The New York Times recently reported that Democratic Congressman Anthony D. Weiner’s (who is running for Mayor of New York City) office has come under scrutiny for a series of suspicious mayoral campaign donations, all brokered by one Girish Soni.

Mr. Weiner collected more money orders in the last six months than any other Democratic mayoral candidate, all of them turned in by a New Jersey pharmacist, Girish Soni, who has raised thousands of dollars for Mr. Weiner’s Congressional campaigns since 1998, according to federal and city campaign finance records.

Mr. Soni gave the Weiner for New York Committee 29 money orders for $250 apiece on Nov. 24, along with two checks totaling $2,000. Each contribution was in a different name, but 25 of them included no information about the person’s profession or place of employment, as required by campaign finance laws, and several of the donors could not be located at the addresses provided.

Two people whose names appear on money orders said yesterday that they did not recall making the contributions.

Smita Parekh of Queens said she knew nothing about it and referred questions to her husband, Dilip Parekh, who expressed bewilderment at learning that he and his wife were listed as contributors to Mr. Weiner.

“I didn’t send in any money order, no sir,” Mr. Parekh said in a telephone interview from a grocery store he operates in Manhattan. “My wife works for Mr. Soni’s friend. Maybe that has something to do with it.”

Continue reading →

The US-India Public Action Committee (USINPAC) followed yesterday’s inauguration with a little reception for members of Congress that it hopes to woo toward it’s policy beliefs. How’d it go?

Newly elected Congressman Bobby Jindal (R-LA) (who, as an aside, met recently with Rumsfeld) observed, “USINPAC is a very important bridge between the US Congress and the Indian-American community. Their work on and access to the hill has had an impact on several issues that are important to the community. I look forward to working with USINPAC.”

Art Estopinan, Chief of Staff of Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), the newly elected Republican Co-Chair of the House Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, remarked “Indian-Americans have embraced the American political system and show increasing voting power and government participation, demonstrating a magnanimous affinity for public service. Such efforts cannot be overlooked.” In a letter written specially to USINPAC and its members, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen said, “I would like to thank you and commend you for your efforts. Your organization recognizes the flourishing relationship bonding our nations together. Through our united efforts, India and America can present an inspiring example of freedom and prosperity to the world, a guiding light that I feel privileged to be a part of.”

Katherine Harris (R-FL) noted, “Thank you USINPAC on performing a very important function. The Indian-American Community will benefit greatly by your work.”

Katherine Harris? I confess, the name still makes me shudder. A full description of USINPAC’s position on various issues can be found here.

Continue reading →

I had intended to write this entry at the beginning of the 109th Congress but it becomes particularly relevant in light of the reported cease-fire violation on the Indian/Pakistani border. Who are the new co-chairs of the India Caucus in Congress, and what will their priorities be? The IACFPA profiled Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Gary Ackerman (D-NY) late last year:

This will be Ackerman’s second stint at the Caucus where he served earlier between 1998 and 2000, leaving an unbeaten legacy including earlier this year when he introduced legislation requiring the CIA director to report to Congress on Pakistani proliferation activities. The measure was adopted by the full House as an amendment to the Intelligence Authorization Act. Now he expects to handle the newest White House decision to sell high tech military goodies to Islamabad.

On the other hand, less is known of initiatives, if any, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen might have taken vis-à-vis India, other than some letters castigating that country for violating the rights of its religious minorities. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen who is on the House International Relations Committee where she Chairs the Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asia, and on the House Government Reform Committee where she is on the Human Rights and Wellness Subcommittee, chaired by none other than old India-foe Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana.

Continue reading →