NEW YORK(TIP): Vijay Sampla, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, who had stopped in New York City for a day, on his way back from Haiti, to India, met with a cross section of the Indian American community in New York.

The Long Island Indian American community hosted a reception for the visiting minister, as did FIA which hosted a lunch.

Addressing the Indian American community in Long Island, the visiting minister spoke at length about the achievements of NDA Government under the “charismatic leadership of Narendra Modi”. He said that Prime Minister Modi always has the good of the   common man in mind. He is always eager to work for empowerment of the weaker sections of society, and women.

Sampla specifically spoke about the benefits of demonetization and GST, contrary the general belief that both schemes of government have done irreparable harm to the country. He emphasized that had the policies been wrong India would not have been growing as the fastest economy in the world. He gave credit to Modi for making India a highly respectable nation in the world.

Earlier, Jagdish Sewhani, President, The American India Public Affairs Committee welcomed Mr. Sampla.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Sewhani   thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historic Ordinance on Women’s Safety. He welcomed death penalty for rape of any girl below 12 years and increasing the punishment to 20 years if a girl below 16 years is violated.

The proposed Ordinance sets a time-limit of two months for investigation and trial in rape cases to be completed and prescribes a time limit of six months for disposal of appeals in rape cases.

Jagdish Sewhani also congratulated the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ordinance to confiscate properties of fugitive economic offenders. The ordinance aims to deter economic offenders like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi from evading the process of Indian law.

Introducing Mr Vijay Sampla, Sewhani said that Mr Sampla started his journey as a Plumber in Saudi Arabia and with his hard work, honesty and integrity today, he is a Minister in Modi’s Government.

Mr. Sampla was honored with a shawl.

 At the FIA lunch, Mr.  Sampla spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream to build “New India – Clean India”, and asked for NRI community’s support in fulfilling that vision. He spoke about Disability laws and woman empowerment in India.

The minister also met with the community at Ravi Dass Temple and Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana where he was felicitated.