2 opposite ends of the spectrum - Friends of India formed in the US Senate and Legally Desi Film...
1 - Subject: India Lobby: India Abroad: 'Friends of India' formed in US
senate
'Friends of India' formed in US senate
Aziz Haniffa in Washington DC
India Abroad, Rediff
March 31, 2004 11:57 IST
http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/31aziz.htm
A new bipartisan organisation called 'Friends of India' has been formed
in the US Senate, similar to the 10-year-old Congressional Caucus on
India and Indian Americans in the US House of Representatives.
This is the first time in the history of the US Senate that a
country-focussed caucus has been constituted and announcing its formation was
the driving force behind the move Senator John Cornyn, a freshman
Republican Senator from Texas who recently visited India.
Cornyn, who was the keynote speaker at the Second Annual Capitol Hill
Gala Dinner of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
on Tuesday night following AAPI's two-day legislative conference, said
co-chairing 'Friends of India' in the US Senate would be Democratic
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
He said that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican
and Minority Leader Thomas Dachle,South Dakota Democrat had also agreed
to become members of the Friends of India group and so had 18 other
Senators from both sides of the aisle.
Cornyn said he 'undertook the job of creating an India Caucus in the US
Senate, because of the incredible experience I had in India and because
of the importance of US-India relations'.
"The response has been really outstanding across the political spectrum
to the formation of such a Caucus and to me that says a lot to work on
the good relationship we have in the Senate toward promoting ties
between our two democracies," he said.
Cornyn acknowledged that it was unfortunate that over the years, and
particularly during the Cold War years, despite both the US and India
being democracies with so much in common 'did not have good relations',
and described it 'as an accident of history', which has to be put right.
"We have to make up for lost time," he said.
Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh who has been promoting the idea of the
Friends of India Caucus in the US Senate among Indian American groups
said he was ecstatic over the news.
Mansingh, who was also present at the AAPI dinner, as Cornyn was
announcing the launch, said he had been in touch with the Senators and others
over forming such a group. He told rediff.com: "I have to commend all
the Indian leaders of the Indian American community that finally made
this happen."
"Cornyn came back very charged after his trip to India and said 'I want
to do something to promote US-India relations' and so we said 'this is
something you can do'," Mansingh said. "So we were in contact with
him."
"Even though he was aware of the formation of such a group I wanted
them to say it," Mansingh said. He said there would be a formal launch.
It is believed that some of the most powerful and influential lawmakers
like Senator Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
Charles Grassley, head of the Finance Committee, Thad Cochran,chairman
of the Appropriations Committee -- all Republicans -- and leading
Democrats like Senators Paul Sarbanes, Joe Lieberman, and Edward M Kennedy
have all enthusiastically agreed to be part of the 'Friends of India'
Caucus.
2- Legally Desi Film
senate
'Friends of India' formed in US senate
Aziz Haniffa in Washington DC
India Abroad, Rediff
March 31, 2004 11:57 IST
http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/31aziz.htm
A new bipartisan organisation called 'Friends of India' has been formed
in the US Senate, similar to the 10-year-old Congressional Caucus on
India and Indian Americans in the US House of Representatives.
This is the first time in the history of the US Senate that a
country-focussed caucus has been constituted and announcing its formation was
the driving force behind the move Senator John Cornyn, a freshman
Republican Senator from Texas who recently visited India.
Cornyn, who was the keynote speaker at the Second Annual Capitol Hill
Gala Dinner of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
on Tuesday night following AAPI's two-day legislative conference, said
co-chairing 'Friends of India' in the US Senate would be Democratic
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
He said that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Republican
and Minority Leader Thomas Dachle,South Dakota Democrat had also agreed
to become members of the Friends of India group and so had 18 other
Senators from both sides of the aisle.
Cornyn said he 'undertook the job of creating an India Caucus in the US
Senate, because of the incredible experience I had in India and because
of the importance of US-India relations'.
