Indian Americans are overwhelmingly with the Democratic Party in the U.S, but a handful of them are gradually rising into leadership positions in the Republican Party. Not only that the rise of Donald Trump on an anti-immigration platform does not threaten these leaders, they even think that Mr. Trump’s message of strict border control and maintenance of law and order are relevant for India.
On Friday, San Francisco-based attorney Harmeet K. Dhillon became the first Indian American to be on the 168-member Republican National Committee (RNC). Ms. Dhillon, a Chandigarh-born Sikh, recited Ardas at the party convention on the evening it nominated Mr. Trump as the presidential candidate. Ms. Dhillon says it is the party’s principles of individual responsibility and economic liberalism that bind her to it. “My experience proves that there is zero entry barrier,” Ms. Dhillon, who started at the county level and gradually rose to the RNC, says. She volunteered for voter registration and fund raising, and became the party’s county chair first. In 2013, overcoming a highly racist and hostile campaign, Ms. Dhillon became the vice chair of the party in California – a position that has been held only by a white male till then. Indian political activism is mostly limited to fundraising events and taking pictures with leaders, but nothing can match grassroots activism, says Ms. Dhillon. “If Indian Americans want to a play a meaningful role in U.S politics, they must mobilise people. Writing cheques will not take them to leadership positions,” she says.
Sue Ghosh Stricklett, a sixth generation lawyer whose parents came from India, put together the Trump organisation in the state of Maryland. She has been a Republican for years, and worked with the Mitt Romney campaign in 2012. When most established leaders stayed away from the party as Mr. Trump was emerging the nominee, Ms. Ghosh got into action. The Trump campaign entrusted her with the selection of delegates to the party convention and all Maryland delegates at the RNC this year were handpicked by Ms. Ghosh, who thinks “Indian American support for the party is growing exponentially over the last decade.” Ms. Ghosh, who also dabbles in strategic affairs given her expertise in international law, says Mr. Trump’s ideas are valid for India too. “Without border control and identifying who the legitimate citizens are, there is no country. There is no country if the country cannot exercise sovereign rights and rule of law,” she says. “India has been generous to refugees and it has more Muslims, Buddhists and Christian than it had in 1947. It is good to accept refugees, but what we must also realise is that mixing with the refugees are also people who have every intention of doing harm,” says Ms. Ghosh. Mr. Trump’s focus on crony capitalism and government corruption also are matters of concern to India and Indians she feels. “These issues are resonating with Indian Americans and Mr. Trump will get unprecedented support from them.”
Contrary to popular belief, white Christian conservatives are favourably disposed towards Indian political participation in America, says Shekhar Tiwari, an RSS activist, who was an early advocate of increased involvement with the Republican Party. “Hard word, honesty and family values are commons between conservatives and Indians,” he says. “It is not an accident that some of the most conservative states elected governors who are of Indian descent.”
Raju Chinthala, who was health policy adviser to vice presidential candidate Mike Pence when he ran for governor in Indiana, agrees. Mr. Chinthala was a delegate at the convention. Last year, Mr. Pence – who introduced himself at the convention as a “Christian, conservative and Republican in that order” -- became the first governor to attend the Indian community’s Diwali event. “Mr. Pence has attended several Indian community events. He also hosted a ministerial delegation from Telangana recently. Mr. Pence was also planning a trip to India but now he may go as vice president,” said Mr. Chinthala.
