COLUMBIA, SC: Nikki Randhawa Haley, the first female Governor of South Carolina, has called for closer economic and trade relations between her State and India creating more opportunities in the areas of manufacturing, service and infrastructure sectors
Nikki Haley was talking to a delegation of her supporters from Dallas led by Dr Prasad Thotukara that had specially come to attend her swearing in ceremony held on Wednesday January 14 in Columbia after she got re-elected, winning the elections by a record margin. She was sworn in as the 116th Governor of South Carolina.
Nikki (Namrata) Randhawa Haley is the daughter of Indian immigrants and hence it was a proud moment for the entire Indian American community as it is slowly marking its presence in mainstream politics.
The election results indicated that it was the largest margin of victory for a South Carolina gubernatorial candidate in 24 years. To her credit she is the first minority governor in South Carolina history and currently the youngest Governor in the country.
Nikki Randhawa had recently been to India on a ten-day trip covering the length of the huge country, from Bangalore in the south to Mumbai, which has led India’s emergence as an economic powerhouse in the 21st century, to Punjab in the north, the heartland of her parents’ Sikh religion. Governor Haley also observed that she and her team were highly appreciative of the welcome extended to them by the Indian Government.
Dr. Prasad Thotakura, Chairman of the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC) and a team of her supporters were specially invited by Governor Haley to attend her swearing-in ceremonies.
Dr Prasad led a delegation of more than 15 people from Dallas for this historic occasion. The team included IAFC Board of Directors and supporters: Murali Vennam, Ramki Chebrolu, Arun Agarwal, Anya Agarwal, Suresh Vuluvala, Grace Suresh, Dr Rajesh Adusumilli, Vijay Krishna Pilla, Sanjay Anand, Avita Anand, Anisha Anand, Amitabh Ghosh among others.
Governor Haley conveyed her special appreciation and thanks to the Dallas team for its unwavering support for the past several years and hosted a special breakfast at Governor’s Mansion on Thursday, January 15th for the IAFC team. She took the opportunity of introducing members of her family to the Dallas team.
Dr Prasad Thotakura extended an invitation to Governor Haley to visit Dallas and see the newly built Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza. Governor Haley, who had attended as the Chief Guest of Honor at the ground breaking ceremonies of the same project last year, readily accepted the invitation.
Under Governor Haley’s leadership, during her first term, South Carolina’s jobless rate hit record lows. The state has announced more than 58,000 jobs and more than 25,000 South Carolinians moved from welfare to work, and the state made its largest infrastructure investment in a generation without raising taxes.
Governor Haley is one of the current rising political stars in US politics and is expected to be a Vice-Presidential candidate in US Presidential elections to be held in 2016. Governor Haley and her husband Michael, who is a Captain in the Army National Guard, have two children, Rena 16, and Nalin 13.
India Post News Service
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