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Overseas Congress delegation meets leaders in New Delhi
A key focus of the event was securing participation from INC leaders for a major IOC event in 2027.
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Rwittika Chakraborty - Tue, 10, Mar 2026
- 04:46 EDT
- 21
Peter Kothari IOC Delegation leader presenting the Bouquet to Rahul Gandhi along with other members / Courtesy Photo
A delegation from the U.S.-based Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) New Jersey chapter recently made a three-day trip to New Delhi earlier this month and met several senior Congress leaders as part of an effort to strengthen ties between the party and the Indian diaspora.
The three-day visit from March 1 to March 4 was under the leadership of Sam Pitroda, chairman of Global IOC, Arathi Krishna, AICC secretary, and Mohinder Singh Gilzian, president of IOC USA.
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Led by Pradip (Peter) Kothari, president of the IOC USA New Jersey chapter, and Harkesh Thakur, chairman of the New Jersey chapter, the primary objective of the visit was to discuss collaboration between the Congress party and overseas supporters and to plan joint initiatives in the coming years.
A key focus of the event was securing participation and support from INC leaders for a major IOC event expected to draw more than 10,000 attendees in 2027.
The delegation met Rahul Gandhi at his residence at 10 Janpath, New Delhi, on March 3.
Kothari extended an invitation to Gandhi to visit New Jersey/New York for the upcoming large-scale event, and the Indian leader accepted the invitation.
The delegation held discussions with Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Indian National Congress and leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. They also met Anil Shastri, former MP and son of the late Lal Bahadur Shastri.
K.C. Venugopal, member of the Lok Sabha, hosted the delegation at his Lodhi Estate residence for in-depth discussions on various issues.
Vivek Tankha, member of the Rajya Sabha, hosted a dinner for the delegation, attended by Aarti Krishna, AICC secretary in charge of the Indian Overseas Congress.
The evening included engaging interactions and light moments, including musical contributions from Krishna.
The delegation conducted a press conference at Telangana Bhavan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi, on March 2, with about 25 prominent journalists.
The session highlighted IOC’s recent achievements, outlined future plans, and included a productive Q&A where media representatives shared suggestions.
Gurdeep Singh Sappal, permanent member of the Congress Working Committee, also welcomed the delegation members and exchanged views.
The delegation also visited Rajghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi.
The Indian Overseas Congress believes that the visit reinforced the bond between the Indian National Congress and the Indian diaspora through the IOC, paving the way for collaboration and initiatives ahead.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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