Washington: The Association of Indian American Minorities (AIAM) was officially launched on November 22 at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Maryland. The event was held in partnership with Washington Adventist University and was marked by the presentation of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who received the honor posthumously.

AIAM, a non-governmental organization, is dedicated to advancing the interests and welfare of Indian minority communities in the United States. The launch attracted a diverse group of attendees from various Indian American minority groups.

Jasdip Singh, a Sikh philanthropist and businessman, has been named the founder and chairman of AIAM, as confirmed by an official statement. He will be supported by a board of seven distinguished Indian American leaders from different communities, including Baljinder Singh and Dr. Sukhpal Dhanoa (both Sikhs), Pawan Bezwada and Elisha Pulivarti (both Christians), Dipak Thakker (Hindu), Juned Qazi (Muslim), and Nissim Reuben (Indian Jewish).

During the event, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment was presented to Prime Minister Modi in recognition of his contributions to the upliftment of minorities, with key dignitaries in attendance, such as Satnam Singh Sandhu, a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and convener of the Indian Minorities Federation, and Dr. Jasdeep S Chandhok.

Speakers at the event praised PM Modi as a symbol of India's commitment to secularism, noting that under his leadership, India has elevated its global standing. The diaspora, they said, takes pride in its Indian heritage. "PM Modi has fostered an environment of peaceful co-existence and communal harmony, uniting the nation like never before," they remarked.

Jasdip Singh emphasized that the Indian Minority Diaspora will play a crucial role in realizing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a developed India by 2047. "In the last decade, PM Modi has emerged as a global leader. In New India under his guidance, it is not about religion, caste, or sect but about equal opportunities for all Indians," he stated.

Satnam Singh Sandhu, reflecting on the government's initiatives, highlighted how PM Modi’s policies have benefitted minority communities in India without discrimination. He also referred to the government’s inclusive message of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," underscoring the importance of an inclusive India.

Members of the Indian diaspora conveyed that the last decade has made it clear that India stands united in its diversity, despite efforts to fuel division within the country. They expressed confidence that India's minority groups are secure from forces that aim to undermine the nation’s progress and development.