US lawmakers urge Indian-Americans to enter politics, fight anti-India hate

US lawmakers Shri Thanedar and Raja Krishnamoorthi urged Indian-Americans to enter public office at a Washington event. They said stronger civic participation is needed to counter anti-India hatred and defend immigrant rights.Stock photo used for illustrationUS lawmakers Shri Thanedar and Raja Krishnamoorthi have said they will fight anti-India hatred in the United States and urged Indian-Americans to take part in civic life by contesting public office. They were speaking at an event marking the 250th anniversary of US Independence organised by the Indian American Committee in Washington.Both leaders said the Indian-American community is an important part of the country and should be represented more strongly in public life. They asked members of the diaspora to consider contesting elections at the local, state and national levels.Addressing the event on Saturday evening, Thanedar, a Democrat and Congressman from Michigan, said some people often forget that the US is a country of immigrants. He said, "The hate that we have seen across America against immigrants must not be tolerated. We must... we must demand that the immigrants and their culture and their contribution to this great country be honoured and respected every day." He added, "The only way we can change is when many of us come into public service, serve our country with the vigour and the knowledge that we can do. We need to see more Indian Americans in our political arena serving at various levels - local levels, state levels, and national levels."Krishnamoorthi, the Congressman from Illinois, also spoke about anti-India hatred in some parts of the US and said he would fight back. Recalling an incident in which he faced calls for his deportation to India, he said, "We are here to stay. We are part of the fabric of this country. And on America's 250th birthday, we are going to fight back." He added, "We're going to fight back against anti-Indian hatred. We're gonna fight back against anti-Hindu hatred. We're gonna fight back against all forms of prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination toward anybody." Krishnamoorthi, who lost the Democratic primary for the US Senate from Illinois in March this year, said Indian-Americans are an integral part of the US. He said the community is the best educated and the most prosperous in the country, makes up 10 per cent of all doctors in the US, and owns 60 per cent of all hotels and motels. He urged Indian-Americans to contest public office at the local level, city council, state House and senate, and the US Congress and Senate, saying, "I don't care if you're a Republican, I don't care if you're independent, I don't care if you're a Democrat. It's time to run. Why? Because the stakes could not be higher. Because we are being tested." The event was organised by the Indian American Committee, led by Narasimha Koppula, Ramesh Kapur, Deepak Raj, Shekhar Tiwari and Harsh Sethi. The US celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, and the speakers used the occasion to call for greater political participation and a united response to hatred and discrimination.With PTI Inputs - EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Jul 26, 2026 20:36 IST