Hindu Americans, a vibrant and integral part of the United States’ cultural, economic and national mosaic, have faced increasing onslaught from a nexus of Jihadis, Communists, Leftists, Wokeists, Globalists, Colonialists, Racists, and Supremacists, many times all rolled into one despite their internal contradictions and enmities. This nexus seeks not only to undermine Hindu American unity but also aims to malign Hindu Americans in the national political discourse of the broader American populace. The nexus also wants to strain the robust U.S.-India relationship, a key strategic alliance against the influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-occupied China, fed manipulations of the global order.

A primary tool in this divisive agenda is the caste, a historical framework weaponised to fracture Hindu American communities and tarnish their image.

While California has been a focal point for such efforts, similar campaigns have emerged in states like Washington and New Jersey, reflecting a broader strategy to target Hindu Americans.

Additionally, allegations of transnational repression (TNR), contrasted with the more pressing issue of cross-border terrorism, highlight a hypocrisy among leftist groups that generate and amplify TNR narratives while ignoring or supporting terrorist activities targeting Hindus, including Hindu Americans.

The passage of Senate Bill (SB) 509 in California, similar to SB 403, further exemplifies this trend, raising concerns about its impact on Hindu Americans.

This article explores the origins and distortions of the caste, the role of divisive legislation like SB 403 and SB 509, the contrast between TNR and cross-border terrorism, updates on the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) case, including details on the Department of Justice’s decision to close its investigation, and the implications for Hindu Americans and U.S.-India relations.

The Caste: Origins and Distortions

The caste, often misrepresented in contemporary discourse, originated from the ancient Indian Varna system —a non-discriminatory framework that categorised society based on the division of labour. The four Varnas — Brahmins (scholars, sages, and seers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (merchants, traders, farmers, and industry sections), and Shudras (labourers, artisans, and service providers) — were initially fluid classifications tied to occupation and aptitude, rather than birth. The system emphasised the dignity of all labour, fostering societal harmony through interdependence.

However, over millennia, particularly during foreign invasions and colonial rule of the last two millennia, the Varna system was distorted. The defensive shift to birth-based classifications rigidified social hierarchies, and colonial policies, such as caste-based censuses, exacerbated divisions for political and administrative control.

In modern India, any sort of caste-based discrimination has been officially abolished, with affirmative action and legal protections promoting equality. Indian Americans, many from professional backgrounds, have fully transcended caste-based divisions, thriving in fields like technology, medicine, and academia. Yet, the caste narrative is exploited by leftists to portray Hindu Americans as inherently discriminatory, a tactic used both in India and the U.S. to divide communities and undermine Hindu contributions.

California: The Epicentre of the Caste Narrative

The biggest American state, California, home to a significant Hindu American population and a major contributor to the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), has been a primary battleground for this leftist onslaught.

Hindu and Indian Americans, along with Faithful Americans, drive California’s tech-driven economy. Yet the state’s left-wing Democrats led the political landscape, harbouring leftist activism influenced by globalist agendas, including those linked to the CCP-occupied China and Pakistan, fed the nexus. Senate Bill (SB) 403, introduced in March 2023 by State Senator Aisha Wahab, an Afghan American Muslim, sought to add “caste” to California’s anti-discrimination laws, including the Unruh Civil Rights Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and the state’s education code. The bill, which passed the State Senate (34-1) and State Assembly (55-3), was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2023, who argued that existing laws prohibiting discrimination based on ancestry were sufficient.

Proponents, including Equality Labs, a leftist group fed a self-proclaimed Dalit-civil rights group, cited a 2020 Cisco Systems lawsuit alleging caste discrimination against a Dalit employee as evidence of the need for such legislation.

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) initially filed the case in 2020, accusing Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella, two Hindu Indian-American Cisco engineers, of discriminating against a Dalit colleague (referred to as "John Doe"). The lawsuit claimed caste-based harassment and denial of opportunities. However, after three years of investigation, the CRD voluntarily dismissed the charges against Iyer and Kompella in April 2023, admitting they didn’t have evidence to back their claims. This was a huge win for the Indian engineers, whose reputations were dragged through the mud during the ordeal.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and others argued that SB 403 unfairly targeted Hindu Americans by associating caste solely with Hinduism, ignoring its presence in other South Asian communities, including Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. The bill’s introduction by Wahab, whose community also has caste-like structures, and its support by groups like Equality Labs, fuelled accusations of selective targeting and “Hinduphobia.”

 The Ambedkar-Phule Network of American Dalits and Bahujans (APNADB), a prominent organisation representing Dalit and Bahujan communities, opposed SB 403, asserting it was not only anti-Hindu but was also anti-Dalit and appropriated their marginalised identity to threaten their cultural existence.

