NRI groups join hands to host Congressional reception

Several Indo-US groups have come together for a "joint Congressional reception", reports Lalit K Jha.

In an effort to project a joint front, several leading Indo-American groups – probably for the first time -- have come together to hold a "joint Congressional reception" on June 29.

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The organisations include the Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE), the National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), the American Association of Physicians from India (AAPI), the Association of Indians in America (AIA), the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) and the Indian Diamond and Colorstone Association (IDCA).

"We have pledged to work together on issues of common interest for the common good of the (Indo-American) community. The event will be our first effort to accomplish this goal in the spirit of community unity," the GOPIO chairman, Thomas Abraham, told HindustanTimes.com., announcing the decision.

The main objective of the Congressional reception, Abraham observed, is to interact with the elected officials on issues of interest to the Indo-American community. "We plan to present a community agenda which is now in the process of being finalized. This includes improved Indo-US relations," he said.

Organisers are expecting about 30 to 50 lawmakers.

Abraham said a number of Senators and Congressmen have already committed to attend this reception including Congressmen Frank Pallone, Robert Andrews, Rush Holt, Robert Menendez and Senator Jon Corizine from New Jersey and Congressman Gary Ackerman and Joseph Crowley.

Several members of the India Caucus in the House of Representatives are expected to be present at the reception.

The IAFPE president, Nilesh Mehta, said during previous years, major associations had been holding such receptions for the U.S Congressmen, but that was in "isolation" from other groups, even as the objective remained the same.

"They want to interact with the elected officials, bring some issues in forefront and create a cordial relationship with them. Each organization has been devoting both their time and money," said Mehta.

In the process, he said the organizations had been "duplicating" their efforts and utterly confusing lawmakers. So this year, it was decided we to hold one big function. With the unified approach, this group feels that they would have a major impact," Mehta said.

In fact, the motivation came from the last year's joint reception hosted by AIA and NFIA. Presence of a large number of national organizations at the recently held 25th anniversary celebrations of NFIA, probably gave a fillip to such an effort.

"We have now found a way to work together on common agenda," Abraham claimed.

Besides Indo-U.S. relations, the organizers would use the occasion to appraise the law-makers of the issues of concern to the vast Indo-American community in the US.

"We would like to have a dialogue with them mainly on domestic issues such as Social Security, increasingly greater national debt, open and fair immigration policies, rising health care cost, educational opportunities for our children as well as foreign policy issues of international peace," said Rajen Anand, president NFIA.

The coming together of major national Indo-American groups for common purpose will be "a force to reckon with", especially when it constitute the most highly educated group combined with the highest per capita income in the U.S, Abraham argued.

"We are now a matured community. Indian Americans will play its role in domestic legislative issues affecting the community as well as for improved the US-India relationship," he asserted.

Organizers are also making effort to White House briefing the same afternoon. A request has been made to the White House to arrange for top Administration official to "discuss" issues of interest to the community.

Piyush Agrawal of the AIA has been entrusted with the responsibility of arranging this briefing. "For guests coming from out of town, it would be a great opportunity to visit White House and get to meet high ranking members of the Bush administration," said Agrawal.

The organizers are also trying to have a mid-morning reception at the Indian Embassy, thus providing an opportunity to the community members to meet the staff.