In Letter to Attorney General Bondi and Secretary Noem, 22 AGs Call DOJ’s Demand Letter an “After-The-Fact Attempt to Justify a Highly Concerning Federal Operation.”
NEW YORK (TIP): New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 21 other attorneys general in denouncing the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) latest attempt to coerce the state of Minnesota. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Attorney General James and the coalition condemn the Trump administration’s effort to exploit recent chaos in Minnesota to pressure state leaders into turning over sensitive resident data and dismantling longstanding public safety policies. The attorneys general warn that these thinly veiled federal threats are likely to conflict with ongoing litigation and court-ordered protections.
“The federal government is asking us to accept a belated justification for its unlawful actions in Minnesota,” said Attorney General James. “We refuse to be intimidated by these threats, and we reject their unlawful demands that infringe on Minnesota’s fundamental sovereignty. My fellow attorneys general and I will continue to stand firm in defense of the rule of law and Americans’ rights.”
Attorney General James and the coalition sent today’s letter in response to Attorney General Bondi’s January 24 letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, which accused the state – without any concrete evidence – of enabling widespread fraud. The Bondi letter, sent the same day federal immigration agents fatally shot a Minneapolis resident for the second time in as many weeks, demanded a series of drastic actions in exchange for the withdrawal of federal agents from Minnesota.
In today’s letter, the attorneys general write that Attorney General Bondi’s demands are “inconsistent with fundamental principles of our federal system,” including the request that Minnesota turn over sensitive Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data, dismantle critical local public safety policies, and grant the federal government access to Minnesota voter information.
The attorneys general warn that Attorney General Bondi’s actions toward Minnesota represent a dangerous escalation that threatens the constitutional balance of power between states and the federal government. They assert that the demands amount to a profound intrusion on state sovereignty and conclude that DOJ’s letter is an unlawful and unsupported attempt to “terrify the people of Minnesota and coerce the state into abandoning” the residents it is sworn to protect. With so many of DOJ’s actions already blocked by courts across the country, the attorneys general decry the administration for “attempting through force what it cannot achieve through the courts.”
Attorney General James and the coalition unequivocally condemn the administration’s dangerous and escalating assault on Minnesota. They express their unwavering support for the people of Minnesota and reject the Trump administration’s “demand[s] that we ignore the unlawful acts that our eyes clearly see and accept pretextual justifications or outright fabrications instead.” As the attorneys general emphasize, “states and their residents should not be subjected to violence and terror at the hands of federal law enforcement.” In New York and nationwide, state governments remain focused on protecting the safety and well-being of their residents. In contrast, the attorneys general write, the unleashing of rogue federal agents into the neighborhoods of Minnesota has brought only fear, chaos, and violence.
Attorney General James and the coalition make clear that their states will continue to stand firm against unlawful federal interference and will defend both state sovereignty and the rights of their residents. The coalition respectfully urges the administration to end its dangerous and unlawful campaign against Minnesota immediately, before anyone else gets hurt.
Joining Attorney General James in sending this letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (TIP): Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman joined Governor Wes Moore and Chief Deputy Treasurer Jon Martin in approving more than $787 million in state expenditures during Wednesday’s Board of Public Works meeting. Contracts and spending approved included $24,250,000 for 25 projects through the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative, National Capital Strategic Economic Development Fund, and Seed Community Development Anchor Institution Fund for Fiscal Year 2026. Comptroller Lierman applauded the investment that will support increased housing and community development opportunities.
“These are the kinds of investments that build safer cities,” Comptroller Lierman shared, pointing to decisions by the Maryland General Assembly to create the Baltimore Regional Neighborhood Initiative after the unrest in Baltimore in 2015, and other funds soon after. “Statewide leaders recognized that for Baltimore to reach its full potential, it needed this kind of investment after years of disinvestment. Revitalizing properties, rehabbing the vacant homes, rebuilding wealth in the city, is a much better use of our precious tax dollars than deploying armed forces. This work creates a broadening tax base, housing for middle-income families and workers, and long-term prosperity.”
Comptroller Lierman voted against one-year temporary extensions for three capital grants and loans, citing the ample time provided to encumber the original funding and present funding restraints. The extensions were approved with a vote of 2-1.
Comptroller Lierman also voted against a request from the Department of Information Technology to award eight firms a work-order-based contract to provide digital services and agile development support to modernize Maryland’s digital infrastructure. Comptroller Lierman acknowledged the importance of the work covered by the contract but cited concerns about the contract vehicle and decreased opportunities for businesses headquartered in Maryland to compete for the same work. The contract was also approved with a vote of 2-1.
In all, the Board of Public Works approved 116 items, totaling $787,696,527.03, including:
Grant agreements for 17 recipients for 17 projects located in nine counties and Baltimore City, with a total value of $8,102,823.
10 items awarding $7,538,738.15 to prime certified small business primes.
Six items awarding $20,370,604.64 to certified minority business enterprise primes.
11 items awarded with established participation goals for minority business enterprises.
Four items awarded with established participation goals for veteran-owned small business enterprises.
The next meeting of the Board of Public Works will be held on September 10, 2025.
BALTIMORE (TIP): With President Donald Trump’s threat to send National Guard troops into Baltimore in the air, Maryland leaders said Friday, September 5, that they will pour more of their own resources to further bring down crime in the state’s largest city. The open-ended increase in public safety efforts, announced by Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Mayor Brandon Scott (D), builds on an existing partnership that has already funneled cash to violence-interrupter groups and state prosecutors, an effort that the two men credit with helping drive Baltimore’s homicide count to its lowest in 50 years.
“We can do this ourselves,” Scott said Friday evening at a joint news conference with the governor outside St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. “We do not need an occupation. We do not need troops on our streets.”
He called the city’s population “a resource to be invested in, not a problem to be solved.”
Trump has characterized Baltimore as a “hellhole” and pointed to the city, along with Chicago and New Orleans, as a place he may want to replicate his intervention in D.C., where he declared a “crime emergency” Aug. 11 and sent nearly 2,200 National Guard troops alongside a surge of federal law enforcement agents.
Even as Trump this week softened his language about activating the Guard over the objections of local officials elsewhere, the president continued to stress the need for crime reduction in Baltimore.
“The people in Baltimore, the people in all the places we talk about, they want to see us there. And I think we’re pretty much waiting until we get asked,” Trump said. At the news conference Friday, Moore said the focus on enhancing public safety doesn’t have anything to do with Trump: “Nothing we’re doing is inspired by the president. The president does not inspire us.”
Scott led the crowd in a chant.
“We’re all we got!” the mayor yelled. The crowd hollered back, “We’re all we need!”
Maryland State Police troopers and officers from the Maryland Transportation Authority will do “proactive enforcement in high-risk areas” that will create “a highly visible law enforcement presence,” the governor’s office said in a news release. The extra officers will also assist in investigations of firearm and narcotics offenses.
Scott and Moore have refused to endorse using the Guard and conferred with state Attorney General Anthony G. Brown (D) on a legal game plan to stop it should Trump do it anyway. Meanwhile, they have publicly welcomed more agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as enhanced federal funding for local police, suggesting that the president support a federal ban of ghost guns and devices that give some guns rapid-fire capability.
“I have a whole list of federal resources that I would love for the president of the United States to be able to authorize,” Moore said this week during a public appearance at the National Press Club in D.C. But calling up the Maryland National Guard is not one of them.
“One hundred percent I would not accept it, and there’s no need for it,” Moore said, pointing out that the Guard has not been deployed in D.C. to help local policing.
“These are people with other jobs. These are people who still have their families relying on them, who now are being asked to come to Washington, D.C., to rake mulch and clean up trash and help people with their luggage when they arrive at Union Station,” he said. “And do you know why? Because they’re not trained to do municipal policing. Do you know who is trained? Local law enforcement. FBI and ATF agents.”
Under the targeted surge plan, Maryland State Police troopers will be sent to state-owned routes within Baltimore city limits, where they already have jurisdiction, allowing Baltimore Police Department officers to patrol elsewhere. The plan, which reactivates initiatives scaled back under then-Gov. Larry Hogan (R), also enhances a joint task force whose job is to track down people with warrants for their arrest.
“This is about getting the right resources to the right locations, and it’s just good policing,” said Adam Flasch, Moore’s deputy chief of staff and a retired brigadier general who is helping lead the governor’s response to a potential National Guard deployment.
“We’re not going to be done in a month and declare victory and walk away,” he said in an interview Friday, adding that the surge ensures constitutional policing that leads to prosecutable arrests, which in turn puts people into Maryland’s criminal justice system and its rehabilitation programs.
“That’s the difference in this approach. It’s not just smashmouth law enforcement of yesteryear,” Flasch said.
Scott referenced the stop-and-frisk policies that were pervasive in Baltimore during the 1990s, noting that those huge numbers of arrests still came alongside high homicide rates.
NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) USA hosted a remarkable celebration on Saturday, June 21, at the iconic Village East by Angelika theater in Manhattan, marking the screening of “The Renaissance Man”, a documentary film chronicling the inspiring life and legacy of Vivek Tankha. The event was part of the New York Indian Film Festival and drew an enthusiastic audience, including senior leaders of IOC-USA and distinguished members of the Indian diaspora.
The documentary highlights the extraordinary journey of Shri Vivek Tankha ji —Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India, former Additional Solicitor General, sitting Rajya Sabha MP, and a dedicated humanitarian. His contributions span multiple sectors, including public interest litigation, tribal healthcare, education, disability rights, and disaster relief. The film captures both his legal brilliance and his compassionate leadership, especially through his widely acclaimed initiative “Rahat”, which has provided critical medical and disaster aid to marginalized communities in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and beyond.
Photos of documentary viewing of film “ The Renaissance Man: Life and Times of Vivek Tankha” at the New York Film festival on June 21, 2025. showing Shri Vivek Tankha ji (sitting in center) responding to questions from the audience.
During the post-screening interaction, Mr. Tankha shared powerful insights into his motivations and lifelong mission to use law and public service as instruments for justice and upliftment. He spoke of landmark cases, including his pivotal legal work for the Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims, and emphasized the need for ethical and empathetic leadership in contemporary India.
The event was held under the leadership of Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of the Indian Overseas Congress USA, who opened the celebration with high praise for Mr. Tankha.
“If even one percent of India’s population embodied the intellect, integrity, and compassion of Vivek Tankha,” said Mr. Gilzian, “India would be a different country. His life offers a blueprint for the kind of leadership our nation urgently needs.”
Adding to the evening’s grace and significance, Mr. Sam Pitroda, Global Chairman of Overseas Congress Department of A.I.C.C., sent a heartfelt video message applauding Mr. Tankha’s decades of service in law, policy, and social reform.
“Vivek is not just a legal scholar; he’s a people’s advocate. His work touches lives where it matters most,” Mr. Pitroda said.
The celebration was inaugurated with an inspiring and powerful opening remarks by Harbachan Singh, Secretary-General of IOC-USA, who recognized very highly Mr. Tankha’s awesome enduring legacy of justice and social responsibility. He likened all the solid attributes of Shri Vivek Tankha ji to those of Mahatmas and Heros and made a moving equation of his personality and service to them. Mr. Tankha embodied humility, softness and a profound depth of knowledge and human experience which has drawn crowds of people to him in total acceptance of him as no less than acclaimed Mahatmas and Heros.
