Rep. Thanedar’s New Congressional Caucus That Excludes Indian Muslims and Christians Draws Flak of Civil Rights Groups

Several South Asian American communities and faith-based human rights organizations have denounced the formation of the new Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain American Congressional Caucus for excluding minority and marginalized people. Launched earlier this month by Rep. Shri Thanedar, the caucus aims to combat religious discrimination, promote Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain community needs and foster interfaith dialogue. 

Thanedar, the newest member of the “Samosa Caucus” in the U.S. Congress from Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, announced the formation of the caucus last week on Capitol Hill. He described it as “a movement that strives for understanding, inclusion and affirmative policy actions. A movement that says every faith, every culture, and every community has a place in America.” Twenty-seven Congressmen from both parties have reportedly joined this initiative, according to reports in Indian media. 

However, a few days later, the first-term congressman received criticism from several civil rights groups. In a letter, representatives from Hindus for Human Rights, The Sikh Coalition, The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Emgage, and the Indian American Muslim Council expressed “surprise” to hear of the formation of the caucus “without the consultation of mainstream organizations representing these faith communities, such as ours.” 

While they “welcome any caucus to forward the interests of our and other religious communities, so long as it does so in a way that is inclusive of perspectives of the entire South Asian community across faith, caste, and ethnic lines,” they are however “skeptical that this particular caucus meets that description,” read the letter.