AP chapter of INOC inaugurated in US

New York, May 1 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh chapter of Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC), United States, has been formally inaugurated on nearby Long Island with Dr Gaddam Dasaratharam Reddy as its president.

Dr Surinder S Malhotra, president of INOC, was present at the inaugural ceremony and announced the appointment of Dr Reddy, who is a pediatrician and veteran community leader, as head of the chapter.

According to a statement issued by the party, besides Dr Reddy, noted surgeon and philanthropist Nageswara Rao (Neil) Mandava and financial executive and cultural personality Mahesh Saladi were announced as the founding members of the chapter.

Mr K Keshava Rao, president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee, who was recently on a visit to US, in a statement blessed the formation of the Andhra Pradesh chapter and congratulated members of the new body.

Hundreds of NRIs, particularly those hailing from Andhra Pradesh, attended the inauguration where Madhu Goud Yaskhi, member of parliament from the Nizamabad constituency, was the chief guest, the statement added.

''Indo-American relations are at an all-time high and the contributions and hard work of NRI representatives is a major catalyst for the progress of bilateral relationship,'' the staement quoted Mr Yakshi as saying.

Dr Malhotra further added,''India has become a global player and it has to remain secular in order to gain recognition as such. The ratification of Indo-US nuclear deal is absolutely necessary to meet the environmentally safe energy needs of a growing India.'' Dr Reddy, too, urged the participants and the Indian-Americans at large to ensure that the nuclear deal would be ratified by the US Congress.

Dr Mandava and Mr Saladi joined him in making the appeal to all US-based NRIs to unite in fighting causes that are detrimental in India's progress.

They described Andhra Pradesh as one of the key Indian states for the Congress party.

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