Leader of the delegation Pradip (Peter) Kothari terms the visit highly productive
EDISON, NJ (TIP): A delegation of IOC USA New Jersey Chapter, concluded with a significant three-day visit to New Delhi from March 1 to March 4, 2026 . The delegation was led by New Jersey Chapter President Pradip (Peter) Kothari and Chairman Harkesh Thakur.
Speaking with The Indian Panorama about the objective of the visit, Mr. Kothari said: “The primary objective of the visit was to engage with senior Indian National Congress (INC) leadership to strengthen collaboration, foster cooperation, and plan joint events in the coming year. A key focus was securing participation and support from INC leaders for a major IOC event expected to draw over 10,000 attendees in 2027.”
The Press release issued on March 9, 2026 by Hervender Singh, Public Relations Officer of IOCUSA NJ Chapter, described the following highlights of the visit.
- On March 3, the delegation met Shri Rahul Gandhi at his residence, 10 Janpath, New Delhi. Mr. Peter Kothari extended an invitation to Shri Rahul Gandhi to visit New Jersey/New York for the upcoming large-scale event. Shri Rahul Gandhi graciously accepted the invitation.
- The delegation held productive discussions with Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Indian National Congress and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. They also met Shri Anil Shastri, former MP and son of a former Prime Minister of India, Late Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri.
- Shri K.C. Venugopal, Member of Lok Sabha, hosted the delegation at his Lodhi Estate residence for an in-depth discussion on various issues.
- Shri Vivek Tankha, Member of Rajya Sabha, hosted a dinner for the delegation, attended by Dr. Aarti Krishna, AICC Secretary in charge of the Indian Overseas Congress. The evening included engaging interactions and light moments, including musical contributions from Dr. Krishna.
- On March 2, the delegation conducted a well-attended press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi with approximately 25 prominent journalists. The session highlighted IOC’s recent achievements, outlined future plans, and included a productive Q&A where media representatives shared valuable suggestions.
- Gurdeep Singh Sappal, Permanent Member of the Congress Working Committee welcomed the delegation members and exchanged views with them.
- The delegation visited Rajghat to pay homage to Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi ji.
IOC USA NJ Chairman Harkesh Thakur told The Indian Panorama that the “visit reinforced the strong bond between the Indian National Congress and the Indian diaspora through the IOC, paving the way for enhanced collaboration and impactful initiatives ahead. It was a distinct honor for the team to meet with our senior national leadership”.
Besides the IOC USA NJ President Mr. Kothari, and Chairman Mr. Thakur, the following six members of the New Jersey team participated in the historic meetings:
- Mahesh Patel – Vice President
- Asif Rajav Ali – Cultural Secretary
- Raju Desai – Treasurer
- Rekha Desai -Executive Committee Member
- Gopal Krishna – Coordinator
- Syed Saleem – Coordinator
Baldev Randhawa (Vice President, IOC USA) and Davinderpal Singh (Saab) Bhullar (IOC Working President, West Coast) also joined the delegation. Both expressed their utmost joy in being a part of the visionary delegation.
About Indian Overseas Congress (IOC)
The Indian Overseas Congress is the international wing supporting the ideology and objectives of the Indian National Congress, dedicated to promoting democratic values, secularism, and the welfare of the Indian diaspora worldwide.
Mr. Kothari extended his heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved for their hard work in organizing the vital meetings and for the warm hospitality extended to the delegation during their stay in New Delhi.
For further information, please contact
Pradip (Peter) Kothari
+1 (732) 259-6874
(Based on a Press Release issued by Hervender Singh, Public Relations Officer, IOC USA New Jersey Chapter)
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