New York State
Senator Kevin Thomas joined US Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband,
Doug Emhoff at their Diwali celebrations on Wednesday.
“It was an honor
to celebrate Diwali with VP Kamala Harris in DC tonight. May your Diwali be
free from darkness and abundant with light. Happy Diwali!!” New York State
Senator Thomas posted on social media platform X.
Addressing the
event, Harris said the festival of Diwali is being celebrated at a time when
there is a lot happening in the world.
She said, “We
celebrate Diwali at a time when there is a lot happening in the world. And I
think it’s important that as we celebrate Diwali which is about celebrating the
light we understand, it is always the context of understanding… and there is
certainly a difficult in the dark moment we are facing… in particular the
reports coming out of Israel and Gaza and I know for all of us it’s devastating
and Heartbreaking,” according to Diya TV, America’s first South Asian TV
Network.
“President Joe
Biden and I are working to support Israel’s right to defend itself,” she stated,
adding, “It is critically important that we celebrate something like Diwali …it
is also about shedding light, and also about speaking truth.”
Indian-American
entrepreneur Ajay Jain Bhutoria was also present at the event.
Taking to X, he
posted pictures of the Diwali celebrations and said, “Honored to join VP Kamala
Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff at their Diwali celebration. In these
trying times, I extend my heartfelt wishes for peace and healing to all facing
turmoil and suffering. Let Diwali bring light and unity.”
Indian American
lawmakers, community members, influencers & public figures were also seen
at the function which demonstrates the Indian-American community’s expanding
representation and influence in American politics.
Indian Americans
are about 1 per cent of the US population and makeup 82 per cent of all
eligible voters in US – but are large enough in numbers to make a decisive
difference in certain swing States.
President Trump’s
embrace of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi fueled speculation that it could
drive many Indian American voters to the Republican Party, but data post-Biden’s
2020 win suggested the opposite.
Something that was
also seen in 2016, where 77 per cent of Indian American voters supported
Hillary Clinton and 16 per cent for Trump.
Eminent
Indian-American Ajay Jain Bhutoria had earlier said that President Biden and
Vice President Harris have been instrumental in helping millions of Americans
during the pandemic, and their vision for the future is inspiring.
“President Biden
and Vice President Harris have the experience, vision, and values that are
needed to continue to move our country forward, and I am proud to support their
re-election campaign,” said Bhutoria, a long-time supporter of Biden and a
major fundraiser for his campaign.
Diwali is the
Hindu festival of lights which symbolises the spiritual victory of light over
darkness, good over evil. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on November 12.
ANI