Tragically, Milind Makwana, a founder of APNADB and a prominent Dalit activist, died of a heart attack on July 18, 2023, moments after passionately testifying against SB 403 at a Cupertino City Council meeting amid vitriolic humiliations by leftists, where he argued the bill misrepresented Hindu identity and risked social division. Makwana, a proud Hindu from a marginalised community, stated, “Whoever is claiming here to represent us but ignoring Hindus is talking about us without us,” emphasising that the bill’s shiny exterior hid racial discrimination and Hinduphobia. His death sent shockwaves through the Hindu American community, with his wife, Purvi Makwana, urging the community to carry forward his vision of justice, harmony, and Dharma, as noted in a statement by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). Newsom’s veto, influenced by Hindu American advocacy, including voices like Makwana’s, and Hindu Democratic fundraisers, was seen as a political move to avoid alienating voters and to avoid straining U.S.-India relations.

California Senate Bill (SB) 509: A Parallel Effort Targeting Hindu Americans

Similar to SB 403, Senate Bill (SB) 509, introduced on February 13, 2025, by State Senator Anna Caballero (Democrat, District 14), represents another legislative effort targeting Hindu Americans, this time under the guise of addressing transnational repression (TNR). SB 509 mandates that the California Office of Emergency Services, through its California Specialised Training Institute, develop a TNR recognition and response training program by January 1, 2027, to provide law enforcement with information on TNR tactics, including digital surveillance and cybertools, and to identify governments known to employ TNR.

The bill was co-authored by Democratic Assemblywoman Jasmeet Kaur Bains (District 35), and Senator David Min (District 37), reflecting strong Democratic support. It passed unanimously in the Senate on June 3, 2025 (38-0), and in the Assembly on September 10, 2025 (59-0), with Assembly amendments concurred in by the Senate on September 11, 2025 (40-0), before being enrolled and sent to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for approval.

Proponents, including the Pakistani mooted Pro-Khalistan anti-India groups operating in the name of Sikh Community, like “Sikh” American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the “Sikh” Coalition, Jakara Movement, American “Sikh” Caucus, and a leftist group misleadingly operating in Hindu name, “Hindus” for Human Rights (HfHR), argue that SB 509 protects Californians’ First Amendment rights from foreign interference, particularly citing India’s actions against Pakistan backed Khalistani terrorists as TNR. However, HAF and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and others argue that SB 509, despite amendments to protect free speech, lacks sufficient safeguards and could mischaracterise India’s efforts to counter Khalistani terrorism — linked to terrorist activities — as TNR, thereby targeting Hindu Americans who advocate against such movements. HAF et al have appealed to Governor Newsom to veto the bill, citing its potential to encourage Khalistani extremism and unfairly target Indian Americans, particularly Hindus.

As of now, Newsom has not publicly announced his decision on SB 509, but his history of vetoing controversial bills like SB 403 suggests he may weigh similar geopolitical and community concerns, especially given the bill’s implications for U.S.-India relations and the risk of alienating Californian and other Hindu American voters. The clock is ticking for Newsom as the end date for his decision, October 12, 2025, nears. The Democratic Party’s dominant role in California’s legislature, with 60 Democrats in the Assembly and 30 in the Senate, facilitated the bill’s unanimous passage, reflecting the party’s brute supermajority and alignment with leftist advocacy groups, though it has drawn severe criticism for potentially overlooking the concerns of Hindu Americans.

Beyond California: Similar Efforts in Other States

The campaign to weaponise caste against Hindu Americans extends beyond California, with similar efforts in left-leaning states like Washington and New Jersey, reflecting a coordinated strategy of the nexus to challenge Hindu American identity and influence.

Seattle, Washington: The First City to Ban so-called “Caste Discrimination”

In February 2023, Seattle became the first U.S. city to enact an ordinance prohibiting “caste-based discrimination”, citing “social alienation and discrimination in housing, education, and the tech sector.” The ordinance, introduced by City Councillor Kshama Sawant, a socialist and critic of Hindu nationalism in general, amended Seattle’s anti-discrimination laws to include “caste” as a protected category.

Proponents, including leftist-backed Dalit activists and Equality Labs, argued that the measure protected marginalised sections in the tech-heavy Puget Sound region, home to companies like Microsoft and Amazon. However, Hindu advocacy groups, including HAF and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), opposed the ordinance, arguing it singled out Hindu Americans and risked racial profiling. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) claimed there was “no legitimate, proven, documented case of caste discrimination in the U.S.” and called the ordinance a dog whistle for Hindus and Hinduism. It is worth noting that existing laws already address discrimination based on ancestry or national origin, exposing the politically maliciously motivated ordinance as redundant and divisive. The passage, despite opposition, highlighted the influence of anti-Hindu leftist activism aligned with leftist anti-Hindu agendas.

