Burbank, CA - Congressional Candidate Navraj Singh
turned the tables on his opponent Congressman Brad
Sherman (D-California 27th District) when he told a
shocked audience during a candidates’ forum
October 23 that he had once paid $5000 to get an
appointment with the Congressman.
Speaking at the forum organized by the League of Women Voters at the Burbank City Hall, Singh emphasized that the most important issue in the race was integrity. He accused Congressman Sherman of being ‘corrupt’ and called on voters to ‘bring him home.’
Singh, a first-generation immigrant, told the hushed audience that after his son died in a car crash in 2006 he had attempted to get in touch with Congressman Sherman to get his assistance in having his widowed daughter-in-law’s visa extended. After numerous failed attempts to get an appointment with the congressman, Singh said he was approached by a third party, Nadadur Vardhan, who was able to arrange a meeting, but only after he had paid $5000.
Congressman Sherman floated a phony bill and nothing more was done, according to Singh. “I hope he’s not doing this now,” he added.
In response, Sherman denied the allegations saying he had never set eyes on Singh until he got into the current congressional race and that if he has no recollection of floating such a bill. After the debate, in a heated argument with Singh, and surrounded by reporters and campaign staff, Sherman said he did remember a meeting with Singh and his daughter-in-law.
Sherman also conceded during the post-debate exchange that Nadadu R Vardhan was a ‘dear friend’ who had contributed to his campaign since 1996. He suggested that Singh was upset because a person from his community had been contributing to his (Sherman’s) campaign.
But Singh held his ground, replying: "You should be compelled to be expelled from the Congress."
To which Sherman replied: "Because I tried to help your daughter?"
"No, because you took money," Singh answered. "You received bribes."
Singh pointed out that Vardhan had made a donation of $1000 to Sherman’s campaign just two days after obtaining the $5000 from him.
According to Singh, there are several others in the Indian community who have made similar payments to Vardhan for access to Congressman Sherman. He urged them to come forward and share their experiences with the public.
“We must rid Congress of this kind of corruption,” said Singh.
Singh’s campaign manager, Tim Davis, said that despite several requests Sherman had been dodging a debate with Singh and that Thursday’s forum was the only one where the two candidates would have a face-to-face encounter.
Reports in community newspapers show Sherman and Vardhan having a close relationship with the congressman attending several events at Vardhan’s house. In July 2007, Sherman was among those present at Vardhan’s home who attended the signing of a deal by Vardhan’s entertainment company for a $2.5 billion Bollywood theme park in Mumbai, India. Sherman also teamed up recently with Vardhan to host a fundraiser for Ashwin Madia who is running on the Democratic ticket for a congressional district in Minnesota.
In addition to the three candidates of the 27th District, Sherman, Singh, and Libertarian Tim Denton, the forum featured contenders of the 29th District – incumbent Rep. Adam Schiff (Dem), Republican Charles Hahn and Libertarian Alan Pyaett.
Following a 2-minute introductory round, the candidates were asked for their responses to a wide range of issues including healthcare, the $700 billion bailout, US aid to foreign countries, tax cuts, education, infrastructure needs, military action, and the environment
.
Singh advocated suspension of international programs that are costing the American taxpayers billions of dollars. A former military officer in the Indian Army who fought in the 1971 war against Pakistan, Singh proposed a new approach to foreign policy where the US would take the leadership in pooling an international military contingent drawn from hitherto untapped countries such as Indonesia and Jordan who shared a common fight against Islamist fundamentalist forces. The US should step away from being the only nation to shoulder the burden of putting out fires around the world he indicated.
Speaking at the forum organized by the League of Women Voters at the Burbank City Hall, Singh emphasized that the most important issue in the race was integrity. He accused Congressman Sherman of being ‘corrupt’ and called on voters to ‘bring him home.’
Singh, a first-generation immigrant, told the hushed audience that after his son died in a car crash in 2006 he had attempted to get in touch with Congressman Sherman to get his assistance in having his widowed daughter-in-law’s visa extended. After numerous failed attempts to get an appointment with the congressman, Singh said he was approached by a third party, Nadadur Vardhan, who was able to arrange a meeting, but only after he had paid $5000.
Congressman Sherman floated a phony bill and nothing more was done, according to Singh. “I hope he’s not doing this now,” he added.
In response, Sherman denied the allegations saying he had never set eyes on Singh until he got into the current congressional race and that if he has no recollection of floating such a bill. After the debate, in a heated argument with Singh, and surrounded by reporters and campaign staff, Sherman said he did remember a meeting with Singh and his daughter-in-law.
Sherman also conceded during the post-debate exchange that Nadadu R Vardhan was a ‘dear friend’ who had contributed to his campaign since 1996. He suggested that Singh was upset because a person from his community had been contributing to his (Sherman’s) campaign.
But Singh held his ground, replying: "You should be compelled to be expelled from the Congress."
To which Sherman replied: "Because I tried to help your daughter?"
"No, because you took money," Singh answered. "You received bribes."
Singh pointed out that Vardhan had made a donation of $1000 to Sherman’s campaign just two days after obtaining the $5000 from him.
According to Singh, there are several others in the Indian community who have made similar payments to Vardhan for access to Congressman Sherman. He urged them to come forward and share their experiences with the public.
“We must rid Congress of this kind of corruption,” said Singh.
Singh’s campaign manager, Tim Davis, said that despite several requests Sherman had been dodging a debate with Singh and that Thursday’s forum was the only one where the two candidates would have a face-to-face encounter.
Reports in community newspapers show Sherman and Vardhan having a close relationship with the congressman attending several events at Vardhan’s house. In July 2007, Sherman was among those present at Vardhan’s home who attended the signing of a deal by Vardhan’s entertainment company for a $2.5 billion Bollywood theme park in Mumbai, India. Sherman also teamed up recently with Vardhan to host a fundraiser for Ashwin Madia who is running on the Democratic ticket for a congressional district in Minnesota.
In addition to the three candidates of the 27th District, Sherman, Singh, and Libertarian Tim Denton, the forum featured contenders of the 29th District – incumbent Rep. Adam Schiff (Dem), Republican Charles Hahn and Libertarian Alan Pyaett.
Following a 2-minute introductory round, the candidates were asked for their responses to a wide range of issues including healthcare, the $700 billion bailout, US aid to foreign countries, tax cuts, education, infrastructure needs, military action, and the environment
.
Singh advocated suspension of international programs that are costing the American taxpayers billions of dollars. A former military officer in the Indian Army who fought in the 1971 war against Pakistan, Singh proposed a new approach to foreign policy where the US would take the leadership in pooling an international military contingent drawn from hitherto untapped countries such as Indonesia and Jordan who shared a common fight against Islamist fundamentalist forces. The US should step away from being the only nation to shoulder the burden of putting out fires around the world he indicated.
