Singh represents the official US wing of the Congress party in India.
AB Wire
NEW YORK: The newly elected President of the Indian National Overseas Congress (I) USA (INOC) Lavika Bhagat Singh attended a baisakhi festival meet at Royal Albert’s Palace in Edison, New Jersey, on April 17.
The event was attended by approximately 500 people. Lavika Bhagat Singh, a community leader in the Washington, DC, area, had won the election after the past president of the INOC – which is the official US wing of the Congress party led by Sonia Gandhi in India – Shudh Parkash Singh, had stepped down this past February.
The election in February was held after a directive by Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman, Foreign Affairs Department, All India Congress Committee.
The meet in Edison also saw the inaugural gathering of the newly elected INOC party members.
The event started with the American and Indian national anthems and was emceed by the National General Secretary Rajender Dichpally. The Guest of Honor was former New Jersey Deputy Speaker and Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula.
Gurmeet Gill, Punjab Chapter President, hosted the event. He was assisted by Punjab Chapter members Gurdeep Singh, Mandeep Hans, Manoj Singh, Raminder Jakher, Karan Gill, Rajpal Shinda, and Papi Badesha.
INOC honored prominent community leaders Chivukula, Jasbir S., Parmjit S. Chandi, Jabber Singh Grewal, Dr. Rajinder Jinna and Harbhajan Singh.
A special recognition and award was presented to INOC past president and present chairman Shudh Parkash Singh.
Accepting the honor, Shudh Parkash Singh thanked his past team members, Kanwal Sra, Ravi Chopra, Phuman Singh, Sher Madra, Kalathil Varughese, among others, for their support in making his term memorable.
He stated that during his tenure he was able to highlight the INOC activities and its service to mainstream American leadership, including the former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Lavika Bhagat Singh in her address assured the gathering that she will take the organization to greater heights.
The Kerala Chapter was represented by community leader Kalathil Varughese and Kerala Chapter President Joby George, New York Chapter President Joy Ittan, and Pennsylvania Chapter President Kurian Rajan. Also, New York State comptroller Thomas DiNapo attended on behalf of the Kerala Chapter.
The formation of the Telangana Chapter was also initiated on this occasion under the presidency of Dr. Rajender Jinna, the former president of the American Telugu Association.
The formal event concluded with a vote of thanks by Gurvinder Talwandi, Joint Secretary, INOC and Gurmeet Singh Gill, Chairman, Disciplinary Action Committee. This was followed by colorful bhangra performances, Punjabi musical rendition by singer Gill Hardeep and his troupe, and dinner.