Chaai Pe Charcha Comes to Houston

Chaai Pe Charcha at Shekhar Agarwal’s residence.

Chaai Pe Charcha at Shekhar Agarwal’s residence.

By Malay Vyas

HOUSTON: The Biggest Democracy returns to the voting booth. Ballots are ready, candidates’ names have been printed and election officials are ready to mark the dark dot on about a few million fore fingers as India votes in 2014. If there’s an election jamboree in India, how can Houston’s NRI community be far behind? Shekhar Agrawal, the president of Patanjali Yogpith USA has his fingers on the pulse of the Indian election scenario. Avid follower of Swami Ramdev, Agrawal hosted a “Chai Pe Charcha” political meet at his residence. “Chai Pe Charcha” or “Discussion over tea” has become a political forum in India overflowing on to NRI’s all over the world. Centered on Narendra Modi’s candidature as the future Prime Minister of India, Chaai Pe Charcha groups support the BJP’s effort in this general election.

The Chai Pe Charcha group in Houston supports Narendra Modi and believes in having a corruption free government in India. There are over a  thousand volunteers in Houston itself who support this Political forum and want Modi as the next Prime Minister of India. Going a step further, there are a few Houstonians who have taken time off their work and gone to India to support the political party of their choice.

The Chaai Pe Charcha at Shekhar Agarwal’s residence included Ramesh Bhutada, Gitesh Desai (National Coordinator) and Sharad Amin (Houston coordinator) along with other friends and supporters. The general idea was to garner support for BJP and Modi as the prime minister by calling up their friends and relatives in India.

One thing is for sure, whatever party comes into power – the people of India are the ultimate winners as they continue to exercise their basic right – the right to vote.