NEW YORK (TIP): ‘Kerala is the real model for inclusive development and governance that has applied the philosophy of Congress party of uplifting the poor and aiding the minorities and the backward sections of the society thereby achieving the highest rank as the most developed state in India based on the United Nations Human Development Index’ said K.C. Joseph, Minister for Non- Resident Keralites Affairs and Rural development. Joseph was addressing a meeting organized by the Kerala Chapter of Indian National Overseas Congress (I), at Charis Center, in Floral Park, New York. ‘For those who are asking what Congress has done in the last 60years ought to go back and revisit the pre-independent India’ he challenged.

‘Congress party had not only led the country to its independence, but also led the green revolution and the IT revolution that catapulted the nation to become the 5th largest economy in the world. People tend to have short memories and the debacle in the last election might have been due to a critical ‘message gap’ across the voting population, primarily the young ones, that was clearly exploited by the opposition’ he added. He also assured the gathering of giving prompt attention to the Pravasee issues and promised full cooperation from the Kerala Government in that regard.

George Abraham, the Chairman of INOC (I), presiding over the meeting lauded the minister for his 4 decades of selfless service to the people of Kerala and the non-resident Keralites in particular. ‘Mr. Joseph is truly a man of integrity and honor and someone who has an unblemished record in public life and someone we could all be truly proud of” Abraham added. President Juned Qazi thanked Kerala for being a stronghold for the Congress Party and thanked the minister for his efforts on behalf of the non-Keralites across the globe. He also congratulated the new team of leadership for the Kerala Chapter consisting of Thomas T. Oommen as the Chairman and R. Jayachandran as the President. Mr. Harbachan Singh, the General Secretary spoke of the activities of INOC (I), in US over the years and urged the Minister to strengthen the ties with the organization at the state level. He emphasized the formidable strength of the NRIs and how it could fuel the mutual benefit of the Indians in India and USA. Jaychandran in his address urged the Congress loyalists to stay focused in these difficult times for the party and promised to work hard to promote a truly democratic and pluralistic India while strengthening the bond between our two countries.

A number of guest speakers also spoke on the occasion that included Swami Guru Ratnam Thapasi of Santhigiri, Kottayam DCC President Tomy Kallani, K.A. Francis of Manorama, P.T. Chacko, the press secretary of the Chief Minister of Kerala and Advocate Bino George. INOC (I) National and State leaders also spoke passionately at the session that included Zach Thomas, Jose Charummood, U.A. Naseer, Jose Thekkedom, Leela Maret, Balachandra Panickar, Varghese Thekkekara, Jaison Alex and Guru Dilip ji, Jose Kanatt and many others. They thanked the Minister for the assurance that he would attempt to strengthen the bond of cooperation and understanding between Indians in India and USA. Thomas T. Oommen, the Chairman of Kerala chapter was the Emcee and Jose Charummood expressed the vote of thanks.