Indian-Americans form group to support Republican candidates

A number of conservative-minded Indian-Americans have formed a group to mobilise their large and powerful community for supporting Republican candidates in their White House run, saying this is a "very important time in history."
The group, for which former Speaker of House Newt Gingrich has agreed to serve as honorary chairman, has been named as Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) and modelled after groups like the Republican Jewish Coalition.
Shalabh "Shalli" Kumar, a Chicago-based industrialist, initiated the group to promote conservative principles like free markets and limited government with a focus on Indian- Americans.
Though it is called the Republican Hindu Coalition, organisers say it is open to all faiths.

"This is a very important time in history. The country has suffered so much so dramatically in the last eight years and another four or eight years of the same direction, the US as we know it will come to an end," Kumar was quoted as saying by Fox News yesterday.
"We are actually giving away our economic future to China, the world is a lot less secure today than it was seven years ago, and conservatives and Republicans have to win and take the White House. This is the time when Hindu-Americans should very actively get involved," Kumar said.

He said while many Hindus are ideologically conservative- leaning, they have not yet mobilised to vote for Republicans.

Kumar, chairman of AVG Advanced Technologies, is hoping to organise a congressional delegation in India after they formally launch the coalition next month.
The US and India can draw closer on a number of issues, including getting the US to rely more on India for manufacturing than China, he said.
The RHC is proud of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal for his decision to run for next year's presidential election.
Born in Punjab, Kumar migrated to the US in 1969. He was a supporter of the Democrat party until he met President Ronald Reagan in 1979, becoming a staunch Republican.