By Adam Kramer
A group of Queens political bigwigs and politicians helped the South Asian & Indo-Caribbean Americans for Political Progress celebrate its formation Sunday in Glen Oaks.
The group, founded by Mohammed Sadiq, who lives in Queens Village and is its chairman, and Rajiv Gowda, who is the president, is a citywide organization that hopes to educate people of South Asian descent on the U.S. political process.
“This is more of an educational organization and outreach program,” said Taj Raj Kumar, who is on the board of directors and is running for the 31st Assembly District seat. “We want to unite and educate South Asians. We want to make them more politically conscious.”
The 31st AD covers the area stretching from South Jamaica to Springfield Gardens and Brookville to Laurelton.
He said the goal is to build a coalition of South Asians and educate them on American politics and the importance of their participation. One of the primary objectives is voter registration. He also said the group could help mentor candidates on campaign strategies and fund-raising.
People from the South Asian community who live and work in the United States should come together in order to move into the political mainstream, said Gowda, an engineer and labor leader who lives in Staten Island.
“We want people to participate in the political process,” he said.
Immigrants from the South Asian community in the city have been discriminated against as well as mistreated at the polls and even turned away, he said.
Some of the borough’s politicians who attended the event at Santoor Indian Restaurant in Glen Oaks were state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose), state Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D-Queens Village), City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), City Councilman Allan Jennings (D-Jamaica) and City Councilman David Weprin (D-Hollis).
“The organization was formed as a non-partisan group that does not want to create a political party,” Gowda said. “We need to work to better ourselves and help the community.”
John Albert and Kumar — both of South Asian decent — are battling for assembly seats. Albert is running in the new 22nd AD and Kumar is vying for the 31st AD.
New 22nd Assembly District covers the area centered around downtown Flushing and includes the communities of Queensboro Hill, Linden Hill and Murray Hill.
The group has about 35 members and is expanding. Even before the official formation, the South Asian & Indo-Caribbean Americans started a grassroots petition and voter registration drive.
Jennings said holding voter registration is vital for an Indo-Caribbean or South Asian candidate elected to a political office.
“We come from a different part of the world, but our first loyalty should be to America,” Gowda said. “It is our adopted motherland, and we should participate in the political process.”
Reach reporter Adam Kramer by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 157.
