FIA office bearers (Standing L-R) Devendra Patel, Keerthi Ravoori, Kamlesh Patel, Sunny Gabhawala, N Kahlon and Girish Patel. (Sitting Election Committee members L-R) Minhas Akhtar, Vinod Patel and Kanti S Patel.
CHICAGO: The Federation of Indian Associations-Chicago (FIA) headed by Satish Gabhawala did exactly what was expected of it last week – holding free and fair elections.
The Circuit Court of Cook County Judge Peter Flynn had dubbed the 2010 election “invalid” and it was up to the FIA officials to conduct free and fair elections. This was done in full compliance with the FIA constitutional requirements during a general body meeting held at Punjabi Dhaba on Devon Avenue, says Satish Gabhawala.
“The elections were free and fair, and the entire proceedings and process were quite transparent under the watchful eyes of a court reporter, FIA Trustees and the election committee members,” he asserted with pride during a luncheon meet with ethnic Indian media on Monday March 14.
Gabhawala announced at a press conference his team of newly elected office bearers that constitutes the governing executive board for the year 2011-2012. He said that the following were elected unanimously for the year 2011-2012: Satish ‘Sunny’ Gabhawala, President, Dr Kamal Patel, Executive Vice President, Kishan Patel, Vice President. Micky Kahlon, Vice President, Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, Vice President, Ajai Agnihotri, Secretary, Girish Patel, Treasurer Devendra Patel, Joint Secretary, Avinash Desai, Joint Treasurer
In a talk to this paper, Gabhawala said that he was forging unity among all the groups that claim to represent FIA and pointed out that this three decades old umbrella organization did not belong to any individual or a group of individuals, and that it was very important that its integrity and credibility were maintained within and outside the Indian community. “I am determined to achieve this for the common good of all, “he said and extended an olive branch to the break away group headed by Sunil Shah.
Addressing the press conference, a determined FIA President Gabhawala asserted that it will be his goal to preserve, protect and defend this 30-year old community umbrella organization from forces that seeks to divide it. He strongly underlined the board’s commitment to forge renewed partnership with the larger community and strive hard to strengthen the bonds of unity to uphold FIA’s preeminent place in the Chicago’s burgeoning community.
Summarizing the FIA election process, Gabhawala explained that the elections were carefully supervised by a host of Trustees and conducted by the election committee to ensure that the election procedures were consistent with the FIA by-laws. All documents related to the elections including membership forms and nomination forms, valid registration copies were put on display for the media and all those present. These documents were duly verified and certified by the Trustees and the three-member election committee in the presence of legal counsel and court reporter.
Gabhawala pointed out that he has sent an email to a number of prominent community figures to ‘cease and desist’ from directly or indirectly violating the propriety and the illegal use of FIA’s brand name. Citing several examples, he alleged that official documents were doctored and there was a tacky insertion of Governor’s photograph in one of the events held by the defunct group to grossly mislead the community.
He reiterated “the FIA’s legal counsel is pursuing all the available legal options to put an end to this exercise.”
While assuring the media that FIA is neither the plaintiff nor the defendant, he added that he planned to use every legal remedy to uphold the FIA.
He also announced that the newly elected executive board along with the Trustees would host a series of exciting events in celebration of India’s Independence in August that would include parade, flag-hoisting on Daley Plaza and a gala banquet.
In conclusion, Gabhawala reminded that FIA has a large following in the community based on its activities and an outstanding record of community service in the past and that no forces would ever be able to hijack “this legally-established premier organization that represented the causes and issues of the Indian community for nearly 30-years.”
Ramesh Soparawala
India Post News Service
