WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): President Donald Trump hosted a Diwali reception to India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra and a few members of the Indian American community that included prominent Indian American business figures, IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen and Micron Technology CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, and Prem Parameswaran, Managing Director and member of the Capital Markets team at Stone Point Capital, and a former member of Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
A number of Trump administration officials attended the event, including FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai.
During his opening address, the president said: “On behalf of all Americans, let me also extend our warmest wishes to the people of India. I just spoke to your prime minister today. We had a great conversation. We talked about trade. We talked about a lot of things.”
Earlier, President Trump lighted the ceremonial lamp.
President Trump lights the traditional Diwali lamp. Seen to Trump’s right is India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra
Ambassador Vinay Kwatra wrote on X that he was “deeply honoured to join President Donald J. Trump at the White House today to celebrate Diwali.
Wished him on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi a Happy Diwali and thanked him for this beautiful gesture. Warm Diwali greetings to all celebrating, especially the vibrant 5 million-strong Indian diaspora in the U.S.”
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, celebrates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile and his victory over the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. It also honors the goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity, whom devotees worship for blessings in the coming year. The lighting of lamps and candles represents the victory of light over darkness and the renewal of spiritual faith.
BOSTON, MA (TIP): In a warm and impactful address to the Indian diaspora, Hon. Shri Rahul Gandhi, Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition spoke to a packed audience at the Marriott Boston Long Wharf during a special Meet and Greet hosted by the Indian Overseas Congress, USA. The event drew attendees from across New England and beyond, eager to hear his vision for India’s future.
Gandhi ji began by expressing heartfelt appreciation for the community’s discipline and dedication. He noted that the Indian Overseas Congress and its members serve as vital ambassadors for the Congress Party and India itself. “Your presence and commitment bring great respect to our country abroad. This relationship we share is not merely political—it’s a bond of family, rooted in love, values, and mutual respect,” he said.
The core of his address focused on ongoing efforts to transform the Indian National Congress from within. Gandhi detailed a reform initiative underway in Gujarat aimed at decentralizing power within the party’s structure. He emphasized empowering local leaders by giving decision-making authority to district presidents and their committees. “We’re building a system where voices from the ground—including those of our overseas brothers and sisters—will be heard and respected. Constructive competition, accountability, and accessibility will shape the new Congress,” he affirmed.
In a stirring reflection on India’s diversity, Gandhi spoke against the growing tide of ideological centralization under the RSS-BJP regime. “India is not defined by one language, one religion, or one tradition. Its soul is pluralistic, where a Punjabi, a Malayali, and a Gujarati can sit together in harmony. This is India, which is under attack today.” He warned that attempts to impose a singular ideological narrative threaten the very foundation of Indian democracy and unity.
He also drew attention to the challenges the opposition faces in today’s India, including the capture of mainstream and social media, which limits public access to alternative viewpoints. Despite these roadblocks, Gandhi pointed to the recent Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP faced unexpected resistance, as a sign that the tide is turning. “This is a fight between two ideologies—one that believes India belongs to everyone and another that seeks to concentrate power and wealth among a select few. We’ve faced harder battles before, and we will prevail.”
Following his keynote, Gandhi opened the floor to an unscripted Q&A session, responding to critical questions from the audience. When asked about voting irregularities in Maharashtra, he raised serious concerns about the integrity of India’s electoral system. He cited that between 5:30 and 7:30 PM during the state election, over 650,000 votes were reportedly cast—a physical impossibility based on voter speed and capacity. Requests for official videography, as required by law, were denied and followed by changes to the law to prevent such requests in the future. “This indicates a compromised Election Commission,” he said. “The issues with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and voter trust are not just ours—even international voices like Tulsi Gabbard have called them hackable. We will continue to raise these issues despite resistance.”
A young student in the audience asked how the youth could play meaningful roles in politics despite barriers. Gandhi responded candidly, emphasizing that politics is not easy—it is often grueling and requires resilience. However, he encouraged passionate young minds to get involved through internships and party programs. “If you are patient and committed, we will gladly open the way for you. The future belongs to those who are willing to work for it.”
Another question addressed the growing ideological infiltration in India’s universities, particularly the appointment of RSS-aligned faculty. Gandhi agreed that the educational system is being misused as a tool for ideological indoctrination rather than academic excellence. “This is damaging our intellectual foundation, and when we return to power, we will look into these appointments seriously.”
In his closing remarks, Gandhi acknowledged the short nature of this U.S. visit, having been invited primarily to speak at Brown University. However, he promised to return soon, with plans to visit cities such as in Illinois, California, Washington, and New Jersey. To enthusiastic applause, he also committed to bringing his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along on a future trip.
Following the great speech of Dr. Sam Pitroda ji, President Mohinder Singh Gilzian welcomed everyone and emphasized that “…This is not just a political battle – this is a moral struggle to protect the very soul of India, a struggle to defend our Constitution, preserve our democracy, and uphold the values our freedom fighters once dreamed of.” He added that we are witnessing a government that, even after losing its moral mandate, continues to operate with authoritarian arrogance.
George Abraham, the vice-chair of the Indian Overseas Congress, in his speech, encouraged the Boston Diaspora to be a more visible advocate on behalf of democracy, freedom, and equal justice. ” Indians are the largest group of economic refugees anywhere in the world where we would like to have our culture respected and religious freedom protected; however, if our motherland is failing to defend those values towards its minority citizens, what message are we sending abroad?” he further implored.
Secretary-General Harbachan Singh thanked Sri Rahul Gandhi ji, Dr. Sam Pitroda ji, all the Boston group and all other supporters, Working Presidents Pradeep Samala of North East Zone, Devinderpal Bhullar of West Coast Zone, Gurdev Singh Hayer of South West Zone, Vice President John Joseph, Vice President Baldev Randhawa, Treasurer Dr. Joshua Jayasingh, and other senior members such as Chapter Presidents and General Secretaries of the IOC.USA by recognizing each one by name, and expressed gratitude to the overall jam-packed massive audience for their enthusiastic rendering of the event a very successful one.
The evening concluded with a renewed sense of solidarity among attendees, many of whom had traveled great distances to engage with a leader they see as a torchbearer of truth, democracy, and compassion. As Gandhi ji reminded the audience, “In the marketplace of hatred, we must open a shop of love.” His message was clear—India’s soul is plural, resilient, and worth fighting for.
(Based on a press release issued by Harbachan Singh,, General Secretary, IOCUSA)
Gabbard’s service to India’s Hindu nationalist movement didn’t block her as Director of National Intelligence
By Pieter Friedrich
Last month, I sat with two FBI agents in Washington, DC for at least two hours to discuss my experiences as a victim of transnational repression by India’s Hindu nationalist (“Hindutva”) government. Along the way, I also mentioned that I was there in DC to visit U.S. Senate offices and advocate against the confirmation of former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence. I did do that. I visited 25 Senate offices, and spoke at length with many staffers specializing in national security and intelligence areas. Every one of them was fascinated and disturbed by what I shared: that the foundation of Tulsi Gabbard’s political career was support from U.S. affiliates of the Hindutva movement.
One staffer suggested that Gabbard’s intimacy with Hindutva ought to be examined from a counterintelligence perspective.
I failed. Gabbard was confirmed on 12 February 2025 by a Senate vote of 52-48. Only one Republican Senator, Mitch McConnell, broke party ranks to vote against her. Others who were considered “swing votes,” such as Senators Todd Young and Lisa Murkowski, offered their “ayes.”
Both had stood on principle to vote against Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. What bought Murkowski’s vote is anyone’s guess, but Elon Musk denouncing Young as a “deep state puppet” before having a private call with him was undoubtedly the key factor in his pro-Gabbard vote.
Gabbard’s confirmation was on the rocks for much of the time leading up to the final vote. Senators were upset about a wide range of far more mainstream issues than the Hindutva allegiance which I discussed. Most of these issues — Assad, Putin, Snowden, and more — were raised on the floor by multiple Democratic senators in the hours before the vote.
Senators Elissa Slotkin, Dick Durbin, Chris Coons, Chuck Schumer, and others all pleaded with the Senate to vote “no” on Gabbard. Unfortunately, none of them raised the issue on which Gabbard is most vulnerable: the issue of Hindutva.
For the past six years, I have been reporting on Hindutva influence in U.S. sociopolitics, especially elections. I reported on:
Sri Preston Kulkarni’s campaign for U.S. Congress. He lost, catastrophically.
U.S. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. He has faced strong opposition since for his Hindutva ties.
