OFBJP organized a fund raising dinner to support charities involved in child welfare

Surrey: OFBJP (Overseas Friends of Bhartiya Janta Party) unit of BC, Canada organized a fund raising dinner on November 22nd 2014 to support charities that are working to improve conditions of children around the globe. The event also celebrated winning of Noble Peace Prize by Kailash Satyarthi,the Indian child rights activist. This was a unique function where all attendees were encouraged to donate to their own favorite charity working for the cause of children.

The dinner was sponsored by OFBJP and attendees donated directly to the charity of their choice such as Canadian World Education Foundation. Participants included prominent Indo Canadian professionals, educators and business leaders such as Dr. Nemy Banthia, a Professor of Civil Engineering, and a Canada Research Chair at the University of British Columbia, and Chief Executive Officer of IC-IMPACTS (the India-Canada Centre for Innovative Multidisciplinary Partnerships to Accelerate Community Transformation and Sustainability). Speaking on the ocassion, Aditya Tawatia, Convener of OFBJP BC said that this festive season we all are having mixed feelings. The Nobel committee’s announcement of the name of Kailash Satyarthi as one of the winners of 2014 Peace Prize is a matter of great pride for all of us . However, the cause of child labour and other sufferings is a matter of grave concern for us.

He congratulated everyone for coming together to raise funds for the great cause. It was a wonderful fun filled evening attended by close to 100 people. All the families enjoyed delicious Indian vegetarian food, Hindi and Punjabi songs and the biggest hit for all children and adult was the game of jeopardy with a theme of Children in India, Canada and around the World.

Khalsa Diwan Society Gurudwara prepares to welcome Modi in Vancouver

Indian PM will be accompanied by Canadian PM Harper

Vancouver: BJP cadre in Canada are in full spirit to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi will visit Canada from April 14 to 16, making stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. This is the first bilateral visit to Canada by an Indian Prime Minister since 1973.
In Vancouver, Modi will visit on April 16. He will first visit Khalsa Diwan Society Gurudwara which is also known as Ross Gurudwara.
Sohan Singh Deo, President of Khalsa Diwan Society Vancouver, in an exclusive conversation with Asian Journal said, “BJP representatives contacted me over the phone and told that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to Vancouver. They expressed that Mr. Modi wants to interact with Ind-Canadian community during his Vancouver visit.”
Mr Deo said, “BJP representatives met Gurudwara management to discuss Modi’s visit at the Sikh temple. He added Aditya Tawatia initiated the discussion.” Aditya Tawatia is the President of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) British Columbia.
The Society President further added that after initial meetings both Indian Prime Minister’s office and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office representatives also visited the Khalsa Diwan Society.
Acording to initial reports, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be accompanying PM Modi during his Vancouver visit. They will visit at the Ross street Gurudwara on April 16 at 2 pm and stay there for 30-45 minutes. The attendees are advised to come 2 hours before the scheduled time.
The Gurudwara has already registered 500 attendees and the Khalsa Diwan Society is making arrangement for 1200 people in their premises but subjected to security measures.
The event is open for public but attendees names must be registered beforehand at the Sikh Temple. The security agencies will perform a security check on the list and Gurudwara management will confirm those whose name will be cleared in the security check.
To get registered, one can call, email or visit at the Khalsa Diwan Society Gurudwara.
Ross Gurudwara is getting a lot of calls to participate in the event. We did not get any negative calls, people are very excited to see Modi.
Parking during Modi’s visit will be also restricted but Gurudwara will arrange to pick up people from the designated area where security check will be held.
Deo concluded that Aditya Tawatia is helping us in the preparation of the event and it is like our joint venture with them.
Modi will also visit Laxmi Narayan Temple in Surrey same day later in the evening. OFBJP appeals everyone to participate in the historic event at Ross Gurudwara Vancouver and Laxmi Narayan Mandir Surrey.