zephyr Teachout, as well as Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California–Irvine School of Law, are participating in the suit along with Deepak Gupta, a Supreme Court advocate of considerable renown.

In an interview with NPR, Deepak Gupta talked about the non-profit’s lawsuit against President Trump claiming he is violation of the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution. “The Supreme Court in the 1980s decided a case called Havens that involved housing discrimination organizations,” Gupta said. And that could be a precedence, Gupta said.

Describing that a potential gift to Trump, “describes something that I give you without getting anything in return. And emolument describes a payment where maybe I expect something in return. And the argument that the Trump lawyers are making is, well, this is OK as long as it’s fair market value. That ignores the fact that built into the price is some profit that comes to Donald Trump. And this is not just some abstraction. It’s happening already. And diplomats have told news organizations on the record that they are moving their business there because they want to curry favor with the president.”

Stating the objective of the suit, Gupta, said, “The purpose of this lawsuit is not simply to get some documents in discovery. Although Discovery will be important because President Trump has been so secretive about his holdings. But this is not just about the tax returns. This is about testing the proposition that the framers really meant it when they said that the president has to have undivided loyalty to the American people and should not have financial entanglements with foreign governments.”

Ajit Pai appointed to lead US Communications Commission

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

 

Ajit Varadaraj Pai has been appointed as the Chairman of the United States Federal Communications Commission, appointed by President Donald Trump in the earliest days of that administration. He is the first Indian American to hold the office.

Ajit Pai is the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission. He was nominated to the FCC by President Barack Obama and was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate on May 7, 2012.

Commissioner Pai’s regulatory philosophy is informed by a few simple principles. Rules that reflect these principles will result in more innovation, more investment, better products and services, lower prices, more job creation, and faster economic growth.

Pai introduced a proposal that would not only extend that waiver for a full five years, but expand it. If passed by the rest of the agency’s commissioners, any service provider with fewer than 250,000 subscribers will not be bound by the transparency requirements.

The plan mirrors a similar, bipartisan proposal in Congress, and Pai, in a statement, argued that the regulations would have an unreasonable impact on small business. “Federal regulations have a disproportionate effect on small businesses — businesses that are often the linchpin of a more competitive marketplace and that don’t necessarily have compliance resources,” he said. Still, it will likely be disappointing to any customers buying service from one of those providers and hoping to keep track of what they’re paying for.

When the FCC passed its net neutrality rules in 2015, they included transparency measures for internet service providers. Big providers were required to submit information to regulators and consumers on data caps, fees, and speeds, but the order also included a temporary waiver for providers with less than 100,000 subscribers. After a re-extension, the transparency requirements would have gone into effect this month. Pai has made no secret of his hostility to the net neutrality rules, saying recently that the rules’ “days are numbered.”

Commissioner Pai has been an outspoken defender of First Amendment freedoms. Public safety is a top priority for Commissioner Pai. He took action to ensure that consumers can reach emergency services whenever they dial 911. Commissioner Pai has fought to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs. He was the first commissioner to demand an end to corporate welfare in a recent major spectrum auction; the agency ultimately agreed, saving taxpayers over $3 billion. Pai was the first member of the FCC in over two decades to call for revitalizing the AM radio band; the basic reforms he proposed were adopted in 2015. He also urged the FCC to create a task force to study the “Internet Protocol Transition” and report on obsolete rules that could be repealed; that task force was created. He proposed a way for the FCC to address petitions filed by the public much more quickly; that “rocket docket” is now in place and has dramatically sped up the agency’s decision-making.

Dimple Ajmera to become city’s first Asian-American Charlotte City Council member

Staff ReporterCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

Dimple Ajmera was named to Charlotte City Council on Monday night and will become the city’s first Asian-American on the council.  Ajmera, 30, was appointed to finish the term of Democrat John Autry in District 5, which covers much of east Charlotte. Autry stepped down from the seat in January to become a member of the North Carolina House.

The Charlotte City Council appointed Dimple Ajmera to the District 5 seat vacated by John Autry. The Charlotte Housing Authority  Ajmera works at TIAA in University City as a project manager. Without knowing English, she immigrated with her family to the United States from India when she was 16. She graduated from Southern High in Durham and then the University of Southern California. She has served on the Charlotte Housing Authority board.

Five other people applied for the position: Ariel Chambers-Woodruff, Johnell Holman, Marjorie Molina, Matthew Newton and Queen Thompson. Ajmera was a unanimous choice.

But before the vote, Democratic council member Al Austin nominated Matt Newton, an activist who has worked to reform the Citizens Review Board. Democrat Claire Fallon said Newton was her choice, but that she was going to support Ajmera because she would “go with the majority.”

Newton came to the meeting with a vocal group of supporters. Austin told him that Monday’s vote was “not the end but the beginning.”

Ajmera will be sworn in later this week. Her term ends in December.

In deciding whom they should appoint, council members said they preferred someone who would not run for the seat this year.

“I told them I will fill the term for 11 months,” Ajmera said. “I’ll support whoever decides to run for the district.”

Congrats To Trump For Excellent Speech, God Bless America!

Staff ReporterEditorial, Politics, U.S. 0

(Editorial Note: “Where is the Capital of United States of America?” I remember asking this question, to kids and friends, pretending I knew a great deal. That was when I was studying journalism at Marquette in the 1950es. You all know where the capital is. And most of them, not all, told me: Its in Washington DC. Then I would retort and say: It is not! Then some would retort, some nicely, some furiously and ask: “Then where is it?” And my simple reply used to be: “It is all over the world!” America has been making the whole world rich! American capital took flight and got deposited itself in all the countries of the world. Now the new president Trump wants to bring back all that capital to US to make America rich again. That was the sum and substance of the President’s  inaugural speech. I don’t blame him at all for that. Instead to him, goes all my praise!

 In my question at the outset, by ‘capital’ I was referring to: “Das Capital” of the Commies, meaning, “wealth, investment resources in dollars”(Not the headquarters of US).  America has been and still investing in other countries to have a foothold everywhere, but  not so much, at least to the extend needed at home in US itself, in health, education, homes for homeless, poverty alleviation areas etc. of their other own people. Charity begins at home. Put your own home in order first, the homes of the poor in America first, before becoming the top Good Samaritan of the world, or the Super policeman fighting some one else’s war in foreign lands, or  an exporter of American version of Democracy to countries infested with illiteracy. Hasn’t this election prove beyond all doubt how faulty and crippling is American democracy trying to prop itself up on two crutches – electoral college votes and popular votes? Which country wants this kind of voting system?

 Of course  American Capital (wealth) must be shared but not at the cost of starving to death its own children, its own citizens, white or black, WASP or otherwise. On this point, is not the New President hundred percent correct? I quote from the President’s  own speech: “We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon. One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind. The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.”(Recall what is said above:Capital of US is all over the world!)

The whole speech of President Trump could have  a come from the mouth of an Indian president or prime Ministers like Manmohan or Modi, with small changes of few names to suit India and the whole world would have applauded. The problems facing America and India are almost identical: a corrupt and corrupting political class looting the poor to fatten themselves! Three cheers to the newly elected President and congrats to his speech writer. Only one problem! Now the President is on record. He has bound himself in so many knots in public view of the whole world  with ever so many promises. He can’t now wriggle out  without performing, without implementing every one of his solemnly given promises, assurences!

 Here comes the  serious duty of all Americans which Obama your former president of beautiful mind and heart, reminded you in his farewell speech, quoting Thomas Paine: “The duty of a true patriot is to protect his country from its government.” So wake up all Patriotic Americans, your new government is President Donald Trump as unfolded before you in his inaugural speech. Each of you are to be the watchman/woman to make sure that he does not deviate one bit from the path he has marked out for himself and his government. That will make America  truly the greatest country in the world, truly the city seated on the mountain top, to the envy of nations! God bless the new president! God bless Great Ameria, the Greatest! james kottoor, editor)

President’s Speech

Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: Thank you.

We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people.

Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come.We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.

Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.

Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, or from one party to another — but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.

For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished — but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered — but the jobs left, and the factories closed.

The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.That all changes — starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.

It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country.

What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.

Everyone is listening to you now.You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before. At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens.

Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.

But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.

This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.We are one nation — and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.

For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; we’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay. 

We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon. One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind.The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.

But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future. We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land.From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.

Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.

I will fight for you with every breath in my body — and I will never, ever let you down. America will start winning again, winning like never before.We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.

We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation. We will get our people off of welfare and back to work — rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor. We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American.

We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world — but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first. We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.

We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones — and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.  At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.

When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The Bible tells us, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.” We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.

When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.There should be no fear — we are protected, and we will always be protected.We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.

Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger.In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving.We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action — constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.

The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action.Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America.We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.

We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions.

It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.

And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator. So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again.

Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way. Together, We will make America strong again.We will make wealthy again. We will make America proud again.We will make America safe again.

And yes, together, we will make America great again. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America.

Congressman Keith Ellison Pledges to Do More for Hindus in South Asia

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

Democratic lawmaker Keith Ellison, who is set to become the new face of the Democratic Party post-election, has pledged to highlight the persecution of Hindus in South Asia and do more to integrate the concerns and aspirations of the Indian American into his work.

Congressman Ellison, a top candidate for the Democratic National Committee chairman position, made the commitment in a letter to the Hindu American Foundation days after he participated in a conference call with Hindu leaders from across the country to listen to their concerns and answer their questions.

He said that he will ensure renewed outreach to the Hindu and Indian American communities to foster their greater participation. Ellison added that he will give the community “well-deserved” and “much-valued” representation in the Democratic Party.

“As we discussed, I will do more to integrate the concerns and aspirations of the Hindu community in India into my legislative work,” Ellison said in a letter to Suhag Shukla of the Hindu American Foundation.

“I also pledge to highlight the persecution of Hindu minority communities throughout South Asia. If elected DNC chair, I will ensure renewed outreach to the Hindu and Indian American communities to foster greater participation and more well-deserved and much-valued representation in the Democratic Party,” Ellison said in the letter dated Dec. 16, which was released to the press on Dec. 23.

The conference call on Dec. 12 included Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and representatives of nearly 30 Hindu and Indian American groups. Leaders on the call queried Ellison as to how, should he be elected DNC chair, he would work with the incoming four Hindu American Democrats in Congress to increase engagement and involvement of the broader Hindu and Indian American communities.

“It goes without saying that Hindu Americans and Indian Americans enrich our nation every day. I am proud to work with colleagues such as Senator-elect Kamala Harris, Representative Tulsi Gabbard, Representative Ami Bera, and Representatives- elect Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna and Raja Krishnamoorthy, who represent the best values of the Democratic Party,” Ellison wrote.

Responding to a question during the call regarding his focus on the Gujarat riots of 2002 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was governing the state, Ellison said that he viewed the issue as a “closed matter” since the Indian Supreme Court has issued its ruling.

Ellison stated that India is a key strategic partner and friend to the United States and he looks forward to build a “constructive and congenial relationship with the Indian government and Indian American community.”

He also said he will continue to urge Congress and the Administration to work with India on key areas of shared importance..

Five Indian Americans sworn into US Congress/Senate

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

By Ajay Ghosh

A record five Indian Americans were sworn into office in Washington, D.C., om January 3rd. making it a truly a memorable year for people of Indian origin in the United States. The election of these six is a historic symbol of the rightly recognizable Indian American community’s growing political influence in the mainstream American politics.

Kamala Harris, D-Calif, a former state attorney general who had won the U.S. Senate election on November 8 in a landslide became the first Indian American U.S. senator. Harris, 52, joined by friends and family in the Capitol Building, was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., looking on. “I am humbled and honored to serve you and the people of California. Let’s get to work,” Harris tweeted following her swearing-in ceremony. The new senator, one of seven new senators sworn in, replaces Barbara Boxer, who retired after 24 years in office.

Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., representing the state’s 7th Congressional District; Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., representing the 8th Congressional District; Ro Khanna, D-Calif., representing the 17th Congressional District; and Ami Bera, D-Calif., representing the 7th Congressional District, were the Congressmen of Indian origin who were sworn into office last week.

Krishnamoorthi won in the November election in Illinois’ 8th Congressional District, which includes some Chicago suburbs. The Indian American entrepreneur — president of Sivananthan Labs & Episolar Inc. — served as a policy adviser to President Barack Obama in 1999 when the community organizer ran for Congress. The relationship continued as Obama ran for the U.S. Senate in 2002. Krishnamoorthi was endorsed by the president leading up to the election.

“I will continue to focus on the middle class and our commitment to ensure that hard work is rewarded. I am ready to join and lead the efforts to make sure that working families who play by the rules are not left off the agenda in Washington,” Krishnamoorthi said in a statement. “I am humbled by the trust the people of our district have placed in me to fight for them in Congress.”

Jayapal, the first Indian American woman in the U.S. House of Representatives, the first person of color in the state’s Democratic delegation and the first woman to represent the seventh Congressional District, said this position is all about the community, not just her.

“Today is not about me. It’s about we,” said Jayapal in a statement. “It’s about the movement of hundreds of thousands of people in Washington’s 7th Congressional District, a diverse coalition of people from all walks of life, who want to ensure we continue to provide opportunity for all. Jayapal, who takes over for Jim McDermott, is one of only 23 members of Congress born in another country.

Ami Bera has been voted to Congress in California’s 7th Congressional District since 2013. “Today I’m honored to be sworn in to the 115th Congress — grateful to serve and ready for the work ahead,” Bera, the only 3rd term Indian American ever to be in the US Congress, tweeted moments after being sworn in.

Ro Khanna won in California’s 17th Congressional District after a very bitter fight against longtime Rep. Mike Honda. The Indian American lawyer won by more than 20 points in the 2016 election. “Even as the nation continues to heal from the political divisiveness of the past year, I am proud to begin 2017 by representing Silicon Valley in Congress,” Khanna said in a statement. “We need bold ideas and sound policies that provide opportunities to those our changing economy and technological revolution has left behind, and invest in policies that support working families to better prepare all children for the future.

“As a son of immigrants and grandson to a freedom fighter during India’s independence movement,” Khanna added, “the protection of civil rights no matter a person’s gender, race, or sexual orientation, will always be side-by-side with my commitment of economic fairness for all.”

Vin Gopal seeks community support in effort to win NJ Senate seat

Staff ReporterCommunity, Politics, U.S. 0

Vin Gopal, 31, who has been described as “a dynamic Democrat in a Republican Combat Zone” while announcing his candidacy for the New Jersey state Senate has sought Indian American community to support him in his efforts to win the senate seat.

Gopal, a rising star in the New Jersey Democratic Party was among those in the list of ‘40 Under 40’ by NJPolitico. Gopal, a small business owner will be facing off against Republican incumbent Jennifer Beck, 49, who was elected to the Senate ten years ago and has since won with resounding victories, including after the 2011 redistricting. Gopal hopes support from the Indian-American community around the state will bolster his chances.

“I hope Indian-Americans will get excited about my race,” Gopal told Desi Talk. According to his math and that of another Democratic source who did not wish to be named, Gopal’s chances are good despite a secure incumbent Republican (Beck won her last election with 60 percent of the vote). “Hillary Clinton won by 8,000 votes,” in the presidential race Nov. 8 Gopal says. Also, Gopal is credited with securing a victory against considerable odds in 2015, for the two current incumbent Democratic Assembly members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey in a Republican district, who will be running for re-election this November. “Also, there are South Asians who live in Freehold and Ocean Townships who could help,” Gopal said.

According to 2010 U.S. Census figures, District 11 has a population of 205, 526, of which more than 79 percent are of voting age. Unlike some other parts of New Jersey where Indian-Americans or Asian-Americans make up a sizable part of the population, District 11 is 76 percent White and barely 2.74 percent Asian. Blacks make up a little over 14 percent. While racial or ethnic breakdown of the population may have changed since 2010, Gopal will need outside help for what is expected to be a $2 million dollar campaign all-told for the three Democrats. An extra Democrat on the state Senate would be a definite plus for liberals.

“Indian-Americans and South Asians outside the district could also be a help,” said Gopal, a small-business owner, founder of the communications company Direct Development in Hazlet, N.J., which has 14 employees. In his statement announcing the candidacy, Gopal said he has gone without taking a paycheck in order to make the payroll.

Born and brought up in Monmouth County, Gopal says he has felt the impact of Trenton’s “over-regulation, suffocating taxation, and red-tape.” In his statement he lashed out at his GOP opponent and in so many words described Beck as an opportunist, a “lobbyist and professional politician” and Gov. Chris Christie’s “foot soldier,” who has  backed down on gun regulations, women’s access to healthcare and marriage equality, and has lost touch with her constituents, all of which he hopes to  overturn if sent to the state Senate which currently has a Democratic majority (24 of the 40 seats.)

Monmouth County Democratic chairman Vin Gopal, who has led his organization to some of the state’s most startling upset victories in recent years, saw disappointing returns for his Democratic county slate during this year’s presidential election, Democratic State Assembly members Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling pulled off the most surprising victory of 2015’s sleepy Assembly elections when they unseated Republicans Caroline Casagrande and Marypat Angelini.

Beck has announced her intention to run for reelection, and has endorsed Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon’s State Senate bid in the neighboring 13th district. According to polling from the Monmouth County Democrats, Hillary Clinton won the 11th district’s presidential votes by roughly 7,000. Whether Gopal and the Democrats can drive that same turnout in a quieter gubernatorial year remains to be seen.

INOC, USA vows full support to Captain Amarinder Singh and the Congress Party in Punjab elections

Staff ReporterIndia, Politics 0

New York: At an annual meeting comprising over forty  members held on December 30, 2016, at Sohna Punjab Restaurant in Queens, New York,  the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA unanimously adopted several important resolutions and other measures which would not only bring up to date its by-laws, rules, and procedures but also emboldened the hands of its leadership.  The promotion of several of its officers within the ranks and recruited from outside, including youth, is expected to bring new dynamism, energy and success to the Organization in the near future. This move, which was long awaited, has immediately invigorated everyone especially in the face of upcoming Punjab State elections expected to take place at the beginning of February 2017.

Recounting the accomplishments of INOC, USA, the Secretary-General, Mr. Harbachan Singh applauded the effort of all the leaders and its rank and file.   Playing a major role in hosting the visit of Capt. Amarinder Singh to New York was no small matter.  The words of praise and admiration received from the Captain made so many of his supporters happy, validated and inspired.  Similar recognition by visiting Congress leaders such as Hon. Sushilkumar Shinde during 2016 had the same positive effect of uplifting their mood and resolve.

In announcing the promotions, Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of INOC, USA said that former President of Punjab Chapter, Mr. Tejinder Singh Gill was promoted to the rank of Sr. Vice President and in his place, Mr. Satish Sharma was designated as Chairman and Mr. Jasvir Singh Nawanshahr was designated as the Punjab Chapter President.  Mr. John Joseph, Ms. Malini Shah, Dr. Dayan Naik and Mr. Jagjeet Singh were each promoted to the rank as Vice Presidents.  Mr. Neil Trevidi. Mr. Prasad Kambhampaty and Ms. Megha Mehta were each promoted to the rank of Joint Secretary.  Mr. Koshy Oommen and Ms. Gunjan Rastogi were designated as an executive members of the National Council. Ms. Jaya Sundaram was designated Acting President of Tamil Nadu Chapter, Ms. Leela Maret was designated as Chairperson Women’s Forum and Mr. Sawaran Singh was designated as Chairman of Disciplinary Committee.  Mr. Girish Vidya was nominated to be a member of the Advisory Council together with Mr. Krishnan Arora.   No changes were made to the positions of other officials.  Both Mr. George Abraham, Chairman and Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of INOC, USA congratulated those who received the promotions and wished them good luck.  Mr. Harbachan Singh stated that the decisions were reached after very careful review and that the candidates promoted were of high caliber and enjoyed respect in the society.

Two resolutions were also passed at this meeting viz: one to demonstrate INOC, USAs unflagging support and admiration of Captain Amarinder Singh as the most outstanding leader of the Punjab Congress Committee and vowed its full support to him and his designated candidates in the upcoming State elections in Punjab.

Secondly, INOC, USA deplored the format and unconventional manner the demonetarization  scheme was introduced which has not resulted in any significant results but instead has nevertheless caused untold misery and suffering to the masses of people in whole of India including reported deaths in the vicinity of hundreds and is continuing to have detrimental effects on the people.

INOC, USA is lending a hand in Punjab election campaign

Staff ReporterPolitics 0
 Although the complete list of the candidates is yet to be released, Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA is already on the ground in Punjab and campaigning for Congress candidates. ‘We are committed to supporting Captain Amarinder Singh and the Congress party to return to power in the state where corruption and mismanagement under Akali rule have become the order of the day and negatively impacting the lives of the ordinary citizens’ said Mr. Gilzian. We want to see Punjab return to its glory days as a model state where we have achieved greater development in the social and economic realm’ he added.
It is expected that elections in Punjab will be held towards the end of January or early February. The political parties are already busy at creating alliances and selecting candidates who might give them an edge. The Akali government was derelict in not attending or inadequately attending to the host of issues people are concerned about.  Corruption, drugs, and unemployment were listed high on the list of grave concerns and fear of hooliganism was affecting the security level of the people.  In the villages, the number of suicides was increasing and Punjab being a border state with Pakistan was made to bear colossal damages and sufferings, as well as the residents, were being uprooted and displaced from their homes for indefinite periods.
 A worrisome fact was that Punjab was slowly buried under huge state debt. Lethargic government bureaucracy was using antiquated laws and procedures so much so that many Non-resident Indians were not willing to invest in Punjab and that some foreign companies were also closing down and moving out causing unemployment problems.  The YSL river water issue was also not solved properly.
INOC, USA strongly believes that only the Congress Party under Capt. Amarinder Singh can solve such problems well and that the Captain has a track record to prove it.  His new Congress Manifesto is full of descriptions of programs to successfully deal with each such problem.
INOC, USA promises to do all it can that include sending additional volunteers to Punjab to help the party win back the state for the sake of its citizens and the Congress party.

Indra Nooyi appointed member of Trump’s Strategic Policy Forum

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

 

President-elect Donald Trump appointed PepsiCo Chairman Indra Nooyi on to the President’s Strategic and Policy Forum that will consult with him on implementing his economic agenda on December 14th. Calling her one of the “pioneering CEOs,” Trump stated that “America has the most innovative and vibrant companies in the world, and the pioneering CEOs joining this Forum today are at the top of their fields.”

“My administration is going to work together with the private sector to improve the business climate and make it attractive for firms to create new jobs across the United States from Silicon Valley to the heartland.”

The forum is headed by Stephen Schwarzman, the CEO of the investment company Blackstone and includes Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric, and CEOs Elon Musk of SpaceX and Tesla, Uber’s Travis Kalanick; Jamie Dimon of Chase and Mary Barra of General Motors. Trump’s transition team said that forum members will give Trump their views on government policy, job-creation and productivity “in a frank, non-bureaucratic and non-partisan manner.”

Nooyi heads a multinational with an annual revenue of $63 billion that employs 110,000 people.
A graduate of Madras Christian College in Chennai, she has management degrees from the Indian Institute of Management in Kolkata and Yale University.

In 20016, Fortune magazine unveiled its 51-person 19th annual “Most Powerful Women in the U.S.” list on September 8, with the Indian American CEO Indra Nooyi at No. 2, just behind General Motors Co. CEO and chairwoman Mary Barra.

Fortune pointed to Nooyi’s vision to diversify the soda giant’s beverage and food offerings, and including more healthy options, as moves that have inspired the renewed faith Wall Street investors are showing in the company.

Also, she’s yielded some pretty solid results. PepsiCo’s market cap has increased 18 percent over the last year, bringing it to a whopping $155 billion, under her watch. Nooyi, 60, is in her 10th year as the company’s CEO and back in April she appeared onstage at the Women in the World Summit in New York City and addressed the “unfinished business” of work-life balance.

She spoke candidly about her mixed feelings about being a successful businesswoman and the “huge number of sacrifices” she made as a mother to reach the top. Watch the video below where she talks about what she would say if she “had to write a letter to myself as a younger person.”