The screening was more than a celebration of an individual—it was a tribute to a life of purpose, service, and vision. It resonated as a rallying call to the Indian diaspora to identify, support, and champion leaders like Vivek Tankha, whose integrity and impact go far beyond the boundaries of law and politics.
The event was graced by a wide array of IOC-USA leaders who honored Mr. Tankha with a bouquet and a traditional shawl, a symbolic gesture of respect and admiration. Among the IOC USA senior leaders present were: Working President (North East Zone) Pradeep Samala; Vice President John Joseph: Vice President Baldev Randhawa; General Secretaries; Sharath Chandra, Sophia Sharma and Rajeev Mohan; President of Maryland Chapter Chaudhry Pratap Singh; President of Andhra Chapter Srinivasrao Bhimineni; Chairman of the Punjab Chapter; Phuman SinghIbrahimpur; Secretary, IOC.USA Jaswinder Singh Kang and his team; Dr.Yogesh Dayma from Boston: Rockland Chapter President Shaimi Jacob: Amanpreet Aman and Mukesh (Mike) from New Jersey: Patel Sridhar Reddy from Telengana Chapter Detroit: Harpreet Singh Happy and Sunny Singh: Harvendar Singh and Qayam Masumi representing the New Jersey Chapter, among others.
In addition, several local IOC-USA leaders, business professionals, lawyers, dignitaries, activists, and scholars from across the United States traveled to New York to attend the event and personally extend their congratulations to Mr. Tankha.
The event concluded with a vibrant Q&A session, where attendees engaged with Mr. Tankha on a range of topics—from his legal battles and legislative work in Parliament to his grassroots efforts for the underprivileged and youth empowerment.
The screening was more than a celebration of an individual—it was a tribute to a life of purpose, service, and vision. It resonated as a rallying call to the Indian diaspora to identify, support, and champion leaders like Vivek Tankha, whose integrity and impact go far beyond the boundaries of law and politics.
At the reception, Secretary General Harbachan Singh led with the award of a Proclamation of Honor by Shri Vivek Tankha ji and Mohinder Singh ji to Attorney Jaspreet Singh in appreciation of his outstanding leadership, benevolent services and support of the community.
Following the above, Harbachan Singh requested the entire gathering to rise in solemn observance of a moment of silence in condolence and sympathy of the victims of the recent Air India airplane crash and sharing the sorrow and pain with the aggrieved families. Similar solemn observance was also observed to grief the sudden, shocking and painful to bear demise of the brother of Shri Vivek Tankha ji in India the day before this event accelerating the swift return to India of Mr. Vivek Tankha ji. May all the departed souls Rest in Peace! by the grace of Almighty God.
Governors across the US had urged calm and vowed no tolerance for violence, while some mobilized the National Guard ahead of marchers’ gathering
NEW YORK (TIP): Masses of demonstrators packed into streets, parks and plazas across the US on Saturday to protest President Donald Trump, marching through downtowns and small towns, blaring anti-authoritarian chants mixed with support for protecting democracy and immigrant rights.
Organizers of the “No Kings” demonstrations said millions had marched in hundreds of events. Governors across the US had urged calm and vowed no tolerance for violence, while some mobilized the National Guard ahead of marchers’ gathering.
An activist imitates President Trump as a “cowardly lion” during a theatrical performance called “Three Ring Circus”, part of the No Kings Day protests in Fargo, North Dakota. REUTERS
Confrontations were isolated. But, police in Los Angeles, where protests over federal immigration enforcement raids erupted a week earlier and sparked demonstrations across the country, used tear gas and crowd-control munitions to clear out protesters after the formal event ended. Officers in Portland also fired tear gas and projectiles to disperse a crowd that protested in front of a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement building well into the evening.
And in Salt Lake City, Utah, police were investigating a shooting during a march downtown that left one person critically injured. Three people were taken into custody, including a man believed to be the shooter, who also suffered a gunshot wound, according to Police Chief Brian Redd.
Redd said it was too early to tell if the shooting was politically motivated and whether those involved knew each other. The shooter appeared to be walking alongside the group of thousands who were marching, he added. Video feeds showed demonstrators running for safety as gunshots rang out.
Huge, boisterous crowds marched, danced, drummed, and chanted shoulder-to-shoulder in New York, Denver, Chicago, Austin and Los Angeles, some behind “no kings” banners. Atlanta’s 5,000-capacity event quickly reached its limit, with thousands more gathered outside barriers to hear speakers in front of the state Capitol. Officials in Seattle estimated that more than 70,000 people attended the city’s largest rally downtown, the Seattle Times reported.
Trump was in Washington for a military parade marking the Army’s 250th anniversary that coincides with the president’s birthday. About 200 protesters assembled in northwest Washington’s Logan Circle and chanted “Trump must go now” before erupting in cheers. A larger-than-life puppet of Trump — a caricature of the president wearing a crown and sitting on a golden toilet — was wheeled through the crowd.
In some places, organizers handed out little American flags while others flew their flags upside down, a sign of distress. Mexican flags, which have become a fixture of the Los Angeles protests against immigration raids, also made an appearance at some demonstrations Saturday. In Culpepper, Virginia, police said one person was struck by an SUV when a 21-year-old driver intentionally accelerated his SUV into the crowd as protesters were leaving a rally. The driver was charged with reckless driving.
The demonstrations come on the heels of the protests over the federal immigration enforcement raids that began last week and Trump ordering the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, where protesters blocked a freeway and set cars on fire.
“Today, across red states and blue, rural towns and major cities, Americans stood in peaceful unity and made it clear: we don’t do kings,” the No Kings Coalition said in a statement Saturday afternoon after many events had ended.
Philadelphia
Thousands gathered downtown, where organizers handed out small American flags and people carried protest signs saying, “fight oligarchy” and “deport the mini-Mussolinis.”
Karen Van Trieste, a 61-year-old nurse who drove up from Maryland, said she grew up in Philadelphia and wanted to be with a large group of people showing her support. “I just feel like we need to defend our democracy,” she said. She is concerned about the Trump administration’s layoffs of staff at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the fate of immigrant communities and Trump trying to rule by executive order, she said.
A woman wearing a foam Statue of Liberty crown brought a speaker system and led an anti-Trump sing-along, changing the words “young man” in the song “Y.M.C.A.” to “con man.” ”I am what the successful American dream looks like,” said C.C. Téllez, an immigrant from Bolivia who attended the protest. “I’ve enjoyed great success here in the United States, and I’ve also contributed heavily to my community. And if there was space for me, I think there’s a way for everybody else to belong here as well.”
Los Angeles
Thousands gathered in front of City Hall, waving signs and listening to a Native American drum circle before marching through the streets. As protesters passed National Guard troops or US Marines stationed at various buildings, most interactions were friendly, with demonstrators giving fist bumps or posing for selfies. But others chanted “shame” or “go home” at the troops.
Amid signs reading “They fear us don’t back down California” and “We carry dreams not danger, ” one demonstrator carried a 2-foot-tall (60-centimeter) Trump pinata on a stick, with a crown on his head and sombrero hanging off his back. Another hoisted a huge helium-filled orange baby balloon with blond hair styled like Trump’s.
A few blocks from City Hall, protesters gathered in front of the downtown federal detention center being guarded by a line of Marines and other law enforcement. It was the first time that the Marines, in combat gear and holding rifles, have appeared at a demonstration since they were deployed to city on Friday with the stated mission of defending federal property.
Peter Varadi, 54, said he voted for Trump last November for “economic reasons.” Now, for the first time in his life, he is protesting, waving a Mexican and US combined flag.
“I voted for Donald Trump, and now I regret that, because he’s taken this fascism to a new level,” Varadi said. “It’s Latinos now. Who’s next? It’s gays. Blacks after that. They’re coming for everybody.” Even after the formal event ended, the downtown streets were packed with a jubilant crowd as people danced to salsa music and snacked on hot dogs and ice cream bought from vendors, many of whom are Latino immigrants. But the previously calm demonstration turned confrontational as police on horseback moved into the crowd and struck some people with wood rods and batons as they cleared the street in front of the federal building.
New York City
Marchers in the crowd that stretched for blocks along Fifth Avenue had diverse reasons for coming, including anger over Trump’s immigration policies, support for the Palestinian people and outrage over what they said was an erosion of free speech rights. But there were patriotic symbols, too. Leah Griswold, 32, and Amber Laree, 59, who marched in suffragette white dresses, brought 250 American flags to hand out to people in the crowd.
“Our mothers who came out, fought for our rights, and now we’re fighting for future generations as well,” Griswold said. Some protesters held signs denouncing Trump while others banged drums. “We’re here because we’re worried about the existential crisis of this country and the planet and our species,” said Sean Kryston, 28.
Minnesota
Governor Tim Walz and law enforcement encouraged people not to attend rallies “out of an abundance of caution” following the shootings of the Democratic state lawmakers.
Dozens of events were canceled, but tens of thousands still turned out for demonstrations in Duluth, Rochester and St Paul, which included a march to the state Capitol. Walz canceled his scheduled appearance at the St Paul event.
Authorities said the suspect had “No Kings” flyers in his car and writings mentioning the names of the victims as well as other lawmakers and officials, though they could not say if he had any other specific targets.
Seda Heng, 29, of Rochester, said she was heartbroken by the shootings, but still wanted to join the rally there. “These people are trying to do what they can for their communities, for the state, for the nation,” Heng told the Minnesota Star-Tribune.
North Carolina
Crowds cheered anti-Trump speakers in Charlotte’s First Ward Park before marching, chanting “No kings. No crowns. We will not bow down.” Marchers stretched for blocks, led by a group of people holding a giant Mexican flag and bystanders cheering and clapping along the way.
Jocelyn Abarca, a 21-year-old college student, said the protest was a chance to “speak for what’s right” after mass deportations and Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles.
“If we don’t stop it now, it’s just going to keep getting worse,” she said.
Naomi Mena said she travelled an hour to demonstrate in Charlotte to represent her “friends and family who sadly can’t have a voice out in public now” to stay safe.
Texas
A rally at the Texas Capitol in Austin went off as planned despite state police briefly shutting down the building and the surrounding grounds after authorities said they received a “credible threat” to Democratic state lawmakers who were to attend.
Dozens of state troopers swarmed through the grounds about four hours before the event, but the area was later opened and the rally started on time. The building remained closed.
The Department of Public Safety later said one person was taken into custody “in connection with the threats made against state lawmakers” after a traffic stop in La Grange, Texas, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) east of Austin. State police did not detail the threat or immediately identify the person, but said there was no additional active threat.
Mississippi
A demonstration of hundreds of people opened to “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath playing over a sound system on the state Capitol lawn in Jackson.
“A lot of stuff that’s going on now is targeting people of color, and to see so many folks out here that aren’t black or brown fighting for the same causes that I’m here for, it makes me very emotional,” said Tony Cropper, who travelled from Tennessee to attend the protest.
Some people wore tinfoil crowns atop their heads. Others held signs inviting motorists to “Honk if you never text war plans.” Melissa Johnson said she drove an hour-and-a-half to Jackson to protest because “we are losing the thread of democracy in our country.”
