The Indian Panorama

Tag: Raj Mukherji

  • RITESH SHAH CHARITABLE PHARMACY HOSTS FOUNDERS’ GALA

    RITESH SHAH CHARITABLE PHARMACY HOSTS FOUNDERS’ GALA

    Aryan, Padmasana & Deepa – dance performers
    NJ State Assemblyman Raj Mukherji from NJ Leg. District 18 & keynote speaker at the gala.
    NJ State Assemblyman Raj Mukherji from NJ Leg. District 18 & keynote speaker at the gala.
    NJ State Senator Vin Gopal from NJ Leg. District 11
    A View of the gathering (Photos : courtesy Chirag Patel – Universal Photography)

    ABERDEEN, N.J. (TIP): Over 200 guests gathered Sunday, June 26 at Addison Park for the first annual gala supporting New Jersey’s first charitable pharmacy – Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy. With partners from across the public policy, business, social service, health care, and pharmaceutical sectors, the Founders’ Gala raised over $150,000 for the organization that opened its doors to the public in April. “I would like to thank each of our supporters for making the health of our community a priority,” said Founder and Trustee Ritesh Shah. “Together, we are making a difference by providing no-cost prescriptions to New Jersey’s most vulnerable population.” The evening began with classical Indian music played on the sitar and drums. Guests proceeded to the main function space, which featured the presentation of proclamations by Marlboro Mayor Jonathan Hornik and State Senators Vin Gopal and Declan O’Scanlon. Traditional Indian dances paying tribute to the Gods of service, healing, and virtue entertained the audience throughout the night. Assemblyperson Raj Mukherji was the evening’s keynote speaker, addressing the audience on the growing racial and ethnic disparities in health and wellbeing.

    He told several stories including how his life could have been changed by the existence of a charitable pharmacy two decades earlier. Mukherji closed out his remarks with a challenge for the audience saying, “Let’s celebrate New Jersey’s first charitable pharmacy and make certain it is not the only.” With the funds raised, the pharmacy will continue providing prescription drugs to patients. The organization places an emphasis on education and availability of prescriptions for diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental health that can have a profound impact on long-term health.

  • Indian American Democrat Raj Mukherji to run for New Jersey Senate

    Indian American Democrat Raj Mukherji to run for New Jersey Senate

    JERSEY CITY, NJ (TIP): Indian American Democrat Raj Mukherji, who represents Jersey City in the New Jersey state assembly has announced that he will run for the state Senate in the 32nd district next year.

    Mukherji, 37, chairman of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, has already won endorsements from Gov Phil Murphy Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, State Sen Brian Stack, and Hoboken’s Indian American Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

    “The goal of securing a brighter tomorrow for my toddler son, Leo, and infant daughter, Liana, has strengthened my resolve to keep fighting for our state,” Mukherji said in a Feb 18 statement.

    “So, I’m humbly asking the people of Jersey City and Hoboken to return me to the legislature, this time in the Senate,” added the Marine Corps veteran and former Jersey City deputy mayor. Murphy gave the five-term assemblyman an endorsement less than one day after a new legislative redistricting map created a new open seat in Hudson County.

    “Raj represents a new generation of leadership and I know the people of Jersey City and Hoboken have no better representative, which is why I enthusiastically endorse his candidacy for State Senate,” said Murphy.

    “Over the past eight years, Raj Mukherji has been a tireless fighter for the people of Hudson County, representing some of the most diverse communities in our state,” he said.

    “Whether as a job-creating CEO, Deputy Mayor of his beloved Jersey City, local prosecutor, or as a prolific lawmaker, Raj has excelled and championed progressive values and helped shape a stronger and fairer New Jersey.”

    Murphy praised Mukherji’s legislative accomplishments during more than eight years in Trenton, where he served as Assembly Majority Whip before taking over the Judiciary chairmanship in 2020.

    “From investing in mass transit to expanding Medicaid to cover essential healthcare needs to increasing funding for our public schools to protecting open spaces, Raj has been an ally of mine in the Assembly and will no doubt continue building on his strong record of progress in the Senate,” the governor said.

    The newly-drawn 32nd district includes part of Jersey City and Hoboken, with an open Senate seat that became available after the new map pitted two veteran Democratic senators, Nicholas Sacco and Brian Stack, into the primary in the next-door 33rd district.

    Mukherji was first elected in 2013 in the 33rd district, which is currently represented by Stack in the Senate.

    The district, which is made up entirely of Hoboken and northern Jersey City, has a white plurality but includes the second-largest Asian American population of any district on the new map, at 32%.

