Asian American Republican Coalition makes case for supporting Trump

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Several leading Indian American Republicans encouraged the community to come forward in support of Donald Trump’s candidacy for President because its values and beliefs were closer to that of the GOP.

At a meeting hosted by the Asian American Republican Coalition, (AARC), April 8, 2024, at the ITV Gold auditorium in Edison, NJ, three main speakers and founders of the AARC addressed the gathering – Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media, Sridhar Chillar, and Hemant Bhat. The event was emceed by Sanjiv Pandya.

Dr. Parikh recounted his life-long support and engagement with the Republican Party over many decades, especially since the 1992 administration of President George H.W. Bush, when he and few other Indian American Republicans raised $4 million for the campaign.

“This was when our community was very small, and not doing very well that time, economically speaking, but we did that because we believed in this philosophy,” Dr. Parikh said. To get a piece of the American pie it was important to “be very active” in mainstream politics, no matter which side, he noted. Speaking about his support for Republicans, he said, the reasons were – the GOP’s ethic of hard work, following conservative social and family values, and being entrepreneurial at the same time. Republicans, he said, have a strong pro-business philosophy.  “We like to become our own boss; we like to educate our children, and make them more successful than we are. … I think our Indian American philosophy is much more closer to the Republican philosophy than the Democrats’ philosophy,” Dr. Parikh said. Add to that, “As America, we are a Super Power. We have to stay a Super Power. So always, we need a President who is very strong, very firm, who can stand up to any bully. Only the Republican Party, in my opinion, can stand up to Russia, China, or any other country adverse to our Western culture and our Western economy.”

Moreover, he contended, “We all came as legal immigrants, and we are for immigration, but we don’t want illegal immigration.” In addition, while Indian Americans want to help the poor, and less privileged, “we do not like to give away without qualifications – (for anyone) to get used to subsidies from government.”

He also said that in his 50 years of observation, “The Republican Party is more pro-India than the Democratic Party. And it’s proven that Donald J. Trump would be pro-India, and that is good for the Motherland, and for us,” Dr. Parikh said.

Hemant Bhat, one of the founders of AARC, in his speech, spoke of bringing the community from all regions of US to the Republican fold. He said America has been going through a number of crises, “And today’s America is not like what we used to see earlier. There are darkened clouds all over.” He referred to a sense of fear for safety among residents; rising prices, cost of living increase, inflation, and “America has no border.”

Bhat contended that life was different even just four years ago during the Trump administration, when “There was safety, the stock market was booming, and America was considered a leader.”

President Trump, he noted, went to meet the North Korean dictator, America “was able to take on China” and “America was considered a Super Power.”

Sridhar Chillara said the voting patterns showed how even a small percentage of the population like Indian Americans, could influence the national vote and decide who would go to the White House in the coming elections. “Asians make up approximately 25 million. Why can’t we all come together? Even if just 10 percent of us, just 2.5 million, come together, we can decide who will be the president. Such a power we have.”

In order to make that happen, large percentages of Asians have to be convinced about the Republican Party, and educated about the values it represents, Chillara said. Today, many in the community are not afraid to say they are Republican, he noted.. He also echoed the views of Dr. Parikh and Bhat, about how Indians have been coming to America through legal processes.

“We understand the merit-based immigration system. The other party is not supporting that. They want all from the southern border to come and get their citizenship. Is it fair? Is it fair?” Bhat questioned.

A Q-and-A session followed the speeches.