Demonetisation a huge cause of concern for NRIs, PIOs December 06, 2016 06:05
The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) president Niraj Baxi wrote a letter to India's Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, to express their support to government of India's desire to curb terrorist funding and black money by banning Rs 500 and Rs 1000 rupee notes. Baxi said that, "It is a bold decision by Prime Minister Modi and we fully support him." However, the organization also conveyed its concerns on behalf of the NRI and PIO community. GOPIO is the largest organisation that looks after the well-being of the NRIs and PIOs living outside India. It is a 'non-partisan, secular global organization engaged in promoting their well-being and enhancing cooperation and communication between Indians living in different countries'. GOPIO has received numerous calls and emails from NRIs and PIOs regarding withdrawal of higher currency, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation. Dr Thomas Abraham, Chairman of GOPIO International, said that, "NRIs and PIOs should be allowed to exchange whatever amount they have as long as they show the proof of past conversion of foreign currency to Indian currency in the last 10 years." GOPIO is the largest organization which looks after the well-being of the NRIs and PIOs living outside India. It is a non-partisan, secular global organization linked in promoting their well-being and enhancing communication and cooperation between Indians living in different countries across the world. Also Read: US says demonetisation necessary step to address corruption! Nandini
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Preet Bharara meets Trump, agrees to stay on as US attorney December 02, 2016 04:25
India-American powerful US attorney, Preet Bharara, met with the United States president-elect Donald Trump and agreed to remain in the position. Mr. Bharara has facilitated many high-profile insider trading convictions. Preet Bharara was appointed as the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York in 2009 by outgoing US President Barack Obama. He has earned the reputation of a "crusader" prosecutor. Indian-origin Bharara said that, "The President-elect asked, presumably because he's a New Yorker and is aware of the great work that our office has done over the past seven years, asked to meet with me to discuss whether or not I'd be prepared to stay on as the United States attorney to do the work as we have done it, independently, without fear or favour for the last seven years." "We had a good meeting," he said after meeting with president-elect Donald Trump. "I said I would absolutely consider staying on. I agreed to stay on," said Bharara. The top Indian-American attorney said that, "I have already spoken to Senator (Jeff) Sessions, who is as you know is the nominee to be the attorney general. He also asked that I stay on, and so I expect that I will be continuing to work at the southern district." Bharara was born in a Sikh family in 1968 in Ferozepur in Punjab state of India. He grew up in New Jersey after his parents moved to the US. Also Read: Several Indian Americans in race for place in Trump administration! Nandini
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Trump picks Seema Verma to head Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services November 30, 2016 04:32
US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Indian-American (Dr) Seema Verma as the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in his administration. She is the second Indian-American woman picked by Republican Donald Trump to a top administration position. Mr. Trump put her in charge of a federal agency within the health department as part of a "dream team" which he said would transform America's healthcare system. Trump said in a statement, "I am pleased to nominate (Dr) Seema Verma to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services." On the same occasion Trump also nominated Congressman Tom Price as his Health and Human Services Secretary. "She has decades of experience advising on Medicare and Medicaid policy and helping states navigate our complicated systems. Together, Chairman Price and Seema Verma are the dream team that will transform our healthcare system for the benefit of all Americans," Trump said. "I am honored to be nominated by President-elect Trump today," said Verma, who met Trump in New York last week. "I look forward to helping him tackle our nation's daunting healthcare problems in a responsible and sustainable way," she said. Verma completed her Master's degree in Public Health, with a concentration in health policy and management from Johns Hopkins University, and received her Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences from the University of Maryland. The presidential transition team, said that, "Verma has extensive experience redesigning Medicaid programmes in several states. Verma is the architect of the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), the nation's first consumer directed Medicaid programme under Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana and then-Governor Pence's HIP 2.0 waiver proposal." Also Read: Trump chooses Nikki Haley as US Ambassador to UN! Nandini