Portland
Earlier in the day, thousands of protesters lined the streets in downtown Portland for several blocks, waving signs as passing cars honked in support. They marched around the city draped in American flags to the beat of drums and music.
By late afternoon, a small group of demonstrators amassed across the river to protest in front of an ICE office where three people were arrested Wednesday night after starting a small fire against the building, police said.
Federal immigration officers fired tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets in an effort to clear out the remaining protesters in the evening. Some protesters threw water bottles back and tended to each other’s wounds. The police department wrote on X that the event was declared a riot.
At least two people were detained and taken inside the federal immigration building.
NEW YORK, NY (TIP): Organized by the Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, New York, with the cooperation of the Sikh Gurudwaras and the Sikh organizations of the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the 37th Sikh Day Parade on April 26 in Manhattan, New York, attracted, as usual, large crowds of Sikh men, women and children from far and near. Contingents of the Sikhs came from as far as Philadelphia and Maryland.
Saturday’s dreary weather didn’t stop a full day of traditions, history, food and music at the Sikh Day Parade in Midtown.
Colorful displays of the Sikh faith made their way down Madison Avenue, ending with free meals for thousands. As the floats made their way down the wet pavement, the sounds of Sikh traditions were heard loud and clear.
For the 37th Annual Sikh Day Parade, many in their colorful turbans and cultural clothing — most of them wearing rain ponchos — lined up to celebrate Vaisakhi. The day which originally is the celebration of harvest, is also the day when the Tenth Master of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, created a sect called Khalsa, and gave it a distinct form and appearance. Thus, the day is both a socio-cultural festival and a celebration of the birthday of Khalsa (more popularly known as the Sikhs)
“Today is a celebration of Vaisakhi, and also a celebration of the creation of our faith, and we are here celebrating,” paradegoer Baldev Singh Grewal who is founder -publisher of a leading Punjabi newspaper Sher-e-Punjab, said.
The parade concluded with a meeting at Madison Square Park, where community leaders made speeches and free food , called langer in Sikhism, was served.
Governors admit worries but rally behind Biden : ‘We have his back’
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): A group of leading Democratic governors offered words of support for Joe Biden on Wednesday as pressure mounted on the president to leave the race. The governors, including Tim Walz of Minnesota, Wes Moore of Maryland, Gavin Newsom of California and Kathy Hochul of New York, held a closed-door meeting with Biden in Washington as he sought to reassure his party – and the public – that he is up to the job after a shaky debate performance.
Biden met for more than an hour at the White House in person and virtually with more than 20 governors from his party. The governors told reporters afterward that the conversation was “candid” and said they expressed concerns about Biden’s debate performance last week. They reiterated that defeating Donald Trump in November was the priority, but said they were still standing behind Biden and did not join other Democrats who have been urging him to withdraw his candidacy.
“We, like many Americans, are worried,” Walz of Minnesota said. “We are all looking for the path to win – all the governors agree with that. President Biden agrees with that. He has had our backs through Covid … the governors have his back. We’re working together just to make very, very clear that a path to victory in November is the No 1 priority and that’s the No 1 priority of the president … The feedback was good. The conversation was honest.” “The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader,” added Moore of Maryland. He said Biden “was very clear that he’s in this to win it”.
“We were honest about the feedback we’re getting … and the concerns we’re hearing from people,” Moore said. “We’re going to have his back … the results we’ve been able to see under this administration have been undeniable.”
The meeting capped a tumultuous day for Biden as members of his own party, and a major democratic donor, urged him to step aside amid questions over his fitness for office. Two Democratic lawmakers have called on Biden to exit the race, and a third Congressman said he had “grave concerns” about Biden’s ability to beat Trump. The White House, meanwhile, was forced to deny reports that Biden is weighing whether his candidacy is still viable. Biden, for his part, has forcefully insisted that he is staying in the race.
“Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running … no one’s pushing me out,” Biden said on a call with staffers from his re-election campaign. “I’m not leaving. I’m in this race to the end and we’re going to win.”
Kamala Harris has also stood by his side, despite some insiders reportedly rallying around her as a possible replacement. “We will not back down. We will follow our president’s lead,” the vice-president reportedly told staffers on Wednesday.
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer also threw her support behind Biden. “He is in it to win it and I support him,” she said on Twitter/X after the meeting.
Whitmer is one of several Democratic governors who have been cited as possible replacements if Biden were to withdraw his candidacy. Gavin Newsom, whose name has also been floated, flew in for the governors’ meeting on Wednesday, saying afterwards: “I heard three words from the president tonight – he’s all in. And so am I.”
Newsom has been a top surrogate for Biden’s re-election campaign, but has also garnered increasing buzz as a potential replacement if Biden were to withdraw. He was swarmed by reporters after the debate ended last week, some asking him if he’d replace Biden.
A Siena College/New York Times poll released Wednesday suggested Trump’s lead had increased since the debate, with him winning 49% of likely voters compared to 43% for Biden. Only 48% of Democrats in the poll said Biden should remain the nominee. A Reuters/Ipsos poll published Tuesday, July 2, said that former first lady Michelle Obama is the only hypothetical candidate to definitively defeat Trump, but she has previously said she’s not running. That poll had Biden and Trump tied.
Meanwhile, as Joe Biden faces increasing pressure to withdraw his candidacy following last week’s poor debate performance, Kamala Harris has emerged as the frontrunner to replace him.
Senior sources at the Biden campaign, the White House and the Democratic National Committee told the media that the vice-president was the top alternative.
Harris, a former senator from California, has stood by the president’s side as he weathers the debate fallout this week, and reportedly told campaign staffers on Wednesday: “We will not back down. We will follow our president’s lead.”
A CNN poll published Tuesday, July 2, found Harris “within striking distance of Trump in a hypothetical matchup” – 47% supporting the former president, and 45% supporting Harris, a result within the margin of error. The Biden-Trump matchup in that poll had Trump earning 49% of votes and Biden earning 43%. Harris’s modest advantage was due partly to her having broader support from women and independents, CNN said.
With two Democratic congressmen now publicly calling on Biden to step aside, other party leaders have privately suggested they favor Harris as his potential replacement, according to reports. Hakeem Jeffries, House minority leader, signaled to members that she would be the best option, the Washington Post reported.
James Clyburn, a senior congressional Democrat, said publicly he’d support Harris if Biden were to withdraw his candidacy, urging Democrats to “do everything to bolster her, whether she’s in second place or at the top of the ticket”. Summer Lee, a House Democrat from Pennsylvania, also said Wednesday that Harris was the “obvious choice” to replace Biden, if he decided not to run.
Some Harris supporters who are advocating she take over the campaign have argued that she would perform better than Biden with Black and Latino communities, and that she is a more powerful abortion-rights spokesperson than Biden.
Skeptics, however, have noted that Harris also remains fairly unpopular and have pointed to polls suggesting she has vulnerabilities in terms of voters’ trust in her ability to handle immigration, China relations and Israel’s war on Gaza.
The other names that have been floated as possible replacements include California governor Gavin Newsom, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, Illinois governor J B Pritzker and Kentucky governor Andy Beshear. The Reuters poll, however, suggested they would all perform worse than Biden and Harris. If Harris became the presidential candidate, she could take over the funds raised by the campaign since the account is registered under Biden and Harris.
On Wednesday, the White House also announced a series of “summer of engagement” events for Harris, including visits to New Orleans, Las Vegas, Dallas and Indianapolis.
MARYLAND (TIP): Aruna Miller, Indian American Lt. Governor of Maryland, the first woman of color and immigrant elected to statewide office in the state, has been inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame with four others. Others honored with Miller were US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, Secretary of State Susan Lee and Comptroller Brooke Lierman.
Governor Wes Moore and First Lady Dawn Moore congratulated each inductee at the ceremony held at Government House on March 21, according to a press release.
“I am grateful to stand among the remarkable women whose legacies inspire us to see more, do more, and be more,” said Miller. “Every day, I work to uplift the people of Maryland and create a strong foundation for a future that our next generation of leaders can be proud of. “
“As my partner in this work, the Lt. Governor has made an invaluable mark on this state, and I am honored to serve alongside her,” said Moore. “The women inducted tonight into the Hall of Fame are not just an inspiration, they are our foundation. Our administration, this state, and our country would be incomplete without their hard work and impact.”
“Lt. Governor Miller is a force within this administration and a leader for all young women throughout Maryland,” said First Lady Moore. “Congratulations to all the inductees, as their careers have opened the door to other women who aspire to lead.”
Established in 1985, the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame in partnership between the Maryland Commission for Women and the Women Legislators of Maryland memorializes and honors Maryland women whose lives and work are of historic significance to the health, economic, political, and cultural history of the state.
The 10th Lt. Governor of Maryland, Miller is the second woman to serve as Lt. Governor and the first woman of color and immigrant elected to statewide office in Maryland.
As Lt. Governor, her policy profile includes matters relating to transportation, mental health, and STEM equity. She serves as chair of the Governor’s Work Zone Safety Work Group, dedicated to making highway work zones safer and protecting the lives of workers, motorists, and law enforcement.
Miller also chairs Maryland’s first Council on Interfaith Outreach, which convenes faith leaders from across religions and across the state of Maryland to bridge divides, increase religious tolerance, end hate, and better serve all communities.
Born in Andhra Pradesh, India, Miller and her family immigrated to the United States when she was seven years old. The daughter of a mechanical engineer, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Previously, as a civil and transportation engineer in Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation, Miller worked to improve the safety of the public and alleviate traffic by creating equitable access to transportation throughout the county.
For 25 years, she oversaw programs that advanced access to schools and employment centers, and made community facilities safe for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and people with differing abilities.
From 2010 to 2018, she represented District 15 in the Maryland House of Delegates.
For over 30 years, she has lived in Montgomery County with her husband David, where they raised three daughters.
MARYLAND (TIP): With opinion polls heavily favoring Democrats, Indian American Aruna Miller is likely to be elected as the next Lieutenant Governor of Maryland in November as best-selling author Wes Moore’s running mate.
In a competitive race for the nomination, army veteran Moore bested former Labor Secretary and DNC Chairman Tom Perez in addition to the Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot in the Democratic gubernatorial primary on Saturday, July 23. Moore and Miller will face Republican candidate Dan Cox — who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump — and his running mate Gordana Schifanelli in the November election. If the pair wins, Moore will become the first African-American governor of Maryland and Miller the first Indian American to be elected lieutenant governor of any state. Moore, who is also the former CEO of Robin Hood Foundation, said he was “absolutely ecstatic and humbled to go on this journey with Aruna Miller.” “On behalf of my family and my incredible running mate @ArunaMiller, THANK YOU,” he tweeted. “The stakes could not be higher, but together, we’ll meet this moment with urgency and leadership. Maryland WILL be a state where we leave no one behind.
#MooreForMaryland”
The Cook Political Report suggests that the Maryland governor’s race would be solidly Democrat, according to NBC News. If opinion polls hold, Moore would most likely succeed Republican Governor Larry Hogan.
Moore, who has never held or run for public office, has found a seasoned campaigner in Miller who has not only had unsuccessful runs for the party nomination for the US Congress in 2017 but also served two terms in the Maryland General Assembly. Both Moore and Miller have impeccable credentials outside of politics. Moore was a Rhodes Scholar, author, and entrepreneur while Miller is an engineer by training.