Fortune added that experts believe PepsiCo is primed for more acquisitions in the health space soon as Nooyi — who ranked No. 2 on last year’s list — further diversifies out of the declining soda category. Lockheed Martin president and CEO Marillyn Hewson; IBM chairwoman, president and CEO Ginni Rometty, and Fidelity Investments president and CEO Abigail Johnson round out the top five. The inauguration team organizes the festivities for Trump’s swearing in as president on Jan. 20.

Preet Bharara to continue working under Trump administration

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Preet Bharara, the United States attorney in Manhattan who has built a reputation as a fierce prosecutor of public corruption cases, said last week that he intended to remain in office under President-elect Donald J. Trump’s administration. Bharara, who was appointed to the position in 2009 by President Obama, made the announcement after meeting with the president-elect at Trump Tower.

Bharara, 48, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said Trump had asked to see him to discuss “whether or not I’d be prepared to stay on as the United States attorney to do the work as we have done it, independently, without fear or favor for the last seven years. We had a good meeting,” Bharara continued. “I said I would absolutely consider staying on. I agreed to stay on.”

Bharara said that he had already talked to Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, who is Trump’s choice for attorney general. “He also asked that I stay on, and so I expect that I will be continuing,” Bharara said. The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets reported Bharara met Trump Nov. 30 afternoon and was asked by the incoming president if he would like to continue in office. Bharara said he would.

Bharara, who before becoming the United States attorney served as chief counsel to Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, did not elaborate on how the meeting was arranged. But Schumer, in a statement issued after Bharara made his announcement, said, “President-elect Trump called me last week and asked me what I thought about Preet Bharara continuing his role as U.S. attorney. I told him I thought Preet was great,” Schumer added, “and I would be all for keeping him on the job and fully support it. I am glad they met, and am glad Preet is staying on.”

Trump also asked Schumer how best to reach Bharara, and the senator provided Mr. Trump with Bharara’s direct line, said a person who was briefed on the call and spoke on the condition of anonymity. United States attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president and typically offer their resignations after a new president takes office. Trump did not immediately issue a statement about his decision, but Bharara, in his comments, said that Trump had asked to meet with him “presumably because he’s a New Yorker and is aware of the great work that our office has done.”

Bharara’s tenure of more than seven years as the United States attorney in Manhattan has been exceeded in the past 100 years by only two of his predecessors: Mary Jo White and Robert M. Morgenthau.

The South Asian Bar Association of North America President Vichal Kumar, in a statement, said the organization was “enthused” about the initial reports of Bharara remaining in office. “Bharara’s selflessness, humility and dedication to public service continue to inspire many attorneys who have heard the call to serve,” Kumar said.

Bharara has shown a record of independence as a prosecutor, as well as a willingness to take on powerful figures in state government, Democrats included. “Preet has shown as a prosecutor that he is willing to take on the political establishment,” said Arlo Devlin-Brown, a former chief of Mr. Bharara’s corruption unit who is now a partner at the law firm Covington & Burling. “He’s also shown he can win. There is no question that these are qualities that the president-elect admires.”

Bharara recently concluded a two-year term as a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and as Chair of its Subcommittee on White Collar Fraud. He is Co-Chair of the Securities and Commodities Fraud Working Group of the interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. Bharara graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with an A.B. in Government in 1990, and from Columbia Law School with a J.D. in 1993.

Donald Trump Calls Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a ‘Terrific Guy’ During Phone Call

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

President-elect Donald Trump lavished praise on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and offered to play “any role” in helping Pakistan address its problems, a Pakistani statement said, even as the US President-elect’s transition team just described their discussion as “productive.”

Sharif called Trump Nov. 30 to congratulate him as the two leaders discussed various issues. “I am ready and willing to play any role that you want me to play to address and find solutions to the outstanding problems. It will be an honor and I will personally do it,” said Trump.

Feel free to call me any time even before 20th January, that is before I assume my office,” Trump told Sharif, according to a statement issued by the Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office.

Trump also told Prime Minister Sharif that he has a “very good reputation,” the statement said. “You (Sharif) are a terrific guy. You are doing amazing work which is visible in every way. I am looking forward to see you soon. As I am talking to you Prime Minister, I feel I am talking to a person I have known for long,” Trump was quoted as telling Sharif.

Trump said Pakistan is an “amazing” country with “tremendous opportunities,” the statement said. “Pakistanis are one of the most intelligent people,” the President-elect said.

Sharif also invited Trump to visit Pakistan. In his reply, Trump said, “he would love to come to a fantastic country, fantastic place of fantastic people.”

“Please convey to the Pakistani people that they are amazing and all Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people,” said Trump. However, Trump’s lavish praise for Sharif and his offer to play a role in addressing Pakistan’s problems found no mention in the readout of the conversation between the two leaders issued by Trump’s transition team.

“President-elect Trump and the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif spoke today and had a productive conversation about how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future,” the transition team said.

Kamala Harris, a Presidential candidate for 2020

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

The 2016 general elections have just ended. The President is still to assume office. However, speculations are on as to who will succeed or will be the nominee to fight President-elect Donald Trump in 2020. There are several aspirants and leading candidates who are likely to be the Democratic Party nominee in the 2020 general elections.

Kamala Harris, the first Indian-American to be elected to the US Senate, is a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2020 elections, Washington Post, a leading American newspaper stated last week. Harris, 51, whose mother was from Chennai and father from Jamaica, is one among the six Democratic leaders, whom The Washington Post said are the top contenders to bag the party’s nomination for the 2020 presidential elections.

Interestingly four of these are women. The other three being outgoing First Lady Michelle Obama, Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York. Other two potential Democratic presidential candidates according to the US daily are Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey and Governor John Hickenlooper from Colorado.

“Harris will not officially become a US senator from California for more than a month, but she is already regarded as national-candidate material in four years,” Washington Post columnist Chris Cillizza wrote in his article.

“It is not hard to see why. She is the first African American woman elected to the Senate since Carol Moseley Braun in 1992. Harris also represents the largest and most Democratic state in the country, a huge financial launchpad to a presidential bid,” he said, noting that through mid-October, she had raised more than $13 million for her Senate candidacy.

“Her law-and-order background – she was elected and reelected attorney general in California – also will appeal to many Democrats. Whether Harris wants to – or will be ready to run for national office so soon after being elected to the Senate remains to be seen,” Cillizza said.

Harris is a two-term popular Attorney General of California. She was elected to the United States Senate from California in a landslide. She was endorsed by outgoing US President Barack Obama, in her Senate race.

The Washington Post columnist also said First Lady Michelle has true star power. “She gave the two best political speeches of the past two years – the first at the Democratic National Convention in July, the second in New Hampshire in the fall, an emotional condemnation of Trump’s America,” he said.

“Obama has one thing – with the possible exception of Booker – that the rest of the people on this list lack: true star power. She would start the race not only totally known by base Democrats but also absolutely beloved. The issue for Obama is that being a candidate in your own right is very different from being a surrogate for a candidate,” he wrote. However, Obama in the past has said she has no interest in running for office.

“No matter how many people said I couldn’t do it, I won my races for District Attorney and Attorney General,” Harris said. “I’m a fighter – I’ve fought for the people of California, especially those most in need. This campaign for Senate has ended, but the work is just beginning. And now I’m ready to take that fight to Washington.” For now, Senator-elect Kamala Harris will take the oath of office as California’s next Senator on January 3, 2017.

Trump meets Sandeep Mathrani, an Indian-American Real Estate Executive

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

President-elect Donald Trump who is scouting for talent to join his administration has met Indian American real estate executive, Sandeep Mathrani. The Chicago-based executive is the third Indian American to meet with Trump and the other two, Nikki Haley and Seema Verma, have been selected for positions in his administration.

Crain’s Chicago Business said that Mathrani is the CEO of General Growth Properties, which owns malls. It quoted a company official, Kevin Barry, as saying on Monday: “Sandeep is meeting with Trump today, I can confirm that, but no further color available.”

Crain’s Business said: “Mathrani earned $39.2 million last year – more than any other CEO of a U.S. real estate investment trust – so leaving the private sector for a government post would involve a major financial sacrifice.”

Haley was selected for the cabinet-rank post of Ambassador to the UN and Verma to be the next head of the government health insurance programmes.

In addition, Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to Congress, has also met with Trump. She is a Democrat, but like Trump she is a critic of US interventions abroad while advocating a strong action against terrorism.

USINPAC engages with President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

Adhering to its bipartisan approach in representing the Indian American community, USINPAC hosted a Presidential dialogue series with members of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s election campaign and transition team. The interactive dialogue, was attended by a cross section of Indian Americans from across the country. Listeners eager to know more about the incoming administration fielded questions to Congressman Lou Barletta, representing Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional district and Matt Keelen, a republican strategist and consultant for the Trump campaign.

As a former businessman, Congressman Lou Barletta spoke from personal experience when he lamented banking regulations and taxes that hurt businesses today. Donald Trump, with his business experience would work to enable businesses to make profits, which would then be invested back, buy more equipment, hire more people, which would generate more payroll taxes.

Regarding healthcare reform the Congressman supported repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, making it affordable for employers too. Free market would drive prices down, individuals would be able to buy healthcare across state lines, have health savings account.

Congressman Barletta lauded the relationship between India and the United States saying, “India is the world’s largest democracy and United States is India’s second largest trading partner. We have much in common. I believe under a President Trump the relationship will get even stronger as many who come from India to the United States will be able to find a better opportunity to start a business, grow a business, and invest into this economy because this economy will take off under President Trump.

Republican strategist Matt Keelen opined that President-elect Trump understood the importance of US-India ties, as the two nations share the same values, face the same issues with terrorist attacks on our soil. President Trump would promote bilateral ties as President Bush had.

On the possibility of Indian Americans featuring in the new cabinet, Keelen mentioned two prominent names being discussed; Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley and former Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal. Keelen encouraged more Indian Americans to run for Congress, especially those with experience as small business owners and to consider being part of the Trump administration.

Sanjay Puri, Chairman of USINPAC thanking Congressman Barletta and Matt Keelen for engaging with Indian Americans remarked, “We look forward to working closely with the new administration and providing qualified candidates who are looking to work in this administration.”

Indian Americans desiring to work with the incoming administration should send their resumes to trumpadmin@usinpac.com or visit USINPAC to apply.

The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) is the voice of over 3.2 million Indian- Americans and works on issues that concern the community. It supports candidates for local, state and federal office and encourages political participation by the Indian- American community. Visit www.usinpac.com for more details.

Trump Picks Seema Verma to run Medicare and Medicaid

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Seema Verma, who has worked closely on healthcare with Vice President-elect Mark Pence in Indiana state, has been nominated by Donald Trump to be the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services overseeing government health insurance programs.

By assigning her “to the dream team that will transform our healthcare system,” a major campaign promise, President-elect Donald Trump by choosing Seema Verma for a high-level position in his administration, is on his way to revamp the system. Verma is the second Indian American to be on the new administration to be formed by Trump.

Announcing his intent to nominate them, Trump said: “Together, Chairman Price and Seema Verma are the dream team that will transform our healthcare system for the benefit of all Americans.” About Verma, Trump said: “She has decades of experience advising on Medicare and Medicaid policy and helping states navigate our complicated systems.”

“I look forward to helping him tackle our nation’s daunting healthcare problems in a responsible and sustainable way,” Verma said after Trump’s announcement.

Verma comes to the job with extensive Medicaid experience. Her consulting firm, SVC, Inc., worked closely with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to design Indiana’s Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. The expansion, known as the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0, went into effect early last year, and Verma’s involvement in it may prove important as Congress and the Trump administration, including the Vice-president elect, make decisions on the future of Obamacare.

Indiana’s unique Medicaid expansion was designed to appeal to conservatives. HIP 2.0 asks covered people to make a small monthly payment to access health insurance. A missed payment can result in six-month lockout from insurance coverage. Those provisions aren’t allowed under traditional Medicaid, but Indiana got a federal waiver to implement them.

With a track-record of developing Republican-friendly healthcare programs, Verma will play a crucial role in carrying out the high-priority Trump campaign promise of scrapping President Barack Obama’s healthcare program, popularly known as Obamacare, and replacing it with “something better.”

Although Verma’s job is not of cabinet rank now, it has great political importance and she will be in the national spotlight because she will be working on the controversial Republican vow to end Obama’s signature healthcare program, which attempts to make affordable health insurance available to all, and come up with a new model.

The Medicare program that she will oversee provides insurance for over 46 million retirees and senior citizens, who are a politically powerful block, and Medicaid, which covers the poor, has about 60 million people enrolled in it. Together they are about a third of the U.S. population. Additionally now, she will have to help shape a program for those who are outside of these two programs and do not get health insurance from their employers.

Her appointment has been widely welcomed by the growing Indian American community. Dr. Ajay Lodha, the president of the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin, said, “The Indian community of physicians is very excited by the appointment of an Indian American to this high-level position by Present-elect Trump. We will support her endeavors,” he added. “We expect her to make Medicare more patient-friendly, especially in reforming the part of it that provides medicines.” There are nearly 70,000 doctors of Indian descent working in the US, making them an important constituency for healthcare reforms.

Susan Jo Thomas, who heads the Indiana insurance advocacy group Covering Kids and Families, says Verma’s contributions to HIP 2.0 made Medicaid expansion possible in a Republican state. “She understood that in order to get expansion in this state, it’s more about what is palatable, what can get approved,” she says.

Rep. Charlie Brown, the ranking Democrat in the state’s public health committee. “She is a smooth operator, and very, very persuasive,” he says. Brown worked in opposition to Verma in crafting the Healthy Indiana Plan, but said she was effective across party lines at incorporating the Pence administration’s wishes. She’s very resourceful and intelligent,” says Brown. “But the question now becomes, ‘What will be her marching orders as they relate to Medicare and Medicaid?’ ”

Verma, who heads a healthcare consulting company, SVC Inc., helped develop a public healthcare system in Indiana for implementing Obamacare. Among other things, it requires those using it to make contributions to it, even if it is a dollar for the poorest, which is opposed by many Democrats. She has also consulted with other Republican-run states on healthcare issues. Verma was awarded the Indiana state award, Sagamore of the Wabash, by Pence.

Post-election immigration scams on the rise, NY Attorney General warns

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

There has been a significant increase in the number of calls to immigration organizations, including inquiries regarding potential fraud. For example, since the election, the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights has seen a 266 percent increase in the number of daily calls and 250 percent increase in number of daily walk-ins; on November 10thalone, the organization reportedly received over 100 calls. NYC council members, in response, have introduced a bill aimed at preventing non-attorneys from providing fraudulent and/or unauthorized immigration legal services in New York City.

Immigration fraud typically involves individuals or companies who target vulnerable immigrants by providing unauthorized and fraudulent immigration services. It affects large segments of communities from around the state.

New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued a fraud alert last week, warning immigrants to be aware of potential scammers offering immigration services, preying on the increased fear and anxiety in immigrant communities as a result of the current political climate. In recent weeks, the Attorney General’s office and many legal aid organizations that work with immigrant communities have received an increased number of calls and reported scams.

“In the past two weeks, we’ve seen intense fear and anxiety in immigrant communities. New York has zero tolerance for anyone who would prey on that fear to defraud immigrants and their families,” AG Schneiderman said. “We will use all the tools at our disposal to bring to justice those who commit fraud against our immigrant communities.”

On Monday, Nov. 20, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a three-fold civil rights initiative: the creation of a State Police unit to investigate reports of hate crimes, an expansion of the state’s human rights law to protect all students, and the establishment of a new emergency legal defense fund for immigrants—the first of its kind in the nation. Lauded by Steven Choi, executive director of New York Immigration Coalition, the immigration initiative will be administered by the state’s Office for New Americans and be run in partnership with major colleges and universities, as well as law firms, legal associations and advocacy organizations.

“This is a huge step for New York’s four million immigrants,” said Choi, “at a time when the Coalition’s members and their constituents face widespread fear and anxiety about the future.” Speaking at an earlier press conference in NYC, announcing the aforementioned bill, Choi said, “President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to deport millions of immigrants and communities are terrified about what’s to come. In such a climate of fear, this opens up opportunities for unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of immigrants by promising relief, permanent residency, or citizenship that they cannot actually provide.”

According to the AG’s office, one of the most common scams right now is unsolicited calls from fake immigration officials. In one instance, a fraudster told an immigrant he was in the country illegally and must immediately pay $1,550. Federal authorities will never demand immediate payment, request personal sensitive information, or threaten you over the phone. If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately and report the possible fraud to Schneiderman’s office via the Attorney General’s Immigration Services Fraud Unit Hotline at (866) 390-2992 or email Civil.Rights@ag.ny.gov.The AG’s office will never ask for your immigration status or share immigration information with federal authorities if you contact the Immigration Services Fraud Unit Hotline.

Victims of crimes may contact the New York State Office of Victim Services, which funds 223 programs statewide, providing direct services, such as crisis intervention and counseling, to victims of crime, including hate crimes.

Dr. Srinivasan cruises to victory in Connecticut

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

Dr. Prasad Srinivasan has been elected to a fourth term as the State Representative of the Connecticut General Assembly as Republican with an astonishing majority on November 8th.

Dr. Srinivasan, an accomplished Legislator, Physician, Business Owner and Philanthropist, has been credited with winning many endorsements, accolades, awards and recognitions. He is an Assistant Republican Leader and Ranking Member of the Public Health committee in Connecticut General Assembly besides being a member of Finance Revenue & Bonding and Planning & Development.

Dr. Prasad Srinivasan is a long-time resident of the town of Glastonbury near Hartford, CT and has been practicing medicine for over 35 years. He treats pediatric and adult patients with allergies. A physician by profession and committed to giving back to the country, Dr. Prasad Srinivasan challenged his colleagues in the medical profession, during a conference in New York recently, asking them to be hardworking, dedicated to public cause, family-oriented and stay focused, which are keys to becoming state and national elected officials. “We have the choice to be at the table or on the table. Given our heritage, we the Indian Americans belong at the table. Get actively involved in the affairs of the local community and that’s the path to larger role in the nation,” he said.

Dr. Srinivasan is a graduate of Baroda Medical College in India. He was chief pediatric resident at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. He did his fellowship in allergy and immunology at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. He is also certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.
Dr. Srinivasan has been endorsed by several associations, recognized on several occasions and was awarded with numerous Awards. To name a few, Legislator of the Year Award in 2015, Outstanding Leadership and Excellence by American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, National Co-Chair of the United States Health Policy Council, Connecticut Magazine Top Doctor 7th year in a row, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Hind Ratan Award by President of India and so on.

Dr. Srinivasan is married to Mrs. Kala Prasad, a professional musician for over 30 years. Their Son, Sashank Prasad, M.D., graduate from Yale University, is an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School. Sashank’s wife, Kerry, is a high school teacher by profession, currently a stay home mom taking care of their two children. Their Daughter, Anusha Prasad-Rodriguez, graduate of MIT and Wharton is the Head of Alternate Investments at Oppenheimer. Her husband, Paul, is a manager at Analysis Group, Inc. They have two daughters.

Nikki Haley nominated to be US Ambassador to UN

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that he will nominate South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to be his ambassador to the United Nations. Her nomination will have to be confirmed by the Senate. In his statement announcing his decision, Trump called Haley “a proven deal-maker, and we look to be making plenty of deals.” He also said the governor has a “track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation.”

Haley, 44, a rising star in the Republican Party and a daughter of Indian immigrants, has led South Carolina since 2011. She is Trump’s first female appointee to a Cabinet-level post, and she would be taking on a position that requires intense diplomatic and navigational skills in an often-frustrating international bureaucracy.

The first Indian American chosen to have a Cabinet-level position in any US administration, Haley, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, has already carved out a legacy for herself, serving as her home state’s first female and first minority governor.

Once considered a potential vice president pick, Trump’s tapping Haley further rises the profile of a rising star in a party whose leaders are increasingly attempting to attract more minorities and women.

Haley was also among those being considered by Trump for secretary of state. Her pick leaves former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and a handful of others among those still in the running for the top diplomat position.

While on the stump during the campaign, Haley vocally disavowed Trump, appearing publicly on behalf of Marco Rubio and endorsing Sen. Ted Cruz after the Florida senator dropped out of the GOP primary race.

Relations between Haley and Trump have been far from cordial, with both vaulting verbal jabs at each other during the race for the White House.

Rep. Sean Duffy said Wednesday that the fact that Trump is even considering Haley after her criticism of the President-elect speaks highly of him. “I think it’s quite remarkable that he’s looking for talent and not trying to settle old scores,” the Wisconsin Republican told CNN’s Chris Cuomo on “New Day.”

Trump said in January that Haley’s stance on immigration was “weak” after the South Carolina governor welcomed properly vetted legal immigrants into her state, regardless of race or religion. He also tweeted in March, “The people of South Carolina are embarrassed by Nikki Haley!”

Haley, who once suggested that Trump was among “the angriest voices,” was jubilant by his election. “I’m just giddy, and if you talk to any of the governors here, we are so excited at the possibility and the opportunities that are going to be here,” she said after his win.

“The idea that now we can start to really govern — I have never known what it’s like to have a Republican president. I can tell you that the last five years, Washington has been the hardest part of my job,” Haley said. “This is a new day.”

The governor has long been a rising star in the GOP and was endorsed by former Republican Gov. Sarah Palin during her gubernatorial run. But Haley came to national — and international — attention following the Charleston church shooting in 2015, where a self-proclaimed white supremacist opened fire on a Bible study group at a predominantly black church, killing nine people. Haley became a highly visible presence in the days following the tragedy — particularly in the highly contentious battle to remove the Confederate Flag from the state Capitol grounds.

“These grounds are a place that everybody should feel a part of,” she said at the time. “What I realized now more than ever is people were driving by and felt hurt and pain. No one should feel pain.”

She was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, a small town with about 3,600 people, to Indian American parents. Growing up Haley helped with bookkeeping at the family clothing store before earning a degree in accounting from Clemson. She went on to marry Michael Haley, a National Guardsman who has served in Afghanistan, before having two children.

In the years following the economic downturn, Haley used her business background to brand herself as an advocate for bringing more jobs to a state that has seen many factories leave.

Despite her accomplishments, Haley is not known for having significant foreign policy experience — something Duffy said was not a major concern. “She’s a smart woman,” he told CNN. “I don’t think you need this great history of diplomatic experience to go in the UN and be successful.”

“I think what you want to do is find people who will share your worldview especially when they go and represent you from the administration to the UN or any other post,” Duffy added.

“She very, very successfully branded herself as the jobs governor,” Scott Huffmon, a political science professor at Winthrop University, has said previously. “But she kept her conservative credentials by railing against Obamacare and toeing the line on things that conservatives care about. She has been able to keep a foot in both worlds for a while. And now she is breaking away from being simply a Southern to becoming a national Republican.”

At the United Nations, Haley will have to deal with the heavy responsibilities involved in America’s role as a permanent, veto-wielding member of the Security Council, a role that has in recent years put the United States in frequent opposition to Russia, which holds similar rank.

Under the Obama administration, the U.S. has repeatedly clashed with Russia over how to deal with the conflict in Syria, with the Russians moving to block punitive actions against Syrian President Bashar Assad. But Trump has indicated he wants to find common ground with Russia on Syria and other fronts, and it’s possible such clashes may subside during his presidency.

Trump also has signaled he wants to scale back America’s overall role in the United Nations, an echo of anti-U.N. sentiment expressed by many Republicans during the George W. Bush presidency. U.N. officials are bracing for disputes with the United States over America’s dues to the world body. They also worry that the incoming Trump administration will move to undermine the Paris climate accord, the Iran nuclear deal and other major global agreements in which the U.N. plays a role.

Richard Gowan, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations and close follower of the United Nations, said there will be a lot of relief around the institution that they’re not getting a person from the Bush-vs.-the-U.N. era. Diplomats feared the return of acolytes of former U.S. ambassador John Bolton, and there was speculation that Richard Grenell, the U.S. spokesman at the U.N. during that period, would be returning to Turtle Bay.

“Diplomats were expecting Trump to send an angry white man to the U.N. The mere fact that Haley is not an angry white man is good in terms of political optics,” Gowan said.