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Australia to build memorial in honour of Indian bus driver! November 26, 2016 04:57
A memorial will be set up in Australia to honour the Indian-origin bus driver who was brutally killed by a man in Brisbane last month triggering massive outrage among the Indian community in the country. According to the preliminary investigation by the Australian authorities, the probable cause behind the the horrific killing of 29-year-old Manmeet Sharma alias Alisher was the mental illness of the assailant. Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said in response to a question in Rajya Sabha that, the Brisbane City Council has pledged to honour Manmeet by setting up a permanent memorial for him. He was a well-known singer in the Punjabi community. The Council also has set up a fund to support Manmeet's family to which an initial contribution of $10,000 each has been made by the Queensland Premier's Office and Lord Mayor's office. Manmeet was burnt to death on October 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised India's concern over the incident with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull. Singh said that, "Motive for the attack is still under investigation but preliminary interrogation has indicated mental illness of the assailant as the probable cause." India has called for a thorough investigation so that justice is delivered to the bereaved family, he said. Also Read: Modi takes up killing of Indian-origin bus driver with Australian PM! Nandini
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India is incredibly important for me: Pramila Jayapal November 17, 2016 05:30
The first ever Indian-American woman to be elected to the US House of Representatives, Pramila Jayapal described India as "incredibly important" citing there is a lot to be done to make sure the United States continues to support India on everything from poverty to clean energy. The 51 year old Jayapal was elected from the Seventh Congressional District of Washington State to the US House of Representatives. She is the first Indian-American woman to be ever elected to the House. PTI reported, Jayapal said that, "I think India is not only incredibly important to me not only because I was actually born in India. I am very deeply tied with India. My parents still live in India. They live in Bangalore. My son was born in India. For me the relationship between the United States and India is not only a political relationship, but also a personal relationship. It is actually what I live every day." "That is going to require that we put resources to it. It is going to require that we strengthen our diplomatic relationship. And it is going to mean that we continue to advocate for democracy in the bigger sense of the word that includes religious freedom and tolerance in both India and the US," Jayapal said. "I come from the land of Gandhi. Believe that war should be our last option and not our first. The duos US and India have some work to do where we go on that front," she added. "The priorities that I ran on and that I remain deeply committed to includes free college, really making college affordable, raising the minimum wage and providing economic opportunities to working people," she said. "We have to be absolutely ready to take on any behaviour, rhetoric or legislation that attacks our constitution and civil rights that is against Muslim Americans, whether it is against undocumented immigrants or whether it is against the LGBTQ movement. I feel my first priority is to make sure I never back down from a necessary fight," Pramila said. Also Read: Trump shortlisted Indian-origin Amul Thapar for Supreme Court judge Nandini
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Nikki Haley to meet Trump, considered for Secretary’s post November 17, 2016 05:22
The two-term Governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley will meet US President-elect Donald Trump, the presidential transition team said. The 44-year-old Haley is being considered for a cabinet position, particularly for the post of Secretary of State. The spokesman for the transition team, Sean Spicer Indian-American Haley as one of the candidates Mr. Trump expected to be meeting. Among others the president-elect will be meeting Gen (rtd) Jack Keane, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Ken Blackwell and Admiral Mike Rogers. Ms. Haley is the second Indian-American name being floated for a Cabinet position in the Trump Administration. Former Governor of Louisiana Bobby Jindal is also appearing in many short lists of potential Cabinet names. The South Carolina Lt Governor Henry McMaster, said that, “It would be like how Mr Trump is bringing fresh eyes to running our government.” College of Charleston political scientist Kendra Stewart, said that, “Secretary of state is going to be a bit of a stretch for Haley’s area of expertise. Haley has yet to be vetted about foreign policy, trade and protectionism.” Ms. Haley had supported Florida Senator Marco Rubio during the primaries and was also critical of Mr. Trump in her Republican response to the State of the Union Address by US President Barack Obama in January. Also Read: Indra Nooyi: Pepsi workers worried about safety after Trump's win Nandini
