Honorable Sen. John Kerry:

The India American community would greatly appreciate your answers to the following questions. Your responses would be publicized widely to the community.

Question 1: There has been growing defense cooperation between the US and India. In recent years, it has taken the form of joint exercises, exchanges, lifting of import restrictions, etc. As President, would you support continuing this cooperation? (100 words)

I have long supported a closer relationship between the United States and India -- democracies that share many ideals, and face common challenges. I believe it is important that the relationship between our two countries continue to grow in every aspect, including defense. As President, I will continue the combined naval and special forces exercises our governments have undertaken.  

The threat of international terrorism affects both the United States and India.  And the fight against terrorism requires a mix of military, diplomatic and law enforcement responses. I strongly believe that the United States and India must continue to work together to bolster our joint capacities.

Question 2: As President, how would you balance the need of the American corporations to remain competitive by outsourcing back-office operations to countries like India with the concern of the American people with job losses at home? (100 words) 

I believe we must fight outsourcing and work to protect American jobs.  I’ll end giveaways to companies that ship jobs overseas and I will fight to bring back the 3 millions jobs lost under George Bush.

Question 3: In your opinion, what role should US play in resolving the India-Pakistan dispute on Kashmir? As President, would you put pressure on Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in Kashmir? (100 words) 

Bi-lateral engagement between India and Pakistan is important to resolving the dispute in Kashmir, and to combating terrorism. I believe the United States has the unique ability to help this process along, and as President I intend to take full advantage of the opportunity to do so.  

Pakistan’s support is important to operations in Afghanistan. Yet it is my hope that Pakistan will always remember that our goal is to have free nations with open societies in which there is no place for terror or the support of terror. Pakistan has much to gain from internal reform, and I stand eager to foster and support this process.

Question 4: Given its size and strategic importance, many have argued that India deserves to have a permanent seat in the Security Council. As President, would you support India’s case? (100 words)

I am interested in looking at ways to make the Security Council more effective and more representative of today’s international community.  While I think that in many ways India would be a good candidate for Security Council membership, there is one notable problem: India is not a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).  All the nuclear powers on the Council not only directly shape the NPT but are parties that abide by it.  This may be the most serious issue with respect to India’s candidacy for Council membership and one that must be addressed by India.

Question 5: The Patriot Act gives sweeping new powers of detention and surveillance to the Executive branch of government and law enforcement agencies, and deprives the government of judicial oversight to ensure that these law enforcement powers are not being abused. Indian Americans and other minority communities feel particularly vulnerable to the abuses of the Patriot Act. What is your opinion on this issue? As President, would you repeal provisions of the Patriot Act that have seriously undermined the civil liberties of American citizens and non-citizens? (100 words) 

We need to scale back several provisions in the Patriot Act to assure our enhanced security does not come at the expense of our civil liberties. First, I think we need to limit the use of "sneak and peek" search warrants that allow searches to occur without notifying the subject and without any judicial oversight.  We need strong oversight to assure the authority can only be used in cases where it is absolutely necessary.

We also need to stop unchecked roving wiretaps.  I will require law enforcement to identify the place or the target to be wiretapped and require that surveillance be conducted only when the presence of the target is ascertained. And we need to ensure that library and business records are obtained only when a judicial warrant is served. 

Question 6: Post 9/11, there has been an increase in hate crimes towards Indian Americans and other minorities. As President, what would you do to reduce the incidence of such crimes? (100 words)

I am an original cosponsor of Federal hate crimes legislation which would criminalize serious offenses committed against individuals because of, among other things, their religious or ethnic affiliations.  While most state and local police and prosecutors are vigilant in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, we need a backup system to assure that every hate crime is properly vindicated.  As President, I would assure that the Hate Crimes Act was properly enforced by the Justice Department and that there were appropriate resources for the training of state and local officials in identifying, solving and prosecuting these crimes at a state level.

Question 7: As a growing community, which has many accomplishments, the Indian Americans feel grossly underrepresented in all branches of the government. Would role do you envisage for Indian Americans in your administration? Would you seek them out for senior positions? (100 words) 

Indian Americans have made extraordinary contributions to all aspects of American society.  It is long past time that Indian Americans be fully represented in the government.  As President, I will make every effort to involve Indian Americans at the highest levels of my administration.

Question 8: Do you have any message for the India American community in the United States? (200 words)

I am delighted to have this opportunity to share my views and my vision with the Indian-American community.  The importance of this election cannot be overstated.  George Bush has taken our country down the wrong path in nearly every conceivable way.  In my first 100 days as President, I will “End the Era of Ashcroft” and restore individual liberty and freedoms while protecting America against terrorists.   I will repeal every single act George Bush has taken to rollback environmental protections.  I will send a health care plan to Congress that stops spiraling costs, covers every child in America, and makes it possible for every American to get the same health care as any Member of Congress.  And I will end President Bush’s flawed policy of unilateralism and rejoin the community of nations. 

As President, I will make America safer, stronger and more prosperous.  I will nurture the important relationship between the United States and India and ensure that the rights of Indian-Americans are protected here at home.  I would be deeply honored to have your support.

Question 9: How can the Indian American community get involved with you campaign? Who do we contact for this purpose? (100 words)

To learn more about my campaign and to get involved, please visit www. JohnKerry.com and call TheoYedinsky in my New Hampshire campaign office at (603) 622-9100