According to Moore, Miller “is a seasoned legislator who has fought for families in Montgomery County and across the entire state of Maryland in the House of Delegates.”
Born in Hyderabad, Miller immigrated to the United States when she was seven years old. She became a US citizen in 2000. Miller represented District 15 in the Maryland State House from 2010 to 2018 with four years on the House Ways and Means Committee and four years on the Appropriations Committee.
As a delegate, she worked to invest in STEM education, streamline the regulatory process for small businesses and was a champion for working families, survivors of domestic abuse, and the environment.
She worked for over 30 years as a civil and transportation engineer in Montgomery County helping improve the safety of the public and alleviate traffic, and creating equitable transportation access to connect people to opportunities. In her 2018 bid for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, Miller came in second out of eight candidates and earned endorsements from EMILY’s List, the National Education Association, Sierra Club, CASA of Maryland, 314 Action, End Citizens United, and others.
She lives in the 6th District with her husband David, and her mother Hema. Aruna and David have three adult daughters — Meena, Chloe, and Sasha.
RICHMOND HILL, NY (TIP) The Sikh Community is taking out a massive and impressive Parade in New York City in celebration of the community’s birthday on Saturday, April 23. Sikhism is the youngest and the fifth largest religion of the world, with a following of about 30 million across the world. Gurdwara Sikh Cultural Society President Davinder Singh Boparai who gave program details to The Indian Panorama has requested all Sikhs and non-Sikhs to participate in the parade in large numbers. Organized by the Sikh Cultural Society, Richmond Hill, New York, in cooperation with Sikh Temples and Sikh organizations of the Tri-States of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the Sikh Day Parade on April 23 in Manhattan, New York is expected to attract large crowds of Sikh men, women and children, and contingents of Sikhs from as far as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The parade that will start at 12 PM from 38th Street and Madison Ave, would wind its way through the city and end up at 26th Street and Madison Ave for the conference on 23rd Street. There will be a dozen or so floats depicting Sikh history, culture and religion. Thousands will be marching in the parade singing hymns from the Holy Sikh Scripture.
An interesting feature is participation in parade of NYPD band and police officers. Another impressive feature of the parade is langar (free food). The whole 26th Street between Madison and Park is dedicated to food stalls where free food will be served to the thousands irrespective of color or creed. A conference will be held as the closing part of the parade. The event is held annually to mark Vaisakhi, the harvest festival of Punjab that coincides with the day the Tenth Master of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, created the order of Khalsa in 1699.
2021 is exiting and 2022 is about to enter. So, adieu to one, and welcome to the other. We all have had a mixed kind of experiences in 2021 and we may have our hopes and apprehensions about 2022. The Indian Panorama decided to reach out to readers to have their comment on what impacted them the most in 2021, and what concerns them the most in 2022. We are glad that the response has been quite enthusiastic; we received comments from as many as 15 readers of The Indian Panorama. So, here we go with their comment. Please note we have not edited any, and, as such, the editorial board may please not be held responsible for the mistakes, if any.
We thank the readers for their time and love, and wish them a Happy New Year – EDITORIAL BOARD
Dr. VK Raju, Founder & President Eye Foundation of America, Morgantown, WV
My reflections on 2021
COVID-19 has affected our lives, our economy and nearly every nook and corner of the globe. More than 5 million covid deaths are reported globally and increasing. The US record for daily Coronavirus cases has been broken as two highly contagious variants- Delta and Omicron- have spread across the country.
In 1918, the flu epidemic death rates varied among different groups. It is sad to say that 100 years later, this history repeated itself. Any specific therapies of the day had little impact on the disease. A hundred years later it is still true of covid 19.
While few living people can recall the great flu epidemic of 1918, we can continue to learn its lessons, for example: 1. Common sense value of hand washing, 2. Wearing masks; 3. Vaccinations. Speaking about vaccinations, what percentage of the population recollects smallpox and polio? Smallpox was eradicated because of vaccinations. Polio is eradicated from the planet except for isolated cases in only two countries because of vaccinations. In the case of polio, the Rotary International played a key role. It brought together the political will, professional will, and people’s will. Compare that with the covid situation in US.
Benjamin Franklin said once,” in 1736, I lost my son, a fine boy of 4 years old to smallpox. I long regretted bitterly and still regret that I have not given it to him by inoculation. This mentioned for the sake of parents, who omit that operation on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child dies: my example showing that the regret might be the same either way. Therefore, the safer should be chosen.” Today, living in such an advanced world, many of us get the basic facts wrong. In spite of the many advances in public health, one might say that it is too easily forgotten here and seen as having not enough impact in the rest of the world. There are > 700,000 physicians in USA and only less than 1% practice public health. Yearly flu infections cost the USA more than $87 billion annually, and it can be prevented by developing a universal vaccine at a fraction of the cost. We know the old adage “prevention is better than cure”. Yet prevention is celebrated in principle and resisted in practice.
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Amita Singh, Owner, Daminis, Indian fashion retail store, Edison, NJ.
Dreams can be realized at any age, with hard work and a vision
One always dreaded the ‘C’ word, never quite comprehending the multiples it brings. As I was growing up and entering my adolescence, I was taught to respect ‘Mother Nature ‘and ‘Father Time’. Today my two cents worth would be to also trust science and a human’s resilience and spirit. Covid has taught us that there are multiple aspects of life that are out of our control. As a single woman, in my apartment during the worst of the pandemic, with my business closed, all I could realize was that it could always be worse. I have also within me, recognized my own personality to accept and overcome what I cannot change. It could be termed as maturity. Personally, it has risen me to another level. This is ‘POWER’.
Today I celebrate me, the family that truly connects with me and not just because we share a family tree. I have also grown to respect friends that have an honest, not always agreeable, discussion with me and participate in my life. I have grown to cherish time that others make for me and not the gifts they bring nor the accolades. As we enter 2022, recognizing life can’t get any worse yet it can, I want to remember lessons learnt, not to be easily forgotten. I want to celebrate the strength within me to make small changes that leave those around me in a better place. Be it in words, action, holding hands or just offering my shoulder.
Life is not difficult; we make it so by the choices we make!
So I think and believe!!!
Wishing every ‘Indian Panorama’ reader a very happy New Year! May 2022,bring you gifts that sustain you as a human being and are not fleeting. History is a cruel reminder. Let’s rise & shine!
May you create precious memories that are passed onto the next generation!
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Ashook Ramsaran, President Indian Diaspora Council International, New York
Impactful Issue of Year 2021 and Primary Concern for 2022 – by Ashook Ramsaran
Most impactful issue of 2021: The continuing spread, unknown trajectory and devastating effects of Covid-19 and its variants, inequity of Covid-19 vaccines globally and the tremendous impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. The unexpected toll globally in 2021 has been hugely impactful: The unprecedented numbers of those who died, got infected, were physically and mentally affected, displaced, lost their jobs and loved ones, and experienced inordinate disruption in their way of life. Disproportionately affected were front line medical, emergency food industry workers, the poor, and working parents. Covid-19 induced poverty increased by over 100 million people worldwide. Business, travel, education and purchasing of food and goods changed dramatically in ways never before imagined. While technology allowed some sectors to continue at reduced levels, the untold consequences will have long lasting impact into the future.
Issue of primary concern in 2022: The continuing devastating effects of global climate change with continued resistance to taking necessary steps to reverse the trend and save our planet. While promises are made and broken, there is absence of a coherent strategy and global leadership on the dire impact of changing climatic conditions due to mankind’s adverse influence on the environment. Developed and developing countries, as well as business self- interest, have largely failed to acknowledge science and physical changes taking place: unprecedented levels of pollution, global temperature rise, floods and droughts, forest fires, hurricanes, tornadoes and storms, increasing respiratory problems among all ages, availability of healthy foods, water and air. Climate changes will affect everyone’s lives and livelihood in unprecedented ways.
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Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO International, Stamford, CT
The 2021 continued to be a year in turmoil with a global pandemic continuing to hit the USA, Europe, India and many other countries very badly. When the pandemic hit India severely in April/May/June 2021 and causing lack of Oxygen supplies, the Indian Diaspora community organizations including GOPIO came forwarded to ship massive number of oxygen concentrators to India. The good part in the USA in 2021 was the change over to a new administration which had put together many concrete steps to help American people from the disaster caused by the pandemic. The administration also helped to bring back a robust economy with a very low unemployment. The Corona Virus affected everyone including our Diaspora community. We lost many friends in India due to the pandemic. For Indian Americans, it was an extraordinary year with Indian/African origin Kamala Harris sworn in as Vice President of the USA. By the middle of the year, we could start organizing programs with physical presence, however, the new Omicron variant spreading fast in the USA and all over the world, has alerted us to be cautious. As we enter the New Year, let us hope that our world comes back with normal life in 2022. I wish everyone a healthy, peaceful and prosperous New Year.
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George Abraham, Vice Chairman, IOCUSA
Another tumultuous year is passing by as we are on the threshold of a New Year. We were told to wear masks, wash our hands, take vaccines twice, take a booster shot, keep a safe distance, and we complied with them all. However, Omicron couldn’t care less, and once again as this virus (manufactured or not) made its way all-around, creating havoc and spreading panic. I am nostalgic for those days when I was indeed a free man enjoying life as a normal human being.
It is also sad to see that politicians are using this crisis to advance their own interests rooted in the ideology of their choice. These elected representatives who are supposed to serve us are acting as our Lords and Kings. They have succeeded in depriving people like me of going into a Dunkin’ Donut’s shop and enjoying a coffee and apple fritter in-house in the last several weeks. I wonder whether they are genuinely concerned about my health or usurping their authority and exercising power over all of us. The primary responsibility of the government is to protect the lives and property of its citizens. If they are genuinely concerned about our security, they will not defund the police and facilitate a rise in crime that threatens every law-abiding citizen. However, today the authorities are busy yanking a whopper jr. from a kid’s hand at a Burger King joint rather than arresting and detaining marauding youths who are engaged in ‘smash and grab’ burglaries all around! It is amazing how our world has just turned upside down!
Our only hope for 2022 is that common sense will prevail across the board! May I wish everyone a peaceful and healthier New Year!
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Mabel Pais, Writer on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Health & Wellness, and Spirituality, New York.
In 2021, the COVID-19 virus that began to make its appearance in the latter half of 2019, pervaded us and took the lives of 10s of 1000s of humans, first in the western countries, then most countries, one by one.
My wish for all of us to stay healthy in 2022 and live productive lives is to develop a healthy immune system that will NOT get impacted by any deadly virus. I think this can happen if we live as a co-existent, interdependent human society where we look out for one another.
The demise this week of Nobel Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African Anglican bishop, theologian, and peace activist brings home the message: “I am, who I am….because…. we are, who we are.” “I am… because…. you are.” – Ubuntu thoughts. Our survival and our thriving are inextricably connected.
Treading in the footsteps of another Nobel Prize laureate Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other peace seekers, it is fitting to accept this co-existence and inter-dependence of us humans as absolutely vital to our survival and prosperity, if we wish to continue to thrive on Mother Earth. Mother Earth is our home. We cannot abuse our Mother who nurtures us and allows us to live and flourish day by day. Would we abuse our human mother? I doubt it. Let’s treat Mother Earth with the respect and caring she has bestowed on us for millennia. Let’s stop abuse of nature: the flora and fauna with which we have been gifted from birth.