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Indra Nooyi: Pepsi workers worried about safety after Trump's win November 16, 2016 11:12
US President-elect Donald Trump's supporters have attacked Indra Nooyi, the Chief Executive Officer of the PepsiCo after she said, her employees are worried about their safety after Trump election for president. Indian-American Nooyi, who is a staunch Hillary Clinton supporter, said that, the Democrat candidate’s loss has left her daughters and PepsiCo’s workers devastated. Nooyi joked “Do you have a box of tissues here?”, when asked how she felt after the results. Nooyi said while speaking at the New York Times Dealbook Conference a day after the election results, “I had to answer a lot of questions from my daughters, from our employees. They were all in mourning. Our employees were all crying. The question that they are asking, especially those who are not white ‘Are we safe’, women are asking ‘Are we safe’, LGBT people are asking ‘Are we safe’,” Nooyi said . Regarding the Trump's comment about women, Nooyi said, “Forget about the Pepsi brand. How dare you talk about women that way.” “The process of democracy happened, we just have to let life go on. We have to come together and life has to go on,” she said. Also Read: Trump shortlisted Indian-origin Amul Thapar for Supreme Court judge Nandini
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Indian-American Kamala Harris to take on Donald Trump's Immigration Policies! November 11, 2016 11:17
Kamala Harris, who became the first Indian-American to elect to the US Senate, has said she would open a battlefront against the anti-immigration policies of the President-elect Donald Trump, citing "we must reject racism and xenophobia in our politics". The 52 years old Ms Harris said, "I recognize that Tuesday's election has made millions of people in this country feel powerless and afraid of what is to come." She launched a signature campaign against Trump's policies on immigrants. A two-term Attorney General of California described Trump's immigration policies like wall along the US-Mexico border and mass deportations as "absolutely unrealistic". She said that, "Our diverse movement and the responsibility the people have granted me in this office comes into play. We have the power to give a voice to the voiceless in Washington as we advance an agenda rooted in justice and equality, she said.” "It is no secret that there exists two divergent directions for our country to take on immigration reform and the treatment of our immigrant communities, both documented and undocumented.” "One side believes it is okay to demagogue immigrants, has proposed unrealistic plans to build a wall, and is promising to break up families by deporting millions of people. The other side believes in respect, justice, dignity and equality as part of an approach to bring millions of people out of the shadows," she said. "We must reject racism and xenophobia in our politics as we work to protect our immigrants through real reforms. Right now is a time to bring people together. To unite our country around the common values and ideals that actually make us great. Demagoguing or outright attacking communities of colour is not a real plan, it is a recipe for disaster.” "What we must do is rededicate ourselves to the fight for who we are and build a coalition that is ready to join that fight because we are stronger when we are inclusive," Ms Harris said. "I intend to fight for a state that has the largest number of immigrants, both documented and undocumented. We must bring them justice and dignity and fairness through comprehensive immigration reform. I intend to fight for 'Black Lives Matter' and to ensure truth, transparency and trust in our criminal justice system and to fight for a woman's access to healthcare and reproductive rights," she added. Also Read: Indian-American Kamala Harris creates wins US Senate seat! Nandini
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Indian-American Kamala Harris creates wins US Senate seat! November 09, 2016 12:35
History has created after Indian-American California’s Attorney General Kamala Harris won the U.S. Senate seat from the state. She became the first Indian-American to achieve the feat. She would replace Barbara Boxer. The 51 years old Ms. Harris defeated her rival Democrat Loretta Sanchez. She was born in Oakland, California. Ms. Harris said, "My parents met at Berkeley." " My mom, Shyamala Gopalan was a scientist, she came to the U.S. from Chennai to study science, and my father was a professor of economics." "We grew up always being told that you have a responsibility to serve." "I was blessed to have a really great childhood. In my family and extended family, children were nurtured and loved," said Harris. "When I started my career as a prosecutor, I specialized in child abuse and I met so many children who were the victims of circumstances beyond their control." Also Read: Indian-origin lawyer appointed Shadow Attorney General in UK! Nandini
