Second Opinion: OTHER MEDIA : INDIA WEST : Indian-Americans Need Political Savvy

There is a need to constantly examine the performance of U.S. congressmen with regard to issues of concern to India and the Indo-American community.

Since June, 1991, there have been four recorded votes on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives which were either directly related to India or were used to bash India. These votes were taken on various amendments offered by Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) or Rep. Robert Lagomarsino (R-Calif.).

There are four Californians--Anthony Beilensen (Woodland Hills), Ronald Dellums (Oakland), Maxine Waters (Los Angeles) and Henry Waxman (Los Angeles)--who have always supported India. They are all Democrats. Eight other Democrats from California--Howard Berman (Panorama City), George Brown (Colton), Julian Dixon (Los Angeles), Tom Lantos (Burlingame), Robert Matsui (Sacramento), Norman Mineta (San Jose), Nancy Pelosi (San Francisco) and Esteban Torres (La Puente)--have taken the side of India at least three out of four times. None of the Republicans from California is included in that category.

Of the 121 Congress members who have voted against the interests of India, 46 are Democrats. Gary Condit (Ceres), Calvin Dooley (Visalia), Vic Fazio (West Sacramento), George Miller (Martinez) and Richard H. Lehman (North Fork) are Democrats from California who have displayed their disdain for India. Condit and Fazio have a large constituency of Indians of the Sikh faith who have campaigned against their country as a consequence of events in Punjab. These constituents have reportedly helped (Condit and Fazio) by raising large sums during their election campaigns. Non-Sikh Indians, with the exception of a few, have made virtually no attempts to educate these congressmen in order to seek their legislative support in the House.

There are several Republican members of the House who are notorious India-bashers. Dan Burton of Indiana and Wally Herger of California (Rio Oso) have been labeled as the most anti-India congressmen, and yet they have received financial support from Americans of Indian origin.

There are nine other Republicans from California who have shown little sensitivity to India. These include Christopher Cox (Newport Beach), Randy Cunningham (San Diego), John Doolittle (Rockland), David Drier (San Dimas), Elton Gallegly (Simi Valley), Duncan Hunter (Coronado), Carlos Moorhead (Glendale), Ronald Packard (Oceanside) and Dana Rohrabacher (Huntington Beach).

Indo-Americans have rarely paid attention to the voting records of legislators or their stand on issues when inviting them to Indian celebrations or raising funds for their campaigns. For example, both Cox and Rohrabacher were guest speakers at the India Independence Day celebration in Los Angeles.

Financial and other support to the political campaigns of candidates running for office must be accompanied by a defined agenda advanced by the community at large. The interest of the Indo-American community must take precedence when in conflict with the country of their origin.