Nikki Haley has accepted Donald Trump’s offer to be his ambassador to the United Nations. In a statement Wednesdaymorning, Haley said “I always expected to finish the remaining two years of my second term as governor,” but added she was “moved to accept this new assignment” out of a “sense of duty.”

“When the President believes you have a major contribution to make to the welfare of our nation, and to our nation’s standing in the world, that is a calling that is important to heed,” Haley said, adding that she “remain as governor until the U.S. Senate acts affirmatively on my nomination.”

“Our country faces enormous challenges here at home and internationally,”

Haley said in a statement accepting the nomination.

“I am honored that the president-elect has asked me to join his team.”

Nikki Haley, Bobby Jindal, Tulsi Gabbard meet with Donald Trump to discuss possible Cabinet jobs in Trump Administration

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Indian Americans, almost 1% of the country’s population, are increasingly stepping up their political involvement. After having already achieved considerable economic success and social mobility – the community has an average family income of over $100,000 (almost double that of white Americans) – the group is actively engaging in and influencing the politics of its new homeland.

Although nearly three fourths of Indian Americans Democratically leaning, with the victory of Donald Trump, several Indian Americans are expected to be appointed to key posts in the new Republican administration.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley met with President-elect Donald Trump November 17 at the Trump Towers in New York City, reportedly to discuss a Cabinet post in the new administration.

Haley, 44, the youngest governor in the country, gripped the nation’s attention after her meeting with Trump in Manhattan to discuss the possibility of a cabinet post. Often mentioned as a possible VP in future Republican administrations, the “rising star” of the GOP would bring fresh eyes and some ‘color’ to a Trump presidency facing flack nationwide from minority groups and others who supported Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In a statement, Haley’s Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Godfrey has been reported to have said, “Governor Haley was pleased to meet with President-elect Trump. They had a good discussion, and she is very encouraged about the coming administration and the new direction it will bring to Washington.”

Haley was praised nationwide, with few detractors, when she took a stand to remove the Confederate Flag from Statehouse grounds. But on that front, her appointment may not sit well with the white supremacist groups which have latched themselves to Trump as his supporters.

Haley – a Republican – is being eyed for Secretary of State, according to various media reports. The first Indian American female governor in the nation was deeply critical of Trump during the election cycle, and never formally endorsed him, though she did pledge to support him towards the end of his campaign.

A Wall Street Journal report about President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team and potential Cabinet includes one extremely familiar name: that of former Gov. (and presidential candidate) Bobby Jindal. The Indian American had headed the Louisiana Department of Health at age 24, a position to which he was appointed by then-Gov. Mike Foster. As governor, he emerged as a national voice against the Affordable Care Act, which Trump has vowed to repeal. During his abortive bid for the GOP presidential nomination, Jindal put forward several plans, including one on health care, which includes planks on cross-state health insurance care plans, cracking down on fraud, establishing health savings accounts and several anti-abortion measures, including “strengthening conscience protections for businesses and medical providers.”

He won two successive elections to the U.S. Congress becoming the 2nd Indian-American elected after California Democratic Rep. Dalip Singh Saund in 1957; then on to Governor of Louisiana from 2008-2016, spanning President Obama’s tenure at the White House. The Indian-American community saw the young policy wonk turn into a hard-right conservative, but now may hope to see glimmers of the old Jindal back in Washington – a brilliant, data-spouting, non-ideological analyst tackling the challenges of healthcare.

“Once considered the smartest man in every room, Bobby Jindal ruined his own reputation along with his state,” claims New York Magazine, but recognizes the Indian-American’s name is being “heard most often” in connection with HHS and that “makes a lot of sense” in terms of his resume. But not for his work in Congress or in Baton Rouge, it qualifies. Jindal’s ambition for the presidency, the magazine says, led to his ruin as he tried to become the champion of the Christian Right. Indian-Americans also criticized him for what they saw as his dismissive views on ethnic identities and for abandoning his heritage.

Another prominent leader with Indian roots, Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard met with President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team Monday, November 21st. Gabbard, who backed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, is being considered for jobs at the Defense Department, State Department and the United Nations, a source told CNN.

Gabbard stepped down from her post as a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee earlier in the year to support Sanders — and fight Hillary Clinton — in the primaries. She stood by Sanders through the Democratic convention, only announcing she would vote for Clinton days after the convention ended.

In a statement after the meeting, Gabbard, who has often challenged President Barack Obama on national security, said she held a “frank and positive” conversation with the President-elect, discussing Syria and other foreign policy issues.

Gabbard, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, also said she and Trump discussed legislation that she is pushing that would end what she described as “our country’s illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government.”

Regardless of party affiliations however, Indian-Americans are rallying behind the potential appointments from the Indian community. With a large majority of Indian-Americans supporting the Democratic Party, the community has become used to numerous highly qualified candidates being appointed to all levels of the Obama administration.

Amar D. Amar, founder of Indian Americans For Trump, confirmed the morning meeting at Trump Towers. “There was tension between Haley and Trump during the election cycle. She was very late in coming out in support of Trump,” he said.

Shalabh ‘Shalli’ Kumar, founder of the Republican Hindu Coalition, said, he would not speculate on Haley’s meeting with Trump. “We have a very deep bench. There are a lot of top people being vetted for the role,” said Kumar, who was influential in introducing Trump to the Indian American community during the election cycle. “The RHC is searching for good, Hindu American qualified candidates who have served Trump well during the campaign,” he said, adding that he could not name any, as the search had just begun.

Donald Trump’s meeting with Indian businessmen makes news-headlines across world

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

 

President-elect Donald J. Trump’s meeting last week in his office at Trump Tower with three Indian business partners who are building a Trump-branded luxury apartment complex south of Mumbai, has raised new questions about how he would separate his business dealings from the work of the government once he is in the White House.

The three Indian executives — Sagar Chordia, Atul Chordia, and Kalpesh Mehta — have been quoted in Indian newspapers, including The Economic Times, as saying they have discussed expanding their partnership with the Trump Organization now that Trump is president-elect. The Economic Times reported that the meeting occurred on Tuesday, November 15.

A spokeswoman for Trump had described the meeting as a courtesy call by the three Indian real estate executives, who flew from India to congratulate Trump on his election victory. In a picture posted on Twitter, all four men are smiling and giving a thumbs-up, media reports here suggested. “It was not a formal meeting of any kind,” Breanna Butler, a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization, said when asked about the meeting on Saturday.

One of the businessmen, Sagar Chordia, posted photographs on Facebook showing that he also met with Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump., Trump’s children, who are helping to run his businesses as they play a part in the presidential transition.

Sagar Chordia is reported to have confirmed that the meeting with Trump and members of his family had taken place, and that an article written about it in the Indian newspaper, which reported that one of his partners said they had discussed the desire to expand the deals with the Trump family, was accurate.

Atul Chordia and Sagar Chordia are well-known figures in real estate in Pune, a city of about three million people in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. Their father, Ishwardas Chordia, was born into a family of sugar traders, but as a young man forged a close friendship with Sharad Pawar, who became an important politician in Maharashtra and now sits in the upper house of India’s Parliament. Beginning in the 1990s, Chordia businesses built luxury hotels, corporate parks and residential projects in upscale neighborhoods in Pune.

Mehta is the managing partner of a real-estate firm named Tribeca, which is also a part of the Trump projects in India, which go by names including Trump Towers Pune and Trump Towers Mumbai.

Washington ethics lawyers said that a meeting with Indian real estate partners, regardless of what was discussed, raised conflict of interest questions for Trump, who could be perceived as using the presidency to advance his business interests.

Internationally, many properties that bear Trump’s name are the result of marketing deals — like the one in India — in which he is paid by someone for the use of his name but does not actually own the underlying property. He has such marketing agreements in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, the Philippines and Turkey, according to a list published by his company.

Amul Thapar Among List For Supreme Court Judge Nominees

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

An Indian-American judge is among those shortlisted for potential nominees for Supreme Court judge, to be picked by President-elect Donald Trump. Amul Thapar, who is the first South Asian Article III judge, is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Prior to his confirmation, Thapar served as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Ohio and in the District of Columbia, according to his bio data on the Vanderbilt University website.

While a U.S. attorney, Thapar was appointed to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and chaired the Controlled Substances and Asset Forfeiture Subcommittee. He also served on the Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee, the Violent Crime Subcommittee and the Child Exploitation working group. Before his appointment as U.S. attorney, he worked as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Ohio and in the District of Columbia. Thapar has also worked for the law firms of Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C., and Squire Sanders & Dempsey in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Between 1994 and 1997, he served as a law clerk to Judge S. Arthur Spiegel on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and for Judge Nathaniel R. Jones on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Born in Detroid, Michigan, in 1969, Thapar was nominated by George W Bush on May 24, 2007, to a seat vacated by Joseph M Hood. He was confirmed by the Senate on December 13, 2007, and received commission on January 4, 2008.

Thapar has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, and was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, where he taught Federal Criminal Practice. He graduated from the renowned Boalt Hall School of Law of the University of California after receiving his undergraduate degree from Boston College.

Indian Americans expand electoral gains across US

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Indian Americans have traditionally not been active in US politics, having minimum political participation and lower voter turnout compared to other minority groups. However, in recent times, their political influence is rapidly growing. With four Congressmen and a US Senator, Indian Americans have made their presence felt in Washington, DC.

Californians elected Kamala Harris as the state’s first new U.S. Senator in 24 years, she also became the first Indian American ever elected to the Senate with her victory. Rep. Ami Bera, who was the lone Indian American serving in the House of Representatives, defeated Republican Scott Jones in his re-election bid from the state of California. Bera will be joined by three other Indian Americans when he enters the chamber at the beginning of January’s new session. Fremont attorney Ro Khanna, in his second battle with incumbent Mike Honda and in his third attempt at a congressional seat, has emerged victorious against the eight-term congressman.

Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi won the Illinois 8th Congressional District race against Republican Peter DiCianni. Krishnamoorthi and DiCianni were both trying to win the seat vacated by Tammy Duckworth, who won Illinois’ U.S. Senate seat Tuesday night. Pramila Jayapal defeated Brady Walkinshaw Tuesday in Washington’s 7th Congressional District.

By winning the seat occupied since 1988 by retiring U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, Jayapal becomes the first Indian-American woman elected to Congress. The 52-year-old state senator, whose campaign carried the endorsement of former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, had 57 percent in Tuesday returns in the Seattle-area clash featuring two Democrats. Both candidates referenced the U.S. presidential contest Tuesday night. Jayapal said the result of her race means the 7th District can be “a light in the darkness” if Donald Trump emerged triumphant. “If our worst fears are realized, we will be on the defense as of tomorrow,” she told supporters. “We will have to fight for social justice as never before.”

Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, although not South Asian American has had the support of this community due to her Hindu faith. She cruised to re-election Tuesday night, demolishing opponent Angela Kaaihue by more than 50 percent of the vote. Gabbard, the lone Hindu American in the House of Representatives, finished the night by collecting 82 percent of the vote. Kaaihue received 19,000 votes, or 18 percent.

Assemblyman Prasad Srinivasan (R) won 65% against Matt Saunig (D) 32% at the polls last week. Incumbent Prasad Srinivasan won the 31st District State House in race in Connecticut on Tuesday.

In statewide elections, Indian Americans Prasad Srnivasan, (R;CT); Ash Kalra, D-Calif.; Niraj Antani, R-Ohio; and Jay Chaudhuri, D-N.C., were victorious in their respective elections to statewide offices in the elections held on November 8th.

Dr. Prasad Srinivasan (Dr.S) is a long time resident of the town of Glastonbury. He has been practicing in Glastonbury and the Hartford area for over 30 years. He treats pediatric and adult patients with allergies. Prasad Srinivasan has diverse interests and accomplishments. On November 4th 2014, Prasad Srinivasan was elected to his third term as the State Representative of the 31st Assembly District. He is a member of the General Assembly’s Public Health, Finance Revenue & Bonding , and Planning and Development Committees. Prasad Srinivasan was chief pediatric resident at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. He did his fellowship in allergy and immunology at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. He is a graduate of Baroda Medical College in India. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.

San Jose Councilman Ash Kalra told NBC Bay Area he became the first Indian American to serve in the California legislature, after his opponent, Madison Nguyen, texted him Friday to concede. Kalra, a law professor at Lincoln Law School of San Jose, had been leading in the polls since Election Day as the front-runner in the hotly contested race for the state’s 27th Assembly District. The two were competing to replace termed-out Assemblywoman Nora Campos. “We’ve had a great turnaround! Waiting for final results,” Kalra tweeted. “Friends, votes are being counted & we have a lead of over 4,000,” Kalra added.

Niraj Antani, 25, voted as the second most influential Republican under the age of 30 by Newsmax earlier this year defeated his Democratic rival Merris handily in the election, receiving 63 percent of the vote to Merris’ 37 percent. “I am truly honored to have been re-elected as the state representative for the 42nd Ohio House District,” Antani said following the victory. “I look forward to returning to the Ohio House of Representative as its only Indian American member, and continuing my fight for the American Dream. I am looking forward to continuing my fight in the Ohio House of Representatives so that all Ohioans can have the opportunity to achieve their American Dream,” he said in a statement.

A graduate of Ohio State University, receiving a bachelor’s in political science, as well as a juris doctorate degree from the University of Dayton School of Law, Antani was previously the communications director for the Ohio State University College Republicans during the 2012 presidential election, as well as the chair for the Young Americans for Romney in Ohio.

Jay Chaudhuri, a rising star in the Democratic party, is another Indian American who convincingly held his seat by defeating Eric Weaver 65 percent to 35 percent in North Carolina’s 16th District. “Yes, the last 48 hours have been really hard for Democrats. But, we must respect the integrity of our election process,” Chaudhuri said in a Nov. 10 Facebook post. “Let us move forward. And, let us roll up our sleeves to do the hard work on behalf of all Americans and all North Carolinians.”

Bobby Jindal on Shortlist for Donald Trump’s Cabinet Post of Secretary of Health

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

Two-term Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, the first ever Indian American to be elected a state governor, is among the shortlisted candidates for Donald Trump’s cabinet, according to a media report.

If appointed, the 45-year-old will be first Indian American to be included in the president’s cabinet. As per a news report in The Wall Street Journal, Jindal is being considered for the position of Secretary of Health along with Ben Carson. His name also figured in the list by Politico whereas it was absent in Buzzfeed’s list of potential cabinet members of the Trump administration.

Both Carson and Jindal are former Republican presidential candidates. While Jindal, after dropping out of the race, endorsed Senator Ted Cruz for the presidency, Carson supported Trump, the winner of the presidential elections.
Jindal, who has been keeping a low profile after dropping out of the Republican presidential primary, did not respond to queries on his possible cabinet position.

On the other hand, it is almost certain that Carson would be a part of Trump’s cabinet. Trump, in the past, has indicated Carson to be his first choice for the position of Heath Secretary.

Jindal has served as a principal adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Bush administration, during which he excelled with his administrative and management skills and later went on to be elected to the House of Representatives for two terms and thereafter as Louisiana governor twice.

Last year, he ran for president, but dropped out of the race early this year following low polling among a crowded GOP aspirants of 17 candidates. During the primaries, Jindal was highly critical of Trump and his policies.

According to a report in the Shreveport Times, Jindal has previously served as the secretary of Department of Health and Hospitals and as a principal adviser to the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush. He was appointed as the youngest president of the University of Louisiana System in 1999, at age 28. He served as governor of Louisiana from 2008 to 2016.

U.S. Election: It was mostly about ‘the forgotten man’

Staff ReporterEditorial, Politics, U.S. 0

By George Abraham

A pre-election poll suggested that 72% of the people who surveyed had the opinion that the country is on the wrong track. Mr. Donald J. Trump who detected that anger among the electorate and tapped it to win the Presidency is on the way to the white house. It is a historic victory that stunned the ‘Political Class’ in this country and the Globalists around the world.

The recently concluded campaign for the Presidency was characterized as one of the most acrimonious in history and vitriolic in tune that has brought disrepute and scorn upon the candidacies of Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton, one is described as misogynist, xenophobic, sexist and racist and the other as deeply corrupt and untrustworthy.

Obviously, the polls were wrong, and projection models turned out to be flawed. The pundits in the media who were veterans of previous presidential campaigns got it totally wrong as well. Defying all predictions, American voters swept Republicans to power, handing the GOP the White House, the Senate and the House in a wave very few who saw it coming. Academia will now spend the coming weeks and months studying just how and why everyone missed it!
What has gone wrong? According to Peggy Noonan of Wall Street Journal written months before the election, ‘the rise of Donald Trump is directly attributable to “protected” Americans dismissing the needs of “unprotected” ones.

Noonan who was a speechwriter for President Reagan defined the protected class as not only wealthy Americans but also financially successful people in Government, Media, Hollywood, and Wall Street and Tech sector with strong careers. They have money; they live in nice neighborhoods and ‘they can pretty much do anything and they are insulated’.

“The protected make public policy and the unprotected live in it” Noonan added. In other words, unprotected Americans with less money, less access to good schools and less opportunity than the ‘Elites’ ( also dubbed as ‘Establishment’), who mostly live in rural and suburban America are left to fend for themselves without help from either Democrats or Republicans.

The protected class, the types of Think Tanks, Career Politicians, Bureaucrats and Lobbyists continued to make policies that have enormous negative consequences on the lives of the average American, and it appears to have gone on for so long and that it finally reached a boiling point. In short, the story is that Trump, the Republican nominee, was able to tap into that feeling of alienation and succeeded.

Undoubtedly, the election of Trump is also viewed as a rebuke to the Technocratic driven policies, increasing centralization of power in Washington and unchecked Immigration policies that are heavily favored by the Democrats. Obamacare has become a hot button issue towards the end of the campaign as soaring costs of premium was seized upon as an issue by opponents and used it to sway a significant number of voters in the Blue States to go Red.

It has been said that in every election, people ultimately vote with their pocket book and there is no wonder then, the economy and the jobs were trending as top priority issues for the electorate. Trump was able to hammer home the issue that the loss of manufacturing jobs from the Rust Belt States was directly attributable to the Trade deals like NAFTA and promised to renegotiate to make it more of a ‘Fair Trade’ than ‘Free Trade.’

The failures of the Obama-Clinton foreign policies loomed large over the discourse of the election debates as well. Trump has questioned the wisdom of spending Trillions of dollars in foreign wars where America gained few advantages while wreaking havoc in the regions, especially in the Middle East, and creating millions of refugees fleeing their homes. A case in point is the US support for the Al-Nusrah Front in Syria, an offshoot of Al-Qaida that is fighting for the overthrow of the President Bashar al-Assad. The atrocities committed by ISIS against Christians, Yezidis and other minorities in the region and the threat of terrorism from these Islamic groups at home remained top concerns to many voters across the nation.

People of faith have also witnessed increased hostility and scorn from the ruling class in Washington and reacted strongly with greater mobilization and participation that certainly cushioned a Trump victory. The vacant seat in Supreme Court and its future direction also weighed heavily on this conservative segment of the electorate.
The United States was the leading proponent of globalization but the recent Brexit decision and the Trump election clearly points to a re-thinking on the part of the voters in both countries. An upswing of nationalism based on culture and sovereignty was apparently a hidden component that might have energized the largely white middle class, especially in rural America to go and vote for a change in this election cycle. However, it is unfair to characterize this whole group as ‘basket of deplorables’ though some elements who support racism and anti-immigrant policies might be part of the entire equation.

Despite the torrent of criticisms from all quarters, the United States is still considered the lone superpower in the world and a beacon to millions who value democracy, freedom, and justice. However, it is also viewed now as a nation in decline. With 90 million people out of work and 50 million people on Government assistance and 20 Trillion dollars in debt and with anemic growth in GDP and no real income growth for the middle class in last several years, the country was ready for a change.

In summary, the election of Trump is mostly about the economy and jobs, and it is also about the ‘forgotten man’ whom the establishment looked down with disdain. When someone came along and listened to their voices and connected, a tectonic shift has taken place in America; a Trump presidency!
(Writer is a former Chief Technology Officer of the United Nations)

Avinash Iragavarapu: The Indian who helped Donald Trump win

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

Donald Trump emerged to victory defeating Hillary Clinton in the recent US president elections. Behind Trump’s victory lies the role of analytics which helped trump to understand the dynamics of the campaign and manage it from time to time. But there is an Indian angle which can not be overlooked. An Indian software engineer, dexterious in big data and analytics, was in charge of understanding the tone of the US public. Avinash Iragavarapu who is also responsible for the victory and managing analytics for Trump guided the Trump campaign with adequate, accurate insights gathered from the unstructured data lying scattered on social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, etc) and the internet. Iragavarapu spent time decoding the mood of the Americans and hence provided Trump with information which proved crucial in winning the voters’ heart.

Avinash Iragavarapu, an MBA graduate from Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow, helped Donald Trumpto win the US Presidential elections. Political campaigning is his natural forte. He joined the YSR Congress’s election campaign in Andhra Pradesh after quitting his job with HCL Technologies Ltd in New Delhi.

“Reason for Trump’s victory: Telugu guy Avinash Iragavarapu. 30 yr old on an H4 visa from West Godavari Andhra Pradesh. He’s from IIM Lucknow, did data analytics and crunched the numbers. He did his research on every state and found out what words people like to hear in each state. Based on his research, Trump’s speeches were written and executed. He’s one of the four people Trump took with him while campaigning for nomination. He moved to the US in June 2014 to visit his wife who was a student at that time. He found a roadside placard in Chandler and helped the local Republican mayor with his ideas to victory. He quickly moved up the ranks within the GOP and Avinash currently holds the position of Sr. Executive Director for the GOP. Avinash is expected to get citizenship by approval from Trump immediately and a position of Arizona senator”

His keen interest in politics could not keep him away from it even in the US. Avinash’s wife works for Intel in Arizona. He went to join her for holidays in 2014, and it was then where it all began.

Arizona was going for polls to elect its governor. Avinash did his own research and polls chose Doug Ducey as his candidate for the primary and wrote to his campaign. Ducey’s campaign made Avinash a part of itself and he used to do a lot of “data work and polling”, primarily identifying the areas where they could spend the money they raised to gain votes.

Arizona traditionally is a Republican leaning state. Ducey went on to win the primaries, and even the Arizona Gubernatorial election in November 2014, defeating Fred DuVal comfortably. Avinash’s data work was well praised by the Arizona GOP chairman Robert Graham.

With his astounding performance, he went on to achieve heights within the Arizona GOP. He was promoted to political director and then to executive director within a span of a year. This portfolio put him in charge of all the elections for Arizona, including the general elections.

Avinash was tasked to help Donald Trump win Arizona, a state that has been a Republican stronghold since George Bush won it in 2000. Donald Trump successfully won the state of Arizona and the 47 delegates that come with it.
“I have met Donald Trump personally. He knows I am from India. He’s a totally fine person, and he’s embraced me with open arms. He has only spoken out against illegal immigration,” says Avinash.

Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Avinash Iragavarapu, a 30 years old, is in the US on H4 visa. He’s an IIM Lucknow alumnus who also spearheaded the Trump’s march among the Indian-American lobby. With the best big data skills in his baggage, he guided Trump to chalk out lucrative poll strategies.

Iragavarapu had also played a crucial role in India during the 2014 general elections where he helped YSR Congress Party in Andhra Pradesh. Iragavarapu has also worked in the past for HCL.

After moving to the US in June 2014 on H4 visa, he found a roadside placard in Chandler to help the local Republican mayor. Thus began his march towards making Trump the next president. He helped the local candidate to win the election. His big data and analytics skills brought him to the spotlight. This proved a triggering point in his career and pushed him up in the ranks in the GOP. The Republican Party is commonly referred to as the GOP (Grand Old Party). Iragavarapu currently holds the position of Sr. Executive Director for the GOP. Because of role, it is probable that Iragavarapu gets the US citizenship soon.

A Divided and Pessimistic Electorate

Staff ReporterPolitics, U.S. 0

Voters skeptical of progress in many areas – even jobs – since 2008

Beyond their disagreements over specific policy issues, voters who supported President-elect Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton also differed over the seriousness of a wide array of problems facing the nation, from immigration and crime to inequality and racism.