    The endorsements from Fulop, Stack, and Bhalla, three of the most important figures in the district, make Mukherji the prohibitive frontrunner in the Democratic primary. “For the last eight years, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji has been a tenacious fighter for Hudson County,” Stack said. “I proudly endorse him for the State Senate, and we will work day and night for Raj to make sure our neighbors continue to be well represented in the new district.” Mukherji has been an invaluable partner in preserving open space, as well as moving forward resiliency and transportation projects in the Mile Square City, Bhalla said. “From securing funding for Hoboken’s open space and resiliency projects, helping preserve our waterfront at Union Dry Dock, and moving forward critical transportation projects, Raj Mukherji has been a steadfast champion for our community,” he noted. “And, as the son of South Asian immigrants and a successful small business owner, Raj has the real life experience that will serve him well in the State Senate,” Bhalla said. “I’m incredibly proud to support his candidacy so Hoboken can continue to have the representation it needs in Trenton.”

    The son of immigrants, Mukherji supported himself through high school, college, and grad school as an emancipated minor when economic circumstances forced his parents to return to their native India, according to his official bio.

    Raj had founded an Internet consulting and software development company while in middle school, grew it, and later sold it to a larger technology company to enlist in the Marines two weeks after 9/11 at age 17, where he served in military intelligence as a reservist.

    The young entrepreneur withdrew from high school after completing ninth grade to focus on his business endeavors and support himself after his parents were forced to move to India.

    At 15, he enrolled in an early college program at Bard College at Simon’s Rock and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree from Thomas Edison State University, an individualized Master of Liberal Arts focused on national security from the University of Pennsylvania, and a law degree (Juris Doctor), cum laude, from Seton Hall Law School, which he attended on a Chancellor’s Scholarship. At 24, Raj was appointed Commissioner and Chairman of the Jersey City Housing Authority, the youngest in city history. At 27, he was appointed Deputy Mayor of Jersey City, where he served from 2012-13. Next year he was elected to the state assembly.

  • Indian American Joshi backed by Lawmakers for Mayor of Edison

    Indian American Joshi backed by Lawmakers for Mayor of Edison

    NEW JERSEY (TIP): New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has endorsed Sam Joshi for the Democratic nomination for mayor of the fifth largest municipality in the state against fellow Indian American Mahesh Bhagia.

    Joshi or Bhagia, if they win, would be the first Indian American mayor of Edison, with a 43% population of Asian descent, 24% of it Indian American, according to the last US Census.

    A third Indian American candidate, Sapana Shah, dropped out of the race recently.

    Murphy’s endorsement of councilman Joshi, 31, follows a decision by Middlesex County Democratic Chairman Kevin McCabe to award the organization line to Joshi against Bhagia in the June primary election, according to local media reports.

    All three South Asian Americans in the New Jersey legislature – Senate Majority Conference Leader Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch), Assembly Judiciary Committee Chairman Raj Mukherji (Jersey City) and Assemblyman Sterley Stanley (D-East Brunswick) — have also endorsed Joshi, New Jersey globe reported.

    “As three legislators of South Asian descent, we are proud to wholeheartedly endorse Sam Joshi to be the next mayor of Edison Township.” the three lawmakers were quoted as saying.

    “We know Sam to be a champion of his constituents, an ethical elected official and someone who is interested in bringing communities together, rather than tearing them apart.”

    Gopal and Mukerji pledged to help the Middlesex Democratic ticket prevail in the June 8 primary contest.

    “We will be working tirelessly to ensure that Senator Pat Diegnan, Assemblymembers Rob Karabinchak and Sterley Stanley, Surrogate Claribel Cortes and County Commissioners Director Ron Rios, Shanti Narra and Chanelle Scott McCullum win this June’s primary, and that Sam Joshi is elected as Edison’s next mayor this November,” they were quoted as saying.

    Bhagia, the beleaguered Edison Democratic Municipal Chairman, has been accused of masterminding a racist flyer in the final days of the 2017 campaign that Murphy has referred to as “offensive,” New Jersey globe said.

     “I’m proud to endorse Sam Joshi for Mayor of Edison. Sam has the experience, passion, and vision needed to unite Edison and continue its role as one of New Jersey’s most thriving and diverse communities,” Murphy was quoted as saying.

    “As mayor, Sam will create a new township master plan and prioritize smart investments, such as municipal broadband.”

    McCabe cited Bhagia’s alleged connection to the scandal as justification to deny the line to Bhagia and called Joshi “an effective and ethical elected official.”

    “In 2017, a despicable flyer was sent to Edison voters that attacked members of the East and South Asian communities, which appears to have been calculated to use racism to increase voter turnout by sowing division in our community,” McCabe was quoted as saying.

    “A subsequent federal investigation has identified up to eight people allegedly involved in creating and disseminating this mailing, many (if not all) of whom are closely affiliated with Mr. Bhagia.”

    McCabe also cited reports that Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has launched a state investigation into the scandal.

    Grewal has empaneled a grand jury to probe the mailer, which recently issued subpoenas seeking document related to the Edison council’s own investigation, the Globe said.

    The anonymous mailer promising to “Make Edison Great Again” alleged “Chinese and Indians are taking over our Town!”

    “Chinese School! Indian School! Cricket Fields,” the flyer said. “Enough is Enough.”