Group celebrates Modi’s victory
Global Indians for Bharat Vikas (GIBV) – Georgia hosted the “2014 Bharat-BJP-NAMO Victory” celebration at Global Mall, Norcross, Georgia on Friday, May 16, 2014. A festive mood with euphoria and excitement marked the event which was attended by over 100 Indo-Americans.
GIBV is a nonprofit launched in July 2013; Georgia coordinator Dhiru Shah, who is also President of India Awareness Foundation, Director and Treasurer of World Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES) and team member (Trade & Commerce) of Atlanta-Ahmedabad sister relationship project, emceed the program and conveyed congratulations and best wishes to N.Modi, BJP, and the people of India for the historic and epoch-making 2014 election victory. He noted the objective of GIBV: NRIs globally, a potent force, can help the new government led by Narendrabhai Modi in reshaping the future of Bharat through economic and social development by setting up new industries in small/medium/large scale in India, providing technical knowhow, and furthering trade and business between India and the rest of the world, including USA. Shah mentioned that Modi’s immediate task will be to work on reducing poverty and providing water, electricity, sanitation, health care, and basic infrastructure like roads and primary education in the shortest possible time.
Shah also urged the audience to donate funds to Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for her forthcoming election in Nov. 2014. She has criticized the House Resolution introduced in Congress recently by a few Congressmen against N. Modi. She is the only Hindu congresswoman to speak on behalf of Hindus and India.
Ashok Thakkar livened the program with a popular Hindi song, “Bar bar din yeh aaye, tum jiyo hazaaron saal Modiji.”
Sneha Mehta, past President of VHPA, described herexperience in India where she spent about three months with a GIBV team, campaigning for NAMO and BJP in various parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and U.P. At times, they even travelled with Narendra Modi’s brother Sombhai.
Ekal Vidyalaya’s SE Region President Shiv Aggarwal stressed the need for unity among the Indian community, and urged all organizations to unite for common objectives.
The Gandhi Foundation of USA Chairman Subash Razdan asked the audience to move forward in helping the new government in India and avoid any negative blame game against opponents. He suggested that NRIs have to get involved in political participation in America which can help the new government establish a mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries. “Narendra Modi is the right man at the right time. I feel proud of him and I wish him all the best.”
In his eloquent and articulate remarks, Past President of IACA, Chairman of American India Foundation – Atlanta, stage actor, and poet Amitabh Sharma recounted his two and half months’ experiences as a BJP volunteer in Uttar Pradesh. He exhorted, “There are three million Indian-Americans in the USA, a powerful force to reckon with. We must strive for a unified voice.” Sharma also spoke about the proposed Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor project and its importance for the whole of India.
Radhika Suda, representing Seva and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, told how thousands of Sangh volunteers worked for the BJP campaign in India, and how Sangh Shakhas work to inculcate Hindu values in the youth. She urged the audience to help in setting up three more HSS shakhas in Atlanta.
Atlanta hotelier Chandrakant (CK) Patel said he felt immense joy at the unprecedented victory of Modi and BJP. He implored the audience to be proud of their Indian roots and thankful not only to India as Motherland but also to USA as Fatherland. While India has given us sanskars (impressions from past experiences), the U.S. has given us opportunities to improve our standard of living and progress in our professions. He, too, stressed unity amongst NRIs and the need to play a more proactive role in American politics. He commended Tulsi Gabbard for her critical comments in Congress about the timing and motive of the hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) on the plight of religious minorities in India, aimed against Modi. She had said that such a hearing is tantamount to interference in the internal affairs of India and must be condemned by all Americans. Patel also appealed for financial support for her re-election in November.
Others present included Swadesh Katoch - Seva International; Mookhi - Gujarati Samaj; Dr. Ravi Sarma and Dr. Sujatha Reddy - Hindu Temple, Riverdale; Jaydev Jani -Brahmin Samaj of GA; Nagesh Kasam and Madhavi Kasam - Patanjali Yogpeeth – Atlanta; Upendra Bhatt - Rotary Club; Nanda Chatla, Umesh Bhatt, Sheetal Vadake, Satender Pal - HSS USA; Mustafa Ajmeri - India Tribune; Sanjay Pandya - News India Times; TV Asia; and Channel Two. Radhika Suda and HSS volunteers sang a rousing patriotic song “Hum kare Rashtra aradhan, hum kare Rashtra abhivadan.” All were treated to snacks and tea.
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