US polls: Indians for Biden National Council launched

Celebrating Kamala Harris' selection as vice presidential candidate for Democratic Party, Indian-Americans in US have launched 'Indians for Biden National Council' to campaign for Indian-origin candidate in vember 3 presidential elections. Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden earlier in week picked Senator Harris as his running mate, a decision speculated to have been influenced by Black voters and influential Indian diaspora. Harris, 55, is of Jamaican and Indian herit.

Indians for Biden National Council, under South Asians for Biden umbrella organisation, was launched on Thursday. It will mobilise Indian-Americans of all faiths and backgrounds for Biden-Harris campaign and to get or Democrats elected across country, according to a press statement said.

council will debut on Saturday at Indian Independence Day event being hosted by Biden campaign and South Asians for Biden organisation. former vice president will address Indian-Americans on occasion. Harris is also scheduled to make an appearance. Neha Dewan, national director of South Asians for Biden, said it was critical for Indian-Americans and or South Asians to understand what is at stake in election.

"South Asians for Biden is excited to launch Indians for Biden National Council to promote a ticket that is reflective of America," Dewan said.

"Joe Biden's experience and kw-how, along with Kamala Harris' unrelenting grit and passion for fighting for justice, is exactly what is needed for se unprecedented times. That Senator Kamala Harris is daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, adds ar dimension to this moment," she said.

South Asians for Biden has selected Sanjeev Joshipura as director of Indians for Biden National Council.

"We are on cusp of a historic moment with election of a ticket that features a Black and Indian-American woman,” said Joshipura.

“It is up to us to educate and mobilise community because Indian-American community's future hinges on this election,” he said.

council intends to seize on this historic moment by “working to educate community members about Biden's long history of supporting India and Indian American community, as well as educating voters of Senator Harris' illustrious career in public service," Joshipura said.

Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) congratulated Harris on being first woman of colour as a vice presidential pick on a major party's ticket. senator from California's Asian American and Black herit makes her mination a milestone for both Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and African-American communities, it said.

"Senator Harris' achievement highlights very mission of APAICS in promoting representation of AAPIs in all levels of government," said Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke, president and CEO of APAICS.

"As a national n-partisan, n-profit, we believe in community-wide participation of AAPIs in electoral process as voters and as candidates. Senator Harris' historic achievement has already inspired and excited AAPI community," she said.

South Asian Bar Association, rth America, in a statement, congratulated Harris on her historic mination. Harris had delivered keyte address at SABA's annual conference in 2007 and 2013. Meanwhile, Sampat Shivangi, national president of Indian American Forum for Political Education, said Harris is a great choice for Democratic Party under circumstances.

He said Democrats needed an African-American or mirity group member, or at least a woman candidate for vice president mination. Shinvangi said Harris ticks all boxes and she also has tremendous fund raising capabilities and a strong administrative background.

"In reality she is t an Indian-American, neir she claims to be one. She claims to be African-American or black American as her far is Jamaican and that counts legally," said Shivangi, who has been elected as a delegate to Republican National Convention for fifth consecutive time.

"She always said that she is black American or origin from Caribbean as you have 15 to 18 percent vote bank in USA, compared to 2.5 million Indians or nearly 1.1 per cent of American vote. She has always said she is Baptist and African to, possibly, garner those votes," Shivangi said.

According to Shivangi, Harris as vice presidential minee will split votes of Indian Americans. "Some Indian Americans will have a tough decision to make as ir loyalty may be towards a so-called candidate of Indian herit or a candidate of pro-Indian stance such as President Donald Trump," he said.

"Definitely many Indians are wary about fact that both Biden and Harris have questioned legitimacy of India passing Article 370 and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill protests. Both do t have affinity towards India unlike President Trump. Indians are right in saying that Biden is t tougher on China as well,” Shivangi said.

He said former US President Barack Obama had great influence in Biden's selection for vice president candidate.

"(Former) President (Barack) Obama is closely associated with Kamala Harris as she fits his criteria," Shivangi said, referring to Obama's far being of African descent and mor a white American. 

(Im Credits: AP)