Nikki Haley was born Nimrata Randhawa in Bamberg, South Carolina, on January 20, 1972, to an Indian Sikh family. The Indian origin Nikki has made the Indian Americans to celebrate. The Republican President elect Donald Trump has picked her for the prestigious US envoy to the UN. This has not only made the Indian Americans to rejoice, but also all the Indians.
Shalabh ‘Shalli’ Kumar, the Chicago-based Indian-American businessman and founder of Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) has supported US President-Elect Donald Trump. The first election campaign of South Carolina governor Nikki Haley was an opportunity for Kumar to move back into public life and politics after 1986.
“Her father Ajit Singh Randhawa approached me in the summer of 2010 to support his daughter’s campaign to run for governor of South Carolina,” recalls Kumar.
“There were many high-profile contenders for the UN ambassador’s position but it is significant that Trump chose Haley, despite her having spoken against him in the past,” Kumar said.
“We have had a long-term relationship with Governor Haley right from when she was a member of the state senate in South Carolina and later when she ran for governor and during her two terms,” says Sanjay Puri, the chairman of USINPAC.
“She has already shown us that you can be an Indian American in the Deep South and still rise through hard work,” he added.
“She was not a supporter of Trump. However, he didn’t let that come in the way of appointing her. This is also a good indication of what would be the Trump presidency — working with and for all Americans, identifying and rewarding talent, equal opportunity for everyone without considering gender, ethnicity or even political affiliations,” Avinash Iragavarapu, the executive director of the Arizona Republican Party, who managed data and analytics for Trump’s election campaign said.
“Governor Haley has a proven track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation to move critical policies forward for the betterment of her state and our country,” Trump remarks. “She is also a proven dealmaker and we look to be making plenty of deals. She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage”.
‘We are just happy to have her here for her advice and her counsel and hearing about the great success story that is South Carolina under her leadership’ said Conway. This confirms the faith of Republicans on what she brings to the table and their confidence in her leadership. The Indian Americans too have great expectations from Trump. Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, Republican National Committee’s National Committeewoman said that “As a diverse community with energy and a desire to succeed and excel in this great nation we call home, Indian Americans can expect the new President to focus on lowering regulatory burdens, reducing taxes on individuals and corporations, focusing on jobs and growth for US before other countries, enforce the laws of the US, including its immigration laws and keep our nation safe from harm”.
By Premji
