Idea that Harris will be more distant to India is mistaken: Neera Tanden

By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Oct 29: The idea that Vice President Kamala Harris, whose mother was from Chennai, will be more distant to the Indian government is mistaken, a top Indian American adviser to President Joe Biden has said.

“Yeah, I find that so odd,” Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to the US President told PTI when asked about the concerns of a group of Indian Americans about India-US relationship under the Harris administration.

“Because you were talking about a woman who’s actually been to India, who grew up, has experiences. She has memories of her grandfather who supported the independence movement. She took walks with her grandparents in the morning as they were talking about politics and the impact it can have really as it relates to the call for independence in India,” Tanden said.

“I mean, we’ve never had a leader who has experiences like that in American history. She’s a person who has Indian relatives. The idea that she’ll be less, more distant to the Indian government strikes me as so just mistaken,” she said.

So, I think people should really think about what that feels like to have a leader who understands our community in this really profound way, because again, her mom was many of our moms strong mother willing to really take on this unimaginable journey in order to really do better for her own life and her children’s lives, Tanden said.

Tanden said this is an important moment in American history.

“This moment in time is so important because I do really think there’s a question about whether we’re going to move forward, whether Indian Americans will be seen as really part of America’s fabric or social fabric, our leadership, or whether we’re going to have a more constricted view of what it is to be American and who our government should work for, as the president likes to say, whether our government and our country is for all of us or just some of us,” she said.

“I’m really proud of the fact that the president and vice president have been strong advocates for ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table and they demonstrate that by the really profound leadership roles they’ve given Indian Americans in this administration,” Tanden said.

The issues she hears from the Indian American community are really fundamentally about equal opportunity, she said.

“So many people in our community have come here as immigrants. They’ve come here for opportunity and are trying to make sure that they have the same opportunities as everyone else. A lot of them are entrepreneurs. They’ve really focused on support for small businesses and ensuring that small businesses have access to support,” she said.

“That’s been a hallmark of the vice president’s leadership in the White House is ensuring that small businesses are getting financial support in tax incentives, et cetera. They’re also very focused on the quality of education and quality healthcare quality education, because I do think our community has been particularly focused on ensuring access to good quality schools and access to higher education,” she said.

“That’s been the hallmark of the president, the vice president’s leadership. They’ve made college more affordable, expanded Pell Grants, really opening the door of college to more people. They’ve also focused on ensuring that everyone has access to healthcare, which I know has been crucially important in our community as well,” Tanden said.(PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Justice Soumen Sen takes oath as new CJ of Meghalaya High Court

Shillong, Oct 8: Justice Soumen Sen was sworn in...

Meghalaya Assembly panel meets Rajasthan counterparts

Shillong, Oct 8: The Meghalaya Assembly's Committee on Estimates...

Meghalaya CM to begin two-day visit to Manipur from Thursday

Imphal, Oct 8: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma...

Pak Army pledges to counter any attack with ‘swift and decisive response’

Islamabad, Oct 8: The Pakistan Army on Wednesday expressed...

Ri Bhoi police conduct inspection drive, collect Rs 8 lakh in traffic fines

Shillong, Oct 8: Ri Bhoi police conducted a large-scale...

24 killed in Myanmar’s military strikes

Bangkok, Oct 8: Myanmar's military carried out a paraglider...

BJP hails govt move to discontinue Grade IV posts interviews

Shillong, Oct 8: BJP chief spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang has...

Medicine Nobel Laureates Unveil Key to Cancer and Autoimmune Disease Treatment

By Dipak Kurmi In 2025, the Nobel Prize in Physiology...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories