The Caucus, under the chairmanship of Congressman Sessions and Chairwoman Stefanik, is dedicated to representing the values that are significant to the Hindu-American community….reports Asian Lite News
US lawmakers Pete Sessions and Elise Stefanik have announced the inauguration of the Congressional Hindu Caucus in the 118th Congress.
The Caucus, under the chairmanship of Congressman Sessions and Chairwoman Stefanik, is dedicated to representing the values that are significant to the Hindu-American community.
“The inauguration of the Congressional Hindu Caucus marks a significant step towards recognising and amplifying the voice of the Hindu-American community in our nation’s capitol,” Congressman Sessions said in a statement.
“We are committed to addressing their concerns, celebrating their contributions, and ensuring their perspectives are heard at the highest levels of government,” he added.
Originally established during the 115th Congress, the caucus continues its pivotal role in forging a vital connection between the Hindu-American community and policymakers in Washington, D.C.
It advocates for free enterprise, limited government, fiscal discipline, strong family values, and a robust foreign policy stance against authoritarian regimes, according to the lawmakers.
“This proactive approach not only strengthens the Hindu-American presence in Washington but also enhances its influence in shaping a more representative and diverse nation,” a release from Sessions’ office stated.
Embodying a diverse coalition, the Caucus represents Hindus from various countries including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the UK and the Netherlands.
It also includes members of other faiths with Indian origins, such as Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.
In addition to Congressman Sessions and Chairwoman Stefanik, the Caucus includes members like Congressman Andy Biggs, among others, who are dedicated to advancing the Caucus’s mission.
Indian-Americans are a growing community with widely acknowledged financial clout with their way-above median household incomes.
Their political clout has been on the ascendance as well, mostly for their donations, although many of them are also running for political offices from city councils to Congress to the White House.
Increasingly now, they have wanted to be identified as Hindu Americans, which grants them constituency claims over Hindus from the Caribbeans, Nepal, Bangladesh and American converts.
Their numbers are estimated to be, as claimed at the launch event, at around 6 million, which is at the least 1.5 million more than the number of Indian-Americans, which is a widely accepted estimate.
Shalabh “Shalli” Kumar, a leading Indian-American fundraiser for the party and especially former President Donald Trump, and the man behind this caucus, shot to fame in the India-US world when he launched a campaign in 2013 to lobby US authorities to grant a visa to Narendra Modi, then chief minister of Gujarat, reversing their decision to rescind it over the riots in the state.
Although Kumar fell out of favour with Modi very soon, he had moved on to find a new person and cause to support: Donald Trump.
“This caucus will support legislation and issues important to Hindu Americans,” Kumar said at the launch of the Congressional Hindu Caucus.
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