Ambassador (acting) Atul Keshap’s meeting with India’s RSS, the paramilitary that serves as the fountainhead of Hindutva. He resigned, prematurely.
Michigan State Assemblywoman Padma Kuppa. She lost her campaign for Michigan State Senate.
Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani. He lost his campaign for U.S. Congress.
I’ve reported on much more, but the very first Hindutva-tied politician I ever reported on was Tulsi Gabbard, in a cover article for India’s Caravan magazine in August 2019. Titled “How The American Sangh Built Up Tulsi Gabbard,” it referenced the “Sangh Parivar” or “Family of Hindu Nationalist Organizations” spearheaded by the RSS, to discuss in depth how Gabbard owes her political career to them.
As Congressman Ro Khanna, himself a Hindu, commented at the time: “Important article. It’s the duty of every American politician of Hindu faith to stand for pluralism, reject Hindutva, and speak for equal rights for Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhist(s) & Christians.”
My article was 18,000 words, all about Tulsi Gabbard and her ties to Hindutva. As I repeatedly said during my Senate visits last month, “Gabbard’s interactions with Assad are problematic. But if you asked me to write an article using hard facts describing her relationship with Assad, I’d be hard-pressed to give you 1,000 words. That I can give you 18,000 words on Tulsi’s relationship with Hindutva says a lot.”
Since then, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard lost office as she dedicated herself to a failed campaign for the U.S. presidency. Her bizarre political gymnastics — which I recently called those of an “American chameleon” — were recently summarized as the “mystery of Tulsi Gabbard” in The New Yorker:
“She comes from Hawaii, where she served in the state legislature and the National Guard; in those years, she campaigned against “homosexual advocacy organizations” and in favor of environmental protections. Gabbard was elected to Congress in 2012, running as a Democrat, and was made a vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee. Since then, she has left the D.N.C., because she wanted to endorse Bernie Sanders; left Congress, because she wanted to run for President; and left the Democratic Party, because she had become convinced that it is, she says, ‘led by an élitist cabal of woke warmongers.’ In August, she endorsed Donald Trump, later saying, ‘A vote for President Trump is a vote to express our deep love for our country, and our appreciation for our God-given rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.’”
These unpredictable flip-flops are best explained, in the words of The Atlantic, as a “dogged pursuit of power, or at least of proximity to power.” They represent a constant attempt to shift with the political winds, to stay relevant, and to keep close to power.
Such desperation can only be explained by what I’ve uncovered: that Gabbard’s political career was created by U.S. affiliates of Hindutva. That Hindutva in America wants politicians in their pocket. And that, in the words of key Hindutva advocate Dr. Bharat Barai, who has given tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations to Gabbard, “It doesn’t matter to me whether it is a Republican or Democrat.”
Gabbard donning the colors of a foreign political party at events hosted by what would become a registered foreign agent didn’t faze those who voted for her. Gabbard’s justification of Hindu nationalism — a chauvinistic, misogynistic, xenophobic ideology — as merely “expressing pride in one’s religion” didn’t faze her Republican backers. Gabbard taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from donors who also helped to elect India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then turning around and arguing, in India, that “there was a lot of misinformation that surrounded the event in 2002,” referring to the Gujarat Massacre of Muslims which Modi is accused of orchestrating and which got him banned from America, no, that did not faze anyone in the Senate from confirming her.
Gabbard was first introduced to India’s RSS by a family friend named Michael Brannon Parker. Parker was hired by the RSS to write a book whitewashing the RSS’s 2008 massacre of Christians in the Indian state of Odisha. Asked by RSS leader Ram Madhav to introduce him to Gabbard in 2008, Parker did so.
Then Gabbard became a member of U.S. Congress, ran for U.S. President, and eventually was confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence.
In the meantime, Modi’s regime started assassinating critics in North America. One, successfully, in Vancouver, Canada. One, unsuccessfully, in New York City.
Where does all of this take us?
I remember when Tulsi Gabbard was repeatedly protested in the streets during her presidential campaign over her ties to the RSS. “The princess of the R$$,” read signs.
Today she controls my country’s intelligence services.
For 20 years, I have joined my life with the Indian diaspora to take up concerns about the dismal human rights situation in India, especially that facing religious minorities. Under the past 10 years of Modi’s reign, India has moved from the world “largest democracy” to the world’s largest autocracy or, as some might phrase it, the world’s largest fascist nation.
For those 20 years, I have been deeply concerned on behalf of another community about the trajectory of their nation. Today, I am deeply concerned by the direction that my own country is headed, and Tulsi Gabbard exemplifies that.
The greatest struggle against the influence of Hindutva — a fascistic movement that has overwhelmed India — in the U.S. has failed. Hindutva is now in the innermost circles of the U.S. presidency.
As we are led by people who insist on putting “America First,” those same people have put into power figures who will destroy America.
As someone who intentionally made myself the most vocal opponent of Tulsi Gabbard since 2019, I am concerned but I am also doing what I can to watch my back. As a patriot, I am terrified by what her control of our nation’s intelligence means, especially when her oldest, biggest, most faithful political supporters are affiliates of the very same Hindutva movement that tried to murder American citizens on American soil. As a believer, I pledge to continue the struggle.
And as a realist, I have hope that President Trump’s habit of repeatedly turning his back on those who were once his closest allies will soon include Tulsi Gabbard.
India’s transnational repression campaign has global tentacles
By Pieter Friedrich
The morning after Valentine’s Day 2021, the Indian government sent me an unexpected and unwelcome gift. I woke to find my phone blowing up with messages from dozens of friends asking: “Have you seen the news from India? You’re all over it. Are you ok?”
As I slept, Delhi Police falsely accused me of fomenting anti-government protests in India by circulating a “toolkit” to spread awareness on social media. As evidence, they pointed to a 100-page dossier from a shadowy group, DisinfoLab, that even doxxed my mother.
Police claimed I’d been under surveillance by Indian security since 2006. They labeled me a “mastermind” and “kingpin” of “disinformation warfare” against India, allegedly with Pakistani intelligence links. I was named a “proponent of Khalistan,” the Sikh movement for an independent homeland in northwestern India. Indian media seized on this story, speculating I was hiding in Malaysia.
In truth, I’m a hillbilly turned journalist from rural Northern California whose interest in India’s human rights landscape began two decades ago after chance association with Indian-Americans in my state.
This eventually led me to investigate Indian interference in U.S. politics. I documented how politicians like Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), Raja Krishnamoorthi (Illinois), Sri Preston Kulkarni (Texas), and more entertain supporters of India’s Hindu nationalist (Hindutva) movement. That angered India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and made me a target.
Then, after Tulsi Gabbard was appointed as the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the targeting became a more pressing and personal concern.
In December 2023, The Washington Post revealed that DisinfoLab, which targets critics of India, is likely operated by India’s external intelligence agency, the Research & Analysis Wing (RAW). I was its first guinea pig to test its later campaigns aimed at smearing critics of the BJP’s Hindutva agenda.
Others were also in the crosshairs.
In April 2023, DisinfoLab targeted Hindus for Human Rights co-founder Sunita Viswanath. They featured her in a stylized “wanted” poster, doxxing her family and even her wedding photo. After Viswanath met opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, a BJP minister used DisinfoLab to accuse her of running an anti-India agenda.
The BJP’s reach extended further.
In 2021, U.S.-based activist Ajit Sahi discovered his phone was hacked with Pegasus spyware when he was living in India. Dr. Audrey Truschke, a Rutgers University professor, has endured death threats she attributes to BJP-linked campaigns. An online conference on “Dismantling Global Hindutva” (DGH) was flooded with trolling and backlash, including death and rape threats against participating academics.
Indian news media fuels harassment of Modi critics.
In 2018, Times Now aired a segment on Sikh-American activist Pawan Singh, sensationally framing his remarks at a Congressional briefing as “Anti-India Forces Storm Capitol Hill.” Figures like Sahi, Rasheed Ahmed of the Indian American Muslim Council, Raju Rajagopal of Hindus for Human Rights, and former U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Nadine Maenza have all been targeted by DisinfoLab and slandered on X (formerly Twitter), typically as Pakistan-aligned “anti-India” figures. Notoriously BJP-aligned outlets like OpIndia and The Sunday Guardian amplify this propaganda.
Then India added a more “hands-on” method to its toolkit for handling international critics. In June 2023, as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepared for an official state visit to Washington, DC, RAW allegedly plotted to kill “so many targets” on North American soil.
