From across the United States, about 130 distinguished Indian American leaders representing 20 Hindu and Indian organisations will attend the first Hindu-American Summit for Political Engagement that will be organized at the US Capitol on June 14.
The event will be addressed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. It will be organised by the newly formed American4Hindus political Action committee that has partnered with more than 20 other diaspora bodies. At the US Capitol, the Hindu-American Summit is about forwarding the concerns of the Hindu community to the lawmakers.
About 130 Indian American leaders participating in the event hail from Florida, New York, Boston, Texas, Chicago and California. Hindu-Americans are doing well across the country, but are lagging behind in politics, Kevin McCarthy said.
On Saturday, cardiologist Dr Romesh Japra said, “Politically, we think, we’ve never been discriminated against, we are doing well. But unfortunately, tides are changing. I’m from California, where unfortunately, on the caste basis now, they want to add this to the discriminating factors.”
Dr Romesh Japra is an eminent Indian-American personality in the said community of California. Dr Japra is a respected Cardiologist who has an MBBS degree from AIIMS, Delhi, India before he moved to the USA in 1973.
He blamed organizations like Equality Labs and CARE for making attempts to divide Hindus.
In response to a question asked, he said, “They are behind many (anti-Hindu activities) of these things. So, we thought we should get together, unite all the Hindu Americans, all the leaders, all the executive heads of the organisations, and get here on the Capitol Hill, come to the powerhouses, the Congress and put our case forward.”
According to him, McCarthy and several other Congress Leaders from the Democratic as well as Republican sides are awaiting to address the summit. McCarthy is going to be the keynote speaker. Other important guests also include Indian American lawmakers.
According to Dr Japra, the community is moving towards formation of the first ever Hindu Caucus – a group of lawmakers with the idea to protect the interests of Hindu Americans in the House of Representatives.
He said, “We are trying to put together the Hindu Caucus, where we will ask all these congressional leaders, Senators and Representatives to become part of our caucus.”
He implies that the community will gather funds for the Congressional Leaders who support Hindu Values and principles who seek to help the community and raise voice against Hindu phobia, Hindu hate and concerns regarding immigration.
The organisations participating in the Hindu-American Summit are American Hindu Coalition, American Hindu Federation, Americans for Equality PAC, Ekal Vidyalaya, Federation of Indian Americans, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies, Hindu Action, Hindu Action PAC of Florida, Hindu PACR, Hindu Swyamsevak Sangha, Hindu University of America, Kashmir Hindu Foundation, Patriot America, Sewa International, US India Relationship Council and World Hindu Council of America.