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Urmilesh Arya MD FACP, President, National Association of Indians in America, New York
Impact of Covid on USA
One of the issues that impacted US as well as the entire world is the Covid 19 crisis. In US more than 52.5 million suffered from this infection out of that more than 833,000 people died. As of Dec 16, 2021, 1 in 6 US resident have been confirmed infected and 1 in 409, people died. Many hospitals did not have enough staff to meet the demand and many countries had shortage of PPE, Respirators and oxygen supply. The pandemic made an increase in Violence, robberies and lootings, a constant threat.
Addictions, mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, loneliness, and social isolation affected more to young generation between18 to 34 years of age. Preventive care delayed because of Covid infection
The pandemic has created a need of support in the areas of Housing / Homelessness, Health care, Nutrition / Food support, Mental Health, Domestic Violence, care for seniors etc.
The major invention to control pandemic was invention of vaccine. According to CDC 241.6 million people (73%) has received at least one dose, out of that 62 % are fully vaccinated. Recently there is a 41 % increase in new covid cases. People who are getting hospitalized are those who are not vaccinated.
Pandemic has changed the life of people, how we work, learn and interact as social distancing guidelines have led amore virtual existence both personally and professionally. The good news is people were using this time to get healthier in many areas, better eating habits, improved sleep pattern, modifying on exercise program and healthy dietary changes. Quarantine made them value their relationships. Children have benefited from being able to spend more time with family. Also, people reevaluated how they spend their time and the life goals.
There is a new variant of concern in 2022, covid Omicronthat spreads fast but less severe than beta and delta variant, symptoms are same as that of Flue.
Vaccines clearly raise antibody and strengthen the body defense against infection. People feel a great concern about effect of Covid in 2022. Bill gates said, the biggest concern is “people’s distrust in Government.” Chief executive officers of Companies like Health care, Restaurants, manufacturing etc., think hope for return of economy to normal is misguiding. Stock market may crash, Recession may happen. President Joe Biden said “we are experiencing the strongest economic recovery in the world. Even after inflation, our economy is bigger, and our families have more money than they did before pandemic.” We got to think positive and hope for a better future. Wish you all a Happy New year and there is a healthy, happy and pandemic ending 2022.
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Gobind Bathija Entrepreneur and Community Leader, New York
As 2021 comes to a close, it is sometimes difficult to remove yourself from the immediate challenges that face us and reflect on what has evolved as a result of those challenges. India’s commitment to the development and implementation of COVID-19 vaccinations and treatment programs is a testament to their dedication to the safety and welfare of its citizens regardless of Sector. With respect to the fight against the Covid Pandemic, India is unified. All necessary steps are being taken to ensure India is prepared well to face the continued challenges and threats posed by the continued pandemic of the corona virus. India has even addressed the Indian men’s love of spitting with officials introducing penalties for such actions combatting the airborne dangers in the spread of the virus. While united in the fight against Covid and with a growing economy, India continues to face challenges with Sector unification. The Public Corruption Index (PCI) still measures close to historical highs. In 2001, the PCI measured at 31 and currently measures at an historical high of 42.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has proven credibility in making the grandest of decisions to combat global and internal threats, including corruption and the pandemic. PM Modi took immediate action at the early stages of the pandemic by shutting down the economy on the grandest possible scale. He put the country first ahead of the political effects. PM Modi can never be accused of not doing enough. PM Modi should continue to lead with visions of improving quality of lives, strengthening of human freedoms and aspirations, and deepening democracy. While leaders around the world are pre-occupied with immediate challenges, PM Modi presents the initiatives for the next 25 years marking the Centenary of Indian Independence including making India stronger, more prosperous, more inclusive and equal and more democratic. This will result in less corruption, and a safer, cleaner, stronger economic world power of India.
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Harpreet Singh Toor, Co -Founder & President, South Asians for Global Empowerment
The Year 2021 was a very challenging year as we were still in Covid-19, which we still are, and we also have a new President for US. There was such a contrast in personalities with outgoing president, but the challenges were still the same. The withdrawal from Afghanistan for US, the Farmers Protest and resolution for India and Russia knocking on the door of Ukraine. The 2022 is beginning with two major challenges for world. One is Covid-19 still raging and geopolitical challenges from Russia, China and Taliban. I hope and wish we have more Statesmen in the world. Still, wishing a Best and Healthy New Year to all of you. Best wishes for Indrajit Saluja for his tireless work and efforts to put the issues in a proper perspective.
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Sunil Mehra, MD, FACP, FCCP, Professor of Clinical Medicine Former Chief of Pulmonary Medicine, and Director of MICU
We had a rough 2020-2021 for the entire world. Covid impacted the lives of everybody. It struck humanity with vengeance as Pandemic of the century. We lost a few million people in the world with USA losing more than half a million. It causes an economic downfall for many professions including medical field. 2022 is starting with surge in Covid omicron numbers making lots of people sicker esp. kids and unvaccinated individuals. My best wishes to readers of Indian Panorama and entire world for a better healthier life. May God be on our side and give us hope and strength
Health, health and health was one fear or issue for a lot of people in 2021 and it will continue in 2022 also. The atmosphere around covid is unpredictable. Various theories are being spread by many different people. It’s hard to really know what is true. I think it’s better to listen to doctors and scientist but then there are peoplewho do not agree. For me personally taking care of myself and be responsible towards my wellbeing and not getting sick. has been a concern. So far, I am fine, and I will continue taking care of myself and my health in 2022. My suggestion is to be responsible towards your wellbeing and learn to be more grateful to the universe and the people in your life. Explore within you happiness, contentment and inner peace.
Once one practices this exploration then it can be easier to face challenges in life.
Then there are realities of living such as work, family, finances etc which bring another challenge for individuals depending on their circumstances. I think the US had four cross-cutting issues- COVID-19, economic recovery, racial equity, and climate change. But the most important issue has been covid in 2021 and it will continue in 2022. Having said this, I still say welcome 2022 with hope and self-care responsibility.
so Happy New Year! It sounds good to say it and to hear it!
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Mike Ghouse- motivational speaker, thinker, author, and interfaith wedding officiant, Washington, D.C.
2021 went away swiftly, even before we realized it, so will be 2022
We have a choice to reluctantly accept what comes our way or choose to shape the future we want. We can carry a rotten face and sulk about things that went awry or have a plan for 2022.
A good plan is not difficult to write; let me simplify it for you. All you have to do is cut a few pieces of pocket-size paper or get 3×5 cards. On the top of each piece of paper, write this out.
Personal health
Family health
Family finances
Income and what to spend on
Job situation
Education
Vacation
Volunteering
Whom to donate
Other items
As your mind races through different topics, take each piece and write down the bullets, don’t worry about priority or sequence at this time. Just jot down the points as they come to you. Once you have enough points on each piece of paper and start thinking about each item, could you write it down or absorb it?
Now, you have the complete data to do whatever you want to do with it. Experience has shown that it gives you peace of mind when you come to this point; the scattered brain comes together.
What is my plan?
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Gobind Munjal – A dedicated and committed Community Worker, New York
Let me first congratulate Prof Saluja for having completed 15 years of publication of The Indian Panorama. I wish Prof Saluja and the staff of The Indian Panorama all the success and best wishes in their endeavor to serve the Indian Community by bringing truthful reporting and making it an informative and educative publication. It gives me immense pleasure to know that The Indian Panorama is bringing out a special edition on the occasion of the New Year.
I am sure the new year edition will record events of 2021 much like 2020, a source of misery to people all over the world. In addition to a lot of deaths, the Coronavirus in the form of new variants continue to adversely impact the businesses and the economy causing a shortage of work force, supply constraints and high inflation. One thing is good that very effective Vaccines were made within a record period of time, which have proved to be a good defense against this deadly virus and people are learning to live with it. As we bid goodbye to 2021, we hope that the new year will bring hope and prosperity and put an end to this pandemic. The things will come back to normal, and world will be a much better place to live in. I wish Prof. Indrajit Saluja and The Indian Panorama continued success and wish everybody a Happy New Year!
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Rajendar Dichpally, General Secretary, IOCUSA, New York
As the year 2021 comes to an End, we look back at the past year with a sense of despondency and also sorrow on the destruction that the second wave of Covid-19 – 2021 caused to human lives, especially for American Indian’s. I still have nightmares listening to horror stories of the collapse of the healthcare system in India caused by the second wave of Virus that hit the country like a tsunami. I have personally lost so many loved ones in my own family and friends. There was nothing we could do to control the situation and looked on helplessly as the virus took away so many lives in India and USA with quick succession.
I was fortunate to work with some good organizations like Gandhian Society to do whatever little we could to help the situation in India. This Virus has taught us that life is so fragile and unreliable and only thing we can do is live a life to the full and try and be a good human being.
As we enter 2022, we are again on the verge of another wave of the virus that has mutated in the form of Omicron, and we are looking at more troubling times. I pray to God to grant the world relief of this virus and let the world breathe easy again, let the children begin to enjoy their childhood again, let businesses flourish and let there be happiness, Good Health and happiness again in this world. Let us again unite to fight this battle together and emerge victorious against the virus. God Save this world and bless all the people who love on this earth. Amen.
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Indu Jaiswal RDN CDN, Chair Indian American Forum, New York.
As we approach the end of 2021 and are looking forward to New Year 2022, we are still going to face tremendous challenges. We hope that year 2022 will be better than 2021. We are still facing the Pandemic of the COVID -19. all over the world however Vaccine and Booster shots are providing better hope in times to come. We also hope that people affected with mental Health challenges will think positive and become more tolerant. Pandemic has affected the Mental Health of people, Despite the arrival of Omicron Variant of COVID – 19 all over, we still feel positive that with constant Vaccinations this variant will be controlled. We Look forward for positive progress against COVID 19. Another factor is to hope for better environment, address Global warming so we do not have to face extreme weather. As people will start returning to work and to normal lifestyle, things will improve. Also as, Global economy will improve, and people will have better expectations. We all must be positive in our thoughts, and we continue to Salute out Frontline workers who continue to work tirelessly in providing us Quality health care and save our lives. We also want to Salute members of All armed forces and police officers for protecting our everyday lives. On behalf of Indian America Forum Members of Board of Trustees and Executive members we wish all of you Happy and Healthy New Year 2022
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Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Maryland
May this New Year bring along love, prosperity, health, and peace in everyone’s life to make this year a beautiful one for all. We wish the New Year unfolds new goals, new happiness, and new achievements and brings smiles and joy for all of us. Na.e saal me.n pichhlii nafrat bhulaa de.n, Chalo apnii duniyaa ko jannat banaa de.n.(Parveen Shakir).
After receiving a doctorate from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, in 1972, I served as a faculty member at the Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. In 1994, joined the Veterans Health Administration, US Government as Scientific Review Advisor until retirement in 2020. I have served with several Indian literary and cultural organizations.
Comments of readers are invited on the views expressed here.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): President Joe Biden has nominated Indian American magistrate judge Errol Rajesh Arthur to be an associate judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years. The White House sent the nomination of Arthur, son of Indo-Guyanese immigrants, who has served as a magistrate judge on the Superior Court since 2010, to the Senate for confirmation Wednesday.