New Jersey: Allegations of Caste Exploitation and Temple Controversies

In New Jersey, the malicious narrative targeted Hindu institutions, notably in the 2021 controversy surrounding the BAPS temple in Robbinsville. A lawsuit filed by leftist “Dalit” activists alleged that BAPS exploited “Dalit” workers from India, subjecting them to “forced labour” and “caste-based discrimination” during the temple’s construction. Supported by groups like leftist HfHR, the lawsuit claimed workers faced harsh conditions, minimal wages, and restrictions on movement, with allegations of human trafficking and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO). The lawsuit, initially filed in May 2021, coincided with the then left-leaning administration’s FBI-led raid on the temple, which removed around 100 workers. Significant developments have since occurred.

In July 2023, twelve of the twenty-one plaintiffs withdrew their claims, signing affidavits stating they were coerced into testifying against BAPS, an immigration lawyer and activist, Swati Sawant, represented the workers. The Paththar Ghadai Sangh, an Indian artisans’ organisation, claimed the allegations were part of a “deep-rooted conspiracy” to stall the temple’s construction. On September 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), specifically the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, closed its investigation into BAPS, finding no grounds for criminal charges, effectively clearing the organisation of the allegations.

The civil lawsuit, previously on hold due to the DOJ probe, is now set to resume in federal court, with nine plaintiffs continuing their claims. BAPS attorneys have maintained that the workers were volunteers performing seva (religious service), not employees, and that the organisation complied with U.S. labour and immigration laws. The closure of the DOJ investigation has been hailed by BAPS as a vindication, reinforcing their stand that the temple was built through love, dedication, and volunteer service. The initial allegations, amplified by media and leftist activists, fuelled anti-Hindu sentiment, despite the lack of conclusive evidence.

Other States: Textbook Controversies and Hinduphobia Allegations

Efforts to reshape perceptions of Hinduism have surfaced in educational contexts in some states. In 2005 and 2016, Hindu nationalist groups, including HAF and the Vedic Foundation, lobbied to revise California’s sixth-grade textbooks, seeking to downplay the caste related twisted references and emphasise a true version of original, unifying Hindu history.

Similar efforts in Texas pushed for textbook revisions, facing opposition from left-leaning academics who accused them of whitewashing their version of “history”. In Virginia, Hindu Americans reported vandalism and harassment, such as the 2014 defacement of homes in Loudoun County with anti-Hindu messages like “No Hindus.” Such incidents fuelled massive “Hinduphobia,” a term describing perceived anti-Hindu bias. Such incidents, combined with legislative and educational efforts, reflect a pattern of targeting Hindu Americans, always amplified by leftist narratives conflating Hinduism with caste discrimination.

Transnational Repression vs. Cross-Border Terrorism: Exposing Leftist Hypocrisy

The United Nations, through frameworks like UN Security Council briefings and reports by leftist organisation “Freedom House”, defines transnational repression (TNR) as actions by governments to silence dissent among diaspora communities abroad through harassment, surveillance, intimidation, or violence, including assassinations and enforced disappearances.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) describes TNR as foreign governments reaching beyond their borders to intimidate or harm diaspora members, violating U.S. law and individual rights.

In contrast, cross-border terrorism involves violent acts orchestrated by state or non-state actors across national boundaries to destabilise societies and nations, often targeting innocent unarmed civilians, often including women and children, to instil fear or terror.

The UN has struggled to define terrorism universally, a gap exploited by some forces to evade accountability, particularly in cases involving Pakistan-based groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people, including six Americans.

For Hindu Americans, the TNR narrative, often applied to Pakistani Khalistani operatives hiding maliciously behind Sikh and Kashmiri identities, abusing these identities as human shields. It has been misused to accuse the Indian government of targeting critics abroad, such as during the 2021 “Dismantling Global Hindutva” conference, which Hindu groups like HAF opposed, alleging anti-Hindu bias.

However, the real threat to Hindu Americans and India is cross-border terrorism, through CCP-occupied China and Pakistan-supported networks operating on U.S. soil.

For instance, the 2023 vandalism of the BAPS temple in Cary, North Carolina, with pro-Khalistani slogans, and attacks on Indian consulates in San Francisco in 2023, linked to Khalistani separatist groups, highlight this threat. The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), accused by Hindu groups of funnelling funds to anti-India causes, has been linked to events glorifying terrorists like Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander.

