|
OFBJP Interacts with the Community in its Outreach Program in
New Jersey
A highly successful community outreach program was organized by the Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) in New Jersey on April 4 to the Indian American community and its leadership to work unitedly on issues related to India, and Indian
Diaspora in USA. The Tri-State area community responded enthusiastically to the OFBJP’s call by sending over 200 participants representing various organizations to the meeting. A sumptuous lunch was served prior to the commencement of the meeting. One important aspect of the meeting was large participation of women at the program that is consistent with the year of Women and empowerment of women in India by passing the Women reservation bill in electoral politics. New Jersey Assemblyman, Hon. Upendra Chivakula, graced the meeting as the guest of honor.
The program was coordinated by the OFBJP Presdient-Elect, Shri Jayesh Patel, and General Secretary, Shri Ram Kamath. Shri Ram Kamath announced the meeting agenda and the meeting started earnestly with the rendition of Vande-Mataram led by Smt. Shubhadra Nain, and Jyothi Prajwalan by eminent community leader Shri Radhakrishna Bhargav. Shri Jayesh Patel welcomed the audience and the guests before OFBJP immediate Past President and currently a member of the Advisory Council, Shri Suresh Jani was felicitated
Past President and National Organizing Secretary, Shri Chandrakanth Patel hailing from Tampa, FL, recanted some firsthand account details of BJP national executive committee meeting recently held in Indore, MP, India. He, as the special invitee was representing OFBJP-USA in the BJP national meeting. Shri Patel informed that he observed some drastic changes in BJP are taking place under the leadership of Shri Nitin Gadkari. He felt a contagious excitement among the party cadre as ideological moorings were firming up. Shri Patel distributed the OFBJP drafted vision document to the BJP leadership. He talked about the upcoming OFBJP activities in USA.
Dr. Adapa Prasad, President of OFBJP-USA, thanked his predecessor for his support and appealed to the audience to work with OFBJP in jointly working on the causes related to India and Indian Americans with their respective lawmakers, US administration, think-tanks, and media. He gave examples of shifting Afghan-Pak policies of USA, and China’s expansionist policies. He ridiculed the US nuclear deal proposal to Pakistan saying that this myopic strategy would boomerang on US and is danger to not only South Asia with flowers. Shri Suresh Jani in his emotional speech said that he was excited to be there in the midst of the community and thanked those who supported him during his hospitalization last year. He said that it was due to the prayers and well wishes of all of you that he recovered and now again active to serve the community. He also said that all his life he supported Jana Sangh and BJP and wished success to the new OFBJP team led by its President Dr. Adapa Prasad and President-elect, Shri Jayesh Patel.
Vice President, Shri RP Singh educated the audience on Secularism. He said that Secularism doesn’t give anyone a right to convert. He reminded the audience about the Supreme Court’s decision in 1977 in which it upheld anti-conversion laws made in Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Shri Singh said that in 1999 Swami Dayanand Saraswati wrote an open letter to Pope in which he argued that the "conversion is violence". He reasoned that there is no basis for conversion in matter of faith. He appealed to the people that we may have different political leanings, but we all strive for the betterment of Bharatmata. So the onus is on all of us tosave our culture and to help make India a great nation, Shri Singh added.
Hon. Upendra Chivakula said that the community unity is paramount and one should learn this from other successful communities. He reminded the audience about Hinduism and how it contributed to the world. The Sanatan Dharma, Yoga, Ayurveda and other helped the world immensely, he said. He envisioned a role for OFBJP in USA in espousing Hindu and India related causes. He exhorted the audience to be proud of their heritage and urged them to promote those cultural values. Shri Jayesh Patel recognized the community leaders and extended the helping hand of OFBJP for any community events and causes. Shri Rakhapal Sood, senior leader, and member of the Advisory Council, in his inspiring speech talked about the Dharma. He said that we are living in adopted land, but we should not forget the land where we were born, raised and receive cultural inspiration from. While discussing about what expatriates could do to their motherland, he brought out emotions among the audience while narratin
Shri Krishna Reddy, National Treasurer talked about the OFBJP membership categories and their benefits. He recanted the OFBJP activities such as conducting seminars leaders, mobilizing public support against terrorism, educating people on several issues, and ideological
Lions Club felicitated Dr. Adapa Prasad followed by senior community leader’s speeches such as Shri Chandrakant Trivedi. The meeting was concluded with a promise to organize similar events in various cities in USA.
issues, publishing news-letters and working with elected officials. He elaborated on how OFBJP is currently making efforts to reach out to all the sections of the people, including Gen X and Gen Y through Internet, websites, social networking sites etc. in the coming months and years.
|
