Election results a clear repudiation of Trump’s xenophobia, says Congressman Ro Khanna

US President-elect Joe Biden winning in popular votes and flipping five states as well is t only a big win for America but also a “clear repudiation” of incumbent President Donald Trump's xephobia, according to an influential Indian-American Congressman.

Ro Khanna, 44, who was this month elected for third consecutive term to represent 17th Congressional District of California, that comprises Silicon Valley, in US House of Representatives exuded confidence that ministration of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is going to be a big success.

“It is a big win for America, and Democrats,” Khanna told PTI in an interview.

Flipping five states against incumbent president is an achievement, he said, ding that Biden has received more popular votes than those received by former president Barack Obama in 2008. Biden has received 78.6 million in popular votes against Republican Trump’s 73.1 million. Obama in 2008 h 69 million popular votes.

According to latest count of electoral college votes coming from all 50 states, Biden has 306 of 538 electoral college votes, which is well above halfway mark of 270. Trump, who has 232 electoral college votes, has challenged election results in various states including Pennsylvania, Neva, Michigan, Georgia and Arizona. He h demanded a recount in Wisconsin. Biden flipped five states, including Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

"It (election results) was a clear repudiation of Trump's xephobia against vision for a multiracial, multi-ethnic America and for policies to help working class and middle class American,” Khanna said.

A JD (Juris Doctor) from prestigious Yale University, Khanna comfortably won vember 3 elections by defeating ar India-American Ritesh Tandon by a massive margin of more than 42 percent votes. Vice chair of Congressional Progressive Caucus, Khanna was national co-chair of Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign. Biden-Harris ministration is “gonna be a big success,” he said in response to a question.

“ first thing y have to do is to get COVID-19 pandemic under control, and make sure that we have an efficient and fair distribution of vaccine,” he said.

"n we need to have a bold stimulus bill that provides relief to Americans and helps create ecomic opportunity for small businesses or entrepreneurs,” he said, ding that a Democratic-majority House of Representatives is going to play a big role working with Biden-Harris ministration to tackle pandemic to stimulate ecomy which has been hit by disease.

Khanna said re is a need for new ministration to rebuild alliance and rejoin Paris Agreement on Climate Change. US has to tackle global poverty and show that it is again a leer in world that is caring as part of community of nations.

"And part of that is to continue to build a very strong relationship with India that is a key ally, as a democracy, is a key partner on ecomic issues, a key source of so much talent in this country. I will continue to be a strong vocate for US-India relationship,” Khanna said.

Ar issue of importance for new ministration is going to be some sense of police accountability and racial justice, which, he said, were a big part of election campaign and resulted in a big turut. Infrastructure spending and ensuring that high speed broband is in every part of country are or important issues. Responding to a question on Trump refusing to concede elections, Khanna said that it is a s situation and that president is having a tough time coming to terms with reality.

“At end of day, election will be certified and House and Senate will vote to affirm Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (as next President and Vice President). y will assume office,” he said.

But, Trump by such moves is “making it harder for country to come toger” and he is increasingly polarising which is s and opposite of American way of sportsmanship and concession after a loss. “But it doesn't come as a surprise,” Khanna said.

"Our task is to figure out how we unify this country,” said Congressman, who is currently in process of writing a new book “Dignity in Digital ”, forward of which is being written by bel Laureate Amartya Sen. book is likely to hit market in mid-2021.

Describing Harris, 56, as a trailblazer, Khanna said he hoped Vice President-elect, whom he has kwn from days she was a district attorney, would bring with her some of California values in terms of clean energy, renewable energy, need for Medicare for all, universal health care, need for forgiving students loan and free public college. Khanna, who has won award for best constituent services in entire Congress, is one of few lawmakers who does a regular town hall.

“I'm really proud of work we've got in community. I've tried to be very accessible to constituents. We do a monthly Town Hall that people appreciate,” he said. His congressional district is one of most diverse ones in country, including a sizable Indian-American population.