LONG ISLAND, NY (TIP): Indian American Community leaders from Nassau, Suffolk and Queens came together in the past two weeks and expressed their collective support for Tom Suozzi, running for the US House of Representatives, in the third congressional district covering parts of the three counties.
Dr. Deepak Nandi, Dr. Bhupi Patel, Dr. Dattatreya Nori, Anumolu Rao, Animesh Goenka, Sunil Modi, Sekhar Nelanuthala, Gobind Bathija, Satnam Parhar and 30 other prominent members of the community assembled at the Albertson home of Ratna and Varinder Bhalla, hosts of the fundraiser on October 28, and expressed their strong support in electing Suozzi for Congress on November 8. Numerous other physicians and community activists gathered for another fundraiser organized by Dr. Ajay Lodha and Dr. Vaijinath Chakote in Roslyn on October 23.
Varinder K Bhalla, Chairman & Founder of the Indian American Voters Forum announced that members of its advisory committee unanimously endorsed the former County Executive for election to the US Congress. “Tom Suozzi has been a great supporter of the Indian community for nearly two decades and as Congressman, he will be a great for India, United States and Indo US relations”, said Bhalla. Founded in 2003, the Indian American Voters Forum promotes voter registration drive and conducts debates among political candidates seeking elective office.
“As County Executive, Tom Suozzi had appointed more Indian Americans in high level positions in his administration than any other County Executive in the entire State of New York,” Bhalla added. Representing the Sikh community, Dr. Harsimran Singh Sabharwal expressed appreciation for Suozzi for “helping us to build a Gurudwara in Glen Cove when he was its Mayor.” Dr. Bhupi Patel made an impassioned appeal that all members of the community exercise their right to vote and vote for Tom Suozzi.
Earlier this year, at a reception hosted by the Bhallas for the incoming Consul General Riva Ganguli Das, Suozzi stressed his longstanding association with the Indian American community on Long Island, and said, “if I am elected, I will join the US Congressional Caucus on India &Indian Americans and work to strengthen the bond between the world’s largest democracy and the world’s oldest democracy.”
(Based on a press release issued by Varinder Bhalla)
NEW YORK (TIP): The FBI’s decision to re-open email scandal investigation has opened a new web of legal challenges for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton which could end up in her impeachment if she becomes the next US president, a top Indian-American attorney has claimed.Batra said Huma Abedin, who is at the center of the current storm that has engulfed Clinton, 10 days ahead of the elections, is at the risk of having lied to the FBI. (Source: Reuters)
The FBI’s decision to re-open email scandal investigation has opened a new web of legal challenges for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton which could end up in her impeachment if she becomes the next US president, a top Indian-American attorney has claimed.
“The effect of this Friday re-opening is earth shattering: the criminal investigation is re-opened, and it is not limited to Weiner’s laptop. Its open-ended,” Ravi Batra told PTI.
“This may well peter out having narrowed Hillary’s win and lead her post-Oath as POTUS (president of the United States) to face opposition from House Republicans that will seem to kiss impeachment post-Day One,” warned Batra, a Democrat who has been closely following 69-year-old Clinton’s alleged email scandal.Batra said Huma Abedin, who is at the center of the current storm that has engulfed Clinton, 10 days ahead of the elections, is at the risk of having lied to the FBI.”Hillary’s “shadow” Huma, is at risk of having lied to federal FBI – which if she did, is a felony. Worse, is if she hires her own lawyer, not one paid for by Hillary. For if Huma seeks immunity, the House of Cards will unravel in ways unimaginable in American history,” he said yesterday.
Batra, who now chairs National Advisory Council South Asian Affairs, said just when the 2016 presidential election was coming to a merciful close, it all blew up on Friday with FBI Director Jim Comey’s Letter to Congress. In the letter Comey informed the Congress that he was re-opening the email investigation of Clinton.
“Comey is a man who will vindicate the law and the Constitution, and by so doing, redeem every ounce of his honor that was bled on the partisan political battlefield,” he said.
Comey is under an unprecedented attack from the Clinton Campaign and the Democratic Party for taking such a decision.
