If you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
New York: With an increasing number of people from the Indian-American community playing a significant role in US elections, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said there is a realization among them that if you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu that is why they are voting and running for office in large numbers.
We are starting to realize that old adage that if you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu, Krishnamoorthi said during a virtual post-election political analysis hosted by leading nonprofit Indian diaspora organization Indiaspora.
"I think the Indian-Americans realize that neither they nor their families nor their priorities can afford to be on the menu so they're pulling up the proverbial seat to the table. And that means voting, but also running for office.
And so I encourage people to do more of that. Just please don't run in my district against me, he said with a laugh.
Amid increased divisiveness across the US, Krishnamoorthi, who won re-election to the US House of Representatives for a third term, said there is a need for a "boldest common denominator of crushing the coronavirus and repairing the economy to unite Americans.
I think that we have to find the boldest common denominator that unites us and work on those priorities first before tackling some of the other issues which obviously deserve attention but might provoke a little more disagreement in terms of the way forward, Krishnamoorthi said.
Krishnamoorthi was responding to a question by Indiaspora's founder M R Rangaswami on how he hopes to unite his constituents amid the increasing divisiveness being witnessed across the country.
Krishnamoorthi said the boldest common denominator that unites all of us is crushing the virus and developing a safe and effective vaccine that is distributed to everyone as well as repairing the economy and helping struggling businesses and families get through this thing at the same time that we're dealing with the health crisis.
Krishnamoorthi stressed that in order to deal with the virus, there is a need to take the politicians out of managing organizations like the Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Health & Human Services. We need to put the scientists and the health care professionals back in charge, he said.
On the economic front, he said that right after the election, lawmakers will take up the issue of a stimulus package again and hopefully get it past the goal line.
Responding to a question on what his priorities will be going forward, Krishnamoorthi said he is the Oversight Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, with direct jurisdiction of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Those agencies have become heavily politicized, he said adding that a big priority for him will be to depoliticize those agencies so that they can do their job and get America out of this pandemic as soon as possible.
The second big priority is to stabilize the economy and help industries that have been decimated by the pandemic, including airlines, hotels and hospitality, restaurant, and tourism.
They need help now more than ever because we don't want a situation where we basically allow them to die even as we're trying to save the patient so to speak on the operating table, which is the American economy.
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Safety of Kannadigas in Middle East top priority: CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the state government was closely monitoring the evolving situation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and was taking all steps to ensure the safety of Kannadigas residing in the region.
Siddaramaiah said he has held consultations with the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi and directed officials to take proactive measures to safeguard the people from the state living in the region.
“In light of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, the Government of Karnataka is treating with utmost seriousness the safety and well-being of Kannadigas residing in the Middle East, including Israel, the UAE, Iran, and Qatar,” he said in a post on 'X'.
A joint US-Israel military offensive against Iran has triggered fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. Iran has launched retaliatory military strikes targeting Israel and American military bases across the region, including in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
Siddaramaiah said those currently in conflict-affected areas and unable to return to India due to the closure of airspace in several countries are advised to relocate to safer zones at the earliest.
“I have instructed officials to operationalise a dedicated helpline from tomorrow to assist affected families,” he said.
“I urge family members not to panic if communication with their loved ones is temporarily disrupted. Please be assured that the safety of every Kannadiga is our foremost priority, and coordinated efforts are already underway in close liaison with the concerned authorities," he added.
According to Ballari Rural MLA and former minister B Nagendra 32 people from Ballari are presently stranded in Dubai, the chief minister said.
"Appropriate steps are being initiated to ensure their security and facilitate necessary assistance. We stand firmly committed to protecting our citizens and will continue to monitor the situation closely, responding with sensitivity, responsibility and resolve,” he added.
The Indian missions in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Palestine and Oman on Saturday issued advisories for its citizens urging them to “exercise utmost caution” and follow advisories issued by local authorities diligently.
Several missions also said it is in touch with Indian citizens stranded at the airport or at other places as the two airports at Dubai, the largest aviation hub, shut down and the UAE and Iraq closed their airspace, hours after the US-Israel joint attack on Iran escalated into a region-wide tension.
The Indian missions have also provided emergency contact details for any assistance.
