Indian American Friendship Council Conference Report

[Guest guest]

Indian American Friendship Council

National Headquarters: 7910 Norwalk Blvd., Whittier, CA 90601

Tel: 562-699-0343, Fax: 562-699-1609

Website: www.iafc.us

Email: info

 

TO: Indian American Friendship Council Members

RE: IAFC - 9TH Annual Legislative Conference and Follow up

 

Dear Friend,

 

Please review the attached file and request your follow up comment.

 

Thanks

Sincerely,

 

Dr Krishna Reddy

IAFC Chairman

 

 

INDIA JOURNAINDIA JOURNAL Volume XVIll, No 7 • www.indiajournal.com

Friday, July 29, 2005

Nearly 100 US Lawmakers Assure India

Of Continued Support at IAFC Meet

I J NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON D.C. -In what is

dubbed as the largest Indian

American event on Capitol Hill,

the Indian American Friendship

Council (IAFC) hosted its ninth

annual legislative convention on

July 19 where nearly 100 lawmakers

representing the Senate

and the House of Representatives

attended.

The annual event hosted by the

IAFC, one of the most influential

Indian American Think-tank in

America, and held this year in the

backdrop of Prime Minister Dr.

Manmohan Singh's historic meeting

with President George W.

Bush, saw widespread support for

India as Congressional members

promised to help the Indian

American cause.

In a message to the IAFC, President

Bush said: "For generations,

Indian Americans have

contributed to the vitality, success

and prosperity of our Nation.

Your organization's work

supports this important community

and has helped foster

relationships between the

United States and India.

The event was attended by several

Senators, including Ben

Nelson, Ken Salazar, Paul

Sarbanes, Saxby Chambliss and

Thomas Carper.

In his message Senator Sarbanes

praised the IAFC for its pioneering

work and said, "The Council

has been instrumental through its

work in enhancing community involvement

and promoting full

participation of Indian Americans

in all aspects of American

society. It has been my privilege

to work with the community on

many of these initiatives."

India supporter and co-chair of

the India Caucus on Capitol Hill,

Congressman Gary Ackerman

claimed that never before had

he seen an event where so many

Senators and Congressmen congregated

at one place.

He was accompanied by Representative

Ilena Ros Lehtinen, the

co-chair of the India Caucus, which

has nearly 200 members. The

Council also honored two past cochairs

Congressmen Joe Wilson

and Joseph Crowley (D), for their

excellent work in championing the

Caucus activities in 2004. Special

Service Awards were also given to

Congressman Mike Honda and

other chairs of various caucuses.

IAFC founder and Chairman Dr.

Krishna Reddy expressed happiness

at the response to the conference

and said, "The beauty of the

event was to have about 100 lawmakers

congregated in one hall."

In his address at the gala banquet,

Dr. Reddy thanked Congressional

members, especially Congressman

Ackerman and Congressman Ed Royce

for facilitating Prime Minister Dr.

Manmohan Singh's address to the

joint session of Congress.

"The key to the U.S-India relationship

has been the work of Indian

Americans and their efforts

to promote closer relations between

the world's two largest democracies.

The IAFC is an important

bridge between US and India.

I look forward to continuing

our work together to increase understanding

and strengthen ties

between US and India," Congressman

Edward Royce said.

The Council also felicitated 12

Indian Americans for their contribution

to the community including

telecom Czar Sam

Pitroda and Howard

Winkler. The Council also honored

American India Foundation.

The lawmakers also welcomed

the path-breaking accord

between the United States

and India on the transfer of

nuclear technology for peaceful

purposes, while handing out a

warning that similar ties with

Pakistan should be examined

closely in view of Islamabad's

unacceptable track record visà-

vis nuclear proliferation.

The IAFC also urged the US

Administration to reconsider

their decision to sell F-16

fighter aircraft to Pakistan as they

felt that supply of arms would

be akin to supporting terrorism.

They asked Congressmen

and Senators to use their collective

might to ensure that the

deal does not go through.

"Providing F-16 fighter planes

to Pakistan would considerably

increase Islamabad's military capability,

providing them with the

ability to deliver nuclear weapons

to any part of the Indian sub-continent,"

Founder and Chairman of

the IAFC, Dr. Krishna Reddy said

in his opening remarks at the

Ninth Annual Award Banquet held

here at the prestigious Cannon

House Building. He further said

this would tantamount to an increased

threat from terrorist elements

in view of scandal involving

Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father

of the Pakistani nuclear program

whereby he had reportedly transferred

nuclear know-how.