The disclosure of assassination plots by Indian operatives in the U.S. and Canada, targeting Sikh activists, shocked many in North America.
It was no surprise for those of us who’ve long documented India’s international harassment tactics. For over two decades, we’ve alerted the U.S. Congress, Department of Justice, State Department, and National Security Council about India’s proxy threats against U.S.-based critics.
India often applies harsh measures even against visiting foreign nationals.
Reverend Peter Cook of the New York State Council of Churches was deported in 2020. Pastor Bryan Nerren from Tennessee endured seven months of detention in India before U.S. intervention secured his release, also in 2020. In 2024, UK-based Kashmiri professor Nitasha Kaul was detained for 24 hours in Bangalore without water or access to her phone before being deported.
Moreover, the Indian government has revoked “Overseas Citizen of India” status from critics such as New York Times journalist Aatish Taseer, former Vice journalist Angad Singh, and Swedish professor Ashok Swain. Now they cannot visit their home countries. Santa Clara University professor Rohit Chopra faces a prolonged defamation suit in India for exposing plagiarism in a book about V. D. Savarkar, the Hindu nationalist icon linked to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination.
The objective is to make critics keep their heads down and to chill the speech of others who might voice out. Yet, for the U.S. and Canadian governments, the threat posed by India’s transnational repression (TNR) may now be unavoidable.
In September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of orchestrating the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Soon after, the U.S. Justice Department revealed a murder-for-hire plot targeting Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, allegedly organized by Indian intelligence. Both are major figures in North America’s Khalistani movement.
Canada took an unusually bold stance.
Trudeau explicitly accused India of “threatening and killing Canadian citizens on Canadian soil.” Then he expelled Indian diplomats after accusing them of gathering intelligence on Canadian Sikh activists and sharing it with criminal proxies who used the information for extortion, arson, and murder.
Both the U.S. and Canada traced responsibility to the highest echelons of India’s government. The Washington Post reported the U.S. suspects Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval approved the assassination plots — then the Department of Justice indicted a RAW official. Canada has openly implicated both Doval and Home Minister Amit Shah as authorizing the operations.
Thanks to several Congressional hearings on TNR since late 2023, the U.S. appears poised to address the issue decisively.
In December 2023, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held the first hearing. This was followed in 2024 by a House subcommittee session looking at TNR from a homeland security perspective, a Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission session, and a House hearing on human rights in India.
Legislators are even making moves.
In August 2024, then Representative Adam Schiff introduced H.R. 9707, a bill to establish a mechanism for tracking transnational repression activities by countries like India, tasking the Departments of State and Justice with investigative authority. It mentions India in the same breath as China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. After Schiff’s election to the Senate, he’s likely to re-introduce the bill.
Through hearings, proposed legislation, and indictments tied to assassination plots, India’s global misconduct is coming under scrutiny.
As a targeted journalist, I am heartened and yet unsettled by these developments. I still remember how Delhi Police once warned I am on their radar. I can only wonder: do they have my home address?
I also wonder, if Tulsi Gabbard is the new DNI, what will become of me and others who have criticized American politicians like her for aligning with the BJP?
America went to polls this year, and chose its former president and Republican Donald Trump 47th President. The election was preceded by an entire year of campaigning, and a neck-and-neck competition between the Democrats and the Republicans. As Democrat nominee and US Vice-President Kamala Harris and Trump vied for the White House, India became the talk of the election.
With 2.6 million eligible Indian-American voters — according to data from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — the Indian diaspora’s growing political significance was felt in key US swing states. These states, which were won by Trump, accounted for a significant number of Indian-American votes.
Data suggested that there was a shift in the attitude of US voters of Indian origin this year. A large number of them shifted from Democratic Party to Republican Party in this election.
Indian-Americans didn’t just leave a mark by casting their votes though. They were also seen making headlines across both popular political parties in the US. From Presidential contenders of Indian origin to several top leaders with India connection, India came in the spotlight.
As this year comes to an end,we recap how politicians of Indian origin made waves in the US Presidential election.
Kamala Harris
She is no stranger to the world. Harris made global headlines in 2020 when she was chosen by Joe Biden as his running mate during his Presidential campaign. She became the first woman in America’s history to sit on the Vice President’s chair, and also the first person of Indian descent to occupy a top position in the US. Harris’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a revered Indian-American scientist who had migrated to the US from India at the age of 19. Her Jamaican-origin father, Donald Jasper Harris, is an economist and professor at Stanford University. During her Presidential campaign, Harris prominently shared her memories of her mother. Harris conceded defeat on November 4, 2024, but her Presidential bid gave prominence to India in the US.
Tulsi Gabbard
Born in Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard is not of Indian origin but has a connection with India due to her Hindu religion. It was her name and identity as a Hindu that confused people the world over about her origin. Gabbard has been a Congresswoman for decades, since she won her first election in 2002. It was earlier this year that she made headlines for quitting the Democratic party to back Trump. In November, Trump chose her as Director of National Intelligence. The rise of Tulsi in the American politics also brought to light her Hindu religion.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy came to prominence when he challenged Trump as a Republican contender for President earlier this year. A 39-year-old politician with roots in Kerala, Ramaswamy holds a degree in Biology from Harvard University and a law degree from Yale Law School. A staunch follower of Hinduism, he is set to co-lead a new initiative aimed at reducing government bureaucracy. Alongside tech mogul Elon Musk, Ramaswamy will head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Usha Vance
Usha Chilukuri Vance is set to make history as the first Indian-origin Second Lady of the United States. The wife of Vice President-elect JD Vance, Usha came to the global spotlight when she introduced her husband at the Republican National Convention in July this year. Born to Indian immigrant parents in San Diego, Usha married Vance in 2014 in a Hindu ceremony. She had built a career as a litigator before leaving her job to support her husband as he transitioned to politics from the world of practising law. When Trump chose JD Vance as his running mate, Usha’s life, beliefs and Indian connection were widely covered in the media.
Kash Patel
Kashyap “Kash” Patel, a former federal prosecutor and a trusted ally of Trump, has been named Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Patel, born in New York to Indian-origin immigrants from Uganda, rose to prominence for his work on intelligence reform and national security during Trump’s first term. Kash as the FBI head is a very polarising choice by Trump since Kash is seen as a bold man out to reform the FBI and purge it of deep state actors. His name drills fear amiong top Republican leaders and deep state actors just as he is hugely popular among Trump fanbase due to his vow to dismantle the deep state.
Jay Bhattacharya
Kolkata-born Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya, a renowned health policy expert and Stanford University professor, has been appointed Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the US ‘s leading medical research agency. Bhattacharya, known for his controversial stance against covid restrictions, has advocated for policies focusing on individual liberty in public health. The eminent epidemiologist was censored by social media platforms, allegedly at the behest of the Biden adminsitration, for his contrarian stance on the pandemic restrictions. As the new NIH Director, Bhattacharya will oversee a budget of nearly $47.3 billion.
Harmeet Kaur Dhillon
Republican lawyer Harmeet Kaur Dhillon has been nominated by Trump as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. She became an influential figure in the Republican Party for filing lawsuits over election integrity issues and backing Trump’s legal efforts to overturn Presidential election results in 2020. She also filed lawsuits against covid restrictions. She was a legal adviser on the Trump 2020 campaign. Born in Chandigarh, Dhillon found her own law firm in San Francisco.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Tulsi Gabbard, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to be director of national intelligence, has met key Senators at Capitol Hill and supported the Republican leader’s view on Syria amid the sudden fall of the country’s Assad rule. Hindu-American Gabbard, 43, who represented Hawaii in the House for eight years as a Democrat, met with Senators on Monday, December 9.
“I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days regarding the developments in Syria,” Gabbard, 43, told reporters at Capitol Hill where she met top US Senators on her nomination.
Gabbard has faced skepticism from national security experts and lawmakers about her views on the Syrian regime, and she is likely to encounter questions during the confirmation process about her 2017 trip to Syria, where she met with then-President Bashar Assad who was ousted by rebel factions over the weekend, ending his nearly quarter-century rule, the Washington Post reported.
President-elect Trump picked Gabbard, who left the Democratic Party in 2022, to be his director of national intelligence, a position with access to highly classified intelligence who oversees 18 spy agencies.
She met with Republican Sens. Mike Rounds (South Dakota), James Lankford (Oklahoma) and Lindsey Graham (South Carolina). She also met with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), according to a post on X in which she described Gabbard as a “strong and proven leader.” Ernst told reporters she anticipates meeting with her again.
“Wonderful catching up with Tulsi Gabbard, a strong and proven leader!” Senator Ernst said after the meeting.
