Diaspora group to seek more migration quota for Indians

GANDHINAGAR - The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIAA) will seek an increased immigration quota for Indians at this year’s Congressional luncheon and briefing at the White House in Washington May 18, its president C.K.Patel said Thursday.

The NFIAA - an umbrella group of 250 associations representing 25 lakh people of Indian origin in the US - holds this annual event at which issues concerning the Indian diaspora are discussed. The president also, at times, makes an appearance at the event attended by American senators and congressmen, he said.

“In the White House briefing, the congressmen and senators inform the Indo-American gathering of the steps being taken by the American government for their benefit and welfare,” Patel said. He said that apart from the increased quota, they will seek inclusion of Diwali in the postal stamps being issued in America from time to time.

Patel said that the NFIAA has successfully lobbied to have a bill passed for official celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary in the US and for installing his statues in various towns and cities. “Consequently, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been put up beside that of Martin Luther King in Atlanta. Similarly, a life-size statue of the Mahatma has also been installed in Bellvue town in Washington state,” he added.

Patel said that US-based Gujaratis will be coming to the state to take part in the Swarnim Gujarat (Golden Gujarat) celebrations beginning May 1. “Gujaratis will also celebrate the event in their respective towns and cities in the US throughout the year,” he added.