The Indian-American Attitudes Survey (IAAS) 2024 has revealed that 61% of Indian People are backing Kamala Harris, and 31% are in assist of Donald Trump. American voters will resolve the destiny of the US presidential candidates, with the election being nearer than ever now.
As varied polls provide hints to Trump and Harris’ fates, HindustanTimes.com spoke to Indians within the US, most of whom most well-liked to not be named. Whereas not all of them revealed who they’re backing, it’s clear that everybody believes there are some key points on this election that should be addressed.
‘My vote is extra anti-Trump than pro-Harris’
A analysis scientist who lives in New York revealed that he has voted for Kamala Harris-Tim Walz. He mentioned the important thing points for him on this election are “preservation of the integrity of democracy,” “avoiding low cost demagoguery – pitting one group towards one other,” “progressive socio-economic insurance policies like reasonably priced healthcare, schooling and housing for all,” “proactive sustainable vitality insurance policies,” and “abortion,” amongst others.
“My vote is extra anti-Trump than pro-Harris,” the analysis scientist, 55, mentioned. “The whole lot I loathed about probably the most unscrupulous politicians in India after I was rising up, he embodies them – which is an consequence I’ve by no means considered witnessing in a sophisticated nation just like the US.”
He added that he would need the following president to make sure there’s a ceasefire in Gaza as quickly as doable, and to attempt to convey the nation collectively after this divisive marketing campaign. He’s additionally wanting ahead to extra proactive insurance policies in technology and storage of renewable vitality.
Like many others, for him too, immigration is a serious concern. “Democrats and Republicans want to come back collectively and move a complete and efficient immigration reform legislation. Avoiding the difficulty (Democrats) and vilifying immigrants throughout every election cycle (Republicans) are unsustainable and counterproductive,” he mentioned.
‘Cease funding genocide with my tax {dollars}’
A doctor who lives in California mentioned that this yr, she is simply settling for the “much less dangerous.” “What they’re doing is simply spewing the occasion rhetoric. Nobody has mentioned something spectacularly totally different. Loads of time is spent proving how incompetent the opposite facet is,” the 54-year-old mentioned.
On being requested what modifications she would need the following president to convey, she mentioned, “Cease funding genocide with my tax {dollars}.”
Nilanjana Banerjee, who lives in Dallas, Texas, and works within the IT sector, careworn that she would need the price of healthcare to be made extra reasonably priced. “I might need the following president to make sure healthcare prices and insurance policies are revised,” Nilanjana mentioned, including that one other concern that bothers her to an important extent are the relaxed gun legal guidelines, which have led to a number of shootings at colleges and different public locations.
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“The final folks of this nation at all times comply with guidelines,” Nilanjana mentioned. “So if some good, logical guidelines are made round local weather and environmental conservation, immigration, amongst varied different points, I believe persons are going to comply with them.”
Nilanjana careworn that greater than Trump or Harris as an individual, “the group or ideologies they symbolize are essential” to her. “Trump might have ideologies that don’t match mine, however that’s okay, as a result of persons are entitled to their opinions. There are some ideologies Harris has which might be nearer to my coronary heart, however there are additionally some issues Trump brings to the desk that I believe are good. Who involves the chair doesn’t matter quite a bit to me, however it will be important that my points are addressed,” she defined.
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Nilanjana additionally opened up on desi issues, saying she believes that regardless of who’s elected, India will likely be benefited as a result of the US has good ties with the Indian authorities. “I believe each the candidates have the maturity to know that India brings quite a bit to the US, when it comes to working fingers, brains, within the IT sector, actual property, analysis and improvement, and different areas,” she mentioned. “It’s my perception that going ahead, the connection between India and the US will flourish.”
‘I believe abortion is a extremely contentious concern on this election’
A PhD pupil of College of California, Santa Barbara, doesn’t have voting rights within the US however mentioned she would have voted for Harris if she did. She mentioned that abortion and immigration are two points she want to see being addressed.
The 29-year-old mentioned, “I believe abortion is a extremely contentious concern on this election because it follows the overturning of Roe v Wade. Harris has maintained a staunch disapproval of this latest judgement, whereas Trump retains discovering loopholes to justify its validity in several contexts. Almost about insurance policies on immigration, I believe the general public sentiment within the US rests on a worry of the “different” taking up. The Biden-Harris administration has taken steps to broaden authorized entry to immigration, which is an efficient factor.”
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The coed careworn that “restrictive measures” across the H1B visa can be one thing that bothers her. “It hampers the opportunity of working right here within the US for a lot of college students from India and elsewhere, like myself,” she mentioned. “I would really like this to be addressed, alongside different points just like the Israel-Palestinian struggle.”
“I hope there’s extra recognition of the huge pupil protests that erupted throughout the nation not too way back, and extra advocacy to finish the struggle in Palestine,” she added.
One other 31-year-old Ph.D. candidate in Indiana mentioned issues he would need to see being addressed embody “problems with intolerance towards teams of individuals, and safety of particular person rights together with these of minorities and ladies.” In the meantime, a 36-year-old scientist within the biotech trade who lives in California known as out the Trump authorities for “traditionally slowing down inexperienced card and H1B processes, imposing stricter rules and creating an environment of hatred the place a number of Indian and Asian folks have been victimised.”
Each Harris and Trump are campaigning in battleground states, ready for his or her destiny to be revealed. On Sunday, October 3, over 100 bipartisan political and army figures issued an announcement calling for cover of election staff, upholding of election integrity, and peaceable switch of energy. However who’s the throne ready for? We are going to know quickly sufficient.