The 2016 Republican National Convention at Cleveland Ohio , which nominated Trump as the Republican Party ’s presidential nominee and Mike Pence as his running mate, saw some high-profile support for the duo from the India American community , which has historically leaned towards the Democratic Party.Organised under the Republican Hindu Coalition , an Indian American lobby group launched late last year, prominent supporters of Trump hosted Newt Gingrich , a former speaker of the US House, and Abhay Patel , Republican candidate for US Senate from Louisiana, for a breakfast during the RNC. “Through the Indian American advisory council of the House Republican conference, we will campaign for Trump as president.We feel that when we educate Indian Americans about his policies, they will be able to understand that he will be a far better president than Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton ,” Shalabh (Shalli) Kumar, national chairman of the RHC and a Chigaco-based businessman, told ET Magazine from Cleveland.Kumar, according to top American political website The Hill, has emerged a top Trump donor, having sent $898,800 to Trump Victory, the joint fundraising arrangement between the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and 11 state parties. Also a strong supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kumar said he was pledging $1.1 million for Trump’s presidential campaign in keeping with the rules guiding such contributions in the US.“We are also planning to organise a mega Bollywood fund-raising event in the US for victims of terror in America and around the world, which will serve as a forum to reach out to Indian American supporters and donors for Trump’s presidential bid,” said Kumar.Avinash Iragavarapu, executive director of the Arizona Republican Party, was also drumming up support for Trump at the RNC. “The Republican Party platform supports free markets, less governance, balancing of budget, revitalising of the economy and reduced taxes. Most young Indian Americans are aspirational and hardworking people, they don’t want a government that believes in handouts,” said Iragavarapu.New Jersey-based Indian American professor Dr Amar Dev Amar, president of Indian-Americans for Trump 2016, a political action committee that was registered early this year, feels that post-RNC, it will now be much easier to raise funds from the community. “With the restrictions now being eased, we will be able to hold more fund-raisers. We will also work towards raising consciousness among American lawmakers about the Indian American community,” he said.