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DATE: October 20,
2004
In a meeting attended by
Indian Americans representing prominent national and local
Indian American organizations, Nikhil Joshi, Esq., member
of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF, www.hinduamericanfoundation.org)
Board of Directors, held discussions with Congresswoman Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen (R, FL) on Saturday, October 2, 2004, in Tampa,
Florida. The meeting took on greater significance after an
introduction of the congresswoman at the meeting as the incoming
co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
Currently Chair of the Subcommittee on the
Middle East and Central Asia, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen is widely
considered to be one of the more influential members of the
U.S. Congress to assume the co-chair position on the India
caucus. The caucus currently contains more congressional members
than any other caucus focused on a nation outside the United
States.
Mr. Joshi used the occasion to apprise Rep.
Ros-Lehtinen of the goals and mission of HAF, and specifically
highlighted global Hindu human rights as an issue of concern
to nearly all of the 2 million Hindu Americans in the United
States. He also offered HAF as a resource for information
on Hinduism, a liaison to the most prominent Hindu spiritual
leaders, and as a source for position papers and briefs on
global and domestic issues of concern to Hindu Americans.
“Congresswoman Ros-Lethtinen was very
receptive to mission of HAF,” said Mr. Joshi following
the visit. “We were especially pleased that the Congresswoman
offered to work closely with HAF to advance its goals of eradicating
the evils of terrorism and persecution against Hindus in many
regions around the world,” Mr. Joshi added.
In a wide-ranging speech delivered to attendees
following HAF’s meeting, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen reiterated
her interest in HAF and Hindu human rights and discussed her
previous co-sponsorship of House Resolution 352 that recognized
the wide-ranging contributions of Indian-Americans and India’s
own struggles against terrorism.
“With an organizational base
in Florida, HAF is well-positioned to work with a India caucus
chair from this state,” Mr. Joshi said. “We look
forward to close interactions with Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen
over the next year.”
For
further information: Please contact
HAF.
HAF is a non-profit, tax-exempt
501(c)(3) organization not aligned or affiliated with any
political entity, party or organization.
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