Batra said Comey took the decision after it was referred to him by Indian-American Preet Bharara, who was looking into the investigation of an alleged sexting case of former Congressman Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of Abedin. During the investigation, the FBI agents seized a laptop of Weiner which he shared with Abedin.
According to media reports, the laptop has more than 650,000 emails, many of which could be of Abedin’s work related and this form part of the email scandal investigation.”The bottom line of Comey’s unprecedented go-it-alone decision to re-open Hillary’s criminal investigation based upon Preet’s referral to him of Weiner’s laptop is nothing short of his rebuke of those who dared to fool him, and then, maybe, even gloat,” Batra said.
“I and the world expected Hillary or Biden to become the Democratic Nominee and to win the presidency. Unfortunately, all of us who appreciate experienced people to lead nations, who are proportionate and calibrated in their actions and deliberated governance, have been let down,” he said.
“One can only hope that the Early Voting will buffer the Friday Comey letter and Hillary wins, Trump loses, and then America can well self-correct to a better future,” he said.
New York City (TIP): On the 141st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Bharat Ratna awardee and an i n v a l u a b l e contributor in the freedom struggle and founding of independent and united India, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was celebrated at the Indian consulate here on 31 october, 2016.
A documentary on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was screened on the occasion followed by remarks by the Consul General Riwa Ganguly Das who paid rich tributes to Sardar Patel, describing him as a great leader.
ORLANDO, FL (TIP): Indian-American South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has reaffirmed her support to her party candidate Donald Trump in the November 8 general elections saying she will vote for him out of concern over presidential appointments but “holds her breath” every day on what the controversial Republican will say next.
“Every day I hold my breath wondering what he’s gonna say, I mean, I do,” Ms Haley told WIBC radio’s 93.1 FM, October 31, about the 70-year-old real estate tycoon known for his divisive rhetoric.
During the primaries, Haley had endorsed Marco Rubio for presidency and had even clashed with Trump on some policy issues. She, however, said she would vote for Trump in the presidential elections next Tuesday.
“I don’t expect everybody to agree with me. What I can tell you is, I have always said that I would support the Republican nominee, that was not a big secret. Everybody’s deciding to talk about this again. But I’ve always said that I was gonna support the Republican nominee,” Ms Haley said.
“I have not always agreed with the way Donald Trump has communicated with the public in a time when the Republican Party is more diverse than it’s ever been, is continuing to grow its tent, is continuing to pull people together, and showing that, through all the Republican governors and all their successes, you know, to see someone that communicates anything that would divide us is not something that we want,” she added.
Responding to a question, Ms Haley said she thinks that this entire election has been “disheartening for both parties”.
At the same time, she said she was more concerned about the possibility of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton making appointments to the Supreme Court and to the cabinet.
Haley said by picking Indian Governor Mike Pence as his running mate, Trump has shown that he could be surrounded by good people.
“I will absolutely vote for Trump,” she said.Last week at a news conference, Haley had said that the election has turned her stomach upside down.
“I think I’ve been really clear. This election has turned my stomach upside down. It has been embarrassing for both parties. It’s not something that the country deserves, but it’s what we’ve got.””Having said that, what I will tell you is that this is no longer a choice for me on personalities because I’m not a fan of either one,” she said, referring to Trump and Clinton. “What it is about is policy.”
MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced, November 3, that a special network of Santa’s Mailboxes has arrived in various Nassau County Parks. Now through Friday, December 16th, the children of Nassau County can send their holiday lists directly to Old St. Nick at the North Pole.
The Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums will forward letters to Santa at the North Pole. Letters received by Friday, December 16th with a legible name and return address will be answered by Santa before the holiday. There is no postage necessary.
Colorful red and green mailboxes will be accessible from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily at the administration buildings of the following parks:
Cantiague Park in Hicksville, (571-7056);
Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn-North Hills, (571-8113);
Grant Park in Hewlett, (571-7821);
Rev. Arthur Mackey, Sr. Park in Roosevelt, (571-8692);
Wantagh Park in Wantagh, (571-7460);
*Eisenhower Park: Nassau Aquatic Center at Parking Field No. 1A, (572-0501); and Eisenhower Park Administration Building: Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., (572-0200).