Arthur has served in the Criminal Division, Domestic Violence Division, and Family Court, according to his official bio released by the White House. He is currently presiding magistrate judge and serves on the chief judge’s judicial leadership team.
From 2002 to 2010, Arthur was a solo practitioner and then a named partner at Arthur & Arthur, PLLC, where he represented clients in criminal, family, and civil matters.
From 1999 to 2002, Arthur worked as a staff attorney at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Arthur served as a clerk for Judge Mary A. Gooden Terrell on the District of Columbia Superior Court from 1998 to 1999.
A native Washingtonian, Judge Arthur graduated from St. John’s College High School in 1990, and he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Maryland in 1994.
He received his law degree from the Howard University School of Law in 1998. Arthur has also served on numerous court committees, a visiting faculty member of Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop, and Chair of the Washington Bar Association’s Judicial Council, according to DC Judicial Nomination Commission.
In 2008, Judge Arthur was appointed as Chairman of the District of Columbia Board of Elections and Ethics, and he served as an adjunct professor and supervising attorney with the Howard University School of Law’s Criminal Justice Clinic.
Endorsing Arthur for the post last January, the South Asian Bar Association of Washington, DC (SABA-DC) noted that his appointment would enhance the diversity of the DC Superior Court bench. “As the son of Indo-Guyanese immigrants who moved to the United States to attend college and build their lives in the District, Arthur brings a unique perspective to the bench,” it said in a letter to the DC Judicial Nomination Commission.
“In a city full of immigrants like the District, we can think of no more important perspective to the Court to increase access and acceptability of justice,” SABA-DC said requesting the commission to include Arthur in the list of judicial nominees sent to Biden.
WASHINGTON (TIP): The Senate on Friday, January 22, confirmed Lloyd J. Austin III as defense secretary, filling a critical national security position in President Biden’s cabinet and elevating him as the first Black Pentagon chief.
The 93-2 vote came a day after Congress granted General Austin, a retired four-star Army general, a special waiver to hold the post, which is required for any defense secretary who has been out of active-duty military service for fewer than seven years. It reflected a bipartisan consensus on Capitol Hill that it was urgent for Mr. Biden to have his defense pick rapidly installed, a step normally taken on a new president’s first day. “It’s an extraordinary, historic moment,” said Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. “A significant portion of our armed forces today are African-Americans or Latinos, and now they can see themselves at the very top of the Department of Defense, which makes real the notion of opportunity.” Mr. Austin, 67, is the only African-American to have led U.S. Central Command, the military’s marquee combat command, with responsibility for Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. He retired in 2016 after 41 years in the military and is widely respected across the Army. Lawmakers in both parties initially had been uneasy at the prospect of granting General Austin an exception to the statutory bar against recently retired military personnel serving as Pentagon chiefs, a law intended to maintain civilian control of the military. They had already done so four years ago for President Donald J. Trump’s first defense secretary, Jim Mattis, a retired four-star Marine officer, and many had vowed not to do so again. But facing intense pressure from officials from Mr. Biden’s transition team and top Democrats, and after receiving assurances from General Austin that he was committed to the principle of civilian control, lawmakers rallied behind a barrier-shattering nominee. Two Republicans, Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Mike Lee of Utah, voted against the confirmation. Even though 43 percent of the 1.3 million men and women on active duty in the United States are people of color, the leaders at the top of the military’s chain of command have remained remarkably white and male. When President Barack Obama selected General Austin to lead the United States Central Command, he became one of the highest-ranked Black men in the military, second only to Colin L. Powell, who had been chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mr. Austin will be the first Black Pentagon chief since the position was created in 1947 — just nine months before President Harry S. Truman ordered the desegregation of the armed forces, Representative Anthony Brown, Democrat of Maryland and a Black retired colonel in the Army Reserve, noted. “Secretary Austin’s confirmation is a historic first and symbolizes the culmination of the nearly 75-year march toward genuine integration of the department,” Mr. Brown said. “He is well positioned to draw upon his experiences as a seasoned military commander, respected leader and as a Black man who grew up amid segregation to drive progress forward as our next Secretary of Defense.”
US deaths from the coronavirus pandemic have surged past 2,000 for two days in a row as the most dangerous season of the year approached, taxing an overwhelmed healthcare system with US political leadership in disarray.
The toll from Covid-19 reached its second-highest level ever on Wednesday with 2,811 lives lost, according to a Reuters tally of official data, one short of the record from April 15. Nearly 200,000 new US cases were reported on Wednesday, with record hospitalizations approaching 100,000 patients. The sobering data came as the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday warned that December, January and February were likely to be “the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.”
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield told an event hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce that the United States could start losing around 3,000 people – roughly the number that died in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 – each day over the next two months. “The mortality concerns are real and I do think unfortunately before we see February, we could be close to 450,000 Americans that have died from this virus,” Redfield said. The US death toll since the start of the pandemic stands at around 273,000.
Meanwhile, the administration of outgoing President Donald Trump has yet to articulate an effective strategy to contain the virus beyond promoting the development of a vaccine, which could be rolled out later this month but faces an uphill battle amid a skeptical public and logistical challenges.
The Republican president’s few public appearances recently had been dedicated to efforts to overturn the results of the Nov. 3 election won by Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, who will assume office on Jan. 20. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, a Republican, said he had been concerned about the transition between the Trump and Biden administrations, but he had grown more hopeful that the federal government response would not lapse.
“We’re in the middle of the worst battle of this war, and the hand-off has got to be smooth. We’ve got to work together. There’s got to be no politics in this virus,” he told ABC News’ “Good Morning America” program.
Hogan echoed Redfield’s warning, citing dark days ahead and noting even when vaccines are approved, there initially won’t be enough to even cover all of his state’s healthcare workers.
WASHINGTON (TIP): The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell last week to 709,000, a still-high level but the lowest figure since March and a sign that the job market might be slowly healing.
The figures coincide with a sharp resurgence in confirmed viral infections to an all-time high above 120,000 a day. Cases are rising in 49 states, and deaths are increasing in 39. The nation has now recorded 240,000 virus-related deaths and 10.3 million confirmed infections.As colder weather sets in and fear of the virus escalates, consumers may turn more cautious about travelling, shopping, dining out and visiting gyms, barber shops and retailers. Companies in many sectors could cut jobs or workers’ hours. In recent days, the virus’ resurgence has triggered tighter restrictions on businesses, mostly restaurants and bars, in a range of states, including Texas, New York, Maryland, and Oregon. Last week’s new applications for unemployment benefits was down from 757,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. The still-elevated figure shows that eight months after the pandemic flattened the economy, many employers are still slashing jobs. The number of people who are continuing to receive traditional unemployment benefits fell to 6.8 million, the government said, from 7.2 million. That suggests that more Americans are finding jobs and no longer receiving unemployment aid. But it also indicates that many jobless people have used up their state unemployment aid — which typically expires after six months — and have transitioned to a federal extended benefits programme that lasts 13 more weeks. The viral outbreak threatens to upend the improvement in the job market in recent months. The unemployment rate plunged a full percentage point in October to 6.9 per cent while employers added a solid 600,000 new jobs.
WASHINGTON (TIP): President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, July 3, that he was moving ahead with adding a contentious citizenship question to the 2020 US census in a dramatic reversal after his own administration including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced a day earlier that the plan had been dropped.
Following Trump’s announcement, made in a defiant Twitter post, a senior US Justice Department lawyer told a Maryland-based federal judge overseeing litigation in the matter that the administration was seeking a “path forward” to add a citizenship question after the Supreme Court last Thursday blocked it, at least temporarily.
The Supreme Court found that administration officials had given a “contrived” rationale for including the query in the decennial population survey, but the court left open the possibility the administration could offer a plausible rationale.
Facing a deadline to get the census forms printed, administration officials including Ross said on Tuesday they were going ahead without including the question.
Critics have called the citizenship question a Republican ploy to scare immigrants into not taking part in the census and engineer a population undercount in Democratic-leaning areas with high immigrant and Latino populations. That would benefit non-Hispanic whites and help Trump’s fellow Republicans gain seats in the US House of Representatives and state legislatures when new electoral district boundaries are drawn after the census, the critics said.
“The News Reports about the Department of Commerce dropping its quest to put the Citizenship Question on the Census is incorrect or, to state it differently, FAKE! We are absolutely moving forward, as we must, because of the importance of the answer to this question,” Trump wrote on Twitter.
The Justice Department on Tuesday had told Hazel that the administration had made a final decision not to proceed with the citizenship question, according to two lawyers involved in the litigation. The judge then held a call with lawyers in the case after Trump’s Wednesday announcement.
“We think there may be a legally available path under the Supreme Court’s decision. We’re examining that, looking at near-term options to see whether that’s viable and possible,” Hunt said.
Hazel said he wants a final response by Friday afternoon on whether the government will press ahead with adding the citizenship question. Otherwise, legal claims accusing administration officials of being motivated by racial bias in adding the citizenship question will move forward.
MARYLAND (TIP): Indian American Aruna Miller lost the Democratic primary for the state’s open sixth congressional district on June 26.
Miller finished second with 17,315 votes, roughly 5,000 fewer than the winner, businessman David Trone.
Only 55,000 registered voters cast their votes in the Democratic primary. The presence of two Asian Americans — pediatrician and author Nadia Hashimi and State Sen. Roger Manno — did not help Miller’s cause.
Hashimi received 4,764 votes, Manno got 4,245 votes.
Trone, founder of Total Wine & More, reportedly spent $12 million of his own money for the campaign, vastly outspending Miller, who raised $1.5 million.
Trone had spent more than $10 million in the Democratic primary from the neighboring 8th district in 2016, when he finished second behind Jamie Raskin, who now represents the district in Congress.
Speaking to roughly 200 of her friends and supporters at a Gaithersburg, MD, restaurant, the candidate vowed to continue to fight for the issues she ran on.
“When I first started out this journey to run for Congress people said to me… ‘Aruna look you really want to give up a safe seat in the House of Delegates and take on this role of running for Congress?’ I said you know what you better believe it. I do, and the reason why is because our democracy, our future and our liberties for every one of the kids that are here today, it’s worth fighting for and risking everything for and I don’t regret it one bit.”
She said the campaign was about “what we fight together, what we’re seeking together,” she said. “Tomorrow, we’re gonna get up and we’re gonna fight for democracy. We never take our eye off that. It is something worth fighting for. People have marched for and died for so we, you and I, could have the liberties and the freedoms and all the things that we have today. And that’s our responsibility to do that for the future generation.”
Miller also thanked the Indian American community for its support.
“They’ve been incredibly supportive and I’m grateful for that support,” she said. “I think the Indian American community, along with the nation, has woken up from their political slumber after the presidential election and are beginning to understand now why it’s important to be politically engaged.”
Miller further added in her speech the way forward.
I’m sure most of you know the story — and every immigrant knows his story — that my mom and dad risked it all came to the United States, stepped out of their comfort zone in order to give greater opportunities for their children. And I’m thankful for that. … They taught me a lesson in that that you should always step out of your comfort zone. That’s when life really begins. Get comfortable with the jagged edges, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. That’s what my mom and dad and every immigrant that comes to this nation has taught me and that’s something that I hope you can take away no matter what you do in life.
