DATE: June 21, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C.: On Tuesday, June 21, 2005, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) Executive Council Member, Rajan Patel, represented HAF at the Second Annual Indian American Policy Day sponsored by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY). Key attendees of the conference included Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Shelley Berkley (D-NV). Mr. Patel updated existing HAF supporters Congressman Crowley and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen on HAF’s most recent accomplishments such as the successful release of our annual Hindu Human Rights report in the U.K. and introduced HAF in detail to Congresswoman Jackson Lee and Congresswoman Berkley.

Several key government officials spoke at the conference including Ambassador Josette Sheeran Shiner of The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador R.S. Jassal of the Indian Embassy, Nicholas Dean of the South Asia Bureau, and Brett Palmer of the Department of Commerce. The main topics of conversation were nuclear proliferation in India, the continued debate over the outsourcing of many American jobs to Asia, India-Pakistan relations, India Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s pending visit to the U.S., and the sale of F-16’s to both India and Pakistan.

Congresswoman Berkley noted that as Hindu Americans are making up a significantly larger portion of her district (Las Vegas, NV) she has been becoming more involved in the Hindu American community, including an appearance at the groundbreaking of the Hindu Temple in Las Vegas. After introducing HAF to the Congresswoman, Mr. Patel noted that he looks forwarding to working with her on issues important to our community as a whole.