Bani Mukherjee-
The Indian community in South California hosted Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, India’s minister of state for external affairs and parliamentary affairs, and India’s consul general in San Francisco TV Nagendra Prasad at an event at Buena Park Saturday.
At the reception, Muraleedharan spoke of the government’s strategic initiatives to encourage economic growth and boost trade and urged Indians, no matter where they may be, to contribute to the country’s success.
Muraleedharan, who was visiting the West Coast for the first time, said the external affairs department is focused on 3 Ts – Tourism, Trade and Technology – and emphasized the promotion of trade, tourism and technological improvements. He said India’s total trade crossed U.S. $400 billion in value last year, a new mark.
The community leaders asked about processing Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards and told the minister the rules needed to be reformed. They also raised questions about the H4 visa rules for women, and about starting an Indian consulate in Los Angeles.
The minister claimed that India’s laws were never reformed after Independence but some reforms were underway under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, a lot remains to be done, he said, and urged everyone to contribute to the effort, emphasizing ‘Sabka Prayas’ from Modi’s election campaign slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’.
Yogesh Shah, president of the Jain Center of Southern California, thanked Muraleedharan, Nagendra Prasad, and the Indian community leaders.
