November 19, 2003
Local boy makes good

Can you imagine how proud this guy's parents must be?


The United States National Republican Congressional Committee has selected Amit Pradhan, an ex-student of St Vincent’s School and Nowrosjee Wadia College, for its prestigious National Leadership award. Pradhan, who is founderpresident of the Californiabased Iopsis Software Inc. (a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Pune-based Iopsis Software), has also been appointed honorary chairman of the Business Advisory Council (BAC) of the US National Republican Congressional Committee.

The young Pune lad, who is being assisted by his elder brother Rajesh (30) in leading a 10-member team in the US, will now interact with US Congressmen in recommending policies aimed at promoting small businesses in the US, thereby fuelling economic growth in that country.

As US Republican Congressman Tom DeLay said in a press release issued in the US: "Pradhan will serve the state of California and is expected to play a crucial role in the committee’s efforts to involve top business people in the process of government reform."


Here is what our hero actually won. Don't spend too much time preparing a speech, Pradhan!

This next bit puzzles me.


What is most surprising about Amit’s selection is, that neither he, nor his brother, is a green card holder or an American citizen. While Amit has been in the US for the last three years on an L1 visa (business manager), his brother is on a regular H1 visa.

Help me out here. Don't you have to be a US citizen to make campaign contributions? I suppose in this case, the money goes to a group that's exempt from that requirement, but then isn't this at least similar to what former DNC staffer John Huang was doing with his solicitation of funds from Asians and Asian-Americans? I seem to recall Republicans kicking up a huge fuss over this. (Not that the charges ever amounted to anything, mind you.)

The real tragedy here, of course, is that the RNC's telemarketers could've saved themselves a few bucks by making a local call to Pradhan's family instead. Better luck next time, guys.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on November 19, 2003 to Scandalized! | TrackBack
Comments

The real tragedy here seems to be that this guy's contribution to Tom DeLay was written up in the Times of India. I wonder how well having someone without a green card on the Business Advisory Council as an honorary chairman sits with the National Republican Committee.

As for prestige, well, I would rather be the Georgia State Wrestling Television Champion than an honorary chairman of the Business Advisory Council within the National Republican Committee.

While this entry goes well with the one written earlier today about IT jobs leaving the US, I almost think a standard beverage warning should apply in this case. ;)

Posted by: William Hughes on November 19, 2003 2:15 PM

somebody should forward this to the U.S. Attorney for prosecution of this matter. The question is did Delay knowingly solicit contributions from a foreign national? Too bad the naive Indians will probably be deported for this.

Posted by: Jonathan F. on November 19, 2003 7:59 PM