Washington
US President Barack Obama invited two of his top Indian-American fundraisers to a select group of guests for a State Dinner hosted in honour of his French counterpart Francois Hollande. Shefali Razdan Duggal and Azita Raji, both from California, were invited last night to the first State Dinner of Obama's second presidential term. While Duggal is a member of the Democratic National Committee's National Finance Committee and is a Co-Chair for the DNC Women's Leadership Forum, Raji is a member of President's Commission on White House Fellowships. Duggal is on the White House Council of Women & Girls (chaired by President Obama's Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett) and is currently a Co-Chair for the Ready for Hillary PAC (Political Action Committee).
At the State Dinner, Karen Narasaki, an American civil rights leader and human rights activist, was accompanied by Indian-American Vivek Malhotra, director, Civil and Human Rights, Ford Foundation, as per the list of guests released by the White House. The dinner was attended by who's who of America along with members of the Obama's Cabinet, top officials, lawmakers and members of the French delegation led by Hollande. "Viva la France, God bless America, and long live the alliance between our great nations," Obama said delivering a delivered a light-hearted toast.
"We love the United States and you love the French, although you're sometimes too shy to say so," Hollande said to laughs, according to his translator. Both the presidents were wearing tuxedos. First Lady Michelle Obama was wearing a black and liberty blue Carolina Herrera gown, according to a White House official. The State Dinner was held in a tent on the South Lawn of the White House. White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford and White House Executive Pastry Chef William Yosses created a select menu featuring delicacies from across the US for the occasion. The theme of the decor for the French State Dinner was inspired by the shared history and long-standing friendship between the United States and France, the White House said.
