Friends of BJP – Indian Diaspora USA

Virendra Singh is an IT Professional working with IBM USA for 9 yrs.  Virendra Singh always believed in working with people and giving back to society.  He runs “Indian American Asociation” based in Michigan, USA. It is an organization to bring Indian American community together for community building, serve or advocate for disadvantaged people and increase public awareness of political activities. Virendra organised a Friends of BJP event at his home in Michigan, USA. Here is his report - and his future plans.

A meeting was organized for “Friends of BJP” at my residence in Michigan. The attendance was very encouraging. 23 families (47 participants) participated in the “Friends of BJP - Indian Diaspora USA”. A core team of 8 active participants, who share the same passion for the country, has been formed. It was felt that it is absolutely essential to bring a core group of people together who share the same passion, before addressing a bigger crowd.  We had talked in the past on multiple occasions about doing something for the country especially after events like Mumbai attack on 26/11 which made us feel helpless. I think we were missing the platform to make our voice heard.  “Friends of BJP” has given this opportunity, and we already feel as a part of the movement. I sincerely thank my brother RP for introducing me to Friends of BJP during my recent visit to India, and especially to founding members Rajesh Jain and Amit Malviya.

The movement has started and we are here to stay.

We talked about national issues [Development, National Security, Concerns regarding Terrorism, Unicode, Vote bank politics, Illegal immigration]; and apathy of middle India; and how we can make a difference by just encouraging people to exercise their franchise, at the least.

Objective of the meeting:

  1. GO TO VOTE
  2. VOTE for a NATIONAL PARTY

What would be the efficient medium to achieve these Objectives and How:

  • Personal calls
  • Blogs
  • Social networking and internet networking sites
  • Email campaign
  • Reach as many people as you can, every VOTE counts.
  • Advertise on popular sites

Next steps -

  • We will keep reminding people 2-3 times a week.
  • Get them registered to on Friends of BJP site
  • Email campaign
  • Blog and write on internet
  • Distribute pamphlets of “Friends of BJP” to university campus, Indian stores and apartment complexes. The content of the pamphlets is:
    • “Please request your loved ones to “GO AND VOTE” for India Election 2009
    • Future of the country is decided by each vote, every vote counts.
    • Trust in yourself that you can make a difference.
    • Go to www.friendsofbjp.org” and become part of the movement to change the face of India, your motherland”
  • Advertise on sites which allow it

I am trying to use my network of close friends to propagate the message to other states as well; California, New York, Texas, Boston, Chicago and New Jersey.

Feedback from the meetings is appended below:

  • Absentee Ballot
  • Eliminate criminals from political systems
  • National party should be non polarizing for the greater good
  • National party’s lack of presence or representation in some states, which allows people to go to regional candidate or party

Next planned meetings are as follows -

  • April 25 - Great Lakes Cricket Association 2.00 PM
  • May 1 -   Michigan Cricket Association 5.00 PM
  • May 2 -   Farmington Hills Public Library 11.00 AM
  • May 8 -   Ford Cricket League 9.30 AM
  • May 9 -   Drawing room meeting 6.30 PM
  • May 10 - Bharatiya Temple 10.00 AM
  • May 15 - Drawing Room meeting - 7.00 PM

All are welcome to join.

April 23, 2009 | Filed Under Activities 

Comments

14 Responses to “Friends of BJP – Indian Diaspora USA”

  1. Sharrayu Aroskar on April 23rd, 2009 2:49 pm

    Great going!

  2. Amit Bhadhuri, Ex-Officer,CISF on April 23rd, 2009 6:41 pm

    Wish you the very best luck. I live in UK and wish such a group would have been in UK too.
    Bharat desperately needs BJP to come in power to save the nation and Hindus from the onslaughts of Islamists which has been going on since 711 AD and the pseudo-secularists from Nehru’s time.

  3. Krishna Tarway on April 23rd, 2009 7:56 pm

    ध्यान दे बीजेपी !

    1)मीडिया के मोर्चे पर बीजेपी असफल साबित हो रही है .
    2)मीडिया में बीजेपी के बहुत ही कम विज्ञापन हैं .
    3)अपने पक्ष में हवा बनाने में मीडिया का इस्तमाल बीजेपी नहीं कर पाई है .
    4)फायर ब्रांड नेता उमा भारती और साध्वी ऋतंभरा से बीजेपी का प्रचार करवाना चाहिए .

  4. Bhavananda on April 24th, 2009 11:46 pm

    Is there a way to find out all the FoBJP chapters across different states in USA?

  5. Murugan on April 25th, 2009 4:58 pm

    Virendra SinghJi we are based in Columbus,Oh .Is it possible to create chapter in Columbus,OH too..I wish more chapters in US (which in turn can help Indian chapters)

  6. skg on April 25th, 2009 11:06 pm

    Guys, do they have any such get together in Los Angeles area. I would love to participate in them and show my support to BJP.

  7. Virendra Singh on April 26th, 2009 6:33 am

    Hi Murugan/SKG - I am already talking to a few people in other states to get the effort expanded. My immdediate focus and energy for now is to spread the word of “GO TO VOTE”; it is the primary goal; I will appreciate if you can take the initiative in your group and network. We can certainly discuss how to expand it to various states and become a common front/voice. I sincerely appreciate your interest.

  8. UNNIKRISHNAN on April 26th, 2009 11:36 am

    Dear Virendrajji,

    Great initiative..

    Wish You all the best..
    I am a swayamsevak of the RSS and State Convenor for BJP Investor Cell Kerala ..

