NRI, Madhu
Yaskhi, New
York attorney elected
MP in India
October 2004
NRI's success in
Indian politics
After Indian immigrants
success in American politics, it is now the turn of
NRIs to make their presence felt in Indian politics.
Madhu Goud Yaskhi, a New York-based lawyer, contested
parliamentary election this year from Nizamabad constituency,
Andhra Pradesh, as a Congress Party nominee. He won
with an impressive margin, and became the only NRI
parliamentarian in the 14th Lok Sabha.
Yaskhi immigrated to United States in
the late 1980s to pursue postdoctoral course in law,
but the prohibitive cost of education and family circumstances
forced him to take up a part-time job at the Indian
Consulate in New York. He also had a brief stint as
a journalist with News India-times, a widely circulated
tabloid among immigrant Indians. In 1995, Yaskhi founded
a partnership firm, the International Legal and Trade
Consultants in New York, which handles business immigration
issues.
Born in a middle class family in 1960
in Hayatnagar in suburban Hyderabad, Yaskhi graduated
from Nizam College, Hyderabad, received a law degree
from Delhi University and did his masters in law from
Osmania University, Hyderabad. He started the Madhu
Yaskhi Foundation in New York, which receives 25 percent
of Yaskhi's earnings in donation. The foundation helps
poor farmers in Nizamabad district.
SPAN: How did your journey to politics
begin? Did you ever aspire to become a member of the
Indian Parliament?
MADHU GOUD YASKHI: I am a novice to
Indian politics. After seeing my social work among
poor farmers since 2002, Congress Party offered me
membership. I joined the party in March, a couple
of months before the parliamentary election. I was
nominated by the party to fight from Nizamabad Lok
Sabha constituency with only 18 days left for campaigning.
But my real journey to my homeland began
two years ago after I read a newspaper report about
the plight of farmers in Machareddy mandal of Nizamabad
district. There has been a lot of talk about the state
making good strides economically, especially in the
IT sector, and the liberalization policies impacting
people's lives. But to my surprise, I read the reports
of farmers committing suicide. So I thought I should
go and see to myself what's happening. When I saw
the reality I was appalled; more than 50 farmers took
their lives and their families were on the brink of
starvation. How to provide immediate succor to the
bereaved families was on top of my mind. I gave a
small donation of Rs. 10,000 each to the 42 affected
families. My help restored in them confidence, which
enabled them to stand on their feet.
What qualities did Congress see in you when it nominated
you as party candidate especially, when many senior
leaders were in the race ?
First, the party is keen to give opportunities to
youth. Secondly, my work among Nizamabad farmers was
acknowledged and that
made the party think about my candidature.
Thirdly, the district and the state committees of
the party unanimously supported my nomination. They
argued that they need a person with my educational
qualifications and social back- ground since the assembly
elections were also simultaneously being held. By
hind- sight, their assessment proved rightboth
my party and our coalition partner, the Telangana
Rashtra Samiti, swept the election in the entire region.
This new responsibility as member of Parliament demands
full time attention. How are you going to apportion
your time between New York, New Delhi and Nizamabad?
It is a privilege as well as a responsibility being
a member of Parliament. I have made a conscious decision
to continue with my business in New York. My partner
at my New York firm will look after the day-to-day
functioning of my company. The job as a parliamentarian
is social commitment, responsibility and accountability
to the constituents. I would like to stay in Delhi
when the Parliament is in session.
That will perhaps give me enough time to interact
with ministers and senior officials with whom I can
discuss several developmental issues. Very soon I
will open a full-fledged office in Nizamabad, which
will be a nodal point with my people.
As a member of Lok Sabha, what do you plan to achieve?
As a parliamentarian, I have a bigger role to play,
representing not only my constituency but representing
the entire country. The rules that are made in the
Parliament reflect the views not only of my constituents
but also the entire country. As a parliamentarian,
I want to become a role model for the younger generation.
I will also devote time for the party, and work for
well being of the economically deprived people and
strengthen the social fabric of the country.
I want to become an interface with the 20-million-strong
Indian diaspora and be their voice in the Parliament.
NRIs have been playing an important role in economic
development of the country. But in some
countries they have no rights and no insurance facilities.
I will focus NRIs' issues in a big way both within
the Parliament and outside, primarily NRIs in the
Gulf region.
What are the services your consultancy company provide
?
I have about 25 employees in my firm which provides
consultancy services on international trade, business
management and immigration issues. It is a partnership
firm which is serving not only the Indian immigrant
community but also American businesses that want to
set up offices in India. We concentrate on trade,
business and immigration issues relating to businesses
only. We basically deal in business immigration, and
do not help asylum seekers or visa seekers. More than
400 companies, especially in the IT sector, are on
our client list.
How do you look at the bilateral relations between
the United States and India?
If more Indian Americans participate in the American
political process that would
help to strengthen bilateral relations, fight international
terrorism and bring peace to the world. Both are democratic
countries and the need of the hour is to create closer,
stronger and mature relationships between both countries.
India is the world's largest democracy and America
the world's oldest democracy. How do the twain meet?
Both have their strong distinctive features. If you
look at democratic norms in India, you will see a
minority Muslim elected the President, a minority
Sikh heading the government, and a minority Christian
leading the largest party in the coalition government.
This reflects the true democratic nature and the strength
of our great country. In case of America, individual
dignity is of utmost importance. No other country
in the world grants such unfettered freedom and dignity
to an individual. That is why the whole world is looking
at America and wants to come and live there. So both
the democracies have their own strengths. I believe
both need to have a closer relationship so that they
can bring peace and prosperity to the entire world.