For more information about Santa’s mailboxes, please call (516) 572-0200 weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., or visit the Park’s Department website at:
www.nassaucountyny.gov/parks.
COLUMBUS, OHIO (TIP): Beyoncé will join Jay Z on Friday in Ohio at a get-out-the-vote concert for Hillary Clinton, a source who overheard the news told CBS News.
Clinton will be joined by the music superstars at a rally at Cleveland State University heading into the final weekend before Election Day. The Clinton campaign is making an aggressive push to urge Ohioans to vote early.
Jay Z’s appearance had already been announced.
But the addition of his wife Beyoncé, one of the biggest entertainers in the world, adds even more star power to the Cleveland event.
The concert is aimed at millennials and African-American voters in the Democratic stronghold of Cuyahoga County, where Clinton needs big margins on election night to defeat Donald Trump, who is leading the polls in Ohio.
The music megastars are among several acts — including Katy Perry, The National and John Legend — helping Clinton make a final appeal to young voters.
The Clinton campaign declined to comment on the appearance.
PEORIA, AZ (TIP): An Indian-origin teenager has been arrested in the US for carrying out a cyberattack that swamped Arizona’s emergency services with several bogus calls, an incident he claimed was a non-harmful joke gone wrong. Meetkumar Hiteshbhai Desai was taken into custody after the Surprise Police Department, Arizona, notified the Sheriff’s Office of more than 100 hang-up 911 calls.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested the 18-year-old, accusing him of carrying out a cyberattack on the 911 system, according to a Sheriff’s Office statement. Desai was booked into a Maricopa County jail on suspicion of three counts of computer tampering. Interference with critical infrastructure could have disrupted the 911 system in the Phoenix area and potentially other states, The Arizona Republic reported.
Investigators traced the calls and discovered they originated from a link posted to Twitter, according to the statement. The link was to a site named “Meet Desai” and its domain was hosted out of San Francisco. When the link was clicked, it continually called 911 and would not let the caller hang up. Peoria police and the MCSO also received a large number of calls, and the volume had the potential to shut down 911 service across Maricopa County, the Sheriff’s Office said. MCSO detectives identified ‘Meet’ and took him in for questioning, October 26.
“Meet claims that his intention was to make a non-harmful, but annoying bug that he believed was ‘funny’,” the Sheriff’s Office statement said. Desai told investigators that he was approached by an online friend with a bug. Desai then tweaked the bug so it would add pop-ups, prompts to open e-mail applications and activation of automatic telephone dialing on iOS devices, all via coding that Desai wrote himself.
Desai said Apple Inc., the hardware and software company, would pay and credit him for discovering such bugs and viruses. The MCSO cybercrimes unit executed a search warrant and seized multiple items at Desai’s residence that will be forensically examined, the Sheriff’s Office said.
JACKSONVILLE, FL (TIP): A prominent Hindu-American group on Thursday, November 03, said that it is “deeply disturbed” by a video commercial which attacks Huma Abedin, a close aide of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, as “pro- terrorist,” based on her ethnicity and Pakistani heritage.
The video commercial, produced by the Republican Hindu Coalition, airs on more than a dozen TV stations in the US, including several catering specifically to Indian viewers and attacks Abedin for her Pakistani heritage.
“Condemning anyone simply because of their religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation is against the pluralistic ethos of Hinduism and has no place in a democracy,” said Suhag Shukla, Hindu-American Foundation (HAF) executive director.
HAF leaders are “deeply disturbed” by political ads airing on television that attack Clinton aide Abedin’s ethnic background, the media statement said.
The ads’ sponsor alleges that because of her Pakistani heritage, Abedin is “pro-terrorist,” it said.
“While the potential foreign policy decisions of any of the presidential candidates are fair game for criticism – and are rightfully of deep concern to many Hindu-Americans -personal attacks such as those made in the recent ads are simply beyond the pale,” Shukla said.
Abedin’s mother is Pakistani and was born in undivided British India.
