Several high-profile Indian American lawmakers have denounced the Republican Hindu Coalition’s support for President Donald Trump’s executive orders on refugees and immigrants.
Among those who spoke out included Congressman Ami Bera, who told the Indian Panorama that “the actions of the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) on Wednesday do not reflect the breadth and diversity of the Indian American community, or our diaspora.”
The RHC expressed full support for Donald Trump’s executive order banning visas from seven Muslim countries, and also demanded banning three more countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
Chairman of the Coalition Shalabh Kumar said in a public statement that the RHC “applaud[s] the Trump administration for taking this decisive move to protect our citizens from Islamic terror.”
Three other Indian American congressmembers who slammed the RHC were Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Congressman Ro Khanna.
“As Indian Americans, we believe deeply in pluralism, in freedom of religion, in freedom of speech and in a democratic diverse society,” Jayapal said. “To [the Republican Hindu Coalition], I would say, shame. Shame for trying to divide the Indian American community.
“As a Hindu, I can tell you that this group does not represent the much larger Indian American community that honor our birth countries commitment to religious freedom and democracy,” said Krishnamoorthi.
He called Trump’s executive order an assault on the Constitution which “only serves to divide Americans, not unify them.”
Khanna said that “we cannot allow policies to exist that are not consistent with our founding ideals and values.” He added that he “swore in on the Constitution, and will always stand up for Constitutional principles.”
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