American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin fully represented in Nation’s Capital

Published

2 years ago

May 4, 2017

David Barclay

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi speaking at a reception hosted by the Embassy of India for American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin members on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin flexed the full weight of its influence in the nation’s capital Wednesday, presenting its legislative priorities before more than 30 members of Congress from both parties.

With nearly 100 AAPI members on hand from across the country to participate in the organization’s Legislative Day, held at the Rayburn House Office Building, a multitude of matters were discussed, including green cards, immigration and the recent spike in targeted attacks against Indian Americans across the U.S.

The organization, which represents more than 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, said that more than two-dozen members of Congress were also on hand, and all were very receptive. AAPI president Ajay K. Lodha said the lawmakers were presented with an official list of the group’s legislative priorities at the meeting.

“One of the main points in the white paper was increasing residency slots,” he told The American Bazaar. “There is a shortage of doctors here in this country, and by increasing the residency slots, that can be addressed.”

The long wait for green cards for the AAPI members currently in the U.S. on H-1B visas was also a topic of conversation. “Some of these doctors have to wait for 15 to 16 years,” said Lodha, a primary care physician based in New York.

All four Indian American representatives — Rep. Ami Bera, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Rep. Pramila Jayapal — attended the event. Other political heavyweights such as Ed Royce, Tulsi Gabbard and Joe Crowley were also in attendance.

In a Shakespearean twist, the event was held in the backdrop of a major Republican-led effort to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Gautam Samadder, who is next in line to become the AAPI’s president, hailed the event as one of the best-attended legislative day events in the history of the organization. “Our issues are not the same as they were when AAPI was formed,” he said. “Back then we were all mostly first generation Americans. Discrimination was one of our biggest issues. Now we have a significant percent of our membership that is from the second generation. We have a lot more issues before us.”

Later in the evening, Indian Deputy Chief of Mission Reenat Sandhu hosted a reception for AAPI members at the embassy of India in Washington, DC.

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Indian PM Modi to address the United Nations in September

Published

2 weeks ago

August 2, 2019

Staff Reporter

NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) session on September 28th. He is also expected to attend a multitude of high-level summits while in New York. He will also speak at a diaspora event in Houston on September 22nd.

India and the U.S. are “very close” to resolving all their trade-related differences, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal planning to meet the U.S. Trade Representative in the next month.

India is the only major Asian economy that’s grown its export share since the start of the tariff wars in 2018. It’s also the one with the fewest trade links to China.

As opioid epidemic spreads globally, the Savera Medical Centre in Edmonton, Canada is perhaps the first clinic to focus on treating South Asians affected by opioids.

And in a story but you’ve got to see to believe, there were more than students attending class at IIT Bombay. This cow wanted to in on some of the technical training.

Ravi Kapur contributed to this report.

Featured

Happy Independence Day

Published

1 month ago

July 3, 2019

Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Communities around the nation are gathering to take in firework spectacles to commemorate America’s independence this fourth of July. The biggest celebration of them all will take in Washington DC, where with much controversy, U.S. Army tanks and other military hardware will be incorporated at the behest of President Trump.

Protests were held in various parts of India following the lynching of a Muslim man suspected of stealing a motorcycle by a Hindu mob in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand. The beating went on for more than 12 hours, with the crowd forcing him to chant praises to Hindu gods.

Every year, a mysterious disease lingers around the eastern Indian city of Muzaffarpur, killing poor children under the age of 10 seemingly at random. Researchers continue to be baffled by it.

Cable channel Bravo has greenlighted ‘Indian-ish’, which they say will be a comedic docuseries, following families from India who have relocated to America.

And there’s a new wax statue of actress Priyanka Chopra getting attention, styled to match her appearance at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards.

Ravi Kapur contributed to this report.

Featured

US calls out China for protecting Masood Azhar

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo strongly criticized China for “shameful hypocrisy toward Muslims,’’

Published

5 months ago

March 28, 2019

Kenneth High

SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo strongly criticized China for “shameful hypocrisy toward Muslims,’’ referencing China’s treatment of Muslims within its borders, while blocking India’s proposal at the UN to sanction Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar over the Pulwama attack.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai is making the rounds in Washington meeting political leaders that include Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Harsh Shringla and President Trump. The President tweeted Pichai told him Google is totally committed to the US military, days after he accused the tech giant of helping China and its army. Trump added the meeting went well, and the two discussed everything from political fairness to things Google can do for the U.S.

In San Jose, Dr. Venkat Aachi pleaded guilty to health care fraud and for distributing opioids outside of his medical practice. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines in excess of $1,000,000.

A new $20 million charter high school named after cardiologist and philanthropist Dr. Kiran C. Patel will open this August in a Tampa Bay suburb. It will start with 300 students in 9th and 10 and offer a project-based curriculum. Enrollment is being done by lottery.

Ravi Kapur & Alejandro Quintana contributed to this report.