She is currently in middle of a political storm after FBI started reviewing some 650,000 emails found on a laptop belonging to Abedin’s estranged husband, former Congressman Anthony Weiner, that may be related to the investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server while she served as Secretary of State during President Barack Obama’s first presidency.
CHICAGO (TIP): Orlando’s Indian-American businessman Nikesh Patel has signaled that he could plead guilty in the $179 million loan fraud case that rocked the local business world when he was arrested in September 2014. Previously entering a not-guilty plea, Patel has been cooperating with authorities. His change-of-plea hearing is set for Dec. 6 before a federal judge in Chicago.
Patel is accused of selling about 26 fake loans to a Milwaukee financial firm, Pennant Management. The indictment, like the FBI allegations before that, accuses Patel of falsely saying his loans were guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Investigators have recovered about $100 million by selling off Patel’s hotels, cars and other property. But the scope and damage of his alleged crimes widened over time too. Orlando restaurant Mingo’s, which Patel invested in, closed almost immediately. Pennant Management has since closed its doors. Others who invested with Pennant have claimed losses directly tied to the Patel allegations, including the Illinois Metropolitan Investment Fund, which recently sued the USDA for $50 million. The USDA has denied responsibility for the fake loans.
Attorneys for Patel, including Orlando-based Mark NeJame, have emphasized Patel’s cooperation. The main investigator on the civil case, court-appointed receiver Patrick Cavanaugh, has stated in documents filed with the court that recovery of the Patel money was made possible because Patel decided to cooperate. Patel is accused of using Pennant’s money to buy five hotels, three in Orlando, and personal luxury items. The hotels were auctioned off to raise $80 million.
Patel, an Orlando businessman, was arrested on charges of loan fraud on Sept. 30, 2014. Patel bought five hotels and several other properties with the money from the alleged fraud. He paid just over $4 million for the biggest home, at 9850 Laurel Valley Drive on the shores of Lake Butler, near Windermere. The area is home to many celebrities and CEOs. A sale on that home closed last year for $3.25 million.
BENGALURU (TIP): Southeast Asia and MENA (Middle East and North Africa)’s top Indian-Origin boss Parminder Singh has called it quits as the managing director for the region barely days after @twitter’s India head Rishi Jaitly announced he is leaving. Parminder Singh had joined Twitter in November 2013. Prior to this he was Managing Director for Display Solution Sales for APAC region at Google. At Twitter, Singh led Twitter’s business in Southeast Asia, India and Middle East and North Africa.
Singh’s departure follows the resignation of Rishi Jaitly, the Vice President of Media for Asia Pacific & Middle East North Africa at Twitter.
In July, Shailesh Rao, VP of Asia Pacific, Latin America & Emerging Markets at Twitter also quit the company.
Top level departures from Twitter’s India team comes weeks after people from its Bengaluru developer center were let go, most of whom belonged to ZipDial, an Indian startup Twitter had acquired.
At its quarterly earnings call last week, CEO Jack Dorsey announced that the company would lay off 9 percent of its staff globally
Karen Stocks, the MD of Twitter Australia announced last week she was leaving the company as well.
MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos advised the Administration and the Legislature, October 28, to cut 3.8%or $82.6 million from the proposed $3 billion 2017 budget to avoid raising fees. This can be achieved by ordering ALL County departments, Agencies and Elected Offices to revert to their 2016 adopted budgets and further cut them by about 2.5%. Alternatively, a 5% reduction combined with the latest proposed Administrative Technical and Legislative Amendments would negate the need to raise or impose the proposed fees, plus meet the NIFA mandate of less than a $60 million deficit on a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) basis. Cutting programs or services must be avoided.
“The proposed 2017 County budget needs to realign priorities and challenge every department to economize, rather than ask residents to pay more,” said Comptroller George Maragos. “All departments and Elected Offices should be tasked to reduce their budgets without reducing programs or services.”
The Comptroller’s Office has revised its 2017 budget analysis to incorporate the latest Technical and Legislative proposed amendments. As a result, the revised NIFA deficit is now at $145.6 million. Enacting the proposed 3.8% departmental budgetary cuts would save $82.6 million and would eliminate the need for new fees. Alternatively, a 5%cut would eliminate the need for new fees and further reduce the NIFA deficit closer to the NIFA goal.
