Menendez wins community support

THE Democratic Senator from New Jersey, Robert Menendez, who has the reputation of coming to the rescue of the community in times of need like the infamous Dotbuster incidents about a decade ago, has received endorsement from eminent Indian Americans of New Jersey for his re-election bid to the Senate.

We support Senator Menendez in this election because he has stood with us for many years, never wavering in his beliefs, the community leaders said in a statement after issuing endorsement letter at the headquarters of TV Asia in Edison last week.

The Senator, who is pitted against the Republican Tom Kean Junior, said in his appeal to the community at a press conference held at the TV Asia studio: Judge me what I have done before the election….Do not simply go by my promise. Action speaks more than words.

He is someone we can count on since his authorship of the landmark bias crime laws when Indian Americans were attacked in Jersey City. He fought for increasing access to healthcare in minority communities by authoring the Patient Navigator Law in 2005, which helps guides members of our communities through the health care system, a statement on his behalf said.

An immigrant himself, Menendez said he was sensitive to the needs of the community and would always be available for help. The only Indian American Assemblyman in the state, Upendra Chivukula, accompanied the Senator at the press conference.

Responding to queries from the media, Menendez said his party was all for improving and strengthening the relationship between India and the US. There is a strong support for India, he said. In fact, during his bus-ride to various Navaratra celebrations in the region, Menendez praised the emergence of a strong India on the world map.

Replying to questions ranging from immigration to local affairs to policy issues, Menendez reiterated his party’s stand against war in Iraq. This is not in national interest. I want to see a transition out of Iraq, he said.

Menendez who was a key member of the House International Relations Committee before he joined the Senate hoped that he would be a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee next year so that he can play a key role in shaping the foreign policies of the country.

He alleged that the national economy has deteriorated during the Bush regime and it was time for the countrymen to change the course of the nation. The US economy was very healthy and comfortable during Bill Clinton’s tenure.

In response to a question on the Indo-US nuclear deal, he alleged that the Republicans were trying to put the blame of its nonpassage on the Democrats. When as a majority they cannot pass the bill, they are trying to blame the minority, he said, adding that there would be a vote on the issue either during the lameduck session or in the new Congress next year. We will have a vote, he said, adding that bringing up a significant legislation on the last date of the session reflected a lot on the inefficiency on the majority.

Bring the legislation to vote. Have a robust debate. And I believe there will be a strong support, Menendez said.

Some of the prominent Indian Americans who endorse Menendez’s election for the Senate are : H. R. Shah, Kiran Desai, Kenny Desai, K. D. Patel, J. P. Patel, Seema Singh, Harish Mehta, Himanshu Desai, Kumar Penupatruni, Narayan Pirlamarla, Praful Raja, Raju Patel, Ram Kolluri, Satish Mehtani and Vij Pawar.