CONCORD, NC (TIP): As part of celebrating Feb 2023 as Black History Month, HSS (Hindu Swamyamsevak Sangh) Concord (North Carolina) chapter organized an event on Sunday, February 5th with
Speaking at the well-attended event that included men, women and several young kids, Willie Fleming (Founder & President, IMC-International Minority Coalition) said that the Indian community celebrating Black History Month and recognizing the struggles of the African American community is a great step forward. He said that ‘Unity is Strength’ and this synergy should continue in future and both communities should work on issues of common interest to build a strong and united society.
Shante’ Burke-Hayer (District Court Judge, District 26) the youngest District Court judge in the Mecklenburg County said that Black History Month in the legal realm would take her back to Thurgood Marshall (First African American Supreme Court Justice) and to Ketanji Brown Jackson (African American Supreme Court Justice) as she stands on their shoulders and fight for the rights of all; especially the under-privileged communities in the legal world. Judge Shante thanked the organizers for extending the Black History Month event invite and appealed for unity to solve issues the community is facing.
Speaking on the occasion Tony Forman (Senior Member, IMC) who works with the Race and Relations committee in Mecklenburg County said that his roots are from Dominican Republic and Latino community and faced similar conditions like the African American community. He said that Black History month should not be a one-month event, but it should be practiced year long as it represents the hope that we can surmount any big challenge if we all come together.
David Hughes (Senior Member, IMC) and a Deacon from Greater Providence Baptish Church mentioned that many churches celebrate Black History Month to recognize the struggles the community went through. During the times of slavery even church services were done secretly in the woods after sundown shows the conditions that prevailed during those times and how the community faced and overcame the challenges, representing hope for future generations.
Resha Fortson (Political Coordinator SEIU-Service Employees International Union) said that SEIU is one of the largest employee unions in the country with a few million members. SEIU helps organize workers to give them a voice in the community. She said, it is important for employees of color to be organized at work to make sure their voice is heard and ensure all the doors are open for them as many of them come from under-privileged communities. Resha thanked the Indian community for inviting African American community leaders and celebrating Black History Month.
Anitha Rajan (President, Framework for Future) said that her organization is a non-profit that provides a platform for youth to enhance their leadership skills. Coming together of Indian, African American, and Latino leaders to celebrate Black History Month is great progress. By working together, we can address the issues our communities face and make the world a better place.
To conclude Aravind Modini (HSS Volunteer, Outreach team) thanked all the participating community leaders and said that it was an honor to have to have them on one platform. The Hindu/Indian community believes in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is One Big Family) and so many leaders from different communities coming together to celebrate Black History Month truly reflects that spirit and this synergy should continue in future to positively impact the community.
The program ended with organizers from HSS thanking the community leaders for joining them to celebrate Black History Month and pledged to work together in future.
The upcoming “March For Unity” in Edison township of New Jersey on Oct. 30, 2022 is an insult to the minorities of Indian origin as well as majority Hindus that believe in human rights for all by the organizers. First of all, what is the relevance of this march in USA? After disturbing the peace, unity and respect among different ethnic groups of Indian origin living in USA with their Hindutva Agenda; what they are trying to prove with this Circus of self-proclaimed leaders of Hindus in the name of “March For Unity”?
Since 2014, with the rise of religious bigotry, gross human rights violations and violence against minorities in India; these organizations namely HSS, VHP, Seva International, Ekal Vidyalaya, Infinity Foundation, HAF, FIA, IBA and other locally based Hindu organizations of America; has yet to condemn state actions under PM Modi or has ever supported freedom of free speech, right to justice, religious and human rights of the minorities namely, Muslims, Christians, Tribals, SC & OBC. These organizations openly came out against Farmers protesting for their rights in India and those who were protesting against NRC & CAA for discriminating, especially Muslims. Rather they all have been publicly supporting Modi, his BJP and their parent organization RSS and its family of organizations. This is leading to create hate atmosphere against Indian American minorities by Pro Hindutva, high caste Hindus living in America. They are also assaulting the very American values; Freedom of Speech, Human Rights, Religious Freedom, Equal Rights and right to criticize wrong actions by US based Tax-Exempt organizations.
The individual members that are funding these US based organizations, they or their family members will never go back to India. They want Freedom of speech, human rights, right to worship and every right that is enshrined in the constitution of America. But when it comes to their so called “Bharat” aka India, they are supporting and financing PM’s Modi’s government of communal bigots, rapist, criminals, terrorist & bomb maker; denying basic human rights to minorities financed by world class Indian billionaires; a product of “Gangster Capitalism” of India where ruling party create Billionaires with wealth belonging to Indian public.