"The response has been really outstanding across the political spectrum
to the formation of such a Caucus and to me that says a lot to work on
the good relationship we have in the Senate toward promoting ties
between our two democracies," he said.
Cornyn acknowledged that it was unfortunate that over the years, and
particularly during the Cold War years, despite both the US and India
being democracies with so much in common 'did not have good relations',
and described it 'as an accident of history', which has to be put right.
"We have to make up for lost time," he said.
Indian Ambassador Lalit Mansingh who has been promoting the idea of the
Friends of India Caucus in the US Senate among Indian American groups
said he was ecstatic over the news.
Mansingh, who was also present at the AAPI dinner, as Cornyn was
announcing the launch, said he had been in touch with the Senators and others
over forming such a group. He told rediff.com: "I have to commend all
the Indian leaders of the Indian American community that finally made
this happen."
"Cornyn came back very charged after his trip to India and said 'I want
to do something to promote US-India relations' and so we said 'this is
something you can do'," Mansingh said. "So we were in contact with
him."
"Even though he was aware of the formation of such a group I wanted
them to say it," Mansingh said. He said there would be a formal launch.
It is believed that some of the most powerful and influential lawmakers
like Senator Orrin Hatch, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
Charles Grassley, head of the Finance Committee, Thad Cochran,chairman
of the Appropriations Committee -- all Republicans -- and leading
Democrats like Senators Paul Sarbanes, Joe Lieberman, and Edward M Kennedy
have all enthusiastically agreed to be part of the 'Friends of India'
Caucus.
2- Legally Desi Film
From: "legallydesifilm" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Tue Mar 30, 2004 8:31pm
Subject: LEGALLY DESI
PRESS RELEASE - March 29th, 2004, Chicago, IL
LEGALLY DESI, Jackokingdom Productions, Inc.
Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.legallydesifilm.com
"USA PREMIER FOR INDIE FEATURE FILM LEGALLY DESI WAS A SMASHING
SUCCESS"
Chicago, IL � March 29th, 2004 - The independent film Legally Desi held
it's World Premier Screening at Skokie Theater in Skokie, IL. It was a
smashing success and was previewed by over 300 people including The
India Tribune, India TV, The Other Winfrey Show, India Post, Chicago
Tribune and many more. The Film was entirely shot on location in Chicago and
surrounding suburbs of Illinois.
Legally Desi will be shown for general public at Des Plaines Theater in
Des Plains, IL More details to be posted on
http://www.desplainescinema.com/
Legally Desi is the creation of first time writer Yunush Ajmeri and
Director Amin J. Rupani , residents of Chicago, IL Negotiations are
underway with the distribution companies for an Official Theatrical release
and a DVD release by late 2004. For more information please visit the
official website www.legallydesifilm.com
Date: Tue Mar 30, 2004 8:31pm
Subject: LEGALLY DESI
PRESS RELEASE - March 29th, 2004, Chicago, IL
LEGALLY DESI, Jackokingdom Productions, Inc.
Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.legallydesifilm.com
"USA PREMIER FOR INDIE FEATURE FILM LEGALLY DESI WAS A SMASHING
SUCCESS"
Chicago, IL � March 29th, 2004 - The independent film Legally Desi held
it's World Premier Screening at Skokie Theater in Skokie, IL. It was a
smashing success and was previewed by over 300 people including The
India Tribune, India TV, The Other Winfrey Show, India Post, Chicago
Tribune and many more. The Film was entirely shot on location in Chicago and
surrounding suburbs of Illinois.
Legally Desi will be shown for general public at Des Plaines Theater in
Des Plains, IL More details to be posted on
http://www.desplainescinema.com/
Legally Desi is the creation of first time writer Yunush Ajmeri and
Director Amin J. Rupani , residents of Chicago, IL Negotiations are
underway with the distribution companies for an Official Theatrical release
and a DVD release by late 2004. For more information please visit the
official website www.legallydesifilm.com
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