I just want to say: Look, it isn’t over [tonight] … Life is full of disappointments. This is only one data point in that we’re gonna get up tomorrow, we’re gonna fight for democracy, we’re gonna make sure, as we move forward, that it’s about an inclusive America that we want to create. You know I spent my entire life, and I’m sure some of you have also been in this space, trying to fit into a space that didn’t have me in mind right and that’s not what America is about. We’re about expanding that space, so everyone belongs and that’s what I want to work towards.
She went ahead and congratulated all.
I want to congratulate every one of the people that ran in [the 6th] congressional district, to all the candidates who gave up their self, their time, their energy and gave the best of themselves to share with the voters. And the voters you know made a decision and they elected an individual and you know we’re gonna have to get up tomorrow morning, we’re gonna have to get up again to work towards something bigger than ourselves, something more important just than our campaign. It’s about moving the ball forward. It’s about moving that needle more towards progress. Progress comes in incremental steps. It’s never over. There is no final destination, but it’s about moving towards it little at a time. And I hope that you will all join us in making sure that we do this.
ROCKVILLE, MD (TIP): Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); headquartered in Rockville, Maryland; is launching a survey to develop 2019-2020 school year academic calendar, and Diwali is included in possible holidays listed.
Although the participation in survey is voluntary, yet Hindu statesman Rajan Zed is urging all the current Hindu MCPS students and their parents and staff members to actively participate in providing the survey feedback (and persuade friends/sympathizers also to do the same), mentioning that it is “very important” for them that the school is closed on Diwali, most popular of Hindu festivals.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, in a statement in Nevada today, also urged all the current Hindu MCPS students and their parents and staff members to list other Hindu festivals also under the question: “Are there any other days that you (or your family) observe…”
Rajan Zed indicated that Diwali holiday in MCPS would be a step in the positive direction in view of presence of a substantial number of Hindu students in the district; as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these pupils. Moreover, awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make all MCPS students well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.
Diwali fell on October 19 in 2017 and six New York school districts declared holiday for students on October 19, which included: East Meadow School District, East Williston Union Free School District, Half Hollow Hills Central School District, Herricks Union Free School District, Hicksville Union Free School District and Syosset Central School District. Mineola Union Free School District announced that no homework or examinations would be given on Diwali, reports suggest.
For 2017 in New Jersey; Glen Rock Public Schools announced closure of schools and offices on Diwali; in West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, schools were closed on October 19; and in Piscataway Township Schools, there was “No School for Students” on Diwali. And in the recent past, Millburn Township Public Schools announced Diwali day off for students for the next three years, reports add.
In 2017 Unionville-Chadds Ford School District headquartered in Kennett Square in Pennsylvania approved closure of schools on Diwali; while Harvard Public Schools in Massachusetts declared October 19 as “early release day”. Board of Directors of Council Rock School District, headquartered in Newtown (Pennsylvania), in their meeting on February 15, unanimously approved 2018-2019 calendar which includes the addition of Diwali as an official school holiday, reports note.
Zed further said that it was important for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali day together at home with their children and they expected that MCPS would display how respectful and accommodating it was to their faith by closing schools on Diwali.
Rajan Zed points out that Hinduism is rich in festivals and religious festivals are very dear and sacred to Hindus. Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
Christmas Eve through January 1, Friday before Easter and Monday after Easter are state-mandated school closures. The survey has been developed in consultation with Hanover Research, a market research firm.
Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
About 161,936 students from 157 countries speaking 150 languages are reportedly enrolled in 205 schools of award-winning MCPS, 14th largest school district in USA spread in 497 square miles whose operating budged in FY 2018 was $2.52 billion.
MARYLAND (TIP): Indian American activist, writer and lawyer Deepa Iyer will deliver the 11th Annual Korenman Lecture at the University of Maryland Baltimore County on March 8.
Titled “Becoming Bridge-Builders and Disrupters Navigating Racial and Gender Realities in America Today,” her lecture will explore how to navigate racial and gender realities in today’s America.
According to an official release, the racial justice advocate will speak about the racial realities affecting people of color, women, and immigrants and refugees.
She will share stories of struggle and resistance from communities affected by backlash, xenophobia, and Islamophobia, it said.
Iyer will discuss ideas for maintaining equitable and inclusive policies and institutions that reflect the racial realities and intersectional identities of communities in America.
Iyer’s who is a specialist in post-9/11 America experiences of South Asian, Muslim, Arab and Sikh immigrants; national security and immigration policies; and racial equity and solidarity practices.
She is a former Executive Director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT).
Iyer will also interact with students and sign her books.
Her experience working with SAALT was instrumental for her seminal book We Too Sing America: South Asian, Arab, Muslim and Sikh Immigrants Shape Our Multiracial Future. It was selected for 2016 American Book Award and was selected as a top 10 multicultural non-fiction books of 2015 by Booklist.
Since the release of her book, Iyer has been attending community conversations across the United States speaking about the life of immigrants at college campuses, non-profit organizations, faith-based institutions among others.
Iyer’s current work includes a collaborative project around rapid response coordination in the wake of criminalization policies and efforts and a solidarity project which includes a monthly podcast called Solidarity Is This.
NEW YORK (TIP): An Economic Times report says the US markets account for over 40 percent of the total revenue of the top four Indian drug makers. Many members of the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) have their own plants in the US, even though their main revenue comes from Indian imports.
Here’s the list of top five Indian companies which have plants in the US.
Sun Pharma
The Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd is the largest Indian pharma company in the US, which is also functioning in more than 150 countries all over the world. The company was established by Dilip Shangvi in 1983 and was acquired by another pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy in 2014.
Sun Pharma has two plants in New Jersey and has one each in Philadelphia, Detroit, Wilmington, and Chicago. The company markets a large basket of generics in the US, with a strong pipeline awaiting approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). The USFDA sent a warning notice to Sun in December 2016 about nine violations at its manufacturing plant in Halol, Gujarat.
The company requested the USFDA to withdraw approval for 28 Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) belonging to its wholly owned subsidiary Ranbaxy Laboratories.
Lupin
Lupin Ltd is a transactional pharmaceutical company based in Mumbai founded by Desh Bandhu Gupta. It entered the US generic pharmaceutical market in 2003 as Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc with the ANDA approval for Cefuroxime Axetil Tablets. It is the fifth-largest generic pharmaceutical company in the US by prescription-led market share and is one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies in the US. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, the company has plants in Somerset and New Jersey.
Lupin received more than 75 FDA approvals till now and it’s US brand business contributed 9% of total US sales whereas the generics business contributed 91 percent during the financial year 2014-15.
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories was founded by Dr K Anji Reddy in 1984 and is based in Hyderabad, Telangana. The company manufactures and markets a wide range of pharmaceuticals in India and overseas. It began as a supplier to Indian drug manufacturers and later focused on getting approval from drug regulators such as the USFDA.
Dr Reddy’s have plants in Shreveport and New England, and it is the first Indian company to launch the generic drug, fluoxetine with 180-market exclusivity in the US. In 2001, Reddy’s completed its US initial public offering of $132.8 million, secured by American Depositary Receipts and the company is also listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The FDA issues a Form 483 letter to Dr Reddy’s in December 2014 over concerns discovered during an inspection of its Srikakulam facility. No specific violations were mentioned in the letter.
Cipla
Cipla is one of the largest pharma companies in India headquartered in Mumbai. In the US, Cipla is headquartered in Miami and has a plant in Long Island.
The company primarily develops medicines to treat cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, weight control and depression and other medical conditions. Founded by Dr. Khwaja Abdul Hamied as The Chemical, Industrial & Pharmaceutical Laboratories in 1935, the company changed shorted its name to Cipla Ltd in 1984.
USFDA approved Cipla’s bulk drug manufacturing facilities in 1985 and under the leadership of founder’s son Yusuf Hamied, the company became a global icon for its role in defying Western multinational pharmaceutical companies in order to provide generic drugs for AIDS and other diseases to treat poor people in the developing world.
Aurobindo Pharma
Aurobindo Pharma Limited was founded in 1986 and commenced operations in 1988-89 with single unit manufacturing semi-synthetic penicillin in Puducherry. The company is now headquartered in HITEC City, Hyderabad, and manufactures generic pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The company makes tablets in its plant in New Jersey and is now gearing up for a second plant in the US after Trump called on to increase local manufacturing.
It was so pleasing to watch beautiful rendition of Urdu poetry through a classical dance by Anupma Sharda, student of guru Purvi Bhatt from Dance School, wearing traditional dress. This song was from1981 Urdu film, Umrao Jaan, which has a deep connection with Urdu literature and the Aligarh Muslim University. This and other songs in the film were written by Urdu poet Shaheryaar from the University and the film was directed by another Aligarian Muzaffar Ali, who excelled in promoting Urdu literature. The presentation of this song at this event also conveyed a message to the audience that they would be coming to these Urdu promotion events, like this Urdu Mela, again and again. Is anjuman mein aap ko aana hai baar, baar Deevaar-o-dar ko gaur se pehchaan lijiye.
Nuzaira Azam, Master of Ceremony
This first Urdu Cultural Mela was the brain child of Tahira Anwar and Dr. Razi Raziuddin. Held on 20thMay, 2017 at the Seneca Valley High School, Germantown, Maryland, it attracted a large number of people from Metropolitan Washington area. It was organized by the Urdu Academy of Maryland with the collaboration of the Aligarh Alumni Association Metropolitan Washington and Pakistan Association of Metropolitan Washington. and also present a bouquet of activities to give glimpses of Urdu culture to the audience. The main purpose of mela was to making aware the community of the richness of Urdu culture and heritage.
Audience
Tahira Anwar, who started the Urdu Academy of Maryland in 2013, said that the Academy has succeeded in launching Urdu teaching in two schools of Montgomery County. She was very happy to announce that she was receiving requests for expanding the program to other schools. However, due to lack of resources she was not able to meet the demand. She is hopeful that the program could be expanded to other schools in Montgomery County and nearby other counties with help from the community. “In addition to preservation of cultural heritage, learning of mother tongue helps strengthen family and friendship bonds. Recent research has also shown that children growing up with multiple languages perform much better in highly competitive society,” she added. Activities of the Academy are available at: www.uamd.og.
Dr. A. Abdullah—a stalwart worker of Urdu spoke about origin and significance of Urdu in the Indian Subcontinent and now in North America. He praised the work initiated by the Urdu Academy of Maryland in Montgomery County of Maryland and expressed confidence that the work started by the Academy will establish its roots, spread its branches like a banyan tree and others will get benefit from it. In the beginning it does require sacrifice, hard work, and patience, however.
Shilpa Sharma and Sheikh Abdur Rahman presenting ghazals
Shoaib Ali Hasan eloquently presented Idgah—a classic short story by Munshi Premchand. This powerful story about a 4-years old orphan boy conveys a strong message how affection, motherhood, care, sacrifice, and satisfaction bring happiness.
