Indian uncle of runner-up Harris: "Don't mess with Kamala"

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Kamala Harris is a candidate for US Vice President

He's supposed not to talk so much about Kamala Harris in public anymore. "But what should I do?" Says Gopalan Balachandran on the phone. "I'm just your uncle."

Balachandran is 80 years old and lives in Delhi; The pandemic is raging outside, he no longer goes out the door often. That's why he's all the more pleased about the many calls he's now getting. And he's just too proud of his niece: Because she could become Vice President of the United States of America - the first African American in office, the first woman with Indian roots, the first woman ever. 

"Then I'll just come when she becomes president"

Harris father is from Jamaica, her mother from India. On Tuesday, Joe Biden, the US Democratic presidential candidate, named Harris his "running mate". The news caused cheers in both countries.Balachandran says his sister called him before sunrise to tell him the good news.

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Gopalan Balachandran: "I'm just your uncle"

His daughter and Harris are particularly close. The last time he saw her was in 2017, when she was sworn in as a senator. "She invited the whole family and introduced us all, including Joe Biden." He describes his niece as quick in the head, quick-witted, as someone with principles but who is not dogmatic. She always said to him: "Uncle Bala, if you need something, then you just call." He would also like to travel to Washington if she was appointed Vice President. "If it doesn't work out because of the travel restrictions, I'll come when she becomes president."

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