"It is common knowledge that

Dr. Khan has increased the global

nuclear proliferation threat by

running a franchise-like nuclear

environment," he added.

Founded in 1990, the IAFC has

grown from a one-man team to an

organization that has chapters in

nearly all 50 states of America.

The IAFC has been the leading Indian

American group promoting

relations between India and the

United States. It has become the

backbone of the largest Caucus on

the Hill, the Congressional Caucus

on India and Indian Americans.

The achievements of the IAFC

and the accolades it has won are

numerous. It has become the pio-

Distinguished Members of the House of Representatives and Senate.

Friendly Partnership

By MOHINDER SINGH

Indian American Friendship

Council (IAFC) has contributed

its mite in strengthening,

widening, deepening and

sweetening India –US relations

by bringing India and America

nearer and closer through the

good offices of U.S. Senators

and Congressmen.

The IAFC founded and headed

by Dr. Krishna Reddy has selflessly

specialized in the art of

cultivating friendship with

the U.S. lawmakers and educating

them sophisticatedly

by keeping them in good humor.

It is often said - and

rightly so – that no Indian-

American knows even the names

of as many U.S. lawmakers with

whom Dr. Krishna Reddy is on

friendly terms. Dr. Krishna

Reddy knows more Congressmen,

both Democrats and Republicans,

than anybody else.

The IAFC holds its annual legislative

and political conference and

gala dinner banquet at Capitol Hill

in Washington, D.C. in the month

of July every year. It is actively attended

by more than 100 U.S.

Congressmen and Senators, and

they abundantly praise India

and Indian Americans for their

values of life, contributions,

high-education, expertise,

knowledge, hard work and skill.

No other meeting or conference

organized by any other organization,

association or foundation of

Indian-Americans or even by a

combination or coalition of them

has ever been attended by so many

Congressmen and Senators, or

even by a small fraction thereof.

What a coincidence that this year

the annual IAFC conference was

held on July 19, the same day the

Prime Minister of India, Dr.

Manmohan Singh, addressed

a joint session of U.S. Congress

at Capitol Hill in the

morning, and India's Ambassador

to the U.S. hosted a

grand reception in honor of

the Prime Minister in the

evening! The Prime Minister,

while addressing nearly

1,200 attendees at the gala

reception, talked of the growing

Indian-American partnership.

Nearly 100 U.S. lawmakers

at the IAFC meet at

exactly the same time talked

of the deepening Indian

American friendship.

Was it possible, some how,

to have a combined effect and

impact of both the events

held exactly at the same time

in the same city, but at a distance

of nearly 10 miles away

from each other?

Congress Officially Recognizes

Dr Krishna Reddy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman

Joseph Crowley officially

recognized Dr. Krishna Reddy and

the 9th Annual Gala Banquet of

the Indian American Friendship

Council (IAFC) in Congress on July

18.Reddy is Founder and current

Chairman of the IAFC.

The recognition coincided with

the address of Prime Minister

Manmohan Singh to the Congress.

Rep. Crowley called this an auspicious

and appropriate day for the

recognition.

Crowley, who was Co-Chair of the

Congressional Caucus on India and

Indian Americans, said he had

worked quite closely with Dr

Reddy and the IAFC.

"The IAFC enjoys a strong reputation

for its eminent role in informing

US policy makers about several

aspects of surrounding Indo-US

relations. It is a privilege to join them

in the celebration," Crowley said.

He commended the IAFC for

their resolve in not only strengthening

Indo-US relations but also

protecting the interests of the Indian-

American community, advocating

for global democracy, and educating

fellow members of Congress.

Rep. Crowley said," President

Bush stated recently that relations

between our two nations have

never been so close as they are today.

Organizations such as the

IAFC have greatly contributed to

this status."

Dr. Krishna Reddy

neer organization that showcases

India and its issues facing India to

the US lawmakers. A galaxy of

Congressional leaders attends

the annual IAFC Legislative

Conference, held each summer

in Washington, D.C.

Donald A. Camp, Principal

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau

of South Asian Affairs, U.S.

Department of State, gave a

briefing on behalf of the White

House on U.S.-India relations.

Dr. Prem Reddy read out the

message sent by President Bush.

Satveer Chaudhary, Minnesota

State Senator, emceed the entire program.

He also deliverered speeches

and comments in between.

Maryland State Assembly Majority

leader Kumar Barve introduced

Senator Paul S. Sarbanes

and also delivered a speech.

Mrs Swathi Dandekar, Lowa

State Assembly Member, introduced

Congressman Jim Leach and

also addressed the conference.

Rakesh Shreedhar, the new

President of the IAFC, proposed

a vote of thanks.