Gavin Newsom veto - Great USA News

California’s political stage just witnessed a storm few saw coming. Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent veto of the caste discrimination bill (SB403) and the transnational repression bill (SB509) has ignited fierce debate across the Hindu American community. What began as a legal move has now spiraled into a larger cultural flashpoint — one that’s redefining identity, religion, and representation in California politics.

Supporters call it a stand for constitutional fairness, while critics see it as a step back in the fight against caste bias. Between accusations of anti-Hindu bias, political posturing, and rising diaspora activism, Newsom’s twin vetoes have opened a deep conversation about how far California’s progressive politics can stretch before clashing with the beliefs of Indian Americans.

As the dust settles, one question lingers — is this a bold act of balance or a misstep that could cost Newsom the trust of a growing voter bloc?

Story Highlights

The Hindu American community, a major part of the Indian diaspora, challenges what it sees as a “weaponized” caste narrative.
Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed California’s SB 403 (Caste Ban Bill) in 2023 and SB 509 (Transnational Repression Bill) in 2025.
Critics call the vetoes a “double whammy” — political moves that both stereotype and court the community.
Hindu advocacy groups like HAF and CoHNA warn against growing Hinduphobia in American politics.
Left-leaning coalitions and progressive lawmakers continue pushing caste legislation despite legal and community backlash.

A Community Under Scrutiny

Across the United States, the Hindu American community—roughly two-thirds of the country’s five million Indian Americans—finds itself navigating a politically charged terrain. At the center of this conversation lies the enduring and often misunderstood concept of caste.

What began as a limited social categorization tied to occupation and ritual identity centuries ago in India has become, in recent years, a global flashpoint in political and academic circles. Many Hindus argue that caste, as a discriminatory structure, no longer defines their social or religious life. Yet, in the United States, activists and politicians continue to frame it as a pressing civil rights concern.

For many Hindu Americans, that framing feels deeply unfair. “It’s like being branded for something your society has already moved past,” said one Bay Area professional who attended a protest organized by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).

The Origins of the “Weaponization” Debate

The term “weaponizing caste” has entered the political lexicon of the diaspora, reflecting a sense that the issue has been repurposed for ideological goals.

Hindu advocacy groups, including HAF and the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), say certain leftist coalitions and activist networks are exploiting caste to vilify Hindus—much as conservative nationalists in the U.S. or Europe are sometimes stereotyped as “racists” or “Nazis.”

“Caste is being used as a political weapon,” a CoHNA spokesperson noted, “not to protect anyone, but to divide communities and stigmatize one faith in particular.”

Groups such as Equality Labs and Hindus for Human Rights have spearheaded campaigns to ban caste-based discrimination in American workplaces and universities. However, Hindu advocacy groups argue that these laws are redundant since existing ancestry and religion protections already address such concerns.

The Caste Ban Bill (SB 403): A Flashpoint in 2023

In 2023, California’s Senate Bill 403—authored by Senator Aisha Wahab (D–Hayward)—sought to explicitly add “caste” as a protected category under the state’s anti-discrimination laws.

The bill gained traction after weeks of campaigning by Equality Labs, whose director, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, undertook a hunger strike in support of the legislation. The movement found favor among progressive circles in Silicon Valley and university campuses.

But it also met fierce resistance. Hindu groups organized rallies across California, calling the proposal “deeply flawed” and “inherently discriminatory.” They contended that it singled out Hindus, ignored caste dynamics in other South Asian faiths, and relied on unverified survey data.

“Adding caste would have legitimized profiling,” said HAF Executive Director Suhag Shukla. “The law already protects everyone. Why isolate one community?”

Governor Gavin Newsom eventually vetoed SB 403 on October 7, 2023. His statement described the bill as “unnecessary,” explaining that existing protections for ancestry and religion were sufficient. While many in the Hindu community celebrated the decision, others viewed it as politically calculated.

Behind the scenes, prominent Indian American donors reportedly warned that passing the bill could alienate Hindu voters and strain U.S.–India relations, especially amid ongoing geopolitical tensions with China.

The Transnational Repression Bill (SB 509): A Repeat Scene

Two years later, a similar controversy unfolded.

In 2025, Senator Anna Caballero (D–Merced) introduced Senate Bill 509, which aimed to train California law enforcement agencies to identify “transnational repression” — or attempts by foreign governments to intimidate or harm dissidents living abroad.

The bill referenced incidents such as the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist in Canada. Yet, Hindu organizations quickly warned that its broad language on “foreign proxies” could unfairly target Indian Americans involved in diaspora advocacy.

“This would have placed an invisible mark on anyone who speaks in favor of India,” argued a CoHNA spokesperson. “It could have turned loyal citizens into suspects.”

Governor Newsom vetoed SB 509 on October 13, 2025, citing fiscal concerns and overlap with federal enforcement efforts. Once again, the veto was celebrated by Hindu groups—but viewed through the lens of political triangulation.

The “Double Whammy” Effect in California Politics

Political analysts have called this pattern the “double whammy effect.”

In both cases, the Hindu community first faced profiling and stereotyping through controversial legislation. Then, after public backlash, the governor’s vetoes appeared to reverse the damage, earning goodwill and political capital in the process.

“First, you get painted as the problem. Then, you’re told you’ve been saved,” said one observer in Los Angeles. “It’s smart politics—but the community isn’t fooled.”

With nearly 800,000 Indian Americans in California, the demographic has significant electoral weight. Analysts suggest that the vetoes may have helped Newsom retain favor among Hindu American voters and donors, particularly in swing suburbs of the Bay Area and Southern California.

Former Federal Election Commission chair Ann Ravel told the Washington Post that the move likely influenced both vote flow and fund flow in upcoming races — a telling sign of California’s complex political calculus.