Connect with Nassau County Comptroller Maragos Online:http://www.nassaucountyny. gov/agencies/Comptroller/index.ht ml
Election propaganda of 2016 Presidential race is being closed and October surprise has almost disappeared. Flawless presidential candidate is myth. So, we have to make choice from the given stock. I urge that this November 8, Americans and Asian – Americans get out and vote for Mrs. Hillary Clinton.
Poll predictions might show her as the winner but we must remember that every vote matters. I request everyone to vote for Democratic candidate Mrs. Clinton. By becoming first women President of USA she will not only make history but will also continue Obama Government ‘s good policies so that road to peace and prosperity will not be narrowed. To my part I have been active supporter of Mrs. Clinton since 2000 when the retiring NY senator Moynihan endorsed herto replace him. We, a group of active Indo-Americans in NY/NJ, formed a political action committee and raised funds for her and Al Gore. I was then secretary to Indo-American Democratic Committee affiliated to NY democratic party organization under Judith Hope’ watch. Mayor Bill de Blasio was Mrs. Clinton’s campaign manger and I worked with him as well. I have been very active in her campaign this time too in a unique way. I have approached allmy past students of NYU, Fordham and Jon Jay College in NYC and William Paterson and Kean Universities in NJ to vote for her. This is my last public appeal to vote for Mrs. Clinton. Thank you.
FLUSHING, NY (TIP): Lights and candles are lit. Sweets are prepared and shared, and warm greetings and well wishes are exchanged as millions of Hindus around the world celebrate the festival of lights, Diwali. Diwali presents Hindus around the world with an opportunity to renew the rich traditions of their roots with great fanfare.
In marking the season, volunteers of all ages came together to organize a Diwali celebration at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Flushing, New Yorkon October 31st.Colorful intricate designs called rangoli, decorative oil lampsand Annakut offerings of vegetarian food before the sacred images of God filled the atmosphere with a renewed spirit of the festival.
The large gathering at the temple listening to the sermon of Pujya Yagnavallabh Swami Ji Maharaj
Diwali is an ancient Hindu festival commemorating many historical events including the return of Bhagwan Shri Ram to the kingdom of Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. His return brought about a period of enlightenment within the kingdom and its people. The tradition of self-enlightenment continues today as Diwali presents an opportunity for self-improvement and progress through reflection within.
Children also enjoyed the annual Diwali fare filled with games, activities and sweet treats. BAPS youths take great measures to organize and conduct this annual event for the younger participants. Over 2,000attendees throughout the day experienced the culture and traditions of the auspicious holiday as they offered prayers, well wishes, and resolved to mark the New Year with spiritual enlightenment.
Many relished the familiar atmosphere of Diwali and reminisced their childhood days as they immersed themselves in the beautiful sights, traditional songs, and delicious cuisine of the holiday. Over 1,000 home made vegetarian delicacies were offered to the deities of the Mandir. Local Community leaders also participated in the celebrations including Assemblymen Peter Koo and David Weprin, Assemblywomen Nily Rozic, Consulate General Riva Ganguli Das, NY State Senators Toby Ann Stavisky and Tony Avella and Council Member Rory Lanceman. Also among the many esteemed guests in attendance was Queens Borough President Melinda Katz who spoke highly of the celebration to the assembly, “Diwali is the time to celebrate the light over darkness and during the festival, family members spend time together”
The festivities brought devotees together to serve a common purpose, develop spiritually, and please their guruHis Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and inspirer, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired the celebration of Hindu festivals at BAPS centers worldwide to keep the rich traditions and culture of India alive with emphasis on the true historic and spiritual purpose of Hindu festivals.
About BAPS
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a worldwide spiritual and humanitarian organization that is dedicated to community service, peace and harmony. Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families and individuals. Through various spiritual and humanitarian activities, BAPS endeavors to develop better citizens of tomorrow with high esteem for their roots and culture. Its 3,300 international centers support these character-building activities. Under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is free of addictions as well as morally, ethically and spiritually pure. For more details, please visit www.baps.org.