“It was great to see you, my friend. Thank you for your support!” Gabbard said.
If confirmed by the US Senate, Gabbard would be the first-ever Hindu American to head the powerful body in charge of US’ all intelligence agencies, including the CIA and FBI.
“Good to sit down with Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s nominee to be the Director of National Intelligence. As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I am looking forward to working with her as she continues to move through the confirmation process. Excellent first meeting,” said Senator Rounds.
“It was great to see you, Senator Rounds. Thank you for your time and the conversation today,” Gabbard said.
In recent days, Gabbard has been praised by several other Senators.
“Congratulations to Tulsi Gabbard on her nomination as Director of National Intelligence. Her military service and dedication to our constitutional rights make her a strong choice for this critical role. Wishing her success in leading our intelligence community,” Senator Rand Paul said.
“LTC Tulsi Gabbard, a 20-year veteran of the US Army, is a true patriot. Tulsi has my complete support to be the next Director of National Intelligence. I’m proud to call her my friend,” said Senator Markwayne Mullin.
Senator Lindsey Graham said he has known Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for many years, serving in the same Capitol Hill reserve unit.
“While we have differences on foreign policy, I think she’s extremely bright and capable. It is a great compliment to Tulsi that President Trump wants her to be his Director of National Intelligence,” he said.
“In this position, she will see up close the dangers we face as a nation from multiple sources. I look forward to working with her to keep America not only great but also safe,” Graham said.
“This is a reformer who can come in, who maybe is not a part of the same Washington cocktail party circuit that people in the intel community are used to, but maybe that’s exactly what we need right now… I’m a yes on Tulsi Gabbard — absolutely,” Senator Eric Schmitt said.
“What Tulsi Gabbard represents is a broad tent that Trump has put in place … He’s bringing Tulsi into his cabinet to achieve a specific purpose, and I look forward to supporting that,” said Senator Bill Hagerty.
Gabbard — a Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserve who saw three deployments — represented Hawaii in Congress for eight years, including as a member of the Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs Committees.
She was also co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus.
Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after September 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser.
Gabbard met with Assad twice during the 2017 trip and was later criticized when she refused to call the brutal leader an enemy of the United States, explaining at the time that he was not one since “Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States,” the Post reported.
Proud of her Hindu religion, Gabbard is not Indian or of Indian heritage. She was born in 1981 in Leloaloa, American Samoa, the fourth of five children born to a Hindu mother and a Christian (Catholic) father.
In 2018, Gabbard from Hawaii created history by not only becoming the first Hindu ever to be sworn in as a member of the US House of Representatives, but also being the first ever US lawmaker to have taken oath of office on the sacred Bhagavad Gita.
Gabbard’s spiritual lineage is the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya. She is a disciple of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa who is disciple of AC Bhaktivedanta Swami.
Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa is a co-founder of the World Vaishnava Association, an umbrella organization of over 30 India-based and world-wide missions adhering to and promoting Vaishnava teachings.
Trump’s early second-term choices fuel fears of extremist agenda
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Donald Trump, the former US president set to return to the White House in January for a second term, has begun making selections for his administration, opting for those who have displayed loyalty over those with deep experience. Trump has tasked Howard Lutnick, a longtime friend, with recruiting officials who will deliver, rather than dilute, his agenda. During his first term, several of Trump’s key appointees tried to convince Trump out of his more extreme plans.
Trump’s picks include Doug Burgum as Interior Secretary, Steven Cheung as Communications Director, Tulsi Gabbard as National Intelligence Director, Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, Tom Homan as Border Czar, Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel, Robert F Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services, William McGinley as White House Counsel, Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy as heads of department of government efficiency, Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, John Ratcliffe as CIA director, Marco Rubio as secretary of state, Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador, Mike Waltz as national security adviser, Susie Wiles as chief of staff, Steven Witkoff as Middle East envoy, and Lee Zeldin as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator.
There are some who are expected to be given an offer. They include Scott Bessent, Ben Carson, Richard Grenell, Robert Lighthizer, Howard Lutnick, Brooke Rollins, and Tom Cotton.
(With inputs from agencies)
WASHINGTON (TIP): The U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) announced that Chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company Andrew Liveris and Chairman of the Godrej Group Adi Godrej will be honored with the 2017 USIBC Global Leadership Award. Vice President Mike Pence will address its 42nd Annual Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. The Annual Leadership Summit is USIBC’s signature event, drawing top business and government leaders and serves as a forum for engaging in discussions on deepening U.S.-India commercial ties.
During the summit, USIBC will also present its “2017 Global Leadership Awards” to Andrew Liveris, Chairman and CEO of The Dow Chemical Company, and Adi Godrej, Chairman of the Godrej Group for creating inclusive business environments, integrating India in the global supply chain and advancing core values such as manufacturing, innovation and scale in tough market conditions. The Council’s annual summit will bring together stakeholders including government and private sector leaders, and top media figures to discuss the bilateral relationship and chart a way forward. With the transition in the U.S. government, the Council has taken a lead role in sustaining the momentum of the U.S.-India bilateral ties.
USIBC President Mukesh Aghi said, “The Council believes that this is a vibrant period for the two nations and the growing partnership is deeper and broader than ever before. We expect the upward trajectory to continue.”
The Council’s 42nd Anniversary summit will highlight: (1) The important role of private sector in advancing the ties between the two countries; (2) Future of U.S.-India Trade relationship; (3) Strengthening and deepening of defense partnership. Executive Chairman of Cisco and USIBC Chairman John Chambers will provide the State of the Council address, reflecting on the growth and potential of the U.S.-India bilateral ties.
A congressional panel on the U.S.-India Defense & Trade Partnership will include Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair, U.S.-India Senate Caucus, Senator John Cornyn, Co-Chair, U.S.-India Senate Caucus, Congressman George Holding, Co-Chair, U.S.-India House Caucus and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Co-Chair, U.S.-India House Caucus. Ambassador Navtej Sarna, Indian Ambassador to the United States and Congressman Pete Sessions, Chairman, House Committee on Rules will deliver special remarks during the summit.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, has been elected the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans. She succeeds her Democratic congressional colleague Indian-American Dr Ami Bera.
Tulsi was elected in 2012 to the United States House of Representatives, serving Hawaii’s 2nd District. She is one of the first two female combat veterans to ever serve in the U.S. Congress, and its first and only Hindu member.
An advocate for environmental policy, Tulsi was elected to the Hawai ‘i State Legislature in 2002 when she was just 21 years old, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. A year later, she joined the Hawai’i Army National Guard to serve Hawai’i and our country. In 2004, Tulsi volunteered to deploy with her fellow soldiers, becoming the first state official to voluntarily step down from public office to serve in a war zone.
Tulsi served in the U.S. Senate as a legislative aide to Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), where she advised him on energy independence, homeland security, the environment, and veteran issues. Tulsi serves on the House Armed Services Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee where she is a strong advocate for veterans.
The Democratic U.S. congresswoman from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard, was one of the first Democrats to support Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and now she is one of the first Democrats to meet with President-elect Donald Trump.
Gabbard met with Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Monday, Nov 21, morning, but Trump spokesman Jason Miller said it was “premature” to discuss Gabbard’s potential role in the Trump administration.
Gabbard is a noted critic of intervention in Syria, and does not support a no-fly zone or using U.S. resources to topple Syrian president Bashir al-Assad’s regime. She argues that fighting Assad makes it harder to resist ISIS and al-Qaeda.
“Where I disagree with President-elect Trump on issues, I will not hesitate to express that disagreement. However, I believe we can disagree, even strongly, but still come together on issues that matter to the American people and affect their daily lives,” Gabbard said in a statement after the meeting.
“President-elect Trump and I had a frank and positive conversation in which we discussed a variety of foreign policy issues in depth. I shared with him my grave concerns that escalating the war in Syria by implementing a so-called no fly/safe zone would be disastrous for the Syrian people, our country, and the world.”
Gabbard is a noted opponent of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, and was part of a rally on Capitol Hill on Saturday to protest the deal that is supported by Barack Obama.
Trump also opposes the TPP.
“I think they both understood the country very well,” Trump senior adviser and former campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said to pool reporters Monday afternoon. “Rep. Gabbard went against her party quite boldly early on. I think you are hearing people like Rep. Tim Ryan also raising concerns. So I think there’s a recognition that there’s a big country, a massive amount of voters that feel disaffected from their party, the Democrats.”
Stephen Bannon, Trump’s chief strategist, reportedly likes Gabbard because of her stance on guns, refugees and Islamic extremism along with her ability to invoke strong anti-establishment populist sentiment on the left.
