Indian, South-Asian groups congratulate Biden, Harris; say opportunity for progressive policies
Washington: Indian and South Asian groups on Monday congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris on their historic win, saying they look forward to the opportunity to push for progressive and inclusive policies for the community.
Following a tense week of vote tallying, Democratic presidential candidate Biden, 77, on Saturday won the state of Pennsylvania and vaulted ahead in the race to become the next president of the United States.
Biden's win in the key battleground state put him over the threshold of 270 electoral votes, cutting off all avenues for his opponent, incumbent Republican President Donald Trump.
As Biden's vice president, Harris, 56, will make history in myriad ways, becoming the first woman - and the first woman of color - to occupy the office.
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) said that it looks forward to the opportunity to push for progressive and inclusive policies for South Asian Americans across the US with the new administration.
This election opens up greater potential for pushing the policies that matter to our communities. We will rely on the same vigilance that propelled historic voter turnout and accurate vote counts to hold this administration accountable to our communities, Lakshmi Sridaran, the executive director of SAALT, said.
She said the mandate means a complete overhaul of the immigration system that ensures a pathway to citizenship for all, COVID-19 relief packages that include immigrants of all status, increased language access resources, an end to detention and the militarization of US borders, and the transformation of policing as we know it.
The Indian-American community was elated when Biden selected Senator Harris as his running mate and it was a great honour and prestige for the Indian-American community, Dr. Thomas Abraham, the chairman of Global Organisation of People of Indian-origin or GOPIO, said.
In spite of the close Trump-Modi relations, a very high percentage of the community went with the Biden-Harris ticket. In fact, in this close election, community votes have helped Biden to win the election, he added.
Rishi Bhutada, a member of the Hindu-American Political Action Committee, said they congratulate President-elect Joe Biden for his imminent victory and look forward to working with him and his administration.
Hindu issues are American issues, and Mr. Biden has laid out a strong Hindu and Indian-American agenda that we look forward to fulfilling together, he said.
In a statement, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) congratulated Biden and Harris on their election victory.
HAF looks forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to address issues of mutual concern and interest to the Hindu American community, it said.
There is a long list of Hindu American legislative priorities and core issues that we believe are of fundamental interest not just to Hindu Americans but to all Americans, said HAF executive director Suhag Shukla.
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Who could succeed Ali Khamenei as Iran Supreme Leader?
Tehran: The question of who will succeed Ali Khamenei as Iran’s Supreme Leader has become a major subject of international political attention.
Under Iran’s Constitution, the authority to appoint the next Supreme Leader rests with the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body of senior Islamic jurists. The Assembly is constitutionally mandated to select and, if necessary, remove the Supreme Leader.
Reports indicate that three names had been considered in internal discussions in the event of a leadership transition.
One of the prominent figures mentioned is Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, the current Head of Iran’s Judiciary. He is regarded as a senior official with significant experience in the judicial and administrative structure of the country.
Another name discussed is Ali Asghar Hejazi, a long-serving official known for his role within the leadership establishment.
The name of Hassan Khomeini has also surfaced in discussions. He is the grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His family lineage has drawn attention in political circles.
There has also been discussion surrounding Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei. While he is believed to have influence within religious and security networks, no official confirmation has been made regarding his candidacy.
Separately, reports have indicated that Ali Larijani, a senior political figure with extensive experience in government, has been entrusted with key responsibilities amid ongoing developments. However, no formal announcement has been made regarding succession.
Ultimately, the selection of the next Supreme Leader will be determined by the Assembly of Experts in accordance with constitutional procedures.