And while voters generally said little progress has been made over the last eight years across major areas, Trump backers said things had gotten worse across the board, while Clinton supporters saw more improvement, especially on the economy.

The national online survey was conducted in the two weeks leading up to the presidential election (from October 25 through the morning of November 8) among 3,788 registered voters who reported they had already voted or planned to vote. The survey was conducted on Pew Research Center’s nationally representative American Trends Panel.

Fully 79% of Trump voters said illegal immigration was a “very big” problem in the country today, while just two-in-ten Clinton voters (20%) said the same. Nearly three-quarters of Trump supporters (74%) saw terrorism as a very big problem, compared with 42% of Clinton supporters.

Crime and job opportunities, including job opportunities for working-class Americans, also were rated as more serious problems by Trump than Clinton voters.

Conversely, climate change ranked as a leading problem among Clinton supporters (66% cited it as a very big problem), but near the bottom among Trump voters (14%). Clinton backers also saw gun violence and the gap between rich and poor as much more serious problems than did Trump supporters.

Both racism and sexism were viewed as more serious problems among Clinton voters than Trump voters. About half of Clinton voters (53%) said racism was a major problem, and 37% said that about sexism. That compared with 21% and 7%, respectively, among Trump voters.

Among 13 issues, the gaps were fairly modest on only two – drug addiction and the condition of the nation’s roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Majorities of Trump supporters (62%) and Clinton backers (56%) said drug addiction was a very big problem. Clinton backers (46%) were somewhat more likely than Trump supporters (36%) to cite infrastructure as a major problem.

The survey also found wide differences between Trump and Clinton voters over how best to address the nation’s problems. Nearly two-thirds of voters overall (65%) – including an overwhelming share of Clinton supporters (84%) – said the more effective way to solve problems is with proven approaches that solve problems gradually, even if change may take a while.

But Trump voters were divided on the best approach to solving problems in this country. About half (53%) favored “new approaches that may solve problems quickly, but also risk making things worse.” Conversely, 46% of Trump backers preferred a proven, if slower, approach to problem-solving. Voters said there has been scant progress across most areas.

Overall, relatively few voters thought the country had made progress on most issues since 2008. The economy was the only one of seven about which roughly as many voters said things had gotten better (38%) as worse (43%) over this period. Roughly two-in-ten (18%) thought it has stayed about the same.

But more voters said the job situation in the U.S. has gotten worse (44%) than said it has gotten better (35%), and by nearly two-to-one, voters were more likely to think the country’s security from terrorism has gotten worse than to think it has gotten better (45% vs. 23%).

Majorities of voters said race relations (67%), the country’s standing in the world (61%), crime (57%) and the immigration situation (55%) in this country had each gotten worse since 2008.

Trump voters took a uniformly negative view of progress over the past eight years: Majorities of Trump supporters said things had declined in all seven areas – from 87% who said the U.S. standing in the world had gotten worse to 69% who said the same about the job situation.

By contrast, Clinton supporters gave mixed views of the progress the country has made over the last eight years.
Majorities of Clinton voters said both the economy (67%) and the job situation (60%) have gotten better since 2008, while far fewer thought either has stayed the same or gotten worse.

Voters who back Clinton were divided on other aspects of the nation, however. While 37% thought security from terrorism in the U.S. has gotten better since 2008, about as many (41%) said it has stayed about the same, and 22% thought it has gotten worse.

A 56% majority of Clinton supporters said the immigration situation in the U.S. has stayed about the same since 2008, while about a quarter thought it has gotten worse (26%) and 18% said it has improved.

More Clinton supporters said race relations have gotten worse in this country than said this about any other issue: 55% thought this, compared with just a third (32%) who thought race relations have stayed about the same since 2008. Only about one-in-ten (12%) said they have gotten better.

As Election ay approached, voters looked ahead to the next administration with a substantial measure of pessimism. Voters had little confidence that the new Trump – or Clinton – administration would be open and transparent, improve the way government works or set a high moral standard for the presidency.

Across five specific areas, majorities of voters gave negative marks to a possible Trump presidency: 61% said that if Trump were elected, he would definitely or probably not set a high moral standard for the presidency; 57% said he would not improve U.S. global standing; 55% said he would not improve the way government works and the same percentage said he would not run an open and transparent administration. About half (52%) said he would use his office to improperly enrich himself or friends and family.

Clinton also was viewed quite negatively; in fact, nearly two-thirds of voters (65%) said she was unlikely to run an open and transparent administration (55% said this about Trump). Clinton also was viewed as less likely than Trump to improve the way government works. However, more voters thought Clinton (48%) than Trump (42%) would improve U.S. standing around the world.

Even beyond the political and ideological divides between Trump and Clinton supporters, the two cohorts showed striking differences in how they describe themselves, both in terms of attributes, lifestyle and personal affiliations. The survey asked respondents to check each description that applied to them.

Notably, the widest gap in views between Trump and Clinton supporters was over whether the term “traditional” described them. About seven-in-ten Trump voters said it did (72%), compared with just 31% of Clinton voters.
An overwhelming share of Clinton supporters (87%) thought “open-minded” describes them well – the most across any of the eight attributes. A smaller majority of Trump supporters (64%) thought the same of themselves.

There also was disagreement between supporters on what core values describe them well. Among Trump supporters, 59% said “honor and duty” described their core values, while about a third (35%) of Clinton backers said this.

By contrast, three-quarters of Clinton supporters said “compassion and helping others are my core values” described them well, while a smaller majority of Trump backers said the same (58%).

Similarly, a strong share of Trump backers (72%) said “think of myself as a typical American” is an apt descriptor. Far fewer Clinton backers (49%) said the same.

And while more Trump backers than Clinton supporters would think of themselves as “blue collar,” relatively few across either of the cohorts described themselves in this way (33% of Trump supporters, 19% of Clinton supporters).
Supporters also were distinct in their associations. A wide majority of Trump supporters (69%) said “supporter of the National Rifle Association” describes them well, more than eight times the share of Clinton supporters who said the same (8%).

Conversely, Clinton supporters were more than twice as likely as Trump supporters to say “supporter of rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people” describes them well: A two-thirds majority of Clinton supporters said this, compared with just about a quarter (24%) of Trump supporters.

Just about half (53%) of Clinton supporters said in the weeks before the election that “supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement” describes them well, including roughly three-quarters of black voters who supported Clinton (73%) and about half of white voters who supported her (51%). By contrast, just 6% of Trump supporters described themselves as supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement. While only about four-in-ten Clinton supporters (38%) said “consider myself a feminist” is an apt description, this is far greater than the share of Trump supporters who thought the same (5%).

Donald Trump elected 45th president of the United States of America

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Stunning defeat of Hillary Clinton proves to be repudiation of President Obama’s policies

Donald John Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States on November 8th, 2016 in a stunning election victory that has shocked Washington and the world.

The long Tuesday night after over a year of explosive, populist and polarizing campaign between Hillary Clinton, the Democratic party nominee and Trump, the Republican party nominee that took relentless aim at the institutions and long-held ideals of American democracy, is a searing rebuke to President Obama, who had pleaded with voters that his hope-and-change agenda was at stake in this election.

For the first time in many decades the Republican party is expected to have control over the Presidency, the US Senate and the US House of Representatives. The Republicans continue to have a 51 seat majority in a Senate which has a total membership of 100, while the grand old party of Lincoln will also have a majority in the House, holding onto at least 236 seats, with the Democrats winning 191 seats.

Donald John Trump defied the skeptics who said he would never run, and the political veterans who scoffed at his slapdash campaign. Hillary Clinton had been seeking to make history as the first woman to win the White House, but instead the 70-year-old Trump made history of another sort, becoming the first person elected to the top job without having held a high government office or military command.

The shocking outcome, defying almost all pre-election polls that showed Hillary Clinton with a modest but persistent edge, threatened convulsions throughout the country and the world, where skeptics had watched the triumph of Trump, a real estate developer-turned-reality television star with no government experience, was a powerful rejection of the establishment forces that had assembled against him, from the world of business to government, and the consensus they had forged on everything from trade to immigration.

The coming together of the Blacks, the Hispanics, and the Women was not enough to the decisive demonstration of power by a largely overlooked coalition of mostly blue-collar white and working-class voters who felt that the promise of the United States had slipped their grasp amid decades of globalization and multiculturalism.

Nationwide exit polls underscored America’s stark divide. Male white voters backed Trump, while women backed Clinton by a double-digit margin. Nearly nine in 10 black voters and two-thirds of Latinos voted for the Democrat. He fired up white, working-class American voters who were angry at the Washington establishment and felt left behind by globalization.

Analysts say, people of this oldest and greatest constitutional democratic nation have voted convincingly, expressing that they are fed up with eight years of a sluggish economy and a growing disconnect with their leaders in Washington, voting to send businessman and political novice Donald Trump to the White House, guaranteeing one of the biggest shakeups in political history.

His message resonated especially in the Midwest, where a stunning victory in Ohio helped give Trump the Electoral College votes he needed to win. Unexpected and upset victories in the states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin gave him enough projected electoral votes to win the White House. The battleground states of Florida and North Carolina cleared the way for his Brexit-style upset.

But his ultimate triumph was driven less by region than by race and class. His winning coalition consisted of restive whites and scarcely anyone else. He is projected to win 289 electoral college votes with Hillary Clinton winning 214 electoral college votes out of 538 electoral college votes needed to win the White House.

Trump has so far won 28 US states, smashing into Clinton’s vaunted electoral firewall in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, states that have not supported a Republican presidential candidate since 1988 and 1984 respectively. He also prevailed in Iowa, which has not elected a Republican since 2004. Trump held on to solidly Republican territory, including in Georgia, Arizona and Utah, where the Clinton campaign had invested resources in the hope of flipping the states.

Hillary Clinton, the former first lady, former senator and former Secretary of State, whose quarter-century in Washington — and the long list of stumbles, including a scandal over a secret email server — is reported to have made her anathema for too many voters.

Trump powered his campaign with a simple mantra to “Make America great again” and he vowed to live up to that charge as president, saying he would rebuild the country’s inner cities, improve care for veterans, double economic growth and forge alliances with other nations willing to work with him. He attacked the norms of American politics, singling out groups for derision on the basis of race and religion and attacking the legitimacy of the political process.

Trump ignored conventions of common decency, employing casual vulgarity and raining personal humiliation on his political opponents and critics in the media. In his triumph, Trump has delivered perhaps the greatest shock to the American political system in modern times and opened the door to an era of extraordinary political uncertainty at home and around the globe.

The son of a wealthy real estate developer in New York, Trump spent decades pursuing social acceptance in upscale Manhattan and seeking, at times desperately, to persuade the wider world to see him as a great man of affairs. Ridiculed by critics on the right and left, shunned by the most respected figures in American politics, including every living former president, Trump equated his own outcast status with the resentments of the white class.

The US president-elect took to the stage with his family at his victory rally in a New York hotel ballroom and said: “I just received a call from Secretary Clinton.

She congratulated us on our victory. “Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country.”

In an uncharacteristically gracious and conciliatory speech, US President-elect Donald Trump, in his post-win speech, first thanked opponent Hillary Clinton for her “service to the nation” and hinted at healing a country bruised by a grueling and divisive campaign season.

Even though he would later talk of putting America front and centre by “no longer settling for anything less than the best” and “reclaiming the country’s destiny”, he started his speech saying he “will be President for all of America”, even for those “who’ve chosen not to support me.”

“We are going to fix our inner cities, we are going to rebuild towns, schools, hospitals….which will become second to none…and we will put millions of our people to work. We will also finally take care of our great veterans. Everyone in this country will realize their potential, the forgotten men and women won’t be forgotten anymore,” Trump said. aving been accused of excessive protectionism and an inward approach to foreign policy, today’s post-win Trump also made sure to give a conciliatory shout out to the rest of the world. “We will put America’s interests first, but we will deal fairly with everyone,” Trump said. He added: “It is time for us to come together as one united people.” He pledged: “I am your voice.”

US elections result in historic gains for Indian-Americans

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Kamala Harris is 1st first US Senator of Indian Origin; Krishnamurthi, Jaapal, Khanna, Bera win Congressional seats

The coming of age of the Indian American community is evident all over with the tiny less than 1% of the US population leading in several areas of American life. With the record number of Indian Americans holding high jobs in the Obama administration, many more are even trying to take an active role in the politics of the country by

trying to get elected to public offices across the nation. They are the most affluent and best educated of any immigrant group in the country, according to Pew. They include doctors, engineers, tech entrepreneurs and educators, and form a rich donor base.

Now, many more Indian Americans are entering politics and seeking elected offices, cementing their place at the table of decision makers. The elections held on November 8th this year has sent One US Senator and three Indian Americans to the US Congress. Kamala Harris’ win Tuesday night makes her the first Indian American to serve in the U.S. Senate. She will also be just the second black woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, and the first black senator from California.

No Indian-American had been elected to the Senate before, while there have been three from the community elected to the House of Representatives – Daily Singh Saund, Bobby Jindal and Ami Bera. Raja Krishnamoorthi on Tuesday night became the first Indian-American elected to Congress this election cycle, winning from Illinois. While

there were other four Indian-Americans in the fray for the House – Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Peter Jacobs and Ami Bera, three of them were elected to the US House of Representatives, while Peter Jacob lost his maiden bid from New Jersey.

Harris’ race and ethnicity were never a focal point of the contest, which she was projected to win handily. Many people focused more on the possibility that California might have elected the first Latina to the Senate if Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Orange) had won. Harris’ mother, Dr. Shyamala Harris, emigrated from India. Her father, Donald Harris, emigrated from Jamaica.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris defeated Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D) in Tuesday’s election for California’s open seat in the U.S. Senate, making her the first black woman elected to the upper chamber in more than two decades.

Harris will replace outgoing Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who announced her retirement in 2014 after serving more than two decades in the Senate.

Rep. Ami Bera won from District 7 in the state of California with a 51% margin in a bitterly fought election, in a historic third race for re-election. Amerish Babulal “Ami” Bera is an American physician who has been the U.S. Representative for California’s 7th congressional district since 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Bera won his 2014 election by a margin of just 1,475 votes winning 50.4 percent to his opponent’s 49.6 percent. Bera’s relatively independent streak in Congress compared to many other Democrats could be attributed to this narrow win. According to Ballotpedia, a non-partisan candidate tracking website, Bera’s voting ranking by different organizations show he “may break with the Democratic Party line more than his fellow members.”

In California’s Bay Area’s marquee congressional race, Fremont Democrat Ro Khanna was holding a strong early lead in his bid to oust Rep. Mike Honda from the South Bay seat the incumbent has owned for the past 16 years. With 18 percent of precincts reporting, Khanna led his fellow Democrat 58 percent to 42 percent in the bid for the

17th Congressional District seat. “I know it’s a deeply divided national election and it’s easy to become cynical these days, but let us remember our democracy is the most open political system in the world,” Khanna told a raucous crowd at the Royal Palace Banquet Hall in Fremont.

Krishnamoorthi’s 8th District in Illinois is heavily Democratic which makes his win among the most certain Nov. 8. Recently, he got a boost from President Obama who asked voters in a video to take advantage of early voting and support his “good friend Raja Krishnamoorthi.”

Krishnamoorthi has received the endorsements of major newspapers like the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Raised in Peoria, Illinois, he earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in mechanical engineering from Princeton University and graduated with honors from Harvard Law School.

He was Illinois’s Deputy Treasurer, and in 2006, was appointed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to serve as Special Assistant Attorney General in her Public Integrity Unit. He also served as a member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, where he was chairman of the Audit Committee.

Khanna, who served as deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Commerce Department during the Obama administration, has written a book about boosting the country’s exports, and teaches at Stanford University, got a boost this October when former President Jimmy Carter gave him a strong endorsement. He has also been able to get some big names in Silicon Valley behind him, according to news reports. Yet he has a tough job defeating a veteran lawmaker in Honda despite an ongoing Congressional ethics probe.

Khanna’s District covers the heart of Silicon Valley and encompasses portions of both Santa Clara County and Alameda County including the cities of Fremont, Newark, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Santa Clara, North San Jose, and Milpitas.

In another western state of Washington, Pramila Jayapal defeated Brady Walkinshaw Tuesday in Washington’s super-liberal 7th Congressional District. By winning the seat occupied since 1988 by retiring U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, Jayapal becomes the first Indian-American woman elected to Congress.

The 52-year-old state senator — an immigrant-rights activist who scored an endorsement from Bernie Sanders last spring — captured 57 percent of the vote, as of early Wednesday, in the Seattle-area clash featuring two Democrats. The battle between Jayapal and Walkinshaw, a 32-year-old state representative, was the only competitive congressional contest in Washington.

Jayapal, a life-long activist committed to immigrant rights and women’s issues, with experience on Wall Street as well, is pitted against fellow progressive Democrat Brady Pinero Walkinshaw in Washington’s District 7. She has built a multi-ethnic coalition with hundreds of volunteers going door-to-door and has raised $2.23 million

as of Sept. 30, according to the Federal Election Commission. Walkinshaw reported collecting $1.46 million. Though Walkinshaw and Jayapal were the top two winners in the August caucuses, the Indian-American won 42 percent of the vote to Walkinshaw’s 21 percent in a 9-way race.

Jayapal is a long-time Bernie Sanders supporter when the Vermont Senator was running for Democratic nominee against Hillary Clinton. She has toed the party line to rally behind Clinton in the run up to Nov. 8.

In the state of New Jersey, Peter Jacob, another Indian American running from New Jersey’s District 7 conceded with capturing only 43% of the total votes cast in the Garden state. Jacob, 30, a Masters in Social Work and strong Bernie Sanders supporters, had gained some traction over the last six months. He attracted attention in

June for elbowing his way to the Democratic nomination against the establishment choice. He continues to sound like a plausible alternative in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, to the comfortably ensconced Republican incumbent Leonard Lance.

South Asians who backed Hillary Clinton overwhelmingly are disappointed

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Indian Americans, who are traditionally Democrats, were stunned by the outcome of the general elections in the United States, where Donald Trump crushed Hillary Clinton in the race to the White House on November 8th, 2016.

Democrats and Republicans had intensified their campaigns in the community for their presidential candidates on the eve of Tuesday’s monumental elections. Democrats took a broader approach reaching out to all South Asians over the weekend, while Republicans focused on Hindus.

A national online survey of Indian-Americans reveals that a whopping 79.43% of them would vote for Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, while 14.89% would vote for Republican candidate Donald Trump. Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson received 1.42% support from Indian-Americans. The survey was conducted during Oct. 21-26 after the third and final presidential debate.

The opinion poll, which was piloted by IndUS Business Journal and its sister publication INDIA New England News, also revealed that 46.43% of Indian-Americans are registered as Independents, while 38.57% are Democrats, and only 5% are registered as Republicans.

“The biggest surprise was that nearly half of the Indian-Americans are registered as Independents,” said Upendra Mishra, publisher of IndUS Business Journal and INDIA New England News. “The general assumption among Non-Resident Indians is that a vast majority of Indian-Americans are registered as Democrats.” Mishra said that despite an intense campaign by a small Hindu minority to support Trump, the campaign by the Republican Hindu Coalition has fallen on deaf ears.

“A vast majority of the NRI community in the United States is open-minded and beyond the pettiness of caste and religion,” Mishra said. “The strength in diversity and openness is one of the greatest strengths of NRIs in the United States and worldwide.”

Republicans have been trying to break into the Democratic Party base, with a campaign targeting Hindus. Last month Trump addressed a charity event organized by Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) that drew about 8,000 people in New Jersey. He vowed at the event to be a friend of Hindus and Indians.

Clinton has not made a similar direct appeal to Indian Americans given the wide margin of their historic support. Her Indian American and South Asian supporters have instead concentrated on mobilizing fellow Democrats to go out and vote, especially those living in key battleground states to her victory.

Both sides waged a battle on community televisions and on the digital media. Democrats ran a phone bank with volunteers calling up South Asians in the key states, urging them to vote for Clinton. The RHC blanketed voters thought to be Hindus with printed campaign material.

Amit Jani of South Asians for Hillary (SAHILL) told the media that about 200 volunteers were out over the weekend knocking on doors of South Asians and making phone calls to them to vote for Clinton, concentrating on the battleground states. The group prepared a list of South Asians by going through the master voters’ rolls to

help them campaign, he said. The Democratic Party commercials, on the other hand, focused on the future generations of South Asians and Indian Americans, according to Varun Nikore, the vice chair of the Asian American Pacific Islander Victory Fund (AAPIVF), which backs Clinton.

RHC sent out printed campaign material accusing Clinton of being “Best friend of Pakistan, China and Radical Islamic Terrorists” and of advocating an immigration policy that will make Indians “wait 50 years” for Green Cards. Focusing on Indian businesspeople and doctors, the RHC said that Clinton was “pro-labour” and will extend President Barack Obama’s health care program to force all medical professionals to work for the government.

It said that Trump is a friend of Hindus and was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would increase trade with India at the expense of China and enable Indians to get more Green Cards.

Some of these themes played out on the RHC TV advertisements, which also alleged that Clinton’s aide, Huma Abedin, whose mother is a Pakistani, would influence Clinton’s foreign policy. The Republican Hindu Coalition released a new ad Nov. 2, attacking Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s top aide, Huma Abedin, for her Pakistani heritage.

The 30-second television spot, which is running on several Indian American television stations, including Zee TV, TV Asia, Times Now and Star TV, amongst other outlets, begins with an attack on Clinton for her alleged ties to Pakistan. The ad notes that the candidate has given “billions of dollars” and military equipment to

Pakistan, “to be used against India.” The spot also notes that Clinton “was instrumental” in blocking a U.S. visa for Narendra Modi for several years, until he became prime minister of India. The RHC spot also alleged that former U.S. President Bill Clinton supports “giving Kashmir to Pakistan.”

With the race for the White House tightening, Indian-American Democrats are making a push to get their community to turn out to vote for Hillary Clinton, saying she’s been a steadfast friend of Indians and India.

Leaders of “Indian Americans for Democrats and Friends of Hillary for President” appealed in particular to Indians living in states expected to play a key role in the presidential elections next week saying that despite its small size the community’s votes could have an outsize effect in a tight race.

Bhupi Patel, a community leader, spoke of the influence Indians steadily have built up in US politics and their impact on India-US relations. He recalled Indian American Center for Political Awareness founded by the late newspaper pioneer Gopal Raju and how it encouraged Indians to get involved in politics and helped India and the US develop closer ties.

Patel said that Clinton’s agenda for health care, immigration reform and improving the quality of and access to education meshed in with that of Indian Americans for whom these were crucial issues.

U.S. electoral system ranks high – but not highest – in global comparisons

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

As the long presidential campaign winds down, GOP nominee Donald Trump’s claims that the process is “rigged” against him – and suggestions that he might not accept the result as legitimate if he loses – seem to have struck a chord with his supporters. In a recent Pew Research Center survey, 56% of Trump voters said they have little or no confidence that the election will be “open and fair,” compared with 11% of Hillary Clinton backers. Among those who say they strongly back Trump, nearly two-thirds (63%) say they have little or no confidence that the election will be fair.

Given that level of skepticism, it’s worth noting that the U.S. generally ranks highly on the overall freedom and fairness of its elections when compared with other countries, though not without some caveats.

Freedom House, a nongovernmental organization (though it receives funding from the U.S. government), has ranked nations on political and civil rights for more than 40 years. In its most recent report, Freedom House gave the U.S. electoral process 11 out of 12 possible points on its “electoral process” scale – the same rating the nation has had since 2007 (when its score was raised from a 10).

The electoral process scale is one of seven that go into Freedom House’s overall ratings of countries as free, partly free or not free. It covers three major areas: whether the head of government or other chief national authority is chosen through free and fair elections; whether national legislators are chosen through free and fair elections; and whether a country’s electoral laws and framework are fair. Among the things that go into making elections “free and fair”: “Is the vote count transparent, and is it reported honestly with the official results made public?”

