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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JUNE 14, 2024 | The Indian Eye 24

INDIA CAUCUS MEMBERSHIP DRIVE:

Consul General Pradhan Kicks off Initiative

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY
early 60 prominent members of the Indian
community from New York and New Jer-
Nsey, including business leaders, community
activists, and heads of several organizations assem-
bled to kick off an initiative to increase the mem-
bership of the Congressional Caucus on India and
Indian Americans.
The event hosted by Ratna & Varinder Bhalla
was inspired by the Consul General of India, Am-
bassador Binaya Pradhan who noted the declin-
ing membership of the Caucus over the years and
asked Mr. Bhalla, Chairman of the Indian Amer-
ican Voters Forum to launch a membership drive
for the India Caucus. Bhalla discussed the plan
with Congressman Tom Suozzi who enthusiastical-
ly endorsed the initiative.
India Caucus is a bipartisan coalition of Amer-
ican lawmakers aimed at advocating the interests
of the Indian American community and strength-
ening relations between India and the United
States.
India Caucus was founded in 1993, initially
with nearly 100 congressmen; over the years, its
membership went up and down, peaking at 200
and currently only 109. Some congressmen of the
Caucus resigned from Congress, others lost an
election and one Caucus member, NJ Congress-
man Donald Payne died last month.
The Indian American Voters Forum, the brain-
child of Varinder Bhalla, was founded in 2008 to
enhance the participation of the Indian community
in the political mainstream. Earlier, Bhalla had led ponents for election to the US House of Repre-
a nationwide voter registration drive, for which he sentatives and got their commitment that winner
interviewed former US President Gerald Ford and of the election would join the India Caucus.
several congressional leaders. Congressman Joe Crowley, Co-Chair of the
In 2009, the Forum conceived a novel ap- Caucus, appeared on the Riti Bhalla Special thrice
proach to attract congressional leaders into the In- and inducted several congressmen into the India
dia Caucus, by celebrating the Independence Day Caucus.
of India, and televising it across the United States. With inspiration from Ambassador Pradhan,
Riti Bhalla Special, the television show, named earlier this month, a committee was formed with a
after the young host, attracted 22 congressional dedicated mission to increase membership of the
leaders who were motivated by the opportunity to India Caucus.
create goodwill with their Indian American con- With Bhalla as Chairman, the committee
stituents across the U.S. Several governors who led includes community stalwarts Padmashri Dr.
trade delegations to India also appeared as guests Sudhir Parikh, Padmashri Dr. Dattatreyudu
in the program. Nori, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Dr. Sunil Mehra,
Bhalla strategically decided to invite only those Rajeev Bhambri, Ratna Bhalla, Gobind Mun-
congressional leaders who were either part of India jal, Gunjan Rastogi, Sudhir Vaishnav, and Dev
Caucus or were willing to join and bring in other Vishwanath.
congressmen with them. Launch of the committee had its first success
In 2010, Senator Gillibrand announced on when Congressman Tom Suozzi committed to join
Riti Bhalla Special that she was joining the Senate the India Caucus and use his influence to bring in
India Caucus, founded in 2004 by Senator Hillary other congressional leaders into the Caucus.
Clinton and Senator John Cornyn. Pursued by the Judge Anthony Paradiso welcomed the Am-
Forum, Congresswoman Kathleen Rice joined the bassador on behalf of the judiciary of New York.
India Caucus in 2017. Dr. Sudha Parikh welcomed the ambassador
Also in 2017, the Forum interviewed two op- with flowers. Ambassador Pradhan called Suozzi Continued on next page... >>

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