Powerful Hindutva Lobby Flexes its Muscle in California
Last year, California lawmakers voted 31-5 to approve the first state-wide bill (SB 403) explicitly banning caste discrimination . The bill, enjoying broad support among California voters, was sponsored by Senator Aisha Wahab. It was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom under pressure from wealthy political donors belonging to the Hindutva lobby. Senator Aisha Wahab with Supporters of California Law to Ban Caste Discrimination Hindutva Lobby: The Hindutva lobby's opposition to the California anti-caste discrimination bill was spearheaded by Ramesh Kapur, a wealthy Massachusetts entrepreneur. “If you want to be our next president, veto the bill”, Kapur told the governor in no uncertain terms, according to a recent investigative piece written by British journalist Andrew Cockburn and published in the Harper magazine . Here's an excerpt from the article: "The ultimatum was decisive. Kapur said that Newsom emailed him three hours before going publi...