Farheen Abdullah helped organize a colorful cultural show depicting traditional dresses representing different regions of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Regional costumes showRegional costumes show
Mrs. Shilpa Sharma, a physical therapist by professions and Dr. Abdur Rehman, a scientist at the National Institutes of Health, respectively, presented ghazals from notable Urdu poets. The program also included several boutiques for ladies to do Eid shopping and delicious food and Urdu books for sale.
Program organizers (L to R): Rahat Yususf, A. Abdullah, Farheen Abdullah, Firoza Salahuddin, and Tahira Anwer.
Nuzaira Azam was the Master of Ceremony. Mohammad Akbar, president, Aligarh Alumni Association, Washington-DC thanked the organizers and participants of the program, and the audience.
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday asked the US Supreme Court to revive his ban on travelers from six Muslim-majority nations after it was blocked by lower courts that found it was discriminatory.
The administration filed two emergency applications with the nine high court justices seeking to block two different lower court rulings that went against Trump’s March 6 order barring entry for people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days while the US government implements stricter visa screening.
The move comes after the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals on May 25 upheld a Maryland judge’s ruling blocking the order.
The administration also filed a separate appeal in that case. “We have asked the Supreme Court to hear this important case and are confident that President Trump’s executive order is well within his lawful authority to keep the nation safe and protect our communities from terrorism,” Justice Department spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores said in a statement.
At least five votes are needed on the nine-justice court in order to grant a stay. The court has a 5-4 conservative majority, with Justice Anthony Kennedy – a conservative who sometimes sides with the court’s four liberals – the frequent swing vote. Another of the court’s conservatives, Neil Gorsuch, was appointed by Trump this year.
If the government’s request is granted, the ban would go into effect. In its 10-3 ruling, the US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals said challengers of the ban, including refugee groups and others represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, were likely to succeed on their claim that the order violated the US Constitution’s bar against favoring or disfavoring a particular religion.
The March ban was Trump’s second effort to implement travel restrictions on people from several Muslim-majority countries through an executive order. The first, issued on Jan. 27, led to chaos and protests at airports and in major US cities before it was blocked by courts.
The second order was intended to overcome the legal issues posed by the original ban, but it was blocked by judges before it could go into effect on March 16. (Reuters)
The initiative was taken to address the concerns of the Indian Community on various issues including Passport, Visa, OCI and emergency services
As part the initiative on community outreach, consular officers of the Embassy of India, Washington DC, participated in a ‘Consular Open House’ held at Center for Social Change, Elkridge, Maryland, on February 25, 2017, to address the concerns of the Indian Community on various issues including Passport, Visa, OCI and emergency services.
The event was jointly organized by the National Council of Asian Indian Associations (NCAIA), The Sikhs of America, Asian Indians for Community Service, Hunt Valley Indian Association, and The Indian American Community Organizations of Washington DC Metropolitan Region. Apart from several prominent Community leaders, more than 100 members of community attended this interactive event with the Embassy officers.
The team of six Consular officers from the Embassy was led by Mr. ArunK. Sinha, Minister (Consular) and Mr. N.K. Mishra, Minister (Community Affairs). A five member-team from the outsourced service providers, CKGS, were also present for the event. After the introductory session, large number of queries from the community members and applicants were answered the senior officers. The community members were also apprised of several new initiatives by the Embassy and the Government of India on consular matters.
There was a huge appreciation by the organizers as well as from members of community to this outreach event.
CHICAGO, IL (TIP): The ATA Convention hosted by American Telugu Association [ATA] was marked by breathtaking spectacle drawing record-breaking attendance inundating the sprawling convention center with vibrant Telugu fervor at the silver jubilee festivities held on a grand mega scale showcasing the rich Telugu cultural heritage and its burgeoning Telugu constituency in America at the 3-day ATA Convention held on July 1-3, 2016 at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.
The Rosemont city wore a colorful Telugu look as unprecedented number of attendees preliminarily estimated at 10,000 thronged the convention center to experience ostentatious showcasing of rich Telugu culture through music, dance, pageantry surpassed only by dazzling fashion shows, contemporary cinematic music and colorful epic dance presentations eclipsed by celebrities, large contingent of political leaders, Telugu icons and eminent personalities overwhelmed only by the presence of Tollywood movie stars.
Convener Chandrasekhar Reddy Palvai praised the unwavering dedication and hard work of the entire ATA chairs & co-chairs that truly brought such phenomenal results. Convention Director K.K. Reddy characterized it as a magnificent journey of 25 years culminated in such an extraordinary convention and added this as a symbol of triumph of the towering Telugu spirit. ATA President Sudhakar Perkari lauded the remarkable ATA team work that brought about this splendid outcome. ATA Founder/President Hanumanth Reddy expressed the gleeful joy at the presence of such huge masses of Telugu people under one roof and added is a shining testament to innate culture of Telugu people; while Convention Co-Convener Krishna Mushyam saluted the rallying spirit of Telugu fellowship in such magnitude.
Honored for their services and contributionThe convention was set in motion with a grand gala banquet on Friday July 1st with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating the 3-day celebrations paying rich accolades to the Telugu culture in their remarks as ecstatic gala attendees rendered prolonged applause. Governor Bruce Rauner issued a proclamation declaring July 2nd and 3rd 2016 as American Telugu Association Day in the state of Illinois. Governor Rauner commended the Telugu community for keeping up the great cultural heritage and added if he gets an opportunity he would love to visit India. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in his address inspired the families to stay rooted in Telugu culture while appreciating the other languages and cultures. Venkaiah Naidu stressed on the ripe climate in India ideal for global investments. Dinkar Karumuri exhaustively introduced Governor Rauner and described him as an outstanding champion of the Indian American community and added his presence at ATA gala is a shining testimony of his steadfast goodwill to the Telugu community.
With the invocation dance, the gala banquet in its splendor showcased the outstanding success stories of Telugu people in the United States who were applauded for their valuable contribution to the societies both in India and America. Some of the prominent attendees include Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India, Democratic Nominee for U.S.Congress Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Prominent MP Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Deputy Telangana Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider, GMR Chairman Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao ATA Benefactors Dr. Prem Reddy and Dr. Paila Malla Reddy joined by a large contingent of MPs and MLAs from A.P and Telangana state represented by all political parties including TRS, YSRCP, TDP and Congress. Other Prominent Leaders from USA include Maryland Delegate Aruna Miller, Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally, Ex-Nasscom chair BV Mohan Reddy.
On Saturday July 2nd, the ATA Convention set the stage on fire with a huge 100-group dance troupe presenting an epic inaugural dance presentation ‘Jyothi Prajwalana’ that evoked applause and standing ovation. Key note address by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was stirring as he inspired Telugus in America to instill and nurture Telugu language to the succeeding generations. Venkaiah Naidu said that the most successful people in North America are Indians and added half of them are Telugu’s. Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti presented Illinois Governor’s proclamation to ATA leaders. Rasamayi Balakrshinan Troupe provided an upbeat ‘Dhoom Dham’ Telangana traditional dance and musical presentation. Youth forum was inaugurated by ATA founder Hanumanth Reddy, convener Chandrasekhar Reddy Palvai and Director K.K. Reddy. Re-enactment of ‘Bahubali’ movie with its huge cast held the audience in rapt attention. TV hosted event ‘SYEATA’ had youth performing colorful cultural and western presentations. Kuchipudi dance by Padmaja Reddy displayed wide swath of emotions. Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Telangana Member of Parliament applauded the sense of unity of Telugu people showcased at the convention. Iftekhar Shareef, Reception Chair introduced Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Telangana MP and the Telangana MPs and MLAs giving an eloquent summation of their role in continuously steering the newly-formed 29th Indian state towards the trajectory of success. Earlier, Swami Chidatmananda spoke. Kamala Chimata, Convention Coordinator who presented the overview said the convention is replete with exhaustive schedule of close-fitting events meaningfully designed for the families.
On Sunday July 3rd, the convention drew wall-to-wall crowds to witness the spectacular fashion show, contemporary dance presentations and grand musical show presented by Mani Sharma and group that send the crowds ecstatic at every song belted out. In the afternoon, heated debates with political leaders participated by TRS, YSRCP, TDP & Congress party reached a fierce pitch battle between the party leaders held by Chalma Reddy and moderated by renowned TV host Venkata Krishna and managed by Vikram Kattamreddy. Some of the politicians participated in the Political Forum include Telangana Dy CM Kadiam Srihari, L. Ramana, Pedireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Jithender Reddy, Madhu Yashki, Keshav Rao, Roja, Ambati Rambabu, Srikanth Reddy, Malla Reddy and others.
The evening segment began with youth-centric dance and musical presentations. ATA felicitated their past presidents, its board and trustees. Chandrasekhar Reddy lauded the undying commitment of over 60 committees; while K.K.Reddy expressed jubilation having such a fine contingent of committed teams.
Some of the Tollywood movie actors who attended the convention included Actors Kajol Agarwal, Jagapathi Babu, Nani Babu Ghanta, Rashi Khana, Bhanu Sree, Lavanya Tripathi, Rashmi Gautam, Jyothi, Ramya Sree Neeliya,Rachna Mourya.
Some of the prominent political elected leaders who attended included Ganta Srinivas Rao, Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Dr. Venugopala Chary, Ambati Rambabu, Roja and Jatinder Reddy.
The Youth committee organized Lake Michigan dinner cruise for youth 16 and above and 200 Youth participated. The business forum included workshops by CEO’s and Entrepreneurs who presented workshops about doing business in India and the US. The Women’s Forum workshops were designed to empower and motivate women. Health and wellness seminars focused on preventive health screening and medical advice from leading medical experts, Matrimonial services were provided to parents of prospective brides and grooms. Seminars for Senior Citizens were organized to educate seniors about Government benefits, health Insurance options and navigation and dealing with the loss of a partner as they grow older in America. Yoga and meditation sessions were conducted throughout the day and many attendees took advantage learning and practicing these relaxation techniques. Vendor’s booths carried mouth-watering Telugu delicacies, jewelry, fashion apparels and accessories and real estate companies promoted their housing projects in India. Convention attendees were treated a great shopping experience and were able to support participating vendors. Painstaking efforts were made to serve authentic native Telugu cuisine for record number of guests.
The leaders of the American Telugu Association and the Convention team received glowing accolades for their remarkable dedication in securing runaway success of the silver jubilee convention.
The convention drew to a grand conclusion with high decibel musical concert rendered by well-known Tollywood music director Mani Sharma along with a team of singers and musicians belting out exciting tunes until the wee hours past midnight which served as a grand finale to a memorable Telugu convention.
(Photographs and Press release courtesy Asian Media USA)
MARYLAND (TIP): An Indian-American Democratic legislator in Maryland has suffered a humiliating defeat in the party’s primary election for a seat in the US House of Representatives.
Kumar Barve, 57, who was the House Majority Leader from 2003-2014 and now Chairman of Maryland House Environment and Transportation Committee, received just two per cent of the total votes polled in a nine-person Democratic primary race for a seat in the US House of Representatives last night.
The primary election was won by Jamie Raskin who received 33 per cent of the votes.
He was followed by David Trone with 28 per cent of the votes.
In 1990, Mr. Barve made history at the age of 32, when he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates and became the first Indian-American ever to serve in a state legislator.
If elected, he would have been the fourth Indian-American to be elected to the US House of Representatives. Ami Bera from California is the only Indian-American in the current Congress.
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