About Mahant Swami Maharaj
His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was ordained a swami by Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. As he was appointed the head (Mahant) of the Mandir in Mumbai, he became known as Mahant Swami. His devout, humble and service-focused life earned him the innermost blessings of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Mahant Swami Maharaj travels throughout the world inspiring people through his insightful spiritual discourses and disciplined conduct. His virtuous lifestyle and profound devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and gurus are ideals toward which devotees strive. Mahant Swami Maharaj became the guru and President of BAPS upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s passing in 2016.
CONTACT: BAPS North American Headquarters Phone: 732-777-1414
Though the presidential election is believed to be tight, the latest polls give Hillary a slender lead over Trump.
NEW YORK(TIP): Democrat Hillary Clinton maintained her narrow lead over Republican rival Donald Trump in the US presidential race just days ahead of the November 8 election, according to two polls released on Thursday, October 3.
A New York Times/CBS poll of 1,333 registered voters found Clinton ahead by 3 percentage points, at the cusp of the October 28-November 1 with margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
A Washington Post/ABC poll showed Clinton 2 percentage points ahead among 1,767 likely voters surveyed October 29 – November 1. It also had a 3-percentage point margin of error.
UNITED NATIONS (TIP): Diwali was commemorated for the first time at the United Nations from October 29-31. The UN Secretariat building was lit up especially on the Indian festival of lights. UN General Assembly President Peter Thomson lit the traditional lamp at a ceremony on Oct 31 to celebrate Diwali at the UN Secretariat. The Diwali celebrations included Indian dance and music performances.
The facade of the UN headquarters was lit in bright hues and the words ‘Happy Diwali’, along with the image of a traditional ‘diya’, projected onto the building. It was for the first time that the Indian festival of lights is celebrated at the world body after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2014 that acknowledged the “significance of Diwali”.
“Lighting up. @UN lights up for #Diwali for 1st time,” India’s Ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted. “Happy Diwali! @UN celebrates Diwali for 1st time. Thank you @UN_PGA for this initiative,” Akbaruddin said in another tweet, thanking General Assembly President Peter Thomson for the initiative.
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Indian American supporters of Hillary Clinton strongly feel that the community should vote for her as only she can take the Indo-US relationship to a new level because she truly understands India and its culture.
Hillary Clinton and Sant Chatwal- a firm handshake
Indian Americans for Democrats and Friends of Hillary for President, an advocacy group supporting Hillary Clinton for President made a passionate plea to the Indian American community to vote for Hillary. Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, chairman of Indian-Americans for Democrats and Friends of Hillary for President, hosted a well-attended press conference on November 2 at the Chatwal hotel in midtown Manhattan, New York City. He was joined by former chief of medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and community leader, Dr. Bhupi Patel, and Founder of Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and former commissioner in President Bill Clinton’s White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Mike Patel.
The Chatwal family with Hillary
Chatwal, who has been a longtime friend of the Clintons, described how he convinced Bill Clinton for his India trip that ‘opened the doors for improving India-US relations.’Bill Clinton undertook a visit in March, 2000, 22 yearsafter a US President had visited India. It was in 1978 when a Democratic President Jimmy Carter had last visited India. Sant took a jibe at the Republicans for touting their love of India now but where were they earlier. He also highlighted how Bill and Hillary Clinton relentlessly worked for betterment of ties between the two countries. “She (Hillary) visited India quite a few times since 95- in 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012. She understands India, Indian culture. Indian-Americans should vote for her as she can boost India-US relations.”
Hillary joins Daman Chatwal in a Punjabi jig
Getting nostalgic about his and wife, Daman’s 25 year old relationship with Clintons, Sant Chatwal described that he felt immediate positive vibes on his first ever meeting with Clintons.
“I had good vibes when I first met the Clintons in 1991. They are good people; very fair and emotionally connected,” Chatwal recalled, adding, “Hillary’s experience as a politician; her love for India and Indian Americans and her conscious effort to do good for America, made her an ideal candidate to receive our vote.”