Of the 195 sovereign countries Freedom House ranked this year (using 2015 data), 61 scored 12 out of 12 on the group’s electoral process scale – among them Australia, Canada, Japan and the UK. Besides the U.S., 16 other countries received 11 points out of 12. Freedom House didn’t detail where the U.S. fell short, but commented in its report that “… its elections and legislative process have suffered from an increasingly intricate system of gerrymandering and undue interference by wealthy individuals and special interests.”

While well-known and frequently cited by media and academics, the Freedom House rankings aren’t the only cross-national measures of democracy. The Economist Intelligence Unit, an analytics and forecasting business affiliated with the British newsmagazine, has produced its “Democracy Index” every year or two since 2006. This year’s version gives the U.S. 9.17 out of 10 points in the “electoral process and pluralism” category, one of 21 countries to receive that score (some of the others: Cape Verde, Denmark, El Salvador and Japan). Besides whether elections for the head of government, national legislature and municipalities are free and fair, the EIU’s electoral process/pluralism measure also covers voting restrictions, campaign finance and the orderly transfer of power.

Six countries – Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway and Uruguay – received the highest possible scores on the EIU’s electoral process/pluralism scale. The EIU expressed no concerns about the integrity of U.S. elections, but commented that the U.S. electoral structure “means that participation is, in effect, restricted to a duopoly of parties, the Democrats and the Republicans. Nevertheless, respect for the constitution and democratic values are deeply entrenched by centuries of democratic practice.”

Despite that assessment, there are stark political divides on certain democratic norms. In the Pew Research Center survey, 83% of Clinton supporters – but just 48% of Trump supporters – said it was “very important” to a strong democracy that those who lose elections recognize the legitimacy of the winners. And while 72% of Clinton backers said it was very important that the news media be free to criticize political leaders, only 49% of Trump backers said so.

Diya lit at White House Diwali celebration

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Diwali celebrated across America

Recognizing the growing importance of India, Indian Americans and the rich culture of India, President Barack Obama celebrated Diwali Oct. 30 by lighting the first-ever diya in the Oval Office of the White House and hoped that his successors would continue the tradition.

While the festival of lights has traditionally been celebrated by the Indian-American community, especially the Hindus, this year it has attracted more attention of politicians across the board welcoming he festival that signifies triumph of good over evil.

Obama, who was the first president to celebrate Diwali personally at the White House in 2009, talked about this momentous occasion in a Facebook post soon after he kindled the diya in his Oval Office with some Indian Americans working in his administration.

“Michelle and I will never forget how the people of India welcomed us with open arms and hearts and danced with us in Mumbai on Diwali,” he recalled. “I was proud to be the first president to host a Diwali celebration at the White House in 2009, and Michelle and I will never forget how the people of India welcomed us with open arms and hearts and danced with us in Mumbai on Diwali,” Obama said.

“This year, I was honored to kindle the first-ever diya in the Oval Office — a lamp that symbolizes how darkness will always be overcome by light. It is a tradition that I hope future presidents will continue,” Obama said on the White House Facebook page, which became viral on social media. On behalf of the entire Obama family, I wish you and your loved ones peace and happiness on this Diwali,” Obama said.

“To all who are celebrating the festival of lights across America and around the world, happy Diwali. As Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists light the diya, share in prayers, decorate their homes, and open their doors to host and feast with loved ones, we recognize that this holiday rejoices in the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance,” said the president.

“It also speaks to a broader truth about our shared American experience. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when we see beyond the differences that too often divide us. It’s a reflection of the hopes and dreams that bind us together,” he said.

Obama said that it is a time to renew the collective obligation to deepen those bonds, to stand in each other’s shoes and see the world through each other’s eyes, and to embrace each other as brothers and sisters — and as fellow Americans.

Both presidential candidates – Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton – have indicated their respect for the festival. At the Republican Hindu Charity concert in New Jersey, Trump lighted a diya on stage. Last week, his campaign released a video in which he wishes people a ‘happy Diwali’ ahead of the festival. Clinton issued a press statement in which she wished everyone a happy Diwali and “Saal Mubarak.”

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greeted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains across the world on the occasion of Diwali. “On Sunday, nearly a billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists around the world — including more than two million Americans — will celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. For members of these faiths, lighting the lamp (the diya) is a reminder that light prevails over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil,” Clinton said. “To those of you celebrating this joyous occasion, I wish you and your loved ones a Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak,” she said.

Senator Tim Kaine, who is also the Democratic vice presidential nominee, tweeted, “Diwali is a beautiful reminder of the ultimate victory of light over darkness. Saal Mubarak to all those celebrating!”

Senator John Cornyn, who is co-chair of the bipartisan Senate India Caucus said, “Diwali’s message of compassion is one that resonates with all Texans. Wishing you a joyous and prosperous new year.” Senator and a former Republican presidential nominee Ted Cruz said the central theme of Diwali reinforces the “shared hope and common outlook” the U.S. and India enjoy as “friends” and allies. “As we mark Diwali, may the United States-India alliance be a shining light of truth and peace,” Cruz said in a statement. Several Lawmakers from across the nation also issued statements, greeting people on the occasion of Diwali.

Also, joining Indians around the world, the United Nations celebrated Diwali for the first time this year. “Happy Diwali! UN celebrates Diwali for 1st time,” Syed Akbaruddin, India’s permanent representative to the UN, tweeted Oct. 29. Thank you president of the General Assembly for this initiative,” he said. From this year, Diwali was made an optional holiday at the UN and a message was displayed on the UN building, greeting the whole world, “Happy Diwali.”

Dr. Anil Kumar running for Congress in Michigan’s 11th Congressional District

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

The year 2012 turned out to be one for the books when it came to citizens of Indian origin running for — and winning — elected offices in the US, and 2016 may prove to be an encore as many more Indian Americans entering the general election. Another prominent Indian American seeking a berth in the US Congress is Dr. Anil B. Kumar.
He is running against incumbent Dave Trott, and an Independent (and former Republican Congressperson) Kerry Bentivolio. Kumar understands the uphill battle he is facing to win the 11th District to beat Trott and Bentivolio in the elections to be held on Nov. 8th.

A urologist, Kumar, 62, I is a critical fight for a seat in the US House of Representatives, from the 11th Congressional District of Michigan, which is a largely suburban area just outside of Detroit. Kumar, a Democrat, has made it known that the crux of his platform will be a drive to create jobs in the communities around Detroit to help bolster the city’s economy, and find ways to make healthcare more affordable for the area’s low-income citizens.

Born in Jaipur but raised in Mumbai, Kumar graduated from the University of Mumbai with his medical degree before moving to England, and then to the US. He completed his residency at Wayne State University, located in Detroit. He has been practicing for 33 years, has at least eight practice locations in an around Rochester Hills, and roughly 25 professional affiliations. He is a head member of the Oakland Physicians Medical Center LLC and was formerly a board member of the Oakland County Medical Society.

For the last decade, Anil has served as president of a surgical center in Rochester Hills. In addition to serving his patients, Anil also manages a small business and teaches at Michigan State University. Anil is deeply involved with community activities and is – most importantly – a family man.

According to Dr. Kumar, he has given vitality to 11th District residents as an expert surgeon, small business owner, teacher, and community leader. His three decades of experience in the medical field have made him an expert on healthcare, which he will use to strengthen Medicare and the Affordable Care Act. Because the Kumar Surgical Center provides quality healthcare for patients of all socioeconomic backgrounds, Dr. Kumar understands the dynamics of running a small business that serves the community—not personal financial interests. Dr. Kumar is also a member of the clinical faculty at Michigan State University, and so he knows the importance of making college and community college affordable.

When asked why people should vote for him, Dr. Kumar said, “People should vote for me because, one, I am not an established politician and the persons that ere in office, including Congress, their favorability is less than 20%. And look at the last two or four years, especially for healthcare, especially for our seniors, especially for our patients who have deductibles of $10,000, $12,000. They have done nothing to change their lives. I want to come out of my very lucrative practice where I’m serving people, to do something [through] which I can make a change…The other reason they should vote for me is I have ideas that will work.”

According to him, his first priority is healthcare reform with full prescription drug coverage for seniors, capping deductibles and copays, and to repeal laws which prohibit the CMS from negotiating with pharmaceutical companies. Another area, he wants to focus on is to institute debt free education and skills training using a tax credit program, and early head start programs, increase funding for education, and deliver policies back into the hands of teachers instead of bureaucrats. His common sense measures to prevent gun violence by instituting strict background checks, and close the loopholes which have allowed for catastrophes where innocent lives have been lost.

President Obama supports Raja Krishnamoorthi via video message

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Raja Krishnamoorthi, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Congress from Illinois’ 8th District who is already a front runner in the race, got a massive boost from the recent endorsement he had received from President Obama, with his urge to voters in the state of Illinois to get out and vote for his “good friend Raja Krishnamoorthi,” in a special video prepared for the Indian-American candidate.

The video begins with President Obama seated in a chair in the White House, saying, “Hi, this is Barack Obama asking you to vote for my good friend Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress.” The President’s voice continues as scenes of Krishnamoorthi’s past interactions with him flash by as do scenes from the candidate’s campaign. “When I ran for the U.S. Senate, Raja helped me develop ideas for building an economy that works for everyone,” the President says. “Now Raja’s plans will help small businesses grow, raise wages, and help families pay for college.” The President returns to the screen to remind voters, ” The polls are open now, so don’t waste a minute. Vote Raja Krishnamoorthi for Congress. Thanks.”

As per reports, the video has gone out to tens of thousands of voters in the 8th District via email, and to multiples more through social media and the Internet, Krishnamoorthi said. “It’s pretty special,” Krishnamoorthi told News India Times. “At first we had just requested a voice recording. But he went ahead and made a video message. So it’s much more than we asked for,” Krishnamoorthi added.

Krishnamoorthi sees the 28- second video as a big plus for his campaign. “It’s directed toward people who are likely to vote. I want to get a chance to talk to those voters,” he said. Krishnamoorthi served as issues director for Barack Obama’s successful United States Senate campaign in 2004. He was raised in Peoria, Illinois, earned his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in mechanical engineering from Princeton University and graduated with honors from Harvard Law School.

He clerked for a federal judge in Chicago, was Illinois’s Deputy Treasurer, and in 2006, he was appointed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to serve as Special Assistant Attorney General in her Public Integrity Unit. He also served as a member of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, where he was chairman of the Audit Committee. He was formerly Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Innovation Council. He currently serves as president of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc., small businesses that sell products in the national security and renewable energy industries.

Meanwhile, the Indian American community has been working hard to ensure his victory. In an event organized in support of the promising Indian American candidate, Sanhita Agnihotri invited Raja Krishnamoorthi along with the principal hosts Hanumanth Reddy, Iftekhar Shareef, Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, Ajai Agnihotri, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar and Ajeet Singh to join the lamp lighting ceremony and added saying that the lighting of the lamp symbolizes invocation of an auspicious outcome in the elections.

Raja Krishnamoorthi in his rare departure shifting from the standards electoral stump speech went on to deliver a passionate impromptu address on his progressive vision igniting fervor among Indian Americans who are energized to propel him to a place in the U.S. Congress. Raja connected intimately with each attendee and addressed them with great clarity and unmistakable conviction addressing a wide range of issues affecting the nation. Raja elaborated on his legislative priorities that includes shoring up Social Security, Medicare, raising the minimum wage nationally, making college more affordable, creating jobs, improving economy, reforming immigration system, improving American infrastructure among some major issues. Raja Krishnamoorthi also addressed businessmen and their causes; and allayed fears on harsh regulations and untenable tax burdens.

Raja Krishnamoorthi thanked the host of community, organizational, business and grass- root level leaders gathered at the event and assured them of his undying devotion to represent them and added saying “when I go to the Congress, you go with me” amidst sustained applause.

Ajai Agnihotri in his brief statement said Raja is a phenomenon that is likely to dominate the Capitol Hill with his refreshing voice of strength and conviction; while Dr. Vijay Prabhakar challenged the Indian Americans to seize this rare opportunity to rise up in collective strength of unity to help elect Raja and added that Raja will be a shining inspiration for many generations to come.

Proposing a vote of thanks, Sanhita Agnihotri was joined by Poonam Gupta-Krishnan, Nazneen Hashmi, Shirley Kalvakota, and Mrs. Inder Gauri who presented a flower bouquet to Raja. Some of the well-known attendees at the reception include Dr. Sriram Sonty, Babu [Marsha] Patel, Inder Gauri, Jitendra Digvanker, Harish Kolasani, John Trivedi, Dr. Hyder Mohhamned, Cecil Joseph, Satish Dadepogu, Baba Daljit Singh, Mitul Patel, Azhar Siddique & Emmanuel Neela.

With the current trajectory of the congressional race looking increasingly reassuring, this defining moment seems to bear promise to see their beloved Indian American son Raja Krishnamoorthi to be ushered into the hallowed halls of the United States Congress. Raja Krishnamoorthi remains the most widely acknowledged candidate to have received a wide spread mainstream newspapers ringing endorsements hailing him as the “best candidate hands down” and extoling him for his “enthusiastic grasp on issues” advancing “working families agenda”; with President Obama joining to give a testimonial push on TV — augurs well for him to cross the finish line on in the national elections on November 8th, 2016.

Picture Caption: Raja Krishnamoorthi seen here with the hosts [L to R seated] Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Iftekhar Shareef, Sanhita Agnihotri, Ajai Agnihotri, Keerthi Ravoori [Standing L to R] Shirley Kalvakota, Poonam Gupta, Nazneen Hashmi, Daljit Singh, Babu Patel & Dr. Hyder Mohammed.

Pramila Jayapal on way to win Congressional seat from Washington state

Ajay GhoshPolitics, U.S. 0

Pramila Jayapal, the Chennai-born Democrat, who was endorsed by Sanders, running from Washington’s 7th district, is all set be elected to the US Congress, reports suggest. Armed with the notion that corporate special interests and anti-immigrant hysteria have sunk their talons far too deeply into the overarching body of American politics, Indian American Pramila Jayapal, 50, has set out to add her boldly progressive voice to Capitol Hill as a congressional representative from Washington state.

Jayapal — who emigrated from India as a teenager — is running for Congress from Washington’s 7th district in order to succeed incumbent Jim McDermott. The district, which includes most of Seattle, is considered to be one of the most reliably Democratic localities in the nation.

Jayapal, who originally hails from Chennai, is engaged in a primary battle with four others, including fellow Indian American Arun Jhaveri, who formerly served as the mayor of Burien, Washington.

After observing the hypocrisy and skewed nature of Wall Street first hand during the 1980s, Jayapal has spent the past 25 years advocating for both the middle class and immigrants across the United States. She now hopes she can bring that very same impetus to the House of Representatives if elected in November.

An adamant proponent of the American Dream, Jayapal recently spoke with the American Bazaar about her plan to keep the ethos alive for future generations of Americans regardless of race, creed, or socioeconomic status.

Jayapal, who is a strong supporter of Immigration reform, reminds of her work “for 15 years and I don’t think there’s anyone in the state who knows the policy and the politics of immigration reform better than I do, so that’s certainly a big thing.” Recalling that she came to the United States “when I was 16, my parents took all the money they had — about $5,000 — and put it into sending me here so that I could get what they thought would be the best education. I think the opportunity to have that and in a way, to live my version of the American Dream, has made me that much more committed to making sure that other people get their American Dream.”

“I started OneAmerica, formerly known as Hate Free Zone, right after 9/11 and it initially dealt with hate crimes against Arabs, Muslims, and South Asians, but within two weeks of that post-9/11 backlash was that we were fighting the U.S. government. It was the time of President George Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft; they were detaining and deporting people simply for being Arab or Muslim. I felt I had to speak out about things going on that were completely wrong and antithetical to the American values that I had just sworn to as I had just become a U.S. citizen in 2000.”

Jayapal understands the need to contain the cost of higher-education, which has become a flashpoint for many post-grads who now find themselves stricken with unsustainable debt. “I would like to introduce a bill here in the state that would provide tuition-free college. I started here in the state with free community college just because our community college system is so accessible to so many people across the state as opposed to our four-year institutions. If we could increase transfer rates from two-year colleges to four-year colleges, I think that would be tremendous. I’d be looking to do something similar in the U.S. Congress for all institutions of higher education.”

A believer in clean energy, Jayapal is of the belief that it’s a great opportunity to invest in green jobs — to use the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy as the opportunity to actually invest in a whole new infrastructure, and that’s both jobs and the environment together. “To me, that seems like the smart thing to do.”
Pramila has major endorsements from every sector, such as 21 sitting members of Congress including Ami Bera and Keith Ellison; every major women’s group like NARAL, EMILY’s List, Planned Parenthood; every labor union that has endorsed in her race (over 50 now including the state’s labor council, AFL-CIO); the list goes on.

Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO, told this writer, “I want to tell you about a dynamic Indian American who is Washington State Senator Pramila Jayapal. I had known Pramila since she was running for the State Senate in 2014. She has been a community activist since 2001 who has campaigned for civil rights and served as the executive director of OneAmerica, a pro-immigration advocacy group.”

According to Abraham, Pramila, a strong progressive immigrant woman, who won her nine-way primary with 42% of the vote and is well on her way to being the first Indian American woman elected to Congress, is being attacked by her opponent – a fellow Democrat. We need to make sure that Pramila gets to Congress, and we must rally to raise the $250,000 she needs by November 1st, so she can call her opponent out on his negativity and keep her message from getting drowned out by his attacks. Let us support Pramila to become First Indian American Women Congresswoman.”

INOC, USA rallies to strongly support the efforts of the Punjab Congress Party in the upcoming State Elections

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

New York: On October 30, 2016, on the auspicious day of Diwali and “BandiChoodh” at New York a very important large gathering of leaders and supporters of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA unanimously declared their full and unequivocal support for the Punjab Congress Party in the State Elections. All the burning issues of concern were emphasized.

Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of the Indian National Overseas Congress, USA welcomed the members and participants and assured all present that Punjab Congress Party was flying high and that the Punjab Congress Party President Capt. Amrinder Singh and his team were working in full force and top gear. This was amply evident from the great confidence and cooperation that they were receiving from all the party members all over Punjab. This confidence is vital. Also, he reminded, at this time the value of lands in Punjab is decreasing, and things, in general, are getting from bad to worse. He added that Capt. Amrinder Singh is following a very strict rule that he had made that only one seat shall be given to a family and the people are content with this ruling.

Mr. George Abraham, Chairman of INOC, USA explained at length the virtues of the Congress Party which was established by great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhai Patel. He explained how the party worked so hard for the people in the past and made so much of progress for the country. He appealed everyone to unite and assist the Punjab Congress Party individually or collectively with their friends and family back home. The Punjab State elections are expected to take place in February 2017.

Mr. Harbachan Singh, Secretary-General of Indian National Overseas Congress, USA narrated a litany of issues troubling the State of Punjab and explained how the present government was derelict in not attending or inadequately attending to them. Corruption, drugs, and unemployment were listed high on the list of deep concerns and fear of hooliganism was affecting the security level of the people. In the villages, the number of suicides was increasing and Punjab being a border state with Pakistan, was made to bear colossal damages and sufferings, as well as the residents, were being uprooted and displaced from their homes for indefinite periods. A worrisome fact was that Punjab was slowly buried under huge state debt. Lethargic government bureaucracy was using antiquated laws and procedures so much so that many Non-resident Indians were not willing to invest in Punjab and that some foreign companies were also closing down and moving out causing unemployment problems.

The YSL river water issue was also not solved properly. He strongly believed that only the Congress Party under Capt. Amrinder Singh can solve such problems well and that the Capt. has a track record to prove it. His new Congress Manifesto is full of descriptions of programs to successfully deal with each such problem.

Mr. Tejinder Singh Gill, President of the Punjab Chapter, appealed everyone to make sure they contact each member and friend back home in Punjab and advise them on the virtues and how good the Congress Party was and how good it was in solving the concerns and issues that were weighing heavily on the progress of Punjab. He assured them that if each member of their family could do so the same thing, the Punjab Congress Party will most certainly win. He also noted that human rights issues also needed to be addressed which Capt. Amrinder Singh could handle exceedingly well.

Mr. Jasvir Singh emphasized the importance of wrestling strongly with drug issues. He said that the youth in Punjab, in particular, had become victims of drugs which has affected the social fabric of the society. He advised everyone to set aside some of their valuable time to pay attention to needs of the state of Punjab and its people.

To be noted that while these and other speeches were going on, they were interrupted by a loud burst of slogans of support such as “Nashahatao, Captain Laeao” and, “Capt Leao, Punjab bachao”. The crowd seemed duly enthusiastic highly fired up and totally ready to act.

With key endorsements, Kamala Harris on way to U.S. Senate

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

With key endorsements last week from Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, California’s Attorney General Kamala Harris is reported to be on her way to be a member of the world’s most coveted body, the US Senate in the upcoming elections on November 8th.

The two senators joined a long list of popular Democrats who have thrown their support behind Harris in the race between two Democratic opponents, rejecting the Orange County congresswoman.

President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Gov. Jerry Brown have all backed Harris. The California Democratic Party has spent more than $560,000 on Harris’ Senate campaign, but not offered a penny to help her rival, Sanchez.

Boxer, who is retiring from the Senate after four terms, described Harris as the perfect choice to succeed her in Washington and carry on her progressive agenda, implying that Sanchez failed to meet that test.

Harris, a Democrat, and her counterpart, Orange County area Rep. Loretta Sanchez, also a Democrat, are seeking the seat in the November election, but the Indian American attorney has garnered support from a laundry list of influential dignitaries. The latest endorsements have come in the wake of the Oct. 5 debate between the two candidates.

“California deserves a continuation of clear progressive leadership in the U.S. Senate. For almost 50 years, the seat that I hold has been a leadership seat on human rights, women’s rights, civil rights, voting rights, immigrants’ rights, fair trade, a clean environment and a voice for all families — no matter their circumstances,” Boxer added. “Kamala Harris shares those values with me. Her broad array of endorsements underscores this.”

Hindus for Trump: behind the uneasy alliance with rightwing US politics

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

Three weeks before the election, Trump made a brief but rousing appearance at the Republican Hindu Coalition’s (RHC) Humanity United Against Terror charity concert, an event framed around raising money to combat “radical Islamic terrorism”, particularly for Hindus from Bangladesh and Kashmir.
“I’m a big fan of Hindu, and I’m a big fan of India,” Trump told hundreds of enthusiastic attendees in Edison, New Jersey, a town known for its sizable South Asian population.

Terrorism made for a dissonant theme on a night filled with several upbeat music and dance performances by Indian choreographer Prabu Deva and Signature, the dance group known for competing on Britain’s Got Talent.

The introduction to the national anthem featured a simulated terrorist attack, in which two couples dancing on stage were suddenly attacked by two men covered in brown cloth, who were shouting and wielding toy guns with green lightsabers attached. Men dressed as US Navy Seals entered to defeat the terrorists. They all stood together for the Star-Spangled Banner before dancing to Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA.

Kamal Singh of Edison, New Jersey, said he believed Trump, who he referred to as “the big leader”, will stand with India in fighting terrorist organizations from Pakistan. “Trump is for peace and he’s fighting against terrorism,” Singh said.

Trump, after lighting Diwali lamps onstage with the RHC’s founding chairman, Shalabh “Shalli” Kumar, said: “The Indian and Hindu community will have a true friend in the White House.

“Generations of Hindu and Indian Americans have strengthened our country,” he said. “Your values and hard work, education and enterprise, have truly enriched our nation.”

Trump tried to appeal to Hindus among Indian Americans in three ways:

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

First, he equated Indians with Hindus, erasing India’s religious minorities — 172 million Muslims, 28 million Christians, 21 million Sikhs and 8 million Buddhists, among others — from the picture.

Second, he equated his position on Islamic terrorism with that of India’s government. As he put it: “We appreciate the great friend that India has been to the United States in the fight against radical Islamic terrorists . . . we are going to be best friends.”

Third, he equated himself with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I look forward to working with Prime Minister Modi who has been very energetic in reforming India’s bureaucracy. Great man, I applaud him. I look forward to doing some serious bureaucratic trimming right here in the United States . . .”