Gabbard did not join the majority of her Democratic colleagues in the House by co-sponsoring gun control legislation this summer. She was one of 47 Democrats who voted in favor of a Republican-sponsored bill that requires refugees from Iraq and Syria to receive background checks from the FBI.
Her district is geographically diverse and rural, it includes all of Hawaii except for Honolulu and some of its suburbs.
Last week, 169 Democrats signed a letter condemning Bannon’s appointment by Trump – but Gabbard was not among the signers.
Gabbard, who voted for Hillary Clinton, was a write-in candidate for vice president among dissenting backers of Sanders who refused to vote for Clinton or Trump.
The Democrat was elected to the Hawaii legislature at age 21 and stepped down from her post to serve two tours of duty in Iraq. Gabbard worked in local politics after leaving active duty and is in her second term in Congress. She is one of two female veterans to serve in Congress and is the first Hindu member.
Gabbard resigned from the Democratic National Committee in protest of Clinton’s foreign policy stance to support Sanders.
A request for comment from Gabbard’s Washington office was not immediately returned.
Trump also met with former Texas governor Rick Perry on Monday, among others. His transition team is not expected to name any new Cabinet picks today.
Read the entire text of Gabbard’s statement below:
“President-elect Trump asked me to meet with him about our current policies regarding Syria, our fight against terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as other foreign policy challenges we face. I felt it important to take the opportunity to meet with the President-elect now before the drumbeats of war that neocons have been beating drag us into an escalation of the war to overthrow the Syrian government—a war which has already cost hundreds of thousands of lives and forced millions of refugees to flee their homes in search of safety for themselves and their families.”
“While the rules of political expediency would say I should have refused to meet with President-elect Trump, I never have and never will play politics with American and Syrian lives.”
“Serving the people of Hawaiʻi and our nation is an honor and responsibility that I do not take lightly. Representing the aloha spirit and diversity of the people of Hawaiʻi, I will continue to seek common ground to deliver results that best serve all Americans, as I have tried to do during my time in Congress.”
“Where I disagree with President-elect Trump on issues, I will not hesitate to express that disagreement. However, I believe we can disagree, even strongly, but still come together on issues that matter to the American people and affect their daily lives. We cannot allow continued divisiveness to destroy our country.”
“President-elect Trump and I had a frank and positive conversation in which we discussed a variety of foreign policy issues in depth. I shared with him my grave concerns that escalating the war in Syria by implementing a so-called no fly/safe zone would be disastrous for the Syrian people, our country, and the world. It would lead to more death and suffering, exacerbate the refugee crisis, strengthen ISIS and al-Qaeda, and bring us into a direct conflict with Russia which could result in a nuclear war. We discussed my bill to end our country’s illegal war to overthrow the Syrian government, and the need to focus our precious resources on rebuilding our own country, and on defeating al-Qaeda, ISIS, and other terrorist groups who pose a threat to the American people.”
“For years, the issue of ending interventionist, regime change warfare has been one of my top priorities. This was the major reason I ran for Congress—I saw firsthand the cost of war, and the lives lost due to the interventionist warmongering policies our country has pursued for far too long.”
“Let me be clear, I will never allow partisanship to undermine our national security when the lives of countless people lay in the balance.”
Washington: An influential American lawmaker slammed Pakistan for continuing to provide “tacit and overt” support for terrorism and allowing terror outfits access into India as she pledged to work with other Congressional colleagues to cut back assistance to the country.
Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu lawmaker in the US House of Representatives, said Pakistan has “continued to allow terrorist organisations to operate within their borders, moving across borders and unchecked, allowing access into India”.
She said the recent terrorist attack in Uri which killed 19 Indian soldiers is deeply troubling.
“People within the Pakistani government continue to provide tacit and overt support for terrorism. This is not new – this pattern of attacks has been occurring now for the past 15 years, and it must end.”
“That’s why I’ve continued working in Congress to cut back US assistance for Pakistan and increase pressure on Pakistan to stop this violence. In the past, the US government took steps to increase pressure on Pakistan, and it’s time to revisit that approach,” Ms Gabbard, a two-term Congresswoman from Hawaii, said in a statement.
She said the Pakistan government must fully cooperate in the investigation of these attacks, take clear, verifiable actions to put an immediate stop to these cross border attacks, and prosecute all those responsible.
“We stand in solidarity with India in the face of these attacks and will continue to work together in this fight against terrorism,” she said.
WASHINGTON: Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu to be elected to the US Congress, has been targeted for her Hindu faith by her Republican opponent in the Congressional elections, prompting sharp reactions from the Hindu-American community members.
35-year-old Democratic Representative Gabbard is seeking her third-term re-election from Hawaii against Republican candidate Angela Kaaihue.
Kaaihue last week described support to her as “worship(ping) the devil” and called the Democratic Party the “Devil Democratic State.”
“Some Christians say, a vote for Tulsi Gabbard is a vote for Satan, the devil do you agree or disagree?” Kaaihue alleged in a Facebook post, which has now been deleted. This infuriated the Hindu-American community. The Hawaii Republican Party in a statement urged party members to disavow Kaaihue for her attacking Gabbard for her religion and faith.
The chairman of Kaaihue’s party also condemned the attack, calling it “vulgar” and “religiously intolerant”. “Her vulgar, racially bigoted, and religiously intolerant descriptions of Democratic Party candidates are offensive, shameful and unacceptable in public discourse,” said Fritz Rohlfing, chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party.
“Attacks on Congresswoman Gabbard, especially on her Hindu faith, are a reflection of religious prejudices that originate from an impoverished view of a religion and culture that is practiced by nearly one sixth of the world’s population,” alleged Sandeep Dedage, director Hindu Education Foundation USA (HEF).
“It’s shocking that in 2016 any political candidate in the US faces such absurdly ignorant and bigoted personal attacks on their Constitutionally guaranteed right to practice the faith of their choice,” said Rishi Bhutada, Hindu American Foundation board member.
“Furthermore, these attacks clearly show that Hinduphobia and religious bigotry is very much alive and kicking in the United States, even if not all incidents of Hindu phobia are so direct and open as what we’ve seen here,” he said.
According to local media, Kaaihue has refused to take back her words and attacked her party chief, asking him to be cautious because he is attacking the “messenger of God.”
WASHINGTON: Greeting people on the occasion of Diwali, America’s first Hindu Congresswoman has said that the festival represents the victory of light over darkness, truth over untruth, righteousness over wrong.
“Let it inspire us to set aside our differences, and find ways to work together towards the greater and common good,” Ms Gabbard said in her annual Diwali video message.
“No matter who we are, no matter what our race, religion, economic status, gender, age, or any other material consideration, each of us can use our lives in the loving service of God and of mankind, according to our own abilities,” she said.
The Congresswoman said that it’s also an important time to meditate upon the deeper meaning of Diwali.
“As we light our lamps for Diwali, let us light the lamps of love for God within our hearts, let us share the light of His unconditional love for us, and do what we can to bring about positive change in the world,” Ms Gabbard added.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s just concluded US visit has strengthened the bonds between the two largest democracies of the world and opened up new avenues of co-operation, top American lawmakers have said.
“There are many different areas and sectors where the US and India’s growing friendship will cover mutually beneficial ground. Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to the US has allowed us to continue to strengthen those bonds and explore new opportunities for us to work together,” Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard, said.
Gabbard is the first ever Hindu Congresswoman elected to the US House of Representatives. She was among the top American lawmakers to have met Modi and attended his address to the community at SAP Center in San Jose, California.
During her meeting with Modi, she and other members of Congress discussed plans to build US-India relations and promote technology partnerships.
“Prime Minister’s 2-day tour of Silicon Valley included meetings with technology executives who offered their ideas and assistance in bringing India fully into the digital world,” she said.
Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, who also met Modi in San Jose, said Modi’s visit to Silicon Valley is symbol of the collaboration and cooperation between the US and India.
“Innovation and entrepreneurship are values that both of our countries excel at and serve as a model for,” he said.
Among the members of Congress who attended the event were Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Ami Bera and George Holding, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Indians and Indian Americans; Eric Swalwell; Mike Honda and Jim McDermott.
Congressman Matt Salmon said the India and the US were natural partners. “Our growing cooperation on issues like counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, and maritime security is a positive development for the region and the world,” he said.
“At the same time, our economic and commercial ties have not kept pace with our deepening political ties,” he said.