  9. s.k.ganji on April 28th, 2009 12:12 am

    Guys, we really need every possible source to go out and vote for BJP in these elections. Congress is really playing all dirty tricks through heavy media manipulation services and getting people vote for them. We are NRIs we don’t have any way even to vote through Absentee votes or Mail in Vote facility. Media is all biased towards congress and it seems that Congress paid lot of money to the media to run a compaign against BJP.

  10. Krishna Tarway on April 28th, 2009 4:00 am

    NDTV को मोदी का ठेंगा

    हिन्दू विरोधी ,हिन्दू परंपरा विरोधी ,हिन्दू धर्म विरोधी ,हिन्दू संस्कृति विरोधी और अफज़ल गुरु जैसे देश के गद्दारों का हिमायती और देश भक्त साध्वी प्रज्ञा को सजा देने की वकालत करने वाला न्यूज़ चेंनेल एन डी टी वी को मोदी ने अपने एक इंटरव्यू में आखिरकार ठेंगा दिखा ही दिया .हिन्दू विरोधी एक विवादास्पद सवाल के पूछे जाने पर ,मोदी ने चुप्पी साध ली .और उस चुप्पी के जरिये देश के दर्शकों को यह संकेत तो कर ही दिया कि एन डी टी वी न्यूज़ चैनल हिन्दुओं का सबसे बड़ा दुश्मन है .

  11. Krishna Tarway on April 28th, 2009 12:23 pm

    चमचागिरी चालू आहे ! ! !

    ठीक election के तीन दिन पहले मीडिया ने अपना चरित्र दिखाना शुरू कर दिया है . उसने फिर शुरू कर दी है कांग्रेस की चमचागिरी .सभी न्यूज़ चैनलों में SRP यानि सोनिया राहुल प्रियंका की पब्लिसिटी चालू है .इस SRP के इंटरव्यू ,जनसभाएं ,रोड शो सब दिखाए जा रहे हैं .ऐसा लगता है लोकतंत्र के इस महापर्व में अकेली कांग्रेस ही ऐसी पार्टी है जो चुनाव लड़ रही है .और बाकि कोई दूसरा दल इस चुनावी अखाडे में है ही नहीं .हद हो गयी चमचागिरी की ! पहले के दो phase के चुनाव में भी मीडिया इस तरह का कमाल दिखा चुकी है . उसने कांग्रेस की चमचागिरी फिर इस third phase के चुनाव में चालू कर दी है .मीडिया की इस तरह की हरक़त लोकतंत्र का सीधे–सीधे अपमान है .

  12. Rohan Shirwaikar on April 29th, 2009 12:58 am

    Hi,

    I would like to contribute to the Friends of BJP in New Jersey. Is there someone I could contact?

    Thanks,
    Rohan

  13. Gitika on April 29th, 2009 6:28 am

    Great initiative Virendra Ji.
    We can also use Orkut, Facebook, and other social networking sites to spread our message. I have asked my friends to vote and also to convince at least 10 other people to vote (at least vote!!).If educated people go out and vote I think better will be the chances of BJP.

    Also my suggestion to BJP campaigners More talks about development less about religion would work better.I’m an ardent supporter of BJP but when it’s leader start talking about Temple and all I feel disappointed.I feel this issue repulsive at this time.It’s definitely important but at this time there are much more important issues like education, development and security .
    Please remember “Bhhokhe pet bhajan is not possible”.

  14. Bappa Chowdhury on May 3rd, 2009 6:34 am

    I see a huge gap in the Indian media scene - I am talking about a birth of a media company that is more aligned to the thoughts prevalent in BJP’s thinking and all of them great fundamental concepts that can only move India to greateness -
    (1) Making India Secure based on going after organizations that are weakening India’s security - Islamic Terrorism from across the border and within, Naxalites, North East splinter groups.
    (2) Transparency of Government actions (through eGovernance)- where feasible - especially related to public projects.
    (3) Financial policies should promote lower taxes (personal and corporate) and encourage entrepreneurship.
    (4) Strict collection of taxes - all black money should be brought in from overseas and make sure it does not happen again - with very strict laws.
    (5) Infrastructure projects - like linking India through good and safe roads that allows free transfer of goods and people; linking of rivers; Power and Clean Water projects.
    (6) Cleaning of Ganges and other rivers - enough said, needs to happen and resources put to maintain the cleanliness once achieved.
    (7) Disinvestment of Public Sector companies which Shri Arun Shourie was doing so skillfully and everything stopped with this worthless UPA government - Government should not be in the business of running companies - there are very few exceptions to that rule.
    (8) Promotion manufacturing Industries and improvement of Agricultural yields through better processes, management and Irrigation.
    (9) Reservations should be based on means and nothing else - again enough said - we cannot allow divisive policies like current reservation that divides the country based on caste, creed and religion.
    (10) Health and Schools - This being a state subject - influence of the center can be limited but guideliness can be pushed and states encouraged to improve the Health care facilities and Schools - laws and funding needed here.
    (11) Stop of the flow of Illegal immigration - sealing of Borders, resources put to monitor the borders better with clear laws and directives.
    (12) Uniform laws across communities
    (13) Abolition of article 370.
    (14) Promotion of Religious tourism.

    Once we get these going with all sincerity - we should then resolve the Babri Masjid issue peacefully through only dialogue.

    Then one day we can truly call - “Mera Bharat Mahan”

    One final saying that I fell in love with recently - this was given by Sri Sri Ravishankar (Art of Living Foundation) -
    “Spiritualize Politics and Securalize Religion”
    I could not have said it better and the first part of the phrase used to be our strength with Netaji, Gandhiji, Patelji, Radhakrishnan etc.

    Jai Hind.