Indian American Leadership Initiative spokesman Toby Chaudhuri said that many Indian Americans are hoping that Bobby Jindal's gubernatorial victory in Louisiana will mark a turning point for a group that is getting more politically active in the U.S. Chaudhuri said that Jindal would achieve a big political success as the first Indian American governor, but he leaves behind mixed feelings within the Indian American community.
Washington, DC, USA, October 22, 2007 (XTVWorld.Com) -- "Some people supported Jindal, hoping it would make a big statement that an Indian American can become the governor of a Dixie state as a candidate from a historically white-only party," said Toby Chaudhuri. "But Bobby is a conservative Republican, and most Indian American's aren't, so there are a lot of mixed feelings about him."
Jindal is a born-again Roman Catholic who supports teaching intelligent
design as an alternative to evolution in public schools, favors a ban on abortion and opposes hate-crime laws.
"As a born-again Roman Catholic, Jindal may have cornered the Mother Theresa vote, but Mahatma Gandhi certainly would've opposed him on principle," said Toby Chaudhuri. "The real test may be how Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke's voting bloc responds to him compared to those hit the hardest by Hurricane Katrina."
The next governor of Louisiana is faced with several challenges.
By many estimates, it's the nation's poorest state, one of the unhealthiest and least educated. The state lacks basic infrastructure and hundreds of thousands of people are still displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
"Louisiana's lack of progress is a reflection of conservative policies that have auctioned government responsibilities to the highest bidders and sacrificed the fate of citizens for political gains. Honest, working people in Louisiana are ready to take back their government, but it will take
major public investments to turn the state around – investments that run counter to Jindal's conservative ideologies."
Indian American Leadership Initiative president Jay Chaudhuri of North Carolina said that Jindal's election will be a point of pride for many Indian-Americans, for the most part.
"His election is also a double-edged sword," said Jay Chaudhuri. "On the one hand, Jindal's economic policies should appeal to our well-to-do community. On the other hand, his social
policies such as prayer in school will be troubling to Indian-Americans, many of which are non-Christians. Today, Bobby Jindal represents our community's seat at the table. The question will be as he governs whether he is the right person in the seat."
Contact:
Toby Chaudhuri
Communications Director
Indian American Leadership Initiative
202-587-1653 o
978-884-8626 m
703-300-9862 h
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