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Australian of the Year award goes to Indian-origin cabbie! November 08, 2016 04:27
Indian-origin driver Tejinder Pal Singh will be honoured as the "Australian of the Year" for influencing the lives of people of all colours in a positive way and for his service to the Sikh community. He is the founder of "Food Van", an organization which provides food for the needy. He is treated as the messiah for the homeless people. Gurbax Singh Khalsa, who lives in Melbourne, said that, "I am waiting for the day Tejinder is felicitated. It is an honour for all of us.” The Times of India reported, Gaurav Kumar from Perth said that, " As usual, a large number of Punjabis in Australia run taxis and have to face racist comments some times. When TP Singh came here from India in 2006, he was racially abused by a passenger in his taxi. But, Singh responded in a way that led to a gradual change in the behaviour of the people towards all turban-wearing persons." According to the official website of the Australian of the Year, "Funding the feast each month from his own pocket, Tejinder attributes his generosity to his deep Sikh faith. His work has inspired three other groups to take up the cause to ute free food to the homeless on Sundays. And the hungry and thirsty come flocking when they see Tejinder's van, emblazoned with the sign 'Free Indian food for hungry and needy people'". Also Read: Indian-origin millionaire wins local council election in Australia! Nandini
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Indian-origin millionaire wins local council election in Australia! November 04, 2016 05:32
The Indian-American millionaire Intaj Khan has been reelected in the local council elections of the Wyndham suburb of the Victoria state of Australia. Following his victory from the Harrison Ward of the suburb, Khan will serve for another four years as a councillor of the suburb. Khan, from the Labour Party was elected from more than 95 candidates including dozen from the Indian background. This year, more than 2,100 candidates had filed their nominations for over 600 councillor vacancies in 78 councils across the state. Khan, 44 said that, "I feel privileged as I can serve my community as well as my council for another term. However, it is also a bit disappointing to see that no other Indian-origin candidates were elected across the state in this year's election." "I would consult with the community on representing at the state or federal level but right now I don't have any immediate plans," Khan said. Also Read: Indian-origin bus driver burnt alive in Australia! Nandini
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US elections: Why Indian-Americans support Hillary over Trump? October 18, 2016 05:28
The Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is largely endorse by the Indian-Americans community because of the unique relationship she has built with the community and India. One of her major backers, Frank Islam, an India-born entrepreneur and philanthropist, said that, "Historically, Indian-Americans, like other Asian Americans and a lot of other immigrant groups, have been big supporters of the Democratic Party." "It has been more inclusive and more welcoming toward all immigrants," he said, adding "I doubt any other American politician has been able to build the kind of relationship with the Indian American community and India as Clinton." "Additionally she has been a champion of the middle class for decades," Islam said. "As President, she wants to provide better health care and better jobs for all Americans." "Hillary has been a staunch ally of India and she recognized that Indian-Americans have enabled the US to be a stronger and healthier nation," he added. According to the most recent polls cited by the Washington Post, roughly 70 per cent Indian-Americans plan to vote for Hillary Clinton compared with 7 per cent for her Republican rival Donald Trump. "I am a big fan of Hindu and a big fan of India," Trump told a rally organized by the Republican Hindu Coalition in Edison, New Jersey. "Indian-Americans, as a community, have shunned Donald Trump, and rightfully so," asserted Islam. But he conceded that "Trump has touched the nerve of angry and uneducated white working class voters." "His message on job losses is resonating with these people," he said, adding "Clinton is making every effort to reach out to this demography." "With her strong economic message, I am confident she will succeed converting a significant section of this group to her side." Islam was also confident that Clinton will offer "true friendship" to India and "take the US-India relations to the next level". Noting that "since 1992, the US-India relations have gotten better and better under every president, whether a Democrat or Republican," he said. "I have no doubt that the ties will continue to be nurtured under a Clinton administration." "There will be focus on trade and economic partnership, on cooperation in the area of defence and counter-terrorism, and on climate change and other global issues," Islam said. Also Read: Indian-origin scientist honors young scientist award in US! Nandini
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