Two developments of significance to the Indian American community took place
last week in Washington DC - one on May 22 and the other on May 20.
On May 22, 2003 the Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE) held a
Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill. It was was attended by a number of
lawmakers, including the two co-Chairmen of the Congressional Caucus on
India and Indian Americans, Congressmen Joe Crowley (D-NY) and Joe Wilson
(R-SC). Among other lawmakers present were: Congressmen:
Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Shelley Berkeley (D-NV),
David Price, (D-NC), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Frank
Pallone (D-NJ). The participants included Ambassador Lalit Mansingh and
Ambassador-at-Large for NRIs/PIOs, Bhishma K. Agnihotri.
Addressing the lawmakers, the President of IAFPE,
Dr Sudhir Parikh, made the following important observations:
"I urge our Honorable Members of Congress to step up their efforts
to motivate our President to visit India at his earliest. There is nothing
like a Presidential Visit to India and I know New Delhi is ready to
host our President.
"I appeal to our lawmakers to ensure that President Bush
has a substantial meeting with Prime Minister Vajpayee when the two are
together later this month and early next month --- in France and in St.
Petersburg. I am sure you will all agree that it would be far more
productive for our President to spend more of his time with the Indian Prime
Minister than with French President Jacque Chirac.
"Let there be no obfuscation about the nature of terrorism that
both our nations are confronting. For if we engage in moral or
intellectual obfuscation about the very nature of
terrorism, and start finding excuses for its perpetrators, then our common
War Against Global Terrorism will have no meaning to it.
"Terrorism is terrorism and there should be no ifs and buts about its nature
or why it is committed. There should be one standard to judge terrorism ---
and not double standards as we have witnessed when it comes to acts of
terror committed against India. All acts of terrorism must be condemned
unequivocally and its perpetrators, including nations that aid and abet
terrorism, must be held accountable and punished swiftly.
"Much of the credit for the total transformation that has taken
place in U.S.-India relations logically goes to the sustained and robust
support that lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have given to
this cause. When there were moments of doubts and temptations for
wavering from the Administration's side, it is our friends in Congress who
have stood rock-solid behind the U.S.-India cause. For this remarkable and
spectacular support that you have given us, the two-million-strong Indian
American community salutes you in one voice."
The second important development took place two days earlier, on May 20, 2003
when a townhall type meeting was convened by USINPAC (US-India Political Action
Committee) at which about 60 Indian Americans had the opportunity to ask
questions of the Democratiic Party leadership, including some who have
announced their candidacy for the office of the President of the United States..
The meeting went on from 11:30am to 6 pm.
The leaders present included Senator Joe Lieberman, Governor Howard Dean, and
Representative Dennis Kucinich. Representative Dick Gephardt called in over the
telephone and Sen. Harry Reid, Democratic Whip in the Senate concluded the event
with a speech.
Senator Lieberman (D-CT) unequivocally stated that India is the best candidate
for admission to the UN Security Council as a Permanent Member. On the issue of
terrorism, the Senator stated that the United States must demand that Pakistan
live up to its promise of reining in cross-border terrorism. 'India has a right
to demand that there must be a 100% effort by the Government of Pakistan to stop
terrorism. India and the United States must continue to develop close ties in
defense cooperation and intelligence sharing', he said. He also committed to
having Indian Americans in his administration if he is elected President.
Senator Lieberman added: 'I successfully worked to reduce the repressive
measures in the original version of the Patriot Act'.
Governor Dean of New Hampshire stated that the two most important issues facing
the country in the next election are national security and economic security.
His major concerns related to the policy of preaching hatred in Saudi schools,
the President's oil policy and the President's policy on homeland security.
Governor Dean expressed dismay that the United States has not yet provided
universal access to healthcare while most major industrialized countries have
already guaranteed it to their citizens. On tax cuts, Governor Dean felt that
the current tax-cutting spree of the Congress would only benefit those who
already have money. Governor Dean felt that the Bush Administration's support
for the No Child Left Behind Act was 'a completely wrong turn' in helping
children. Expressing support for stem cell research, Governor Dean criticized
the Bush Administration for letting ideology govern. He called for greater
regulation of the insurance industry.
Recalling his father's long association with India, Governor Dean stated that
there is a need to cooperate with India, especially after 9/11. Governor Dean
stated that although General Musharraf's regime was not democratically elected,
the alternative of a fundamentalist regime was much worse. Indian Americans
present challenged Governor Dean on this assertion, stating that in their view
General Musharraf has deliberately stoked tensions between India and Pakistan,
and positioned himself as the seemingly last alternative to fundamentalist rule.
Governor Dean admitted that the United States is performing a difficult
balancing act between Musharraf's support for terrorism and a desire to see the
emergence of a stable polity in Pakistan.
Representative Kucinich (D-OH) lauded efforts by the Governments of the United
States and India to work together. According to him, the world's largest
democracies, India and United States as secular societies provide a basis for
global stability. Making a forceful appeal for stopping all terrorist violence
in Kashmir, Representative Kucinich expressed satisfaction that General
Musharraf appeared to have stopped supporting confrontations with Indian
security forces in Kashmir.
Later in the day, Senate Minority Whip Senator Harry Reid paid a visit to the
delegates, and House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt called in over a telephone.
Representative Gephardt lauded Indian Americans for making vital contributions
to the nation's well being.