Several news sources suggested that even though the majority of Indian Americans do not support Trump, his effort to associate himself with Modi and his anti-Muslim rhetoric might win him some support. The New York Times, for example, reported that his tracking of the language of Mr. Modi “has given Mr. Trump a foothold of support among Hindus in the United States, some of whom are also drawn to his strong talk about Muslims, their longtime adversaries on the subcontinent.”

WNYC reported, “The other way that Trump aligns with some Indians and Hindus in the U.S. is his proposed ban of allowing Muslim immigrants to enter the U.S. For decades Hindus and Muslims in India have been fighting and there were outbreaks in the late 1980s that left hundreds dead. So to some extent these two communities continue to harbor suspicious against each other. . . . Trump did get a rise out of the crowd when he mentioned fighting radical Islam.”

INOC-I given warm reception to Ashwani Kumar

Staff ReporterPolitics 0

By Rajender  Dichpally

Indian National Overseas Congress-I (INOC-I) hosted senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Ashwani Kumar here on Monday. Kumar has been in the US to deliver guest lectures at the top universities.

Welcoming the senior Congress leader from India, INOC Chairman Shudh Parkash Singh briefed him on the activities of the Indian National Overseas Congress in the US. Shudh Parkash Singh also explained to him how for the first time he initiated the process of democratic elections held last year. This was as per the advice of Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Congress Party Dr Karan Singh.

He said the voters and candidates had come from California, Texas, Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and New York. “Democratization of the Party was initiated by Rahul Gandhi first time in India and we did so for the first time in the USA,” he added.

In her address, INOC President Lavika Bhagat Singh said “we are proud to have such a learned man in our midst and looking for his long-term guidance and support to grow the awareness of the INOC and make every Indian aware as to what the Congress Party has done for India that it stands right next to the United States in all its power.”

She said “the US-India partnership is one to contend with in the future and they will remain strong allies to contend with despite all upheavals that may irk the world in the future.

Lavika Bhagat Singh also spoke of her desire to host a major event next year in Washington D.C. to bring Congress economic policies in focus.INOC General Secretary Rajender Dichapally made a presentation to the former minister and senior Congress leader and explained how this seminar would build stronger US-India relations and foster closer ties and lead to better trade and bring prosperity between the two nations.

Among others, INOC Vice Presidents — Phuman Singh and Ravi Chopra — also interacted with Ashwani Kumar. Gurmeet Singh Gill, President Punjab Chapter, said he would be happy to participate in the electionc campaign to ensure the victory of the Congress Party in Punjab.

Visiting dignitary Ashwani Kumar said that he aims to project Congress party and its policies in favorite light through a series of meetings he would be delivering in the US, Canada and the UK. INOC Joint Secretary Gurminder Singh Talwandi proposed a vote of thanks. The meeting ended with a sumptuous dinner.

Ashwani Kumar represents the Indian National Congress party from Punjab in the Rajya Sabha. He has been nominated as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests in September 2014. He has also been nominated as Member of the General Purposes Committee of Rajya Sabha and Member of the Consultative Committee for Ministry of Defence in January 2015.

He has held key ministerial portfolios in the UPA government, including Ministry of Law and Justice; Parliamentary Affairs; Science and Technology and Ministry of Planning. In 1991, at the age of 37 he was appointed one of the youngest Additional Solicitor General of India. He has served as Indian National Congress party’s National Spokesperson and Chairman of its Vichar Vibhag. He has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since 2002.

Congressional candidate Peter Jacob’s house vandalized

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The campaign of Indian-American Democratic Congressional Candidate Peter Jacob and the community of Union Township in Union County, New Jersey, was shaken by a spate of hate graffiti painted on his home and the sidewalk adjacent to it on October 7 and October 11.

The Indian-American candidate for U.S. Congress in New Jersey has been speaking out against Donald Trump’s rhetoric after vandals defaced his home with swastikas twice in a matter of days.

Peter Jacob (D), who is running for office in the state’s 7th Congressional District, says the sidewalk outside his Union home was vandalized Friday night with swastikas, and that the back wall of his house was covered with the symbol two days later.

Such a hate crime, Jacob said in an email to supporters, is exactly the kind of behavior that the GOP presidential nominee enables. “Let there be no mistake, the people who committed this crime did so because they feel comfortable and confident to commit hateful acts due to an ever increasing atmosphere of accepted racism,” Jacob said. “We must work harder than ever to ensure that on November 8th, we do not let a man who has called for a ban on an entire religion, someone who has advocated for sexual assault, incest, and an attack on women’s rights, in to office.”

Jacob also called out his Republican opponent, four-term incumbent Rep. Leonard Lance, for supporting Trump’s White House run. The rise of Islamophobia in the U.S. has made targets out of many brown-skinned people, regardless of their religion. The Council on American Islamic Relations has spoken out against these attacks, including the one against Jacob. Jacob’s opponent, incumbent Republican Leonard Lance, promptly released a statement Oct. 11, calling the display of anti-Semitic hate symbols like the swastika “abhorrent.”

“At the end of the day, this is why I’m running for office – to fight racism, ignorance and divisiveness,” Jacob said.

Michelle Obama Screens Freida Pinto’s ‘We Will Rise’ Documentary at White House

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First Lady Michelle Obama hosted the White House screening of the documentary “We Will Rise,” which stars Indian actress Freida Pinto who is also one of the producers of the film.

Michelle Obama and actress Meryl Streep had much to celebrate Oct. 11 when they hugged onstage at the White House during the screening, which coincided with the International Day of the Girl, reports People.com. The two traveled together over the summer to Liberia and Morocco, along with Malia and Sasha Obama, to shoot the documentary.

At the event, Michelle Obama shared her love for the Oscar-winning actress, saying: “The great Meryl Streep has just devoted her not-a-lot-of-time to this project. And she is delightful — she is delightful and is intelligent and is focused and engaged — as you would imagine Meryl Streep to be.”

She also expressed her admiration for the young girls and women she met during her trip abroad for the documentary, telling the audience it was her very last trip with her daughters while President Barack Obama is still in office.

“I carry their stories with me every single day. And it was a privilege to bring my mother and my daughters with me to Liberia and Morocco and for them to get to meet you. And that was our very last trip together during our time in the White House, so it was special for so many different reasons,” she said. In a sneak peek from the upcoming documentary about the initiative, Streep reflects on why she was inspired to join the program and travel with the First Lady over the summer. The documentary is directed by Tony Gerber.

“We Will Rise: Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World” is a CNN Films production produced by the same team behind the feature documentary “Girl Rising.”

Nearly three fourth of Indian Americans support Hillary Clinton

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Indian American registered voters, who are historically known to be Democrats, are overwhelmingly Democratic, with 70% of them supporting Hillary Clinton, according to a new National Asian American Survey (NAAS).

In its October 5th report, the survey found only 7% Indian American voters are likely to vote for the Republican nominee, Donald Trump. This was the lowest support Trump got amongst Asian communities. While the Hmong community also had the same 7% support for Trump, 25% Filipinos, 20% Japanese, 16% Cambodians and Vietnamese said they would vote Trump. At 11%, even the Chinese had more likely Trump voters than Indians.

Indian American community led both the 2012 and the 2016 polls with overwhelming support for Democrats. While in 2012 it was 68% Democratic, with only 10% shown as Republicans, in 2016, 71% registered voters are seen as Democrats vs. 13% as Republicans, for a net gain of one percent.

A whopping 79% Indian Americans view Trump unfavorably, with 67% viewing him very unfavorably, the survey found. The NAAS sampled 2,238 Asian-Americans and 305 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reached out to Indian American voters at an Edison, New Jersey rally on October 15 organized by the Republican Hindu Coalition, promising India would always have a friend in the White House if he is elected.

“India is a strategic ally for the U.S. I look forward to deepening the diplomatic and military cooperation that is shared between both countries,” said the candidate, addressing a crowd of 8,000 people at the “Humanity United Against Terrorism” rally, held at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center.

“India has been a great friend to the U.S. in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism,” said Trump, noting that President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton have not used the phrase.

“India has seen first-hand the brutality of Islamic terrorism,” he said, uttering his first political gaffe of the 13-minute long speech by confusing the 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament in New Delhi with the 2008 terror attack in Mumbai, in which ten young militants arriving by sea from Pakistan killed 167 people at several venues throughout the city. “I love Hindu. I love India,” was Trump’s second gaffe of the evening, when he seemingly declared “Hindu” as a country.

In the aftermath of the 2012 election, the Republican National Committee (RNC) released a report calling on the party to do a better job connecting with minority populations. The RNC hired a national field director, Stephen Fong, and a national communications director, Jason Chung, to conduct outreach to Asian-American voters. Karthick Ramakrishnan, director of the NAAS, said in an interview that the GOP was “trying to project this image of the Republican Party that was more open, that is more tolerant, that is trying to do significant outreach to the community.”

Chicago Tribune Endorses Illinois Candidate Krishnamoorthi For Congress

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Chicago Tribune has endorsed Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat running for the U.S. Congress from Illinois’ District 11 on October 10, saying “what really sets him apart is a solid, enthusiastic grasp on issues, from immigration to the war on Islamic State.”

“Krishnamoorthi’s amalgam of business and government experience makes him the best candidate, hands down,” the Chicago Tribune editorial board stated. “A Harvard Law School grad who lives in Schaumburg, he’s been a deputy state treasurer and an assistant attorney general. He’s president of two high-tech firms focused on military security and renewable energy. Those overlapping experiences give him a valuable perspective on how government policy affects businesses and workers.”

The Chicago Tribune endorsement makes it a clean sweep of Chicago-area newspaper endorsements for the progressive Democrat Krishnamoorthi following the earlier endorsements from the Chicago Sun-Times and the Daily Herald, the largest suburban newspaper in the Chicago area.

“We were impressed with Krishnamoorthi’s command of specifics about the tax code and the Affordable Care Act – and even more impressed when he emailed us after our meeting to correct himself on a minor point,” the Chicago Tribune editorial board wrote. “We like that he’s already scoped out opportunities to join in bipartisan initiatives on criminal justice reform and alternative energy. We agree with his maxim that government must do everything ‘faster, cheaper, smarter.'”

Ballotpedia rates this as a “safely Democratic” district. The 8th District covers northern suburbs of Chicago as well as most . covers the northern suburbs and northwestern suburbs of Chicago, including areas with concentrations of Indian-American residents.

The editorial board of the Tribune calls Krishnamoorthi a “good fit” for District 8. “We liked Krishnamoorthi, a business owner and Harvard Law grad, when he lost to Tammy Duckworth in the 2012 Democratic primary for this seat” the Tribune recalled. “We like him just as much or more this time,” as he seeks to succeed Duckworth, who is aiming for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Mark Kirk.

The 8th District includes west and northwest Chicago suburbs, and Krishnamoorthy hopes his relentless campaigning will bring out Millennials and others to vote for him. Krishnamoorthi lives in Schaumburg with his wife, Priya, and their three children.

Trump would be ‘dangerous’ if elected: UN human rights chief

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US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would be “dangerous from an international point of view” if he is elected, the UN human rights chief said on Wednesday, defiantly doubling down on his recent expression of concerns about “populist demagogues” that prompted a rebuke from Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations.

In a broad-ranging news conference touching on issues like violence in Yemen, Syria and sub-Saharan Africa, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said some remarks by Trump are “deeply unsettling and disturbing to me,” particularly on torture and about “vulnerable communities.”

“If Donald Trump+ is elected, on the basis of what he has said already and unless that changes, I think it’s without any doubt that he would be dangerous from an international point of view,” Zeid told reporters in Geneva.

The comments from Zeid, a Jordanian prince, are likely to fan a debate in UN circles about whether he has been overstepping his mandate as the High Commissioner for Human Rights with comments on the US presidential nominee and nationalist, xenophobic leaders in parts of Europe.

Only a day earlier, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Vitaly Churkin, said Zeid shouldn’t criticize foreign heads of state and government “for their policies. This is not his business. He should be more focused on his specific responsibilities.”

Zeid alluded to a report Friday by The Associated Press indicating that Churkin had last month formally complained directly to the UN secretary-general about Zeid’s comments, saying: “I was not there, of course, and there was no demarche (formal report) made to me.”

Trump’s New Asian Pacific Committee has Indian Americans

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Four Indian-Americans are among the 31 Asians from around the country, who have been appointed to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s newly formed Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee, according to a Sept, 25 announcement from the campaign.

The four Indian-Americans include Puneet Ahluwalia of Virginia, K.V. Kumar from California, Shalabh Kumar of Illinois and Harry Walia, Florida.  “Donald J. Trump is pleased to announce his Asian Pacific American Advisory Committee,” a statement issued by the campaign stated. “The women and men on the committee are elected, appointed and grassroots leaders who will engage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) on relevant issues to these important and vibrant communities. Governors Eddie Calvo and Ralph Torres of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) respectively, will serve as the Council’s Co-Chairs.”

The committee members will support and strengthen ties to each community and provide recommendations on how best to ensure AAPI voices are heard and included in the Campaign. Furthermore, the committee’s formation represents Mr. Trump’s and Governor Pence’s commitment to AAPI communities. Mr. Trump and Governor Pence will meet with members of the committee and AAPI leaders to discuss growing concerns over educational opportunities, employment and the economy, which are of paramount concern to AAPI families across this nation. Mr. Trump understands the critical role Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders play in the growing and providing for an energetic economic base which has been lacking over the past eight years of Obama/Clinton policies.

“Mr. Trump’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Advisory Committee is a great addition to the vibrancy of his campaign,” said Brunswick, Ohio Mayor Ron Falconi. “His ability to connect with everyday Americans is a testament of his character, and what he wants to do to bring America forward from the past 8 years.”

Dr. Lisa Shin said, “The Trump/Pence ticket will bring meaningful change to Washington. No longer will DC bureaucrats decide what’s best for Asian American and Pacific Islander families. Supporting Mr. Trump and Governor Pence will allow AAPIs to truly have a voice in how we want to educate our families and raise our children.”

“We are on the cusp of history. It is a movement that I am witnessing this presidential election. I am confident that Trump would be the next president of the United States,” Shalabh Kumar+ , founder of the Republican Hindu Coalition said.

“Under Trump administration, India-US relationship would reach a new height,” he said.   Puneet Ahluwalia is a member of Virginia’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Advisory Council, while K V Kumar has earlier worked with the World Bank.

“It is my great honor and a privilege to be part of Trump AAPI Advisory Committee. This is a pivotal election which impacts the future of our nation and its people,” Ahluwalia said. “Trump understands the critical role Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders play in the growing and providing for an energetic economic base which has been lacking over the past eight years of Obama/Clinton policies,” the campaign said.

Ahluwalia is a lobbyist and international business adviser at the Livingston Group, specializing in energy, defense, cyber security, and infrastructure issues. Kumar or ‘KV’ is the managing partner at Kumar & Talvadkar, LLC, and serves on the boards of several companies. Walia, a businessman and Republican activist for several decades, also tried and lost a race for Mayor of Venice, Florida, his hometown, a few years ago.

“The committee members will support and strengthen ties to each community and provide recommendations on how best to ensure AAPI voices are heard and included in the Campaign,” a press release from the Trump-Pence 2016 campaign. The two candidates will meet committee members “to discuss growing concerns over educational opportunities, employment and the economy, which are of paramount concern to AAPI families across this nation.”

Jenifer Rajkumar fails to make it to the General Elections

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Jenifer Rajkumar, candidate for the New York State Assembly, has lost the race in the Democratic primaries held on September 13. She was against an array of strong candidates to fill the seat vacated by the powerful NY State Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver. Rajkumar, a long-time resident of the area and a Democratic District Leader for three terms, managed to split some of the voting blocks, to garner a second place finish.

“I am enormously proud of the campaign we ran, and very grateful for the outpouring of support I received from our Desi community everywhere,” Rajkumar told the media. “This was a tough race in a tough district.”

The winner, Yuh-Line Niou won 2,742 votes, 31.55 percent, and Rajkumar came in 2nd with 1,612 or 18.55 percent of the vote. Ranged behind her were Paul Newell with 1,381 (15.89 percent); Alive Cancel, 1,069 (12.30 percent; Don Lee, 984 votes (11.32 percent); and Gigi Li, 827 votes, 9.51 percent.

This heavily Democratic downtown Manhattan district made up of diverse ethnic communities and a mix of upper and lower income populations, assures a winner of the primary a seat in the state Assembly almost automatically. But just 8,692 Democrats cast votes in a district where registered Democrats number 43,094.

“With all of New York’s powerbrokers supporting other candidates, I still came in a very respectable second place in a six candidate field thanks to votes from throughout Lower Manhattan’s diverse neighborhoods,” Rajkumar said.

Baba Sehgal dedicates song to Donald Trump

Ajay GhoshEntertainment, Politics 0

Rap star and singer Baba Sehgal never failed to entertain with his hilarious songs and videos. This time, he’s taken a dig at none other than Donald Trump. Baba’s latest video Trump Ka Mania, dedicated to the US presidential nominee, has gone viral and is the latest talk of the town.

Baba Sehgal is best known for his work in Indipop and Telugu films. The 50-year-old, whose career began in the 90s, is known for his funny, silly songs. Some of them include his tribute to Rihanna in the song “Rihanna Oh Rihanna,” his display of love for food in “Aloo Ka Paratha” and “Chicken Fried Rice.”

In all seriousness, it’s a nod to Sehgal’s creativity and ability to rap about the U.S. political election in a way that has users sending the song to all their friends. The lyrics blend Hindi and English so that you can understand the song even if you don’t speak Hindi, for the most part, at least. If you can’t completely, all you have to understand is the song is about Trump’s mania spreading worldwide.

Sehgal himself has said he couldn’t resist doing a song about him because of the “je ne sais quoi” Trump possesses that earns the presidential candidate so many so-called fans.

While many celebs are either making fun of or rallying against the controversy-ridden US presidential candidate, Baba Sehgal, in his video, marvels at all the support he has been garnering with lines like: New York Chicago Orlando mein, Log khadey hain ghar ke verandon mein, Louisiana se panju boston se bong, Rally uski day by day is getting strong…

However, Baba clarifies that he has no political agenda, saying, “I have no political agenda. This song was not meant to support or diss him. It was made purely on his personality, temperament and attitude. I mentioned it in the description of the video too.” If you gain nothing but a good laugh from the video, you can appreciate the well-timed release of a song that is marketing gold.

Mary Thomas loses Florida Congressional primary

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Mary Thomas, an Indian American attorney, running to win the Republican Party nomination, narrowly lost her bid to enter the US House of Representatives in the Florida primary held here last Tuesday. The 38-year-old Thomas lost the party’s primary by 1,700 votes, to surgeon Neal Dunn in what was a nasty GOP primary for the Congressional District 2 of Florida currently held by Democrat Gwen Graham, who chose not to run because the district became more solidly Republican.

“Congratulations to our next Congressman Neal Dunn. Together we will work to Make America Great Again. Thank you to our many volunteers who were so passionate about our conservative cause,” Thomas wrote on her Facebook page after conceding her defeat.

The Florida 2nd district is likely to see a Republican win in November, meaning Neal Dunn is probably the next member of the House to represent Tallahassee in Congress. Thomas, whose parents arrived in America from India in 1972 and settled in Pinellas County, would have made history as the first Indian American woman to serve in Congress, if elected.

Mary Thomas, who wanted to stop Common Core, immediately repeal Obamacare, and supported term limits, was endorsed, amongst others, by the conservative Club for Growth, House Freedom Caucus chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio (A, 94%), and the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List. Dunn was endorsed by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. (F, 38%) and supported by the ESA Fund, the same establishment PAC that targeted Tim Huelskamp in Kansas this year.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Thomas has been a member of Governor Rick Scott’s administration since he was sworn into office in January 2011. Currently, she serves as the General Counsel at the Department of Elder Affairs where she manages and oversees the legal department of an agency that administers a $900 million budget.

Ash Kalra gets multiples endorsements in bid to win California Assembly seat

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Ash Kalra, an Indian American city councilman in San Jose, Calif., in his bid to win the State Assembly Seat for the 27th District, has bagged endorsements from civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, Rep. Zoe Lofgren and a former opponent, Kalra’s campaign recently announced.

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren declared her support for Ash Kalra in the open seat race for the Assembly in District 27. As the only Congressional member in this district, Zoe’s support holds enormous weight in this contentious race.

” I am proud to endorse Ash Kalra for California State Assembly and I urge you to join me in supporting him. Over the years, when I’ve advocated for Human Rights, Ash was there with me. When we fought for immigration reform, Ash was there. When we fought for housing opportunities so our sons and daughters could live in the communities they grew up in, Ash was a leader.  When it came to improving education, Ash stepped forward.  In short, Ash Kalra has been a stand out leader while serving on the City Council. He is smart, articulate and will be an effective leader in Sacramento. I believe he will represent our community instead of special interests.  In my experience with him, he is honest, committed to the public good and a hard worker. Voters have a rare opportunity to select this outstanding individual to represent them in the California Legislature,” said Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren.

The campaign received additional good news as the lone Republican in the June Primary, ESUHSD Trustee Van Le, formally endorsed Ash Kalra, joining two other Primary opponents, Democrats ARUSD Trustee Esau Herrera and community activist Cong T. Do.

“I am so grateful to Congresswoman Lofgren for her support in this race and for the years of leadership she has shown in this district. She is a national leader on pushing comprehensive immigration reform and has led our California Congressional delegation with honor,” commented Ash Kalra, “I am further humbled to receive the support of three of my former opponents. They are all outstanding community leaders and have proven their strong support from the community by garnering over 20,000 votes accounting for over 26% of ballots cast. Their confidence in my ability to represent our city well in Sacramento is a great source of pride as we continue our movement towards Election Day.”

Zoe Lofgren has represented San Jose in the United State Congress since 1995. As the Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation and the highest-ranking Democrat and former chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, Lofgren is recognized as a leader within the party and a champion for immigrants’ rights in San Jose. She is the only Congressional Member representing Assembly District 27.

In 2008, Ash Kalra was elected to the San Jose City Council. Ash is one of two candidates in the open seat race for California State Assembly that will be vacated by termed-out Assemblyperson Nora Campos. For a full list of organizations and individuals who have endorsed Ash Kalra, please visit AshKalra.com.

Sudhan Thomas running for key Educational Office in NJ

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Sudhan Thomas, an Indian-American 9/11 historian docent is running for a key educational office in New Jersey and if elected the position could help him play a key role in the U.S. state’s education system.

Sudhan Thomas, a business professional who has been active in the Indian-American community, is running for the Jersey City Board of Education. Thomas is one of the 180 certified 9/11 historian docents who educates visitors at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, where his work has impacted millions of visitors and students.

He has also been actively involved in supporting veterans and LGBTQ equality. If elected, Thomas would be the first Indian-American in the Jersey City Board of Education. His campaign gained momentum after he received top endorsements in New Jersey, including by Ron Greco, president of the Jersey City Education Association.

“In vision, in experience and in leadership, Sudhan Thomas is the champion that our students need and believes in the promise of public education,” Greco said. New Jersey Assemblyman Raj Mukherji: “Sudhan Thomas is the right person at the right time for Jersey City. He is a parent and a business professional who has been active in the community, championing various initiatives over the last two decades. He represents a new generation of leadership that Jersey City desperately needs to address the challenges we face in urban public schools.”

Mukerji is the only South-Asian Assemblyman in New Jersey City, which has a large Indian-American population. “Now is the time to end the gridlock and initiate a progressive agenda in our schools. It is troubling that some Jersey City children attend school in trailer classrooms, without basic school supplies and infrastructure,” Thomas said.
College Democrats of New Jersey has also endorsed Thomas describing him as a parent, educator, business professional, and a taxpayer who possesses that skill set which will significantly benefit students.

Trump to speak at Republican Hindu Coalition anti-terror event

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Donald Trump is planned to deliver remarks at an event hosted by the Republican Hindu Coalition next month, as he looks to expand his outreach to minority voting blocs. He is expected to speak against terrorism on September 24 at the PNC Bank Art Center in Holmdel, New Jersey.

