Targeting of Hindu Americans delegates by the radically progressive: The SB 509 Quagmire

Recently, Governor Newsom called his party 'toxic' and out of touch" in a refreshing and informative podcast (LA Times, March 30th, 2025).

- GEETA SIKAND VP Communications, Americans4Hindus

I appreciate what Newsom is trying to do. His aim is to rebrand the left. "Because our party's getting our ass kicked. Because the Democratic Party brand is 'toxic' and 'out of touch'. Because people don't think we make any damn sense. They think we make noise. They don't think we have their values. You fill in the generic them. They think we're elite. We talk down to people and we talk past people. They think we just think we're smarter than other people, that we're so judgmental and full of ourselves," said Governor Newsom.

Despite Newsom's willingness to ask open-ended questions, he omitted something I wish he hadn't. He forgot to mention the: 1) gas lighting of Hindus (2023 SB 403), 2) chiding and shunning of Hindus (2020 Dismantling Global Hindutva Conference), and 3) bashing of Hindus (AB 3027, SB 509) by the extreme left progressives within the Democratic Party.

"Due to our opposition to SB 509, we the elected Hindu delegates in the Democratic Party are facing intimidation in the social media by Hinduphobic elements within the party," said Satish Chandra Vale, an elected Hindu American Delegate in the California Democratic Party and the National Convenor of Americans4Hindus (A4H).

The Hindu delegates cited the detrimental impact of SB 509 on society such as safeguarding our right to free speech, and compromised social harmony. Satish Chandra Vale and the other four Hindu delegates felt helpless & dejected at the leftist progressive Democrats for gas lighting their own Party's delegates. This dissent from the party's mainstream narrative led to the bludgeoning backlash and bullying from certain "anti-Hindu Elements" within the Democratic Party.