Leftist activists, including those behind SB 403 and SB 509, are accused of hypocrisy for amplifying TNR allegations against India while ignoring or even tacitly or openly supporting anti-Hindu and anti-India terrorism, often under the guise of free speech. (Notably, the same groups are behind Anti-semitic and even anti-American campaigns.)

These activists, backed by groups like Equality Labs and HfHR, weaponise caste and TNR narratives to vilify Hindu Americans, aligning with narratives linked to anti-India agendas, including those influenced by CCP-occupied China, thus undermining U.S.-India relations and enabling terrorist networks to operate with impunity.

Role of Leftist and Anti-Caste Activism

Groups like Equality Labs and Hindus for Human Rights have been central to anti-caste and anti-TNR advocacy, framing caste as pervasive within Hindu American communities and TNR as a threat to diaspora rights.

Equality Labs’ 2018 report, “Caste in the United States,” claimed widespread caste discrimination, though diaspora representatives, including HAF, challenged its methodology as unscientific. HfHR, positioning itself as a “progressive” Hindu voice, has supported anti-caste measures like SB 403 and anti-TNR measures like SB 509, arguing that Hindu nationalist groups suppress criticism of caste and Hindutva by labelling it “Hinduphobic.” These organisations align with leftist movements critical of India’s nationalists and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 2021 “Dismantling Global Hindutva” conference, co-sponsored by left-leaning U.S. universities, was responsible for fuelling anti-Hindu sentiments. Such malafide activism exaggerates caste’s relevance and TNR’s applicability in the U.S. to target Hindu Americans, potentially aligning with anti-India agendas influenced by geopolitical rivals like CCP-occupied China and Pakistan.

Political and Geopolitical Implications

The weaponisation of caste and TNR narratives, as seen in SB 403 and SB 509, is an attempt to weaken Hindu American unity and the U.S.-India strategic partnership, a key counterbalance to CCP-occupied China’s global influence. Hindu Americans, numbering over 4 million and among the highest-educated ethnic groups, are viewed as a threat by those seeking to undermine America’s democratic institutions and its alliance with India. Legislative efforts like SB 403 and SB 509 are seen as targeting Hindu Americans to portray them as discriminatory or complicit in TNR, alienating them from other Americans.

The involvement of figures like Senator Aisha Wahab (SB 403) and Senator Anna Caballero (SB 509), both tied to leftist Democratic agendas, is itself akin to proof of the leftist-Jihadi nexus.

Newsom’s veto of SB 403, influenced by Hindu American advocacy and concerns about U.S.-India relations, sets a precedent, but his pending decision on SB 509 remains critical, with significant implications for the Hindu American community and bilateral ties.

Hindu American Resilience and Response

Hindu Americans have mobilised to counter divisive narratives. Organisations like HAF, CoHNA, and APNADB have educated lawmakers about caste’s complexities and TNR’s misapplication in the U.S. context. The veto of SB 403 and resistance to Seattle’s ordinance reflect the community’s growing influence. In New Jersey, BAPS’s exoneration by the DOJ in September 2025 has been a significant victory, countering the narrative of caste-based exploitation and reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to seva. The “CA vs. Hate” hotline, launched in 2023 by the Civil Rights Department, documented 24 verified cases of anti-Hindu bias in its first year, highlighting efforts to combat “Hinduphobia.” Hindu Americans continue to promote unity and integration, emphasising shared values of equality, freedom and democracy.

Conclusion

The campaign to weaponise caste and TNR against Hindu Americans, evident in California’s SB 403 and SB 509, Seattle, New Jersey, and beyond, reflects a concerted effort to divide communities and undermine Hindu contributions to the U.S.

By exaggerating caste’s relevance and associating it solely with Hinduism, and by misapplying TNR to target India’s efforts against cross-border terrorism, leftist activists, supported by groups like Equality Labs and HfHR, want the perpetuation of stereotypes for fuelling discord. Legislative measures like SB 403 and SB 509, while framed as civil rights initiatives, are actually targeting Hindu Americans to weaken their unity and the U.S.-India partnership and ultimately the U.S. nationalism and the American Dream.

The contrast between TNR and cross-border terrorism exposes leftist hypocrisy, as they amplify unfounded TNR allegations while ignoring real terrorist threats against Hindus and India, including in the U.S. and against all non-violent faithful Americans.

The DOJ’s closure of the BAPS investigation in September 2025, clearing the organisation of criminal charges, underscores the need for evidence-based discourse and counters the narrative of caste-based exploitation.

Hindu Americans, through advocacy and civic engagement, continue to counter these narratives, emphasising their role as law-abiding, progressive contributors to America’s growth story.

Their resilience will be crucial in fostering unity and strengthening ties between the world’s two largest democracies, as both face the anti-democratic forces.