The event, titled “Humanity United Against Terror,” will take place in Holmdel two days before the Republican presidential nominee is slated to meet Hillary Clinton on the debate stage in nearby Hempstead, N.Y. According to a press release, Trump will also meet with members of his campaign’s Indian American Advisory Board at the event.

The coalition was formed by Shalli Kumar, an Indian-American businessman and GOP mega donor, who said last fall that the group planned to raise around $10 million to contribute to Republican congressional candidates this cycle. The group’s honorary chairman is former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a top ally and adviser to Trump, and someone who has encouraged the GOP to reach Indian-American voters through issues like national security.

Kumar has emerged as one of Trump’s largest campaign donors. On July 16, Kumar wired $449,400 to Trump’s campaign, the maximum amount an individual can donate to the fund in one election cycle. His wife then made an equal donation of $449,400. Kumar said he expects 25,000 people to attend the event. The RHC is offering tickets from its Web site to anyone who donates $101 or more.

“It’s Trump being Trump,” said Indian-American business person and co-founder of the RHC, Shalli Kumar. “He’s just misunderstood. He is just as color, religion, race-blind as anyone could be. He’s a business person.”

In an exclusive interview with Diya TV, Kumar lauded this first of its kind event specific to Indian-Americans. “The goal is to unite Hindu-American community with conservative values together and expand the RHC and at the time same time help the victims of terror throughout the world.”

Trump will meet with members of his campaign’s Indian American Advisory Board at the event. Bollywood stars and major Hindu spiritual leaders are also scheduled to attend. Kumar believes the four hour spectacle will attract 25,000 to 30,000 people, featuring surprises he does not want to disclose yet. The event is just one part of the effort the GOP is making to appeal to America’s most affluent and educated ethnic minority.

“When the Republican party leaders launched the Republican Hindu Coalition, they had a purpose to expand Republican outreach to India, Indian-Americans in particular along the lines of Jewish Americans,” said Kumar. The RHC plans to raise around $10 million to support various Republican congressional candidates this cycle.

Sanders endorses Peter Jacob, running for US House Congress seat in New Jersey

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) has endorsed Democrat challenger Indian American Peter Jacob, who hopes to unseat Republican incumbent Leonard Lance in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, which includes Somerville and several other Somerset County municipalities.

Jacob and 60 other liberal Democrat candidates running for local, state and Congressional office in November’s election, are included on Sander’s preferred list of candidates and ballot initiatives on the Our Revolution website. The site was officially launched Wednesday on Sanders’ home turf with thousands of supporters in the audience and 2,600 viewing parties nationwide watching a Live Stream broadcast online.

Sanders’s endorsement is expected to give a big boost to the election campaign of 30-year-old Jacob, who is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Leonard Lance who has represented Congressional District 7 of New Jersey since 2009. “Raised in Union, New Jersey, in an Indian-American family, Peter understands how important a safe and caring community is to success,” the website said. “Through various community organisations, Peter has helped fight the ongoing scourges of child abuse, human trafficking, and disastrous Iraq War,” it said.

Jacob, whose parents immigrated from India in 1986, hoped that this would help him enter the Congress. “Everyone at our campaign is incredibly touched and thankful for where we are at right now, however, we have a long way to go. With the backing of Senator Sanders, the Our Revolution campaign, and your help, we can bring the people’s voices back to Washington,” he said in a statement. Jacob is the only campaign selected by Sanders in the State of New Jersey.

This is the same Congressional district from where Upendra Chivukula – the first Indian American to be elected to the New Jersey State Assembly – tried his luck in 2012 and lost to Lance by more than 50,000 votes. The 7th Congressional District of New Jersey is said to be a strong Republican bastion. The party has retained this seat for the last 100 years, except for six years between 1975-1981.

Jacob’s political agenda embodies much of what Sanders has advocated – $15 an hour minmum wage, free college tuition, redistribution of wealth, less reliance on fossil fuels and other progressive initiatives. “Yesterday, we had the honor of being endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders and his new non-profit organization, Our Revolution. Not only did Our Revolution endorse us, but our candidacy became the first and only New Jersey campaign selected to carry the torch that he lit just last year,” Jacob said.

Our Revolution has begun, a movement of millions of people standing up and saying enough with politics as usual,” he added. “We deserve a candidate who will bring the people’s voice back to Washington, and we are honored Senator Sanders and Our Revolution believe in us to do exactly that,” Jacob said.

After attending Union County College, in New Jersey, Jacob continued undergraduate studies in Sociology at Kean University. Soon after, Peter studied at Washington University in St Louis, earning a Master of Social Work from the top-ranked program in the nation. During his undergraduate and graduate years, Peter was a student activist and leader.

Neera Tanden appointed member of Hillary Transition Team

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Neera Tanden is among a four-member transition team appointed by Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. The team — called the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project — will be based in Washington and will be led by longtime Clinton confidants and supporters.

Neera Tanden, a Clinton policy advisor who has been with Clinton since her time as first lady, Maggie Williams, Clinton’s chief of staff in the first lady’s office, Tom Donilon, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm are the three members of the team. Former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is the chair of the team which has the critical job of building a government -in-waiting during the 73 days between the Nov. 8 election and the presidential inauguration.

Among other massive tasks before it, the transition team has to find candidates for some 4,000 political appointments, and draft a budget for the $4 trillion federal government,Neera Tanden, head of the Washington, D.C. – based think tank, Center for American Progress, has been working with Hillary Clinton for decades. As per reports, Tanden’s visibility in the Clinton campaign has been rising, specifically her nationwide involvement in turning out the vote during the primaries. She also connected more closely with Indian-Americans as the community geared up for a more visible role in swing states and formed several ‘Indian-Americans for Hillary’ organizations.

Neera Tanden is the President and CEO of the Center for American Progress and the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Tanden has served in both the Obama and Clinton administrations, as well as presidential campaigns and think tanks. Most recently, Tanden served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Center, where she oversaw strategic planning, operations, and fundraising.

Tanden previously served as senior advisor for health reform at the Department of Health and Human Services, working on President Barack Obama’s health reform team in the White House. In that role, she developed policies around reform and worked with Congress and stakeholders on particular provisions of the legislation.

Prior to that, Tanden was the director of domestic policy for the Obama-Biden presidential campaign, where she managed all domestic policy proposals. Tanden had also served as policy director for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign, where she directed all policy work, ranging from domestic policy to the economy to foreign affairs, and managed day-to-day policy announcements. In that role, she also oversaw the debate preparation process for then-Sen. Clinton (D-NY).

Before the presidential campaign, Tanden was Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at CAP. Prior to that, she was one of the first senior staff members at the Center, joining as Senior Vice President for Domestic Policy when CAP first opened its doors. In between, Tanden was legislative director for Sen. Clinton, where she oversaw all policy and legislation in the Senate office. In 2000, she was Hillary Clinton’s deputy campaign manager and issues director for her Senate campaign in New York. Tanden also served as associate director for domestic policy in the Clinton White House and senior policy advisor to the first lady.

Tanden has appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” ABC’s “This Week,” CBS’s “Face the Nation,” “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” MSNBC, CNN, and Fox. She was named one of the “Most Influential Women in Washington” by National Journal and received the India Abroad Publisher’s Award for Excellence in 2011. Tanden was recently included on Elle magazine’s “Women in Washington Power List” and recognized as one of Fortune magazine’s “Most Powerful Women in Politics.” She received her bachelor of science from UCLA and her law degree from Yale Law School. A longtime supporter of and advisor to Hillary Clinton, Neera Tanden is expected by many to play a key role in any future Clinton administration—maybe even as Hillary’s White House Chief of Staff.

Record number of women of Indian origin in race to win elections in November

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A record three women of Indian origin are in race for the first time in the US, seeking to enter the US Senate/Congress. Pramila Jayapal is running for House of Representatives from the state of Washington. Kamala Harris is running to enter the Senate from California. While Harris and Jayapal are Democrats, Lathika Mary Thomas is running for the House on a Republican ticket from Florida. This is the first time a woman of Indian origin has come thus far to fight a seat for US Congress from the state of Florida.

Congressman Dalip Singh Saund, a Democrat from California was the first ever Indian American elected in 1956 and the first Asian-American to serve on Capitol Hill. Since then, there have been only two others who made to the US Congress.
Ami Bera from California is the only Indian-American Congressman in the current Congress. He is among the three Indian-Americans elected to the Congress ever. While Ami Bera serves in the Congress, Boby Jindal, who was the second Indian American to be elected to the US Congress, later on became the Governor of the state of Louisiana and had an unsuccessful run to be the Republican nominee for US President.
In 2010, Nikki Haley (R-SC) made history by being elected the first female Indian-American governor in the United States. She is regarded as a rising star by those inside and outside the Republican Party
In the past two decades, several Indian-Americans have been making political inroads, from city councils to state capitols. “We certainly are looking at how to get Indian-Americans more engaged in politics,” said Bera, a Sacramento County physician and currently the sole Indian-American in Congress. “They should think about running for office.”
Harris, the twice-elected state attorney general is widely considered the front-runner in the California Senate race. Harris, whose mother is Indian-American and whose father is Jamaican-American, would be the first Asian or black American elected to the Senate from California.
She’s running in a presidential election year, which means higher voter turnout overall and more Democrats coming to the polls. Her candidacy showcases the diversity within the Asian-American community and has generated a lot of excitement.
If elected, Harris would be the second black woman in Senate after Carul Mosley Braun in 1992 and the first Indian-American in the Senate. Harris, who has been endorsed by US President Barack Obama is currently the California Attorney-General.
Jayapal, who earned an endorsement from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, would be the first Indian-American woman in Congress, if she wins the elections in November. According to latest polls, both Jayapal and Harris are expected to win their respective elections. Jayapal says she is running for Congress because “because our system is rigged for corporations and the wealthy, but we can fight back. The time has come to tackle this inequality: we need to raise the minimum wage, expand Social Security and Medicare and ensure debt-free college for young people across America.”
Like Jayapal, Latika Mary Thomas if elected to the US House of Representatives seat from Florida would be the first Indian-American woman in the Congress.
Lathika Mary Thomas is running for US Congress from the Second Congressional District in Florida. If elected, Mary would make history as the first Indian-Malayalee American woman elected to Congress. Mary was born in Charleston, South Carolina to physician parents who arrived in America in 1972. Mary’s dad Dr. Tom Thomas is from Alleppey and mom Dr. Annie Thomas is from Palai, both in Kerala state, India.

Mary is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Law. She also holds a Masters of Law from the University of Miami and a Bachelors degree from the University of South Florida. Mary was born in Charleston, South Carolina, to immigrant parents who arrived in America from India in 1972 with their educations and the hope of living the American dream. The Thomas family eventually settled in Pinellas County, where they started a successful small business.

She introduced herself as the daughter of legal immigrants from India, a wife, mom and Christian. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, who relocated with her family to Florida as a child, is hoping to become the first Indian-American elected to Congress from the state, something she said “would truly be an historic event.”
In addition to these three women, there are several other Indian American women candidates who are in race to win elections in various parts of the country, and create history of sorts. It’s also very much on the cards that more Indian American women will win elections this year than their male counterparts.
There are several incumbent Indian American politicians at present: Aruna Miller (D-MD) has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 2011. Kshama Sawant was elected to the Seattle City Council in 2013. In Iowa, Swati Dandekar (D-IA) was a member of the state legislature for several years before being appointed to the Iowa Utilities Board by Governor Terry Branstad. Anu Natarajan served on the Fremont City Council for more than a decade before becoming the city’s vice-mayor. Reshma Saujani served as New York City’s Deputy Public Advocate before founding the popular technology non-profit Girls Who Code. In Manhatttan’s 65th Assembly District, Jenifer Rajkumar is running for New York State Assembly.
Asian-Americans, which include Indian-Americans, are the fastest growing demographic group in the U.S., according to Pew Research Center.Nearly 600,000 of the country’s 3.1 million Indian-Americans live in California, and the state boasts a number of notable elected officials. Besides Bera, who was born in Los Angeles to immigrant parents, they include Californian Attorney General Kamala Harris, who could become the first Indian-American elected to the U.S. Senate.
Though Americans of Indian descent account for only 0.1 percent of the U.S. population, they are the most affluent and best educated of any immigrant group in the country, according to Pew. They lean strongly toward Democrats, yet two Republican governors, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Nikki Haley of South Carolina, are of Indian descent.
A Pew Research Center report last year found that 65 percent of Indian-Americans identified as Democrats or leaned toward the party, the highest level of affiliation among Asian-American groups. Asian-Americans as a whole overwhelmingly voted for President Barack Obama in 2012, even outpacing Latinos.

Indian-American Teen evicted from Donald Trump rally

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A teen who identified himself as half-Indian was escorted out of a Donald Trump rally last week out of concern that he was a protester, but the man insisted he was a Trump supporter and said he feels that he was racially profiled.

Jake Anantha, an 18-year-old from Charlotte, was approached by a member of Trump’s security team and then ushered out by police. He was told that he resembled another man who had previously disrupted Trump rallies.
Anantha is reported to be a registered Republican wearing a Trump T-shirt, a Trump fanboy who had come to cheer the man he thought was for all Americans. As he stood outside the door of the convention center watching “all these white people” streaming in after he was removed, Anantha says he stopped believing Trump stood for everyone.

“When I saw him on TV, I personally didn’t mind his rhetoric,” he told the local Charlotte Observer. “I defended him. When people called him a racist, I said he’s a critic of our flawed immigration system. He’s strong on Islamic terrorism.”

Jake’s father Ramesh Anantha, who also counted himself as a Republican, says his son’s ardor for Trump made him go “whoa!” before the incident. “It’s unbelievably ironic… he should have been looked at as a perfect Trump supporter. He should have been somebody they’re putting up on stage,” said Anantha, whose parents migrated from India.

“It was a very rude introduction into the world of politics,” said Anantha, who works in financial services. “We realize Donald Trump himself had nothing to do with this problem, but it’s the type of campaign he’s running.” He believes, “I do think it was because I was brown,” Anantha said.

Explaining the run-up to the incident, Jake Anantha said he had been waiting near the stage just before Trump arrived when a security staffer tapped his shoulder and asked him to come with him. He says the staffer told him, “We know who you are. You’ve been at many other rallies.”

“I told him I’ve never been to another rally in my life,” Anantha said. “I’m a huge Trump supporter. I would never protest against Trump.” Anantha later tweeted that he would be voting for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in November. “I will definitely be voting Johnson on November 8th,” he wrote.

Indian National Overseas Congress, USA demands the immediate withdrawal of the ‘SEDITION’ charges against Amnesty International

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By George Abraham, Chairman of INOC,USA

 INOC, USA an organization that promotes Democracy, Freedom and Justice for all, demands that the Government immediately drop all accusations of ‘SEDITION’ against Amnesty International for hosting a Kashmir event.  INOC supports the right to freedom of expression for everyone, including Amnesty.

It is quite evident that the ABVP, the student wing of the BJP is increasingly being used as a political tool to advance ultra-nationalist agenda and it runs counter to the ethos and long-cherished traditions of a pluralistic India.

The so-called sedition laws are the vestiges of a colonial era, and it requires particular remedy without assaulting the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly that is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy.

“If a reputed organization like Amnesty can be silenced, what would be the fate of an average citizen who may want to speak his/her mind on an issue that is critical to the well-being of the nation?” asked George Abraham, Chairman of the INOC, USA.

According to a report, in the first three months alone this year, 19 people have faced sedition charges in India. The increased use of law enforcement mechanism to silence the critics of human rights violations flies in the face of the following remark by Prime Minister Modi soon after coming to office, “Our democracy will not sustain if we can’t guarantee freedom of speech and expression”. It is important to remember that sometimes, that freedom may also express views that are unpopular, critical or even offensive. That is the price we pay for freedom!

Former Union Home Minister Shinde inagurates Maharashtra Chapter of INOC, USA

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Sushil Kumar Shinde, an ex-Chief Minister of Maharashtra and former Home Affairs of India formally launched the Maharashtra Chapter of INOC, USA on Aug. 16, 2016, at an animated gathering at a prestigious Manhattan Restaurant and inaugurated Devendra Vora as its new President.   Mr. Vorah hails from Maharashtra and has been an active supporter of the Congress Party and its ideology for a long time.
In his speech, Shindeji urged the Congress supporters not to lose heart but to continue to work hard to earn people’s trust again. ‘Congress was in similar predicaments before but always came back when people realized that Congress party is their best option to keep political tranquility at home while achieving sustained growth.’ He recollected efforts as Home Minister in dealing with various domestic upheavals and expressed doubts that the current Government is pursuing proper strategies that could bring peace and harmony at home. He also agreed with current assessment within the party that it hadn’t done a great job communicating its achievements to the public at large and hoping to do a better job in the future.
shinde 2After welcoming the Chief Guest and Shri Sangat Singh Gilzian, MLA from TANDA URMUR District of Punjab, Harbachan Singh, Secretary-General of INOC, USA, thanked both dignitaries and the distinguished guests for gracing the event.  He dwelt in some detail upon some of the landmark achievements of the Congress party and how it had transformed India as one of the leading countries of the world.  “India is more connected today than it has ever been – networks of railways, roads, airlines, information, communication, people and media where new ideas emerge, develop and take flight very rapidly,” he said.   He opined that youth which forms a great chunk of India’s population would undoubtedly unleash their talent and energy through modern technology and play a greater role in forming future governments.  He reminded that the Indian people have and will continue to throw out governments that fail them and which does not fulfill campaign promises.
Mohinder Singh Gilzian facilitated the new Chapter officers and members and was happy to see them join the dozen other Chapters already established since a long time.

George Abraham, Chairman, felicitated the Chief Guest and lauded his brilliant career in politics from his humble beginnings to becoming the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Governor of Andhra Pradesh and the Home Minister of India. He congratulated the newly appointed President of Maharashtra Chapter Mr. Vora and wished him and Ms. Malini Shah (Chairperson) well in their development of the chapter.

shinde 3Sangat Singh Gilzian, was very appreciative of the work of INOC, USA and reassured everyone that the Congress party alone, with its rich long experience and established institutions, can provide maximum benefits to the people and develop the country not only to keep pace with the advanced countries of the world but also to compete with them effectively. He was proud that some of the best talents in the world in every sphere of human activity, science, and technology, were trained in India.  He said that the foundation laid by the Congress Party is very strong, and it had already embarked on eradicating irrational red-tape and outdated laws which were suffocating India of the speed of progress it desired so critically. The placing of the Shawl on Mr. Devendra Vora, amidst a big applause, by Shri Shindeji, highlighted the event.
shinde 4Devendra Vora ji, thanked, Shri Shindeji, Shri Sangat Singh ji and INOC, USA for the confidence and the responsibility entrusted to him.  He vouched that he took his responsibilities seriously and would do his best to live up to their expectations.
 Zach Thomas (Vice-Chairman), Harry Singh (Joint Secretary), Subash Kapadia, Mohammed Islam, Arvind Vora, Priscilla Pinto, Megha Mehta,  Hema Virani, Rajesh Joshi, DiveshTripathi,  Kaushik Dave, and Peter Shah were amongst the many prominent dignitaries who attended.

Jenifer Rajkumar hopes to find a place in N.Y. State Assembly

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Jennifer Rajkumar, an attorney at Sanford Heisler Kimpel LLP and a district leader on the West Side, New York, is hoping to win a seat to the New York State Assembly. The young Indian American, who had in 2013 run unsuccessfully against City Council member Margaret Chin, had pulled in more than 40% of the vote share. Jennifer is running for New York state Assembly from Manhattan’s 65th District, fighting a tough battle to win in the Sept. 13 election to fill the seat vacated by convicted former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Democratic District Leader Jenifer Rajkumar, 33, is running against 5 other candidates, one of them elected earlier this year to finish Silver’s remaining term. Rajkumar said she would be a candidate of change, someone dedicated to reclaiming the assembly seat for the people in the aftermath of the Sheldon Silver corruption scandal. “For too long.” she asserted, “Tammany Hall and corrupt machine politics has pushed our most vulnerable out of mainstream society, into the darkest corners of the city.” Too many people have been pushed out of their homes, out of higher education and out of decent jobs, she argued. “It is time to dismantle cronyism and the pay to play politics that benefits a small few at the expense of many.”

Rajkumar said she would be a proponent of “community-minded leadership.” She said the activism of parents at P.S. 137 on the Lower East Side, who created their own after-school program, inspired her. Rajkumar also highlighted Chinatown housing protests, which she has joined, by a group called the Coalition to Protect Chinatown and the Lower East Side. She singled out the Grand Street Cooperatives, saying, “I see people gathered here today who have banded together to make sure the co-ops honor their history and the cooperative spirit and honor the principles of transparency.”

Rajkumar rattled off a number of priorities, including: saving the Elizabeth Street Garden from development, making sure repairs are made in NYCHA buildings and pushing for meaningful ethics reform.

Other contenders in September are: Yuh-Line Niou, who ran on the Working Families Party line in the recent special election; Paul Newell, a district leader who lives at Masaryk Towers; Community Board 3 Chairperson Gigi Li, local businessman Don Lee and Lower East Side resident Christopher Marte.

On Aug. 8, Rajkumar’s campaign announced an unusual endorsement from former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, whose traction in a New York state Assembly district is doubtful. Crist, a Republican turned Democrat, running for the U.S. Congress and endorsed by President Obama, appealed to the many “snowbirds” in Florida who hail from New York’s 65th District, to support Rajkumar. “Snowbirds” refers to the mostly senior voters who escape to Florida’s warmer climes every winter.

“This will, without a doubt, resonate,” Michael Tobman, Rajkumar’s campaign spokesperson, told Desi Talk about Crist’s endorsement, which he said, is “a clear recognition of Jenifer’s independence, sincerity, and accomplishments from a dedicated public servant who has proven himself to be extremely thoughtful.”

According to a local news outlet, thelodownny.com, Rajkumar came out on top in terms of cash in hand for her campaign in the July 31 financial report, grossing more than $204,000 in contrast to the remaining candidates, all of whom had below $100,000.

According to Statisticalatlas.com, 42.3 percent of the population of the 65th District is of Asian origin, mostly Chinese, 33.8 percent White, around 15.7 percent Latino, and 5.2 percent Black, belonging to upper and lower income groups. Of the total “foreign-born” population, only 2.1 percent are from India, and more than 50 percent from China.

Obama’s approval rating is at its highest point in years, and that could be a big problem for Donald Trump

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Barack Obama strode to the stage at last month’s Democratic National Convention in an unusual speaking slot. He spoke in the primetime hour Wednesday night, a spot typically reserved for a vice-presidential nominee.

In 2000, for instance, former President Bill Clinton spoke on Monday night of then-Democratic nominee Al Gore’s convention. Former President George W. Bush, deeply unpopular in his second term, didn’t show up for then-Republican nominee John McCain’s party in 2008.

Obama’s speaking slot was by design. It previewed an outsize role in his final campaign: Electing Hillary Clinton to be his successor in the White House.

“President Obama gives Hillary Clinton a hat trick: He can help unite the party by bringing out Bernie Sanders supporters into her camp, deliver an aggressive contrast about the threat posed by Donald Trump, and ensure that all the supporters of the Obama coalition show up in November,” Ben LaBolt, a former spokesman for Obama’s presidential campaigns, told Business Insider earlier this year.

Obama is prepared to campaign for his party’s presidential nominee more than any sitting president in recent history. That could be a big problem for the GOP and its nominee, Donald Trump. And a huge boon for Clinton.

The president’s approval rating got its own convention bump: In a CNN/ORC poll conducted after the convention, 54% of Americans said they approved of Obama’s job performance. It was his highest mark since right before his second inauguration in 2013. Just 45% disapproved.

That number is significant. Earlier this year, an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that President Barack Obama’s approval rating had jumped to 51% — its highest point since his second inauguration.  NBC’s team of political analysts called it the “most important number” out of the poll.

“Why is it important? Because it means that Obama will be an asset to Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail unlike he was in the 2014 midterms, when his approval rating was in the low 40s,” NBC’s Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Carrie Dann wrote. The threshold might seem arbitrary. But historical precedent suggests it could bode well for Clinton, Obama’s former secretary of state.

