When Rahul Gandhi came to Norton Manor
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India’s Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi speaking at a dinner at the Potomac, MD, home of Indian American philanthropist Frank Islam on June 1, 2023. Image Courtesy: Balachandran
Dinner for Gandhi at the home of Indian American entrepreneur and philanthropist Frank Islam showcases the intersection of the political, business and technology worlds
Nestled on a sprawling 10-acre lot in Potomac, Maryland, the palatial home of Democratic donor and fundraiser Frank F. Islam and his wife, Debbie Driesman, has played host to numerous high-profile dinners and fundraising events over the years.
Former President Bill Clinton has been to Norton Manor on two separate occasions. President Joe Biden headlined a fundraiser during his tenure as vice president.
Read: Rahul Gandhi kicks off 3-city US trip in San Francisco (May 30, 2023)
Other influential figures who have dined at the neoclassical mansion spanning over 40,000 square feet include Nancy Pelosi, the then-Speaker of the House; Kevin Rudd, a former Australian prime minister who now serves as his country’s top diplomat in Washington; and dozens of members of US Congress.
On June 1, Norton Manor added another chapter to its storied legacy as it opened its doors to welcome Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Indian National Congress, who was on a two-day visit to the nation’s capital.
As is customary in exclusive Islam-Driesman events, the impressive lineup of 100-plus guests that attended the dinner in honor of Gandhi reflected the convergence of political and business prowess.
Among the attendees was Maryland’s junior Senator, Chris Van Hollen, accompanied by his wife, Katherine Wilkens. Also present were Sam Pitroda, chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress; Aneesh Chopra, a former White House technology czar; Islam Siddiqui, a former chief US agricultural negotiator; and former Democratic congressman from Michigan Andy Levin.
READ: Ro Khanna decries Rahul Gandhi’s expulsion from parliament (March 25, 2023)
Gandhi arrived for the 6 pm reception a good half-an-hour late. The culprit was the notorious Washington-area traffic. But right away, he started working the crowd.
In his welcome remarks, Islam termed the Congress leader’s recent Bharat Jodo Yatra, a 2,500-mile walk from Kerala to Kashmir that took 150 days, as “a labor of love.”
He pointed out how over the past decades the United States and India, the two largest democracies, “have become more divided and exclusive rather than united and inclusive.”
Gandhi’s remarks closely resembled his stump speeches, sticking to the same recurring themes throughout. He focused on the alleged capture of Indian institutions and media by the government and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as well as the marginalization of minority communities.
Through this lens, he presented two contrasting visions for India’s future, drawing a sharp contrast between the principles espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizing inclusivity and harmony, and those advocated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fountainhead of the current government.
In his speech and the spirited question-answer session that followed, Gandhi said his Congress party was more than capable of countering the BJP, as it did in the recent election for the Karnataka assembly.
The guests were treated to a dinner prepared by Islam’s Turkish American Chef Bedri Gezgec, who runs the Elif Catering Service. The menu featured a variety of dishes, including salmon and chicken stuffed with spinach, and okra, alongside a combination of spinach with potatoes and salad. Cheesecake was served as dessert.
Just under a month prior, in early May, Islam and Driesman had hosted another prominent Indian political figure: Shashi Tharoor, former United Nations Under Secretary General and Minister of State for External Affairs. However, that gathering was a more intimate affair, limited to only 12 individuals.
