Indian Americans in New Jersey meet US Senate candidate Andy Kim at fundraiser

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Congressman Andy Kim, D-NJ, made a strong plea for support from the Indian American community at a fundraiser held Oct. 23, 2024, in Somerset, NJ.

The event organized by the Somerset County Democrats chair for Asian Americans, Rajiv Prasad, and was held at the Marigold Banquet Hall. Prasad told News India Times $27,000 was raised at the event, plus another $4,000 in kind, to help the aspiring Senator in the last leg of his campaign to become the first Korean American in the upper house on Capitol Hill.

Among the speakers and high profile attendees at the gathering were Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, H.R. Shah, chairman of TV Asia, Rajiv Prasad, Asian American chair for Somerset County Democrats, Nidhi Makhija, New Jersey Democrats Chairwoman for South Asians, and other leaders. Rep. Kim was presented with an idol of Lord Ganesh seen as the remover of obstacles, at the event. Prasad introduced Kim to the audience.

Rep. Kim emphasized he wanted to be the voice of all the diverse communities living in New Jersey, and was running for the future of his children and the children of all those present; that he loved his country, and he wanted to serve it to the best of his abilities. “I am sick of being underestimated, being marginalized, as if I can only appeal to people who look like me, or people who have family ancestry from the Indo-Pacific,” he asserted, noting that he was proud that a South Asian Black woman (Kamala Harris) was at the top of the ticket. But he said, he was not in the race merely to break barriers. “I will work for and yearn for the day when Iam no longer unique. Where what I do is normal; when we can be seen as doing just what others do – serving this country.”

His parents did not bring him up to stand before a crowd and ask for resources, he said. But, “This is not about me, its about our country, its democracy,” and he wants to get rid of the divisiveness and hate.

Dr. Parikh said his own goal in life has been to encourage the younger generation to get into politics, evident from the organization that he helped start, the Indian American Forum for Political Education. “Today I see that our Congressman, who is a great educator, who is a diplomat and worked in Afghanistan in the State Department. Also, he is a real American success story—Now he is running for the Senate. And I’m sure he will be our next Senator,” Dr. Parikh said, assuring Kim of his personal support and that of Indian American physicians that he represents, as well as of the media outlets he heads.

H.R. Shah, chairman of ITV Gold also extended his support. “He can win, and he is going to win,” Shah said.

In an interview later with ITV Gold’s Piya Jyoti Kachroo, Kim said his top priorities if elected to the Senate would be attending to the high cost of living, housing, health care, and infrastructure, as well as investing in small business.  Plus, he would work to end the divisiveness and vitriol that was becoming pervasive. He emphasized his support for reproductive right in no uncertain terms. He said he wants to be the voice for all the immigrant communities in his state, and that they should feel they can talk to him.  “I really do love this country,” he said calling it an honor to serve, and what drives him is “deep love and patriotism.”

He urged everyone to get out and vote. “It means a lot. Voting is our equalizer- I have, and you have, the same right as a billionaire.”