Early this year, Obama’s approval rating hit 50% in the weekly average from Gallup’s daily survey. As of Friday, it stands at 51%. For Obama, whose approval ratings have been stuck in the mid- to low-40% range for much of his second term, it was a notable bump.

“While it’s hard to pinpoint precisely why Obama’s approval rating has risen among Democrats recently, there are a number of plausible explanations,” wrote Andrew Dugan, a Gallup analyst, and Frank Newport, the organization’s editor-in-chief, in a post earlier this year.

One of the explanations, the pair concurred, was that “the unusual status of the Republican primary race — exemplified in particular by frontrunner Donald Trump’s campaign style and rhetoric — may serve to make Obama look statesmanlike in comparison.”

rump has come into Obama’s crosshairs repeatedly as he has hit the trail for Clinton. And with good reason: More so than at any other presidential hand-off in recent history, so many elements of the current administration’s legacy are at stake.

The Republican nominee has pledged to undo signature achievements on healthcare (the Affordable Care Act), the environment (historic new regulations aimed at curbing climate change), and foreign policy (the Iran nuclear deal).

Those themes will become evident as the president launches into what will be his final campaign: Preventing a Trump presidency.

“Not only does he have strong standing among Democrats and independents, but he has a unique ability to mobilize the young voters and diverse communities she’ll need to win,” LaBolt said.

Obama’s approval ratings at this point are far better than those of Bush, his predecessor, off whose unpopularity Obama thrived during his 2008 run. His level is most directly comparable to former President Ronald Reagan, who in March 1988 held a 51% approval rating, according to Gallup.

That same year, voters selected George H.W. Bush — Reagan’s vice president — to succeed him. “Yes,” said Ari Fleischer, President George W. Bush’s former press secretary, when asked earlier this year if Obama’s apparent rising popularity poses a problem for the Republican Party.

“Certainly, going into an election spring and summer, it’s better to have an incumbent president increasingly popular rather than less popular if you’re the incumbent party,” he told Business Insider.

The numbers present a striking contrast to some data points associated with the current Republican presidential frontrunner. A recent Gallup survey revealed that 42% of voters view Trump in a “highly unfavorable” light, compared with 16% who see him highly favorably. That’s the highest negative percentage for any major presidential candidate since at least 1956, according to Gallup.

“I’ve been doing this [since] 1964, which is the Goldwater years,” NBC/WSJ co-pollster Peter Hart told NBC of the relative unpopularity of many of the candidates earlier in the year. “To me, this is the low point. I’ve seen the disgust and the polarization. Never, never seen anything like this. They’re not going up; they’re going down.”

It helps explain why Clinton is attaching herself to much of Obama’s legacy. And Obama remains favorable to wide swaths of constituencies that Clinton needs to turn out to vote in November. The president holds high approval ratings among African-Americans (90%), Democrats (82%), Latinos (73%), and voters aged 18 to 34 (64%), according to Gallup.

And despite the strong primary challenge from Sen. Bernie Sanders, in many ways, Clinton has run an incumbent-style campaign, and she has had much of the party’s establishment rallying behind her candidacy.

As Gallup’s Dugan and Newport wrote earlier this year: “In comparison, the two most recent candidates running to succeed a two-term president of the same party — John McCain running to follow the unpopular Bush, and Al Gore trying to succeed the popular but scandal-prone Bill Clinton — went to greater pains to ensure they were not associated with the outgoing president.” They concluded: “Prior to that, George H.W. Bush in 1988 presented himself as a natural heir to the Reagan legacy and was able to win his own term.”

Nikki Haley defends grieving Muslim Gold Star parents against Trump

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Gov. Nikki Haley, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham and other South Carolina Republicans jumped to the defense of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the grieving parents of a Muslim soldier who died defending the United States.

The Khans, from Pakistan, have been subject to scrutiny by Donald Trump and his supporters since they took to the stage of the Democratic National Convention Thursday to denounce the Republican presidential nominee for his proposed ban on Muslim immigrants.

“As a member of a military family, and the governor of a proud military state that has been recognized as the most patriotic, my heart and my unending thanks go out to the Khan family for their enormous sacrifice for our country,” Haley said in a statement Monday. “As far as I’m concerned, they have the standing to say whatever they want in the political process and should not face criticism for it.”

After Khizr Khan rebuked, among other things, Trump’s Islamophobia, at the Democratic National Convention, Trump suggested that Gazala Khan mutely standing beside her husband as he spoke had something to do with Islamic culture which oppressed women. Later in a television interview Gazala Khan said she didn’t speak at the convention as it is very difficult for her to control her emotions with her slain son’s photos displayed on the podium screens. Following what seemed like a national outrage, Haley joined the chorus of Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Rayn, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Sen. Jon McCain and Sen. Lindsey Graham, denouncing Trump’s disparaging remarks and praise the sacrifice of Humayun Khan and his family.

Haley’s husband Michael is a captain in the South Carolina Army National Guard and a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan. Despite her criticism, however, Haley remains in lock step with the Republican national leadership in not withdrawing her support for Trump’s candidacy, which President Obama said renders GOP leaders’ criticism of Trump’s egregious comments and positions as “hollow.”

Pramila Jayapal poised to enter US Congress

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Pramila Jayapal, a state senator in the state of Washington, is poised to become the first Indian American woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress in November. Jayapal, a Democrat and a Bernie Sanders supporter during the primaries, won the open primary from Washington’s District 7, making her all but a winner in the Democratic Party leaning district. Pramila Jayapal handily won an open Congressional primary last week to set up a November showdown with a second-placed rival.

Jayapal fought a primary against Joe McDermott and Brady Walkinshaw, also Democrats, for Washington state’s 7th Congressional district that includes the city of Seattle. With endorsement from Bernie Sanders, Jayapal polled 38% of votes, leaving the two men to duke it out for second place with around 20% vote each.

Six other candidates, including Arun Jhaveri, another Democrat, polled less than 9% of the vote. The top two vote-getters will move on to the fall election after all of the votes are counted and final results are certified in about two weeks.
Jayapal describes herself as progressive and was among the first congressional candidates endorsed by Bernie Sanders. “We’re building a movement that can clearly stake out a positive vision for the future of America at a time when too many people feel cynical about change, and when too many people are struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table,” Jayapal said. Jayapal ran on a platform of pledging to fight for a higher minimum wage, debt free college, and expanded Medicare and social security.

The Indian-born Jayapal will face off one of the two other Democrat candidates in the top-two primary system, which much like California, will pit the top two primary vote-getters against each other irrespective of their party affiliation.

Jayapal was one of the first 2016 congressional candidates to be endorsed by Sanders. Following her victory, The Nation quoted Sanders as saying: “Pramila just proved that candidates can run a strong progressive campaign funded by small-dollar donors and win big. The people-powered movement that propelled our campaign to victory in states around the country is already changing how campaigns are run up and down the ticket.” The Nation, a left-leaning magazine which endorsed Sanders, said Jayapal “scored one of the biggest progressive victories of 2016.”

Jayapal’s path to Capitol Hill was paved through a stint on the Wall Street and progressive activism in support of women and immigrants’ rights. She came to the U.S. in 1982 as a student.

Jayapal is hoping to take over the seat held since 1989 by Congressman Jim McDermott, who announced his retirement earlier this year after serving 13 terms in the House of Representatives. A physician who travelled often to India for medical work even before he entered Congress, McDermott was a strong votary of US-India ties. Jayapal, who was born in Chennai and was raised in Singapore and Indonesia before coming to the US at 16, has been a longtime civil liberties and immigration activist in the Pacific Northwest, which is home to a large foreign-born population.

US Senate India Caucus to get a boost with 2 CT Senators committing to join

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Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy from the state of Connecticut have committed to join the US Senate India Caucus at community meetings organized by the Connecticut Chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) last month. Senate India Caucus was started in 2004 at the initiative of the Indian American community with former Democrat Senator Hillary Clinton and Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, who continues to serve as its Co-Chair. Senator Mark Warner is now the Co-Chair from the Democrat side. As a bipartisan body, Senators Cornyn and Warner have been working to engage Indian Americans and Indian government officials to expand cooperation between the United States and India, the world’s largest democracy.

At an interactive breakfast meeting organized by GOPIO-CT last month in Stamford, CT, Senator Murphy noted the increasing cooperation between the USA and India  in defense, containing terrorism, trade and commerce, education, IT and technology areas. Addressing GOPIO-CT Annual Banquet held last month, Senator Blumenthal thanked the Indian American community for its enormous contribution to America. When a question was raised to both Senators at separate meetings about them joining the India Caucus, they made commitments publicly to do so.

“We want a strong set-up in the US Capitol for India which could bring more synergy in the next level of cooperation between the two largest democracies of the world,” said Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO who had initiated the effort with both the Senators.

“With Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a joint session of both houses in June, there is much more awareness of India among the lawmakers and this is the right time for the community to reach out lawmakers who are still not yet members of the India Caucus and GOPIO will continue to do such effort,” Dr. Abraham added.

Only 9% of America chose Trump and Clinton as the nominees

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The greatest democracy on earth is all set to elect the next President. With the year-long primary season and the conventions out of the way, both the major political parties are focused on the general election and with the challenging task of electing the new President of the United States.

However, the just concluded primaries, where Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were elected by their own party’s registered voters, has had only less then 10% of the total population excercising their voting right.

According to surveys/research, the United States is home to 324 million people. 103 million of them are children, noncitizens or ineligible felons, and they do not have the right to vote. 88 million eligible adults do not vote at all, even in general elections, based on the share of eligible adults who voted in the 2012 general election.

An additional 73 million did not vote in the primaries this year, but will most likely vote in the general election. This number does not include people who voted in caucuses, which have less reliable turnout numbers. A small percentage of people vote in primaries but not in general elections, and they are also not included.

The remaining 60 million people voted in the primaries: about 30 million each for Republicans and Democrats. But half of the primary voters chose other candidates. Just 14 percent of eligible adults — only 9 percent of the whole nation — voted for either Trump or Clinton.

The overall shares were about the same in 2008, the last cycle without an incumbent president running. Trump and Clinton will be working to win the votes of these three groups. Polls suggest they will be separated by just a handful of votes, which will be the victory margin, between the loser and the winner, who will be holding the most powerful elected office on earth.

Dinesh D’Souza’s film on Hillary Clinton in theaters now

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Hillary’s America by Indian American conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza, takes audiences on a gripping journey into the secret history of the Democratic Party and the contentious rise of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

In Hillary’s America, New York Times #1 best-selling author and celebrated filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza attempts to tell his side of the story about Hillary and the history of the Democratic Party. “This eye-opening film sheds light on the Democrats’ transition from pro-slavery to pro-enslavement; how Hillary Clinton’s political mentor was, literally, a cold-blooded gangster; and how the Clintons and other Democrats see foreign policy not in terms of national interest, but in terms of personal profit,” says a report by the from the creators of America: Imagine The World Without Her and 2016: Obama’s America .

And with the anti-Hillary film now becoming the highest-grossing documentary of the year to date at the U.S. box office, the decision to time the release of the film with the Democratic and the Republican national conventions is reaping rich dividends. The docu-drama has made $5.2 million in just 12 days. “Oh no! IndieWire is calling me the new Michael Moore! Did I just lose 50 IQ points? Say it ain’t so!” D’Souza quipped on his Facebook page July 27.

“To understand Hillary, we must solve the Hillary enigma. The Hillary enigma is why anyone – any American, any Democrat, even Bill – would consider voting for her,” reads the opening sentence of the book “Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party” by author and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza.

“What I am hoping the movie will do is reach well-meaning people in the middle, sincere Democrats who go ‘I can’t believe this,’” he was quoted as saying by Fox News.
“We have had people who have been in the movie, particularly minorities particularly Hispanics and blacks, and they say ‘Dinesh the only question I have to ask you, is this true? Because if they are true it changes everything,’” he was quoted as saying.

According to Hollywood Reporter, the 100-minute film doesn’t pretend to be nonpartisan. A trailer for the doc refers to Bill and Hillary Clinton as “depraved crooks” and Democrats as “the party of corruption” that is associated with slavery, lynchings, the KKK and forced sterilization.

Along with analyzing Clinton’s time as President Obama’s secretary of state and her motives, the film challenges the core policies of the Democratic Party. D’Souza, a conservative commentator who shot to fame with his Obama documentary, also comes with some baggage of his own. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance fraud.

He served as president of The King’s College in New York City from 2010 to 2012, when he abruptly resigned after it was revealed that D’Souza, married with one daughter, had an extramarital affair.

Hillary Clinton pledges to take on Immigration Reform in first 100 days

Ajay GhoshPolitics, Travel 0

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has pledged to introduce comprehensive immigration reform, including stapling a green card to the diploma of every foreign STEM graduate, within the first 100 days after taking office, according to a fact sheet released by her campaign’s AAPI policy committee July 26.

The candidate reiterated her pledge on the closing night of the Democratic National Convention July 28, as she accepted her party’s nomination. “We will build a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants who are already contributing to our economy,” she said, to cheers from the large audience at the Wells Fargo Convention Center.

“I believe that when we have millions of hardworking immigrants contributing to our economy, it would be self-defeating and inhumane to kick them out. Comprehensive immigration reform will grow our economy and keep families together and it’s the right thing to do,” said Clinton.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had told voters in Nevada that she would address immigration reform in the first 100 days of her presidency. “This is at the top of the list,” Clinton said during an MSNBC/Telemundo town hall, two days before Nevada’s Democratic caucus. “It’s going to be introduced, and then I’m going to work as hard as I can to make sure we get it moved through the congressional process. I can control the introduction of legislation, but Congress has to get its act in gear. That’s why we need to elect a Democratic senate so we have some friends.”

“I believe that when we have millions of hardworking immigrants contributing to our economy, it would be self-defeating and inhumane to kick them out. Comprehensive immigration reform will grow our economy and keep families together and it’s the right thing to do,” said Clinton.

The AAPI policy committee fact sheet stated that Clinton would offer a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented residents currently residing in the U.S. “Asian immigrants make up 11 percent of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country, the vast majority of whom have lived in the U.S. for over a decade,” according to the fact sheet.

Clinton has pledged to support President Barack Obama’s beleaguered executive orders – Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and an expanded version of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – which he announced in November 2014. Twenty-six states immediately sued, noting the costs of issuing thousands of new drivers’ licenses and challenging the constitutionality of the proposal. The Supreme Court was split in its ruling on the case June 23, and threw the issue back to a lower court.

At a recent New America Media briefing on immigration reform July 7, Sally Kinoshita, deputy director of the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, told India-West that Indian Americans would be the second largest group of immigrants to benefit from the proposed DACA/DAPA initiative. Currently, an estimated 284,000 undocumented Indian nationals reside in the U.S. About 40 percent of them would have benefitted from the president’s deportation relief program, which provides work authorization, the ability to obtain a driver’s license, as well as relief from deportation.

Clinton has also proposed clearing the back-log on family-based visas. In some categories, Indians waiting to enter the U.S. to be reunited with family members face a delay of more than a decade.

The former secretary of state has also proposed the first-ever federal Office of Immigrant Affairs to “ensure there is a dedicated place in the White House where integration policies and services for immigrants and refugees are managed.”

Clinton has also pledged to support small businesses by expanding access to capital, providing tax relief, expanding access to new markets and fighting discrimination in the lending market. Noting that AAPI women face a larger wage gap – 86 cents for every dollar a white male earns – Clinton has promised to break down barriers that AAPI women face in achieving pay equity, and to ensure that all women are on equal footing with men.

She has also pledged to combat bullying of Asian American school children. In her prime-time speech to the nation, Clinton promised that her administration would reflect America’s diverse populations.

Clinton’s comments marked a more aggressive embrace of immigration reform. A few months ago, the Democratic presidential front-runner, while pledging to provide a path to citizenship to undocumented immigrants.

“As president, she will build on President Obama’s progress of appointing AAPIs throughout the executive branch. From special assistants to cabinet members, AAPIs will play a key role in helping to shape her administration and its policy priorities,” the policy committee noted in its fact sheet.

Trump criticized for comments on Muslim mother of fallen US soldier

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Donald Trump is taking issue with a speech at this week’s Democratic National Convention by Muslim lawyer Khizr Khan, whose Army captain son was killed in action and who said on stage that Trump has “sacrificed nothing and no one” for America. But Democrats and advocates for veterans’ families say the Republican presidential nominee went too far in his response.

Khan made the comment during his tribute to his son, Humayun, who posthumously received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart after being killed by a suicide bomber in Iraq in 2004.

As Khan spoke, his wife Ghazala, Humayun’s mother, stood silently by his side. Trump, during an interview with ABC’s “This Week,” said: “She had nothing to say. She probably, maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me.”

And Trump challenged Khizr Khan’s claims about having sacrificed nothing. “I’ve made a lot of sacrifices,” Trump said. “I work very, very hard. I’ve created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures.” Ghazala Khan has said she didn’t speak because she’s still overwhelmed by grief and can’t even look at photos of her son without crying.

Trump’s comments sparked immediate outrage on social media — both because they critiqued a mourning mother and because many considered them racist and anti-Muslim. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has previously raised concerns about Trump’s previous comments about Muslims.

“Our commander in chief shouldn’t insult and deride our generals, retired or otherwise,” Hillary Clinton told a crowd gathered July 30 on a factory floor in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. “That should really go without saying.”

At a rally in Pittsburgh, she was introduced by Mark Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner, technology investor and television personality who recently endorsed her. “Leadership is not yelling and screaming and intimidating,” said Cuban.

Indian Americans shine at Democratic Convention

Ajay GhoshPolitics 0

Rep. Ami Bera, Neera Tanden and Raja Krishnamoorthi, were among the three prominent Indian Americans, who took the stage before the 4,765 national delegates and the world during the Democratic Party Convention that ended in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 28th. There were about 300 Asian American delegates and a “sizable” number of them were Asian Indians. There were also scores of Indian Americans volunteering at the convention.

Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, made an impassioned speech on Wednesday in support of the party candidate for president Hillary Clinton, declaring: “Hillary will always have our backing.” Congressman Ami Bera of California was presented as a leader reflecting the diversity of the Democratic Party in Congress. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for Congress from Illinois, came on stage as a “New Leader of Tomorrow.” He told the media about the moment in the party limelight: “I am thrilled.”

Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic Congressional candidate from Illinois, was introduced as one of the party’s emerging leaders during the Democratic National Convention. Krishnamoorthi, 42, is among only two Congressional candidates to have been invited on to the DNC stage here as the party’s rising star or emerging leader.

Krishnamoorthi, a lawyer and a technology and environmental entrepreneur, joked that he probably had a “mutant gene” that made him turn to politics in a community that focuses on careers in medicine, technology and education.

He said his family was in “dire economic straits” and had a difficult time when he was a baby, but the “generosity” of the United States helped them come out of it. “Ever since then, I have been wanting to make sure that others have a shot at the American dream” like his family, he said.

If elected, he would join Ami Bera in the US House of Representatives in the next Congress beginning January 2017. Bera, meanwhile, is seeking his third-term in the November general elections. Krishnamoorthi has the distinction of being endorsed by US President Barack Obama.

Congresswoman Grace Meng, the head of an influential Asian American political action committee, called at the Convention for supporting Krishnamoorthi and said the presence of the Asians in Congress would grow with his election. “From being a marginal minority, we can be the margin of victory,” said Rep. Judy Chu, D-California, chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus in Congress.

Indian Americans shine at Democratic ConventionNeera Tanden would made her political debut in the US elections when she stood behind the lectern to address thousands of delegates of the Democratic party and its top leadership in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Tanden is a close confident of Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, and highly speculated as a potential cabinet appointee in her administration. “I expect to have a full unified party over the next couple of day,” Tanden told reporters on the eve of her address to the Democratic National Convention. She was a key member of the Democratic Platform Committee. You will see in Hillary’s speech on Thursday really welcoming everyone and that includes Indian-Americans, includes South Asians and the great diversity of the country,” Tanden said.

Tanden spoke candidly of her family’s travails after her father divorced her mother when she was five and how the public safety net saved them and helped her eventually get an Ivy League law degree and to become Hillary Clinton’s adviser and play important roles in her campaigns.

According to a 2015 Pew Research study, 65 percent of people of Indian Americans lean Democratic and 18 percent Republican. Even though Indians are less than 1 percent of the US population, they can play a crucial role in the “battleground states” – the six or so states like Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio where both parties are almost evenly balanced – according to Toby Chudhuri, a former White House strategy and communications adviser. “There is no longer a mainstream, but many streams” in the US and it was important for the Indian American community to actively get involved in politics and have their voices heard, he said.

Others who made news with their presence at the convention included, an 18-year-old delegate from Iowa, Sruthi Palaniyappan, introduced her state delegation’s announcement of its votes during the Convention roll call Tuesday. She said that she “definitely” plans to run for public affairs. A Hillary delegate, she said she started at the local precinct level and worked her way up to get elected as a national delegate.

Neil Makhija, another delegate at the convention, is a candidate for State Representative in Pennsulvania. The 29-year-old said that while people are more focused on the presidential elections, issues that directly affect the people like education are decided at the state and local levels. That was why he was running for the state legislature.

Samai Kindra from Maryland has taken a year off after high school to work as an intern with the state Democratic Party working on mobilising people to register to vote.

Shefali Razdan Duggal, nominated member of the Rules Committee of the Democratic National Convention, said, she looked to the older generation to mobilize the youth, using their experience. she was “absolutely confident that every (Indian-American) delegate, from each state, is putting the entirety of their hearts into this very important moment of their lives,” adding, “They are representing candidates in, arguably, the most important election of our lifetime.”

Indian Americans shine at Democratic ConventionWith general election mode set in, and the primaries behind them, Indian Americans have founded organizations to rally support for Clinton and other candidates and to raise funds for campaigns. Indian Americans for Hillary Clinton (IAFHC) founded by Rajan Natarajan, said that presence of high political figures at their rallies was a sign of the recognition the Indian American community was now receiving from politicians. IAFHC Co-Chair Devang Shah explained how a small community like Indian Americans can play an outsize role in elections in the battleground states.

Shekhar Narasimhan has set up the Asian American Pacific Islander Victory Fund, which he said had raised $300,000 and has a target of $1.5 million. It will fund drives to mobilise voters in the six swing states and promote progressive candidates.

While the Republicans had a long paragraph on India in its platform during the GOP Convention in Ohio, the Democratic Party’s platform summed up its position on India along expected lines. “We will continue to invest in a long-term strategic partnership with India — the world’s largest democracy, a nation of great diversity, and an important Pacific power,” the platform said.

That was the only reference to India in the 51-page documents, indicating that the Indo-U.S. relations built on solid foundations of mutual cooperation and friendship, particularly during the years of Obama administration, are to continue even with a change in leadership in Washington.

In a telltale sign of the Democrats’ apparent interest in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the only world leader who appeared in the introduction video of President Barack Obama at the convention.

India’s Ambassador Arun K. Singh continued his outreach with American political leadership, and met with top Democratic lawmakers, including officials of the Hillary Clinton campaign, to underline the importance India attaches to Indo-U.S. relations. Singh, according to reports, was given rare access to the top leadership of the party, including to lawmakers like Senator Patrick Leahy, Ranking Member of Senate Judiciary Committee, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi as well as top Democratic lawmakers Nita Lowey, Frank Pallone, and Joe Crowley who is Vice Chair of Democratic Caucus and former co-chair of the House India Caucus. John Podesta, chair of Hillary Clinton’s Campaign and former counselor to President Barack Obama also met with Singh.

The reports said that top Indian-American community leaders attending the four-day national convention held a reception for Singh, “Chai and Chaat” which among others was attended by Senator Corry Booker, Ranking Member of Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guards. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for House of Representative race from Illinois, Raj Goyle, former Democratic Member of Kansas House of Representatives, were present at the event.

Singh in his address underscored the important role being played by Indian-American community in strengthening India U.S. ties. Singh also addressed another event titled “South Asians for Hillary” and attended a diplomatic reception by American Jewish Committee. On August 12, Indian American leaders will be meeting in Las Vegas to see how they can help put more of their community in public offices, according to one of the organizers of the meeting.

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