INDIANS FOR POTUS:
Describing President Donald Trump as India's "good friend", a group of Indian-Americans have urged the community members across the country to support and vote for the Republican leader in the November 3 elections.
Al Mason, co-chair of the Trump Victory Indian American Finance Committee, on Sunday said the Indian-American community has emerged as a force to reckon with for the first time in the history of the US presidential election.
"Your support will contribute to President Trump's win," he said.
"This is a historical election where we all e have to make a simple choice. Do we want better economy, less taxes and smaller government, then let's re-elect President Trump? You want to have a good friend for India, first time ever, let's elect President Trump," said eminent Indian businessman Chintu Patel.
Trump also needs to be elected to successfully address the challenges posed by China, said the founder of the Amneal pharmaceuticals at a 'meet a greet' event organised for Donald J Trump Jr, son of the president, and Kimberly Guilfoyle, national chair of the Trump Victory Finance Committee.
"We could be small in numbers, but we are strong in dollars. So let's unite, make our vote count. We will elect this president. We have to take our country forward, not backward," said Patel.
Dr Raj Bhayani, who has been working among Indian-Americans in some of the key battleground states, said it is important for the community that they support and vote for Trump as the president has supported India in the last four years, including on the issue of China.
Shridhar Chityala, a member of the 'Indian Voices for Trump', said the policies of President Trump in the last four years have been bold, disruptive and transformative.
"On the issue of China, the president has sent a strong message that he stands with India. We would like to see him reelected again," he said.
Businessman Navin Shah said Trump has successfully managed the coronavirus. "We need to spread the word and help re-elect Trump," he said.
Dr Shobha Choklingam asserted that Trump has supported India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of Kashmir. "President Trump is the one that takes on China the way it should be," she said.
"I want to thank him for the support he gave to India against China...As a patriotic American we need to support him very, very strongly," she said.
INDIANS FOR EX-VP
Indian Americans held a Get out the Vote (GOTV) rally in the US state of California in support of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris for the November 3 elections.
For the future of this and next the generation of Indian Americans and "fulfill our" American dream, it is very important to vote for Biden and Harris this election, eminent hotelier Ashok Bhatt said at the GOTV rally organised on Sunday by entrepreneur couple Ajay and Vinita Bhutoria.
Electing Harris as the first woman vice president of the country is history in the making, Bhatt said.
"It's a pride and proud both for all of us," he said at the event that was attended by business owners, teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, elected officials, community leaders, and students.
There are over 1.3 million Indian Americans in the battleground states of Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida and Nevada.
"I don't think anybody's debating this one is probably the most important election of our lifetime... there's so much at stake. All at once. Right now, in our country, we are facing front and centre at least four crises that have converged," Bhutoria said.
He said that the country is currently facing public health crisis, economic crisis, racial injustice and climate change.
"It is important for all of us to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, especially I appeal to all Indo-Americans in battleground states to vote for Biden, Harris," he said. Later the participants of the rally also did phone banking and outreach in battleground states.
Yogi Chugh, executive managing director of the S5 Advisory, said that the South Asian community needs to do everything it can for a Biden-Harris victory.
"It's time to put middle class families first and focus on our economy in which no one is left behind," he said.
"We need a president who will unite country, who care more about humanity and bring out our best - not one who stokes division and brings out our worst," said Prakash Thapa, a Nepali American small business owner.
Mahesh Nihalani, senior community leader, urged the Indian Americans to support Biden and Harris on the presidential ticket, adding that the two leaders are strong proponents of India-US relationship. "Abki Baar Biden Sarkaar," he said.
