Nearly 2 million Indian-Americans can make difference in tightly contested states

NEW DELHI /NEW YORK (TIP): Joe Biden, Democratic Party’s nominee for the US presidential elections, did not touch on India during the two debates with contender and President Donald Trump.

But in an op-ed written for the influential India West media group, Biden wrote on why he is confident of the Indian-American vote going towards him.

With Trump’s “Indian air is filthy’’ comment still reverberating, Biden contrasted his “long-lasting’’ ties with the Indian-American community as opposed to the US President’s transactional nature.

“And as we value the Indian-American diaspora, we’ll continue to value the US-India relationship. For Donald Trump, it’s photo-ops. For me, it’s getting things done,” he said in a reference to Trump’s two stadium addresses with PM Modi.

The Indian-American electorate of nearly 2 million  can make the difference in tightly contested states such as North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia and Texas.

“This lasting relationship continues on this campaign, including at the top with Kamala Harris as the Vice-Presidential nominee,’’ wrote Biden while pointing out that one of the last events he hosted at the Vice President’s residence was a Diwali reception.

“But the truth is, President Trump doesn’t share our values. As a result, today’s America doesn’t feel like the America of our dreams.’’

Biden’s observations on affordable health care and home, free education and restoring H-1B visas would be words of comfort for the largely middle class Indian-Americans seeking stability. In contrast, Trump has asked the Supreme Court to wipe out the Affordable Care Act in its entirety, clamped down on legal immigration and is opposed to free education, wrote the former US Vice President.

“It’s likely you and your family have been caught in the middle of Trump’s crackdown of legal immigration and his decisions on the H-1B visa program. And his dangerous rhetoric about immigrants has even fueled hate crimes against Indian Americans,’’ wrote Biden.

On education, he promised free college tuition for families making less than $ 125,000 a year and help Indian American families through a first-time home buyer’s credit worth up to $15,000.

Biden also sought to address India’s concerns regarding terrorism and China by promising to work  with New Delhi to promote regional peace and stability where “neither China nor any other country threatens its neighbors.’’

“We’ll open markets and grow the middle class in both the US and India,’’ he also assured.

(Source: The Tribune, India)