Dr Romesh Japra, Ashok & Neena Kapoor Dharminder Dewan, Manorma Joshi & Kamaml Sahni
FREMONT: Young and energetic, he was seen walking and talking in and out of Japra Mahal. Clean and clear, he was found chatting and sharing his ideas about governance in India. Who was he?
He was Piyush Goyal, owner of charismatic personality, member of Rajya Sabha and National Treasurer of Bharatiya Janata Party. He is a chartered accountant by profession and was elected to Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra.
Piyush Goyal was here for a day to attend India Conference 2013 on Indian Economic Policy Reform at Stanford University organized by Stanford Center for International Development, where they were reviewing economic performance of Indian States. In the conference there were Rajya Sabha members from the States of Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Gujarat and Punjab.
Piyush Goyal was one of the panelists in the Panel on Governance and Economic Growth in India’s States. He talked about the State of Gujarat. The name given to this presentation was “The Remarkable Story of Gujarat” This report shows how Gujarat has come a long way since 2001 under the visionary leadership of Narendra Modi. It talks about his achievements since 2001 till present in the field of power, agriculture and overall infrastructure. It tells about the success story of Narendra Modi in his state which spreads into six case studies in the field of Power, Agriculture & Water, Infrastructure, Industry and Investment, Women’s Empowerment and Health Care.
Later in the evening he attended a Dinner meeting at Dr Romesh Japra’s residence with FIA Board, OFBJP executives and some prominent community leaders of Bay Area.
He was escorted by Sajni and Chandru Bhambhra, Past National President of OFBJP (USA) at Dr Romesh Japra’s house. He was welcomed by Sunita and Dr. Romesh Japra, Chairman FIA, Nandini and Rajesh Verma, President, FIA, Neena and Ashok Kapoor, Jerry Ahuja, Kamal Mirchandani, Yogi Chugh, Dharminder Dewan, Manorama Joshi, Uma and Kamal Sahni, Ujjwala and Prakash Gadgil, and many others.
Dr Romesh Japra welcomed him on behalf of FIA and gave a brief account of the activities they are doing. He said, “We are holding high the banner of FIA along with the Tricolor Flag of India and celebrate the Republic Day and Independence Day not only as India is celebrating but much better than that.
“We celebrate Indian culture, Indian dresses, Indian food and on top of all, the Indian mood. More than 100,000 people gather on these events to celebrate India and its culture and to keep alive the Indianness here in US (Saat Samundar Paar). This year we are going to celebrate the Festival of India on the lines of Gadar Movement along with the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.”
Dr. Japra also mentioned about the young generation who was born and brought up here. He said people used to call them ABCD, American Born Confused Desis but now things have changed altogether. They are still ABCD, but American Born Confident Desis.
Dr Japra invited Piyush Goyal on the stage with the welcome applause by the audience. Then he introduced Chandru Bhambhra and asked him to introduce Piyush Goyal. Chandru Bhambhra introduced Piyush Goyal as a very old family friend from Mumbai and said that Piyush had a very bright academic record both as a CPA and a law graduate.
Piyush Goyal thanked Dr Romesh Japra and Rajesh Verma for carrying out the responsibilities of an Indian High Commissioner and keeping alive the Indianness here so far from our native land. In his brief address, he invited NRIs to actively participate in India’s development.
He said that the young Indians all over world had enhanced the image of India with their commanding position in software and latest knowhow in other relative fields. No longer people around the world think of India as feeble and fragile.
“It is stout and sturdy now just because of you guys who are sitting so far from the native land and taking care so much of its issues. In the same manner I want you people to become catalysts and come over to bring a much awaited change in the system for which Narendra Modi is already working and to some extent he has achieved the desired results.
We still have to bring the changes at the grassroot level of basic amenities at national level on the lines of Gujarat. You are here in a developed nation and know better what changes are needed in the beginning.”
Piyush Goyal invited the audience to ask him questions and the audience reciprocated in a very lively manner. They asked him several interesting questions and the most prominent among them was on the subject of women’s safety in India and the justice system.
Sunita Japra asked him about rape cases and what actions have been taken so far against those who had done the heinous crime? She said, “We are more concerned about the role of your party as to what actions you and your party have taken or what suggestions you have on that.”
Piyush Goyal said nothing has been done so far in the absence of proper witnesses because court wants concrete proof and witnesses to reach any judgment. “It is not the question of my party or any other party, whosoever is in the power they have to face this problem.
The society has to stand strong against such crimes. Somebody has to come forward and point the finger out at the culprits. Lack of proof creates delays and injustice.”
He said, “It is not that we are heartless people in power or in opposition. We also have the same heart as you have which beats the same way as yours but we are tied up with the law. As I have mentioned that in the absence of witnesses, the system is handicapped.
In response Sunita Japra said, “How do these people dare to do this kind of atrocities against society? Why do they not have the fear of police? The policing should be such that nobody could dare to move an inch against the law as well as against a woman, who has the so-called privileged place in our society. The people who are in power they must put their feet in the shoe of the shattered family and realize their plight.”
Goyal assured that his party has given some plans regarding this and very soon some concrete law will be introduced and admitted that policing needs to be improved considerably.
The audience got so much involved in the Q&A session that they almost forgot about the Dinner! Then Dr Japra took over and thanked Piyush Goyal and assured the audience that things will change after young people like him come to politics. He said, “I am confident that things will change on the lines of Gujarat, on the lines of Narendra Modi’s action plan.”
Before announcing the Dinner, Piyush Goyal was presented with a Plaque by FIA President Rajesh Verma and FIA Chairman Dr. Romesh Japra. He was also felicitated with a shawl on behalf of OFBJP by Sunita Japra, Sajni Bhambhra and Nandini Verma.
Rakesh Kapoor
India Post News Service
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