On Nov. 28, 2021 first time in American history an Indian movie “The Kashmir Files” made with a sole purpose to demonize Indian Muslims; 4 months before its release in India or worldwide was premiered in New Jersey, USA. Sunil Hali & Nilesh Dasondi the Publisher & CEO of “The Indian Eye” arranged a Citation to the movie maker of the “TKF” Vivek Agnihotri, from Mayor Thomas Lankey of Edison in New Jersey. This duo did the marketing of the film in USA as “Truth Unfold” when in the very first scenethere is a Disclaimer: “Based on Fiction.”. Entire ethnic Indian Media and Hindu Organizations of USA rallied behind them with full throttle publicity to demonize Indian Muslims. There were free shows of “TKF” with free bus ride & snacks in different parts of America with media coverage of reactions of the viewers demonizing Indian Muslims.
FIA also arranged a Citation for film maker Agnihotri on Dec 9, 2021 from Rhode Island by using the services of Rep. Brian Kennedy. Also in Dec 2021, Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani a Modi sympathizer arranged a Citation from Ohio state Senate & Governor for Agnihotri. Pathetically none of the US elected representatives involved in arranging or awarding Citations to “TKF” maker Agnihotri ever saw the movie or read the history of Kashmir. They did it for the heck of campaign contributions received for the Citations. They could have looked into the background of Vivek Agnihotri that has mostly made C-grade erotica and D-grade propaganda films only.
Eventually “TKF” was released on March 11, 2022 in India and worldwide with the full financial support of Modi government, RSS, VHP & other Hindu organizations. The maker Agnihotri while releasing the movie claimed in print, TV & social media, “First time in 32 years, any state in the world , the democratic & liberal state of USA- Rhode Island, has officially recognized Kashmir Genocide due to a very small film.” Canadian filmmaker Dylan Mohan Gray slammed the Vivek Agnihotri directorial “TKF” and described it as “hatemongering garbage of no artistic merit.” TKF is nothing but ‘hatred, bigotry and untruth; made to demonize Muslims & promote radical Hindutva as preached by Modi, BJP, RSS, VHP & other radical organizations.
This write has extensively written on India Day Parades in USA for over a decade that they do not represent India. Unfortunately, Insult India Parades in USA are Funded by India’s premier public enterprises: Ministry of Tourism, State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India etc. By financing FIA/IBA etc. they are promoting racism with Indian along with US Taxpayer’s money in America besides misuse of public funds by FIA/IBA owners for personal promotion. FIA or IBA are controlled by people practically from one community from one state; with no vision & honesty to understand that India is a multi-religious country with 30 states. For almost 2 decades, it is an annual mindless affair for local politicians & Photo Hungry Desi (PHD) Leaders posing as Indian Community Leaders along with their supporters who cannot be paraded for any cause anywhere in the world including world famous Pushkar Mela of Rajasthan in India. In 2013 itself India Day Parades in USA were used to promote BJP & its PM candidate Modi for the upcoming general elections in India. This was a violation as per US laws for a Tax-Exempt entity that they cannot indulge in politics. Especially after 2014 when Modi became PM of India; these Parades have been turning into Hindutva Day Parade promoting RSS group of families members including its political wing BJP and its US based supporting organizations. 2022 is the watershed year for totally Saffronizing these Insult India Parades with misguided Hindutva in the name of Hinduism. IBA put a Bulldozer featuring pictures of PM Modi and criminal & bigot Hindu Monk aka CM Yogi (Governor) of UP, in India, on 14 August 2022. Yogi started the use of Bulldozer to demolish the private homes and businesses, most of them owned by members of the Muslim minority in UP and all BJP ruled state followed him. Bulldozers have become symbols of oppression of minorities especially Muslims, Christians and schedule caste in India. “It symbolizes a threat that if you raise your voice against the BJP government or its leaders, your home or place of business will be demolished as well; your place of worship can also be demolished.” Although there is no provision in the constitution to unlawfully demolish houses or businesses or places of worship or to give collective punishment but no court in India will help you because they are for rich and upper-class Hindus only.
In 2017, Delhi Court asked the Municipal Body to Rebuilt homes demolished in “Sanik Farms” a 100% unauthorized colony for super rich and politically well-connected Hindus. Only about 24% of the population in India’s capital Delhi lived in planned colonies—the rest 76% lived in unauthorized constructions and slums, according to state government data from 2008-2009. As of 2019, there were over 1,700 such illegal colonies spread across Delhi, according to a ministry of housing and urban affairs estimate. A new master plan announced in 2021 lays out a blueprint for development till 2041. It, too, addressed the issue of the 1,700-odd unauthorized colonies, even considering ownership rights for residents.
IBAknowingly used the Bulldozer in the parade to offend the Indian American minority groups, especially Muslims, from the local area and across New Jersey and other parts of USA. Administration of Edison Mayor Sam Joshi & 2 councilman Ajay Patil & Nishith Patel can’t deny that they were not aware of it. Besides that,IBA invited a globally known Islamophobic hatemonger; BJP National Spokesperson Dr. Sambit Patra to walk in the parade as Grand Marshal. FIA also invited Sambit Patra along with another communal BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya for the Indian Flag hoisting at Times Square in New York on Aug. 15, 2022.