“I am pleased to support the elevation of commercial issues in the recently concluded first US-India Strategic and Economic Dialogue and Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US, where he heard ideas first-hand from entrepreneurs and business leaders in Silicon Valley on how we might advance our economic relationship,” Salmon said.
Following her meeting with Modi over the weekend, Congressman John Garamendi said that he raised the concerns of about the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities in India with the Prime Minister. He is Sikh Caucus Co-Chair.
“I appreciate that Prime Minister Modi gave me the opportunity to discuss these critical issues. Rest assured that he knows where I stand and that the message of my constituents was heard loud and clear,” he said.
WASHINGTON (TIP): 33-year-old Indian_American member of the US Congress Tulsi Gabbard, tied the knot with 26-year-old cinematographer Abraham Williams in a Vedic ceremony in her home state of Hawaii.
The marriage, which took place at the historic Kahaluu Fishpond , April 9, concluded with a traditional yoga ‘kirtan’ and was attended by a large number of US lawmakers besides Ms Gabbard’s friends and family.
The marriage ceremony that was conducted in a Vedic fashion ended with song and dance, local media reported.
In previous media interviews, Ms Gabbard said she will retain her last name.
Hawaii will always be the couple’s primary home, local media reported.
The Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, Ms Gabbard, had announced her engagement in January.
“Both Abraham and I are generally kind of private people. He has nothing to do with politics. He’s a humble, great guy who doesn’t want to be in the limelight, so this is something new to the both of us,” she told the Honolulu Star Advertiser in an interview published in February.
This is Ms Gabbard’s second marriage and the first for Mr Williams.
The guest list included former U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie, U.S. Rep. Mark Takai, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and former U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.
Tulsi Gabbard, the first ever Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress, would marry cinematographer Abraham Williams in April in a vedic ceremony, a media report has said. The marriage will take place in Hawaii.
The second term Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, Ms Gabbard, 33, had announced her engagement about a month ago.
She disclosed the identity of her fiancee in an interview to the local Honolulu Star Advertiser published this week. “Both Abraham and I are generally kind of private people. He has nothing to do with politics. He’s a humble, great guy who doesn’t want to be in the limelight, so this is something new to the both of us,” Ms Gabbard told the daily newspaper in an interview.
Mr Williams, 26, proposed Ms Gabbard with a 1.17-carat diamond ring when the Congresswoman was visiting Hawaii during Thanksgiving. This would be Ms Gabbard’s second marriage and the first one for Mr Williams.
Ms Gabbard said she would keep her last name after the marriage, which she wants to keep it a low key affair. Invitation for the wedding are expected to go out this week, which among others include US President Barack Obama.
Ms Williams is a freelance cinematographer who has made some short films and worked on commercial and political advertising campaigns, the daily reported.
While Ms Gabbard’s first marriage took place before a justice of the peace with only a few family members in attendance, the daily said this time she is planning a vedic wedding ceremony in keeping with the couple’s Hindu faith.
“For us it’s about having a shared sense of spiritual values and what we hold important. We try to live our lives in service to others and God in a way that has a positive impact on others around us. It was something I learned from a young age,” Ms Gabbard said.
WASHINGTON (TIP): One common refrain this week among conservatives is that President Obama and the White House have a very steadfast resistance to referring to terrorists like the ones in Paris as “Islamic extremists” or “Islamic radicals.” Josh Earnest argued it’s a matter of “accuracy,” but the administration hasn’t provided much of an explanation beyond that.
And now, Democratic Congresswoman and Army veteran Tulsi Gabbard is joining in on that criticism, saying “It’s frustrating how, as we look at the situation there, our administration refuses to recognize who our enemy is.”
Gabbard said rather definitively “this is about radical Islam” and lamented how the White House won’t be more honest about discussing the threat:
“I’m upset that the President and the White House…[are] not actually saying, ‘This is a war that the Islamic extremists are posing against the United States and against the West and we recognize who our enemy is and come up with a strategy to defeat that enemy.’”
WASHINGTON (TIP): The US Senate has at long last confirmed Vivek Murthy, M.D., M.B.A., to be the 19th surgeon general of the United States. An educator and practicing internal medicine physician, Murthy has been an outspoken champion on a number of public health issues of keen importance to family medicine.
The 37-year-old Indian-American physician Vivek Hallegere Murthy is youngest person and first person of Indian-origin to hold the post.
The upper house of US Congress confirmed Murthy’s nomination by 51 votes to 43 more than a year after President Barack Obama had nominated him to this top administration post on public health issues in November 2013 which saw a strong opposition from the powerful pro-gun lobby National Rifle Association (NRA).
The final voting came yesterday soon after the Senate invoked cloture – a procedural hurdle – by same numbers (51 to 43 votes)
Pitching strongly for Murthy’s confirmation, Senator Dick Durbin praised Murthy for his dedication to fighting obesity, tobacco related diseases and other chronic diseases that account for seven out of the top 10 causes for death in America and make up for 84 per cent of America’s health care costs.
“I believe Dr Murthy understands the importance of the national crises before him, and feel confident that his experiences, his training, and his tenacity have provided him the qualifications he needs to tackle these issues, and the many more he’s sure to face, head-on,” Durbin said.
“Not only is Dr Murthy an outstanding doctor and public health expert, but he also remains closely connected to his community and family,” he said.
“There is no question about the qualification of Dr Murthy to do his job,” said another Senator Chris Murphy, adding that Murthy has a really impressive history of commitment to international public health, building two international organizations, one that empowers hundreds of youths in the US and India to educate over 45,000 students on HIV prevention.
Senator Richard Blumenthal said Murthy has addressed some of the nation’s most pressing health problems over the times. “Dr Murthy’s credentials are without question. They are impeccable, unquestionable and indisputable”.
Coming out in support of Murthy, senator Daniel Markey said he has developed a skill set which is much needed for the 21st century and in an era where disease cross international boundaries.
“It is an opportunity to put a real leader in this position,” he said.
Senator Mazie Hirono said Murthy would make an effective surgeon general.
On the one hand, when several senators have lauded Murthy’s nomination there were others who continued to oppose his confirmation.
“The American people deserve a surgeon general who has proven, throughout his or her career that their main focus is a commitment to patients, not a commitment to politics.
Murthy’s confirmation has been widely applauded.
Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, released the statement below following the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Vivek Hallegere Murthy as the next surgeon general
“I congratulate Dr. Murthy on his confirmation as our nation’s next surgeon general. He is a dedicated fighter for public health and I know he will work tirelessly to improve the health of all Americans. I was proud to stand with him during his confirmation process, and I look forward to working with him in his new role.
“I’m glad that this nomination didn’t fall victim to partisan bickering and pressure from special interests, but this is more than a political victory. The confirmation of the first surgeon general of Indian descent is a victory for the entire Indian-American community, whose young children will grow up knowing that anything is within their reach.
“It’s a victory for our medical community, with a dynamic and skilled physician leading our public health policies as our nation’s top doctor.
“And, this is a victory for the American people and ensuring better health for all.”
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in her Statement on Confirmation of Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General, said “I extend my sincere congratulations to our new Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, who has demonstrated dedication to serving others. Dr. Murthy has shown his commitment and passion for improving healthcare, especially in the areas of mental health, obesity, chronic disease, and vaccinations. I look forward to working with him to serve the health and wellness needs of the American people.”
Dr. Murthy’s parents are originally from Karnataka, India. He was born in Huddersfield, England and the family relocated to Miami, Florida when he was three years old. Dr. Murthy attended college at Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude in three years with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemical Sciences. He received an MD from the Yale School of Medicine and an MBA in Health Care Management from the Yale School of Management. He is currently a practicing physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, as well as the Hospitalist Attending Physician and Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
We have several Indians contesting congressional elections across the United States and two from Silicon Valley – A Republican and a Democrat. I only wish, I could visit each one of them and ask them to reflect India’s pluralistic ethos in their dealings and not get stuck up with bigotry of exclusive organizations.
We need to learn to be inclusive to be even more successful,we are all one family, a great gift from Vedic teachings that is completely forgotten by the politicians there, and I hope the Indian America Politicians here will least learn from Tulsi Gabbard before they launch, and I am going to set up my shop for the upcoming congress persons to learn to be pluralistic.
60% of Americans have liked the Coke commercials in a Dallas Morning News Survey, 20% are happy about it, but we still have 20% that did not like inclusion. 72% of Americans believe that there are multiple paths to God; Jesus is not the only one.