A Growing Divide in the Diaspora

Despite the vetoes, the caste debate in America shows no sign of fading. Progressive groups continue to press for legislation at city and federal levels, while Hindu organizations fight to counter what they call “institutional Hinduphobia.”

According to the FBI, reported incidents of anti-Hindu hate have risen for four consecutive years. At the same time, internal divisions among Indian Americans have deepened, with younger generations often more receptive to “equity-based” approaches than their elders.

A 2023 Washington Post analysis found that Indian Americans are split: some support measures addressing social equity, while others view them as stigmatizing and exclusionary.

“The community is at a crossroads,” said a sociologist at UC Berkeley. “It’s trying to balance heritage pride with the need to belong in America’s broader diversity framework.”

Beyond California: A National Conversation

The debate is no longer confined to the West Coast. Cities like Seattle and Fresno have already passed caste discrimination bans, and lawmakers such as Rep. Pramila Jayapal have introduced federal-level discussions. Meanwhile, a 27-member congressional caucus representing Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh voices has emerged to oppose any legislation that could single out specific faith groups.

Observers note that these battles are shaping a new kind of diaspora politics — one where religion, ethnicity, and global geopolitics intersect in ways unseen before.

Conclusion: Between Identity and Politics

The controversy surrounding SB 403 and SB 509 has revealed more than just a policy disagreement; it has exposed the fragile dynamics of diaspora identity in American politics.

Governor Newsom’s vetoes underscore how minority issues can be leveraged for votes rather than solutions. For many Hindu Americans, the challenge now is to preserve unity, dignity, and visibility in a polarized landscape where every issue risks being politicized.

As the community looks toward 2028 and beyond, one question lingers:
Can Hindu Americans shape their own narrative — or will they remain caught in the crossfire of political convenience?

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California has taken a bold legislative step with the passage of SB 509, a measure aimed at combating what it calls “transnational repression.” The bill, cleared by both the Senate and the Assembly, seeks to protect diaspora communities from harassment by foreign governments. But its passage has set off alarms among Indian-origin Hindu Americans, who fear the law could have the opposite effect.

The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), a Washington-based rights group, confirmed the development on September 12 in a social media post:

“Both houses of California’s state legislature just passed the highly controversial, heavily amended SB 509, that would target India and Indian Americans in mandated training about ‘transnational repression,’” HAF wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Story Highlights – Read Box

California SB 509 Bill Passed by both houses, focusing on “transnational repression.”
HAF Raises Alarm, warning it could silence opposition to Khalistan extremism.
Governor Newsom Urged to Veto as critics point to risks for Indian-origin Americans.
Mandated Training by 2027 for law enforcement on “transnational repression” tactics.
First Amendment Questions as opponents cite lack of strong safeguards.

Inside SB 509: What the Bill Seeks to Do

SB 509 defines “transnational repression” as actions by a foreign government or its agents—physical, digital, or analog—intended to intimidate, silence, coerce, harass, or harm members of diaspora or exile communities. It labels such conduct a human rights violation and directs California to:

Protect individuals and organizations in the state.
Pursue prosecutions where appropriate.
Provide support services to communities credibly targeted.
Hold foreign governments accountable and limit their influence on state policy.
Coordinate with federal agencies on related laws.

The bill also instructs the Office of Emergency Services to develop a “transnational repression recognition and response” training program for local and state law enforcement. The training is due by January 1, 2027, and will cover tactics, governments known to employ them, best practices for prevention, and outreach to affected communities.

Fears of Misuse and Community Backlash

HAF says that, despite amendments it helped secure, the bill remains “deeply problematic.” In a statement, the group explained:

“Proponents of this bill and previous failed versions sought to silence advocacy against the separatist Khalistan movement, deeply tied to transnational terror attacks,” HAF said.

Community leaders argue that the measure could be weaponized to label anyone tracking or criticizing violent separatist movements as being “radicalized by state-sponsored propaganda.”

India’s government has been outspoken in opposing Khalistani activism abroad. Under SB 509’s broad language, critics warn, India could be classified as a “foreign government” engaged in “transnational repression,” placing Indian-origin activists or organizations under suspicion.

Who Gets to Speak for the “Targeted Communities”?

Another sticking point is the bill’s outreach language. The amended version calls for “culturally competent outreach to diverse impacted diaspora communities and subject matter experts” to support effective law-enforcement responses.

Critics worry that Khalistani groups operating from American soil could be labeled as “communities targeted by transnational repression” and even be consulted as “community experts,” giving them a platform while sidelining Hindu Americans opposed to separatism.

The Free Speech Question

Although the bill says it will not prohibit First Amendment rights, opponents argue it lacks adequate guardrails. With no clear safeguards, they fear the measure could chill lawful advocacy and speech against violent separatism.

Governor Gavin Newsom now faces calls to veto the measure before it becomes law. Supporters of SB 509 argue it will shield vulnerable communities from foreign intimidation; opponents say it risks branding victims as perpetrators.

Why It Matters

The debate over SB 509 reflects a broader challenge in U.S. policy: how to protect diaspora communities from harassment by foreign states without undermining free speech and civic activism. For Indian-origin Hindu Americans, the law’s passage has turned that challenge into an urgent fight over their right to oppose extremism without being labeled as aggressors.

The passage of California’s SB 509 Bill highlights the growing tension between protecting diaspora communities from real threats and safeguarding their freedom to speak out. Supporters say the measure will shield vulnerable groups from foreign intimidation, while critics warn it could stigmatize Indian-origin Hindu Americans and chill lawful activism against the Khalistan movement. As Governor Gavin Newsom weighs whether to sign or veto SB 509, the debate over “transnational repression” has become a pivotal test of how far California is willing to go in balancing security with free expression.