CHICAGO: While the election victory of President Barack Obama was a foregone conclusion for many an Indian American with one budding astrologer predicting a landslide for him before the results, the outcome has not induced an unmixed joy in light of the continuing economic recession and hazy employment prospects.
The consensus is that the new administration will have to gear itself up with a favorable economic plan that would help small and medium sized businesses, and thru it a boost in the job market. Those concerned about ties with India are also are a bit concerned about the Obama government’s policy regarding outsourcing. The President is believed to be a bit conservative on this issue and this could affect India which is reeling under a small bout of recession. On the political side, they would want the new administration to act more effectively on cross border terrorism as well.
Overall speaking, a real good showing for Democrats in Illinois has gladdened the hearts of Indian Americans who are traditional backers of the Democratic Party. Those who backed Republicans met with setbacks as two of their candidates Joe Walsh and Bob Dold could not make it to the winning post. The strong showing by Democrats also helped a State Representative, who was kicked out of the State legislature, to win his seat back. A judge who had a skirmish with the law also got elected.
One of the front ranking supporters of President Obama and Democrats, Balvinder Singh, was overjoyed at the outcome and exuded confidence that the new administration would revive the sagging economy and that Indo-US relations would get a fresh boost. He went to the extent of saying that he would not be surprised if the President accepts the Indian Prime Minster’s invitation and visits India in late 2013 or early 2014.
Harendra Mangrola, president of Indo American Democratic Organization was also happy since all the candidates backed by IADO won the elections. He felt that the controlling of both the Houses of the Congress would help President Obama to push his agenda strongly.
Iftekhar Shaeef, a Trustee of the Federation of Indian Associations, in a statement said “we are all so thankful for all the support of Indian media in re-electing President Barack Obama for the second term. Indian-American community has used all the resources for the Democratic party and its candidates in Illinois.”
“Special thanks to our community in rallying behind the popular Democratic candidates from Illinois especially snatching the seat back from Republican candidate from district 8th; Joe Walsh losing to Tammy Duckworth by over twenty thousand votes in district 5th and an easy win for Mike Quigley in District 11Th; Bill Foster regaining the seat, first timer Brad Schneider of district 10th got an easy win from Robert Dold a Republican candidate, Cheri Bustos of 17th district won against Republican Bobby Schilling.”
Other U.S Congress candidates from Illinois including Jan Schakowsky, Bobby Rush, Jesse Jackson, Dan Lipinski, Luis Gutierrez, Danny Davis and William Enyart had an easy win over Republican candidates. ”
Vinesh Virani of Art of Living said that his Guru Sri Sri Ravishanker had already said that Obama would be the winner. The interest would now be for the 2016 elections and in his opinion there could be a close contest between Hillary Clinton and Chicago Mayor Rham Emanuael for winning the Democratic primary, he observed.
Nand Kapur, former head of Association of Indian Americans, felt that Indian Americans should use their newly found clout and political strength in steering the new government policy in favor of India. “Indo-US relationship should get strengthened for strategic reasons. India needs US support in boosting its economy and fighting terrorism and the US needs Indian support for containing the growing might of China,” he observed.
Suresh Shah & Harish Rao