America is moving towards Pluralism, and we need to guard these values, to ensure generations of Americans will enjoy living in America, and our kids and grand kids will not be subjected to bigotry. Have we taught our kids to be biased towards other people? If we have, we have poisoned them, at least guard ourselves from biasing others.
WASHINGTON (TIP): The US Congress on Tuesday, October 29, celebrated Diwali for the first time in its long history by lighting the traditional ‘diyas” and chanting of mantras by a Hindu priest with 25-odd lawmakers and influential Indian- Americans taking part in the event. “I have come here to say Happy Diwali. The United States owes a great debt of gratitude to India…This is a truly historic event,” remarked Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker and currently Leader of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives. Congressmen Joe Crowley and Peter Roskam, co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, had taken the initiative for celebrating the event on Capitol Hill. The lawmakers were welcomed with jasmine garlands, traditional shawls, tilak et al. As Congressman Crowley put it, this inaugural event will “set a precedent for Congressional Diwali celebrations for decades to come”. Tulsi Gabbard, the first-ever Hindu Congresswoman, called it a “celebration of righteousness”. Ami Bera, the only Indian American in Congress, wanted to see the “deepening of this relationship as we move forward”.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Thanks to the initiative of bipartisan Congressional Caucus on India and Indian- Americans, US lawmakers are set to have their first-ever Diwali reception to celebrate the Indian festival of lights. An invitation to lawmakers for the reception next Tuesday has gone out from old India friend and Democratic caucus co-chairman Joseph Crowley, according to the gossip blog of Roll Call, an influential publication focusing on Congressional affairs. “We’re setting a major precedent that will hopefully last for years and decades to come,” he wrote asking fellow lawmakers to share the mysteries of the “festival of lights.” Crowley praised Tulsi Gabbard, first Hindu-American lawmaker and Ami Bera, the lone Indian-American politician in the US House, for helping to plan the event and “stirring up interest amongst our members.” “I think it is a testament to the growth of the Indian-American community,” Crowley, who has participated in Diwali festivals in the Indo-American enclave of the Jackson Heights section of Queens in New York, told the Roll Call.
“According to spiritual tradition, Diwali is observed as the victory of light over darkness, truth over untruth and righteousness over wrong, and as a time of spiritual renewal,” Gabbard was quoted as saying “This message has great relevance at a time when politics and partisanship seem to overshadow compassion and concern for the greater good.” Crowley, according to Roll Call has placed the menu planning in the hands of the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, Maryland, a local house of worship he’s consulted with in the past – “So, we know it will be authentic.” Urging fellow lawmakers to “consider attending this exciting event,” he tempted them by saying, “Traditional Indian refreshments will be served.” “This event is an essential opportunity to come together not only to celebrate but to help increase understanding and tolerance amongst all Americans,” he wrote. “It’s going to set a precedent for Congressional Diwali celebrations for decades to come.”
WASHINGTON, DC (TIP): Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Ami Bera (D-CA), Grace Meng (D-NY) and representatives of the Indian- American community today presented Ron Stroman, Deputy Postmaster General, with petitions signed by thousands of supporters of a commemorative stamp honoring the Indian holiday Diwali.
Maloney is sponsor, and Reps. Meng and Bera are cosponsors of, H. Res 47, a resolution which requests that the U.S. Postal Service issue a commemorative U.S. stamp in honor of the Indian holiday Diwali, the five-day “festival of lights,” celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world. “Today’s meeting with the Deputy Postmaster General is another important step on the road to a Diwali stamp,” Rep. Maloney said.
“I am optimistic that the Citizens Stamp Advisory Commission will respond favorably to the 1300 signatures presented today, and the 400,000 signatures presented in the online campaign.” “I appreciate Deputy Postmaster General Stroman meeting with my colleagues and me today to discuss the US Postal Service issuing a Diwali stamp,” said Rep. Bera. “Introducing a Diwali stamp makes business sense, giving the USPS more revenue at a time when it’s sorely needed, and is also the right thing to do, giving this holiday-and the India American Community-the equal recognition that it deserves.”
“The Postal Service has issued stamps for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Eid and now it’s time for one to honor Diwali,” said Rep. Meng. “Diwali, the festival of lights, is observed by 1.2 billion people in over 120 countries including the United States and India. These include thousands of constituents who reside in my district which includes one of the largest South Asian populations in the country.
Issuing a stamp would be an outstanding way to salute the tremendous contributions of Hindu and Indian Americans, and it would give Diwali the recognition that it deserves. I thank the Deputy Postmaster General for meeting with us and we will continue to keep up the fight.” Ranju Batra, chair of Diwali Stamp Project, said “I’m truly excited by today’s meeting with Deputy Postmaster General Stroman. Rep. Carolyn Maloney’s durable national leadership is bearing fruit.
I’m also grateful for the support of Rep. Grace Meng along with Rep. Ami Bera for attending today. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has worked hard to support Carolyn’s HR47. I was delighted to have the letter-petitions presented to DPMG Stroman and have Carolyn read out loud Ambassador Mulay’s poem, ‘Towards Diwali Stamp,’ now the official poem of the Diwali Stamp Project.We are closer than ever before, and we will not stop until our Diwali Stamp is issued.
” Ravi Batra said, “Ron Stroman is a serious public official, who comprehends the compelling need to issue the Diwali Stamp, consistent with CSAC’s necessary merit-driven independent judgment, and I applaud Carolyn Maloney’s tireless leadership and Ranju’s limitless work ethic in driving the Diwali Stamp to critical mass – with scores of members of congress supporting, including Tulsi and Ami – and now an official poem too.
When the USPS decides, sooner rather than later, to issue the Diwali Stamp ‘E Pluribus Unum’ shall include Hindu-Americans too.” As part of the campaign for the Diwali stamp, Maloney asked Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, the Consul General of India in New York, to write the following poem, “Towards Diwali Stamp” in support of the campaign: “Towards Diwali Stamp” Brighten up the world Light up the nearest Lamp Stamp out clouds of darkness Bring in the Diwali Stamp.
NEW YORK (TIP): Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney spoke before the Consul General of India, in New York, July 8 to urge members and leaders in the Indian American communities to continue supporting an effort to get the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to issue a commemorative Diwali stamp. “It is high time the USPS issues a Diwali stamp.
Diwali, also known as the Holiday of Lights, marks the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and the beginning of the Hindu New Year. It is one of the oldest and most storied religious holidays in the world, and is celebrated by people of several faiths. There are commemorative stamps for Christmas, Hanukkah, Eid and more. Issuing a Diwali stamp would officially recognize the size and significance of the country’s Indian American population, which comprises over three million people, and would provide the USPS with sorely needed revenue,” Maloney said.
For several years, Maloney has headed efforts in Congress to push the CSAC to consider issuing a commemorative Diwali stamp. In January, Maloney introduced H.Res. 47 that the CSAC should issue a Diwali stamp. She wrote letters to the CSAC in 2010 and 2012 requesting the same action. Ranju Batra, a former President of the Association of Indians in America – NY, who attended the event at the Indian Consulate, is a close friend of Congresswoman Maloney and was a major catalyst in the effort to get the Diwali stamp issued.
She asked that Congresswoman Maloney provide national leadership on the effort, and Congresswoman Maloney obliged her request by remaining strongly dedicated to the issue. Aside from the cultural significance of the Diwali stamp, there are economic benefits associated with its issuance. There are over 3 million Indian Americans residing in the United States and over 1 billion Indians living in India.
The sale of the Diwali stamp could provide the USPS with a much-needed revenue surge. The meeting was held to urge supporters and members of the Indian American communities to contact their members of Congress and the CSAC and express support for the issuance of a Diwali stamp. Speaking on the occasion, Ranju Batra said, “When I took over as president of AIANY, I set two goals: To make the 25th Silver Diwali celebrations history-making, and they were, and to laser-focus on getting the Diwali Stamp issued.
I asked my dear friend Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney to take the lead in Congress. I am so delighted to have the support of Reps. Eliot Engel, Steve Israel, Greg Meeks, Yvette Clarke, Grace Meng, and others. Worthy of special note is the support from Reps. Ami Bera and Tulsi Gabbard. The time is now to get as much support as possible, as the USPS’ CASC will make its recommendations later this month.
We need each of you and every media outlet to help get the word out: call your Congress member and ask them to sign on to H. Res. 47 now. If we do this, together, we have the chance to get the Diwali Stamp issued this year,” said Ranju Batra, Chair of the Diwali Stamp Project and immediate past President of the Association of Indians in America-NY.