Whatever is happening in India and USA in the name of misguided Hindutva and Indian Nationalism; is very disturbing for the majority of Indian Americans. Personally, I am very hurt that the things that forced me to leave India; have come to USA to haunt me. Unfortunately, I was 3RD generation supporter of RSS & BJP. 3 incidents in my life forced me to leave financially socially & politically well-connected life in India to migrate to USA to start a new life from scratch. The 1989 RSS family of organizations led by BJP’s Islamophobic and blatantly communal Ram Mandir movement, 1990, Chandra Shekhar with 61 MP’s (out of 525-member lower house) was installed PM with the outside support of 195 Congress MP’s under Rajiv Gandhi & 25 MP’s of splinter groups, covert support of BJP by toppling the V P Singh government. The entire operation was financed by Dhirubhai Ambani with bribes to every MP because V P Singh government was pursuing money laundering, tax evasion and other wrong doings against Ambani group. In 1992 RSS, BJP, VHP & other prominent Hindu Leaders instigated a Hindu mob to demolish the 15th century old Babri Masjid claiming to be the birthplace of Lord Rama. On the other hand, Hindu scriptures say that “Kan Kan mei Vyape hein Ram” meaning “Lord Rama permeates every atom of this universe”.
There are more than two million Hindu temples and 300,000 Muslim mosques in India, including 23,000 Hindu temples in the riverside city of Varanasi alone. Varanasi happens to be the Parliamentary seat of PM Modi of India. On the other hand, 70% of students studying in government schools are ill-equipped to learn in the class because of poor infrastructure, no equipment, shortage of qualified teachers and inadequate budget. Over 18 mil children are living on the streets of India.
All my adulthood I spent in fighting Congress for never dismantling the British Master & Slave governance system of India. For that reason, I always say’s that India got Independence in 1947 but Indians never got independence or freedom from slavery. Then my fight with Congress was for “Gangster Capitalism” in which state was creating billionaires to financially support the Ruling Party. If Congress produced Ambani’s; Modi has produced Adani. This “Gangster Capitalism” is directly responsible for criminalization of politics, communalism, gross abuse of human rights and destruction of democratic institutions including Courts and Media in India. After coming to power BJP has proved to be worse than Congress and now India has been reduced to an elected autocracy. These organizers of “March For Unity”; if they are really sincerer, honest and respect human rights; must give a memorandum on behalf of all the Indian Americans to the CG Jaiswal for Government of India demanding human rights and freedom of speech for all communities and release of all young and other activists jailed for years under British slavery laws for opposing government policies, demanding human rights and restoration of Democracy in India.
(Compiled by Devendra Makkar from various internet sources & writings of prominent journalists)
HOUSTON (TIP): Bull Moose Tube, a subsidiary of the London-headquartered Caparo group owned by Indian-origin industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, has announced plans to build a 3,50,000 ton per year high speed steel and sprinkler pipe mill in Texas. The company plans to set up the plant at Sinton and it is expected to go into production by early 2023. Caparo chairman Swraj Paul told PTI over phone from London that the proposed Texas plant would be its seventh in the US and the eighth in North America.
The plant will be set up in partnership with Germany-based SMS Group for design, automation and implementation of the mill.
“There is likely to be a USD 200-250 million investment in the plant,” the 90-year-old UK-based entrepreneur said.
The formal announcement of the plant was made on June 4 and it coincided with the birthday of Swraj Paul’s son Angad Paul, who passed away in 2015 at 45 years of age. He ran Caparo industries from 1996 as its chief executive officer.
“The construction of the new plant is an excellent project for BMT (Bull Moose Tube) and is a tribute to my late son who was born June 4,” Swraj Paul said.
He added that Angad Paul’s energy and enthusiasm would never be forgotten in taking forward Caparo’s business in North America.
“I look forward to the future growth and success of BMT at our new Texas location and planning to be there for the ground-breaking, depending on the travel during (Covid) pandemic by that time,” Swraj Paul said.
Typical applications for Bull Moose Tube include construction, transportation, fire protection, lawn and garden equipment, and many other engineering and household products.
Caparo, which has close to USD 1 billion turnover, has a strong presence in India as well where the group operates several companies as original equipment manufacturer to auto makers.
It was one of the many ancillary companies that had proposed to set up a plant at Singur in West Bengal in eastern India with the Tata Nano plant.
Swraj Paul said he continued to believe in the India growth story and will expand business in the future.
He said that his grandchildren spend considerable time in India too.
President and CEO of BMT, Tom Modrowski, said the new mill will be transformational and “will expand our geographic footprint and allow us to better serve customers not only in the Southwest, West Coast and Mexico markets, but across the entire business”.
“Expanding our capacity, capabilities, and flexibility will increase BMT’s market share in large HSS (high speed steel) sizes and ensure our continued and expanded leadership position in the sprinkler pipe market,” he said.
(Source: PTI)
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