Hillary poses with Sant and Daman Chatwal at a public gathering
Chatwal dwelt a length the long and distinguished career of Hillary. It began with Hillary as the First Lady of Arkansas where her husband Bill Clinton was Governor for more than a decade. It was then that she came in close contact with politics and politicians and started learning the nitty gritty of the statecraft. As First Lady of The US from 1993-2001, she got ample opportunity to meet with world leaders and leaders from the country and got to have an intimate knowledge of working of politics and diplomacy. In the White House, Hillary assumed a serious policy role and took the lead on Bill’s failed efforts to reform the American healthcare system.
Chatwal recounted her services as Senator from New York and later as Secretary of State of the US. Over four years that she was Secretary of State she visited 112 countries and wracked up nearly 1 million miles in the air, as she carried Obama’s message of multilateralism and cautious use of American power around the world. In Washington, she became one of the President’s closest advisors working closely with the White House as the Arab Spring flared and the US moved to kill Osama bin Laden.
If Chatwal spoke highly of Hillary Clinton, he did not hold his comments on Trump, too. He questioned Donald Trump’s ability “to run a country”.
“Running a government is very different from running a business. One needs knowledge and experience. It’s not easy to run a country.”
He feared that if Trump became Presidenthe will be disastrous for the country and wipe out trillions of dollars from US economy.
“As a businessman I want to protect our economy. If Trump becomes President, the market will drop by 25 per cent, four-five trillion dollars will be lost.”
Chatwal also slammed Trump for his remark that he is a “big fan of Hindus” and of India at an event in New Jersey last month. “India is not only for Hindus; India has Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and many more. Trump has to understand that. India has a large Muslim population. Muslim population is more in India than in Pakistan. Trump does not know that. Talk is cheap but it is difficult to deliver.”
Dr Bhupi Patel highlighted how Hillary has stood with India and the Indian-American community on vital issues like immigration, education and health care. He said the community should vote for her as Clinton has strong policies in these areas that will benefit the community and future generations.
“It’s time to reciprocate. We need somebody in White House who knows India. Trump does not know India.”
Dr Patel said Clinton is an “inclusive” leader who has worked for the community for the last few decades while Trump is in “exclusive’ person who talks about isolating the US. “How can you have a leader who damages global relations? America cannot afford to get isolated. You cannot discriminate against minorities. It is very important for the minority communities to be involved in the political process. We have to make our presence felt.”
Hillary addressing a convention of International Punjabi Society in New York. Sant Chatwal is seen to her right
Mike Patel recounted his experience as commissioner in President Bill Clinton’s White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. “President Clinton did what he did because he cared about new immigrants, who worked hard and paid taxes but never received full benefits. It shows the party cares for us. We have to decide what kind of America we want for our kids. Who will be inclusive of your children? That should give you the answer who should you vote for.”
HR Shah, CEO of TV Asia and a long time supporter of Indian Americans for Democrats gave a hard-hitting note. “In 240 years America does not have a Woman president. Even India had a woman prime minister 30 years ago, who ruled for 10 years, but it’s unfortunate that America is so backward in realizing the strength of women power. We want to see the change. Make noise for the fundamental change,” he said.
The speakers also reminded that Indian community’s voting numbers may be small but in close elections, small numbers matter more. The key states are those that are traditionally Republican and are called Red States, and the swing states where the two parties are almost evenly poised and could go either way.
Chatwal pointed to the 2000 elections, which Democrat Al Gore lost by less than 400 votes in Florida and said, that in states like Florida votes of Indian Americans carry more weight as a deciding factor. Urging the Indian-American community to exercise their electoral right, he said each vote would count on November 8.
Over three-million-strong Indian-American community has traditionally supported the Democratic Party and Trump has been trying to pursue the community to make a dent in its vote bank. According to a poll, over 70% of Indian Americans are Democratic supporters with only 13% backing Republicans and 14% Independents. About 67% of them support Clinton compared to only 7% for Trump.
The panelists -Sant Chatwal, Bhupi Patel and Mike Patel-made a unanimous and passionate appeal to Indian Americans to “Get out and vote for Hillary”.