“The target audience of the Diwali stamp is over 5 million Americans of South Asian and Caribbean ancestry, along with over 1 billion Hindus across the world. The sale of Diwali Stamps would be a much-needed source of revenue for the US Postal Service in tough economic times. It will reduce the Postal Service’s need to always raises postage rates for everyone, while finally acknowledging Hindus here at home and abroad,” said Ravi Batra, an attorney and chair of the National Advisory Council on South Asian Affairs.
“This laudable initiative by Ms. Ranju Batra seeks not only to embellish the great American democracy in its embrace of pluralism and diversity but also because Diwali commemorates civilizational values of respect for women’s rights and their empowerment which the United States also tries to advance everywhere. On the occasion of Diwali, Goddess Lakshmi — symbolizing prosperity and well-being of humanity — is worshiped, as is the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness, which she brings about, is celebrated.
I wish Ranju and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney every success in their endeavor, which will not only strengthen the cultural and people-to-people links between the democracies of India and United States, but also mark their dedication to the cause of gender equality and women’s empowerment,” said Lakshmi Puri, Acting Executive Director of UN Women.
Mr. D. Mulay, the Consul General of India in New York lauded the efforts of Ranju Batra and Congresswoman Maloney and stated that Diwali is a secular festival celebrated by all Indians and it will be appropriate for the US Postal department to issue a Diwali commemorative stamp. He appealed to the Indian American community to support the Diwali stamp initiative of Ranju Batra and Maloney.
WASHINGTON (TIP): The hearing for Sri Srinivasan’s confirmation as federal judge, the first ever Indian- American to serve the post, began Wednesday, April 10. However, he is quipped to move up to the US supreme court too. Kamala Harris, a California based attorneygeneral who recently got recognized by President Obama is also up for the post. The Indian-American community is easily the country’s best-educated, highest earning ethnic group in the US. It is touted that community can boast of a supreme court justice from its distinguished members before the end of President Obama’s second term.
President Obama nominated Srinivasan for the DC circuit court, considered as the second highest court in the country. It is also deemed to be the stepping stone to the supreme court. If confirmed Srinivasan will be the first Indian American to be appointed to a federal court.
There is much riding on his lean shoulders. The hearing was attended by Indian American congressman Ami Bera, and the first and only Hindu congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, another Indian American whose rise in the US judicial system is being closely watched: district attorney Preet Bharara.
Is he likely to go through? The committee was certainly impressed. What objections could anyone have to your appointment, asked senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat. “You have done a fine job today,” said Republican senator Ted Cruz. Saroja Srinivasan, who came to the US with her husband when Srinivasan was four said, “He is very hardworking and humble.” A distinctly proud mother, who had just heard some very tough politicians say extremely good things about her son. In fact, pundits are already forecasting that Srinivasan will make the top grade before President Obama demits office. “Technically, Sri Srinivasan is just a candidate for the United States court of appeals for the DC circuit, but few are misled.
The stakes in this nomination are clear: if Srinivasan passes this test and wins confirmation, he’ll be on the supreme court before President Obama’s term ends,” legal maven Jeffrey Toobin wrote on Tuesday in a New Yorker blog, ahead of the much-awaited hearing.
NEW YORK, NY (TIP): CongresswomanCarolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan andQueens) joined Congresswoman GraceMeng (D-Queens) and South Asiancommunity leaders led by Ranju Batra,President of the Association of Indians in America-NY to rally grass-roots supportto press the Citizens Stamp AdvisoryCommission of the U.S. Postal Service toissue a postage stamp to honor Diwali, the”festival of lights” observed by Hindus,Sikhs, Christians, Jains, and Buddhists inIndia, the United States, and around theworld.
“Diwali is an important spiritual andcultural festival along with other majorreligious holidays for which stamps areissued, such as Christmas, Kwanzaa,Hanukkah, and Eid, and it merits similarrecognition,” said CongresswomanMaloney.”Diwali – which literally translatedmeans ‘row of lights’ – is a festive andimportant Indian holiday that also signalsthe start of the Hindu New Year. As one ofthe world’s oldest religious holidays, itserves not only as a time for celebration,but also as an occasion for communitiesand families to convene in spiritual enlightenment.
The practice of Diwali hassurvived political, economic and socialchanges throughout history, while alwayscarrying the universal symbolism of thevictory of light, goodness, knowledge andtruth.” Congresswoman Maloney said.Ranju Batra said “When I took over aspresident of AIA-NY, I set two goals: Tomake the 25th Silver Diwali celebrationshistory-making, and they were, and tolaser-focus on getting the Diwali Stampissued. I asked my dear friend Rep. CarolynMaloney to take the lead in Congress. I amso delighted to see Congresswoman GraceMeng here in person, and to have thesupport of Steve Israel, Ami Bera and Tulsi Gabbard.
We need everyone who supportsreligious freedom and mutual respectamongst neighbors to sign on. We nowfinally have a strong core group to make ithappen.”Ravi Batra, attorney and chair ofNational Advisory Council on South AsianAffairs who emceed the meeting, added,”The target audience of the Diwali stampisn’t just 3 million Indian-Americans butover 1 billion in India alone. The sale of aDiwali Stamp would be a much-neededsource of revenue for the US Postal Servicein tough economic times. It may reduceUSPS’ need to raise first class rates for all.”
“The Postal Service has issued stamps forseveral major religious holidays and nowit’s time for them to do the same forDiwali,” said U.S. Rep. Grace Meng. “Creating a Diwali stamp would be anoutstanding way to recognize and celebratethe vibrancy of the Hindu American andIndian American communities, and salutethe traditions and tremendouscontributions that they’ve made to ournation. Diwali deserves its own stamp, andI’m pleased to join my Congressionalcolleagues in urging the Postal Service tocreate one.”Congressman Steve Israel echoed thesentiments of his fellow New Yorkers,saying “I am proud to cosponsor thisresolution urging the Postal Service toissue a stamp that would recognize thefestival of Diwali, commonly known as the’festival of lights.’
The holiday embodies theessential lessons of good triumphing overevil and embracing one’s inner light. Today,I join my colleagues to call on the Citizens’Stamp Advisory Committee to give Diwalithe recognition it deserves and issue acommemorative stamp.”India’s Permanent Representative to theUnited Nations, Ambassador HardeepSingh Puri and Ambassador LakshamiPuri, Deputy Secretary General, Women atthe United Nations also spoke.Others who addressed the gatheringincluded Mayor Ernie Davis, KamleshArya, a former President of AIA, NY andNew York City Council Member LetitiaJames.
Indian-American Congressman AmiBera, in his statement, said “Diwali is oneof the world’s oldest religious holidays. Itcelebrates goodness and truth and isobserved by people from differentbackgrounds all across the United Statesand around the world. We should honor itsplace in our country’s tradition of religiousdiversity with a postage stamp, as we havedone for many other religious holidays. “Co-host of the lunch meeting SudhirVaishnav, President and CE of GlobosatEntertainment proposed a vote of thanks.
Background:Diwali traditionally marks the lastharvest of the year before winter and overtime has come to also mark the first day of the new financial year in India. This”festival of lights” marks the triumph ofgood over evil, light above darkness, andinsight and knowledge over ignorance anddisregard. Diwali is celebrated byadherents of many faiths across the world.Congresswoman Carolyn Maloneyintroduced House Resolution 47 on January25th of this year to urge the Citizens’ StampAdvisory Committee, an entity of theUnited States Postal Service, to issue acommemorative stamp in honor of thefestival of Diwali.
The bi-partisan and bicoastalresolution is co-sponsored byIndian-American Congressman Ami Bera(CA-07), Hindu-American Tulsi Gabbard,(HI-02), and by several members of the NewYork Congressional Delegation includingRep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Joe Crowley(NY-14), Rep. Steve Israel (NY-03) and Rep.Peter King (NY-02).Founded in 1967, the Association ofIndians in America is the oldestorganization of Indians in the country. TheNew York chapter is a microcosm of theextraordinary diversity of the Indiancommunity in the New York area, withmembers of all regions and religions ofIndia represented across the tri-stateregion.
AIA prides itself on its tradition ofopenness and respect for persons of allreligious faiths, with members, as well as awide range of professions, backgroundsand occupations. AIA’s New York chapterperforms countless acts of public serviceand philanthropy, reflecting its motto,”Indian Heritage and Americancommitment.” Indeed, AIA-NY celebratedits history-making 25th Silver Diwali with adinner at the Pierre and the festival at theSouth Street Seaport, the largest suchcelebration in North America.
Signup to our Newsletter!
Don’t miss out on all the happenings around the world
