California‘s Anti- Intimidation Bill– In the heart of California’s State Capitol, a contentious bill has sparked intense debate among Indian American communities.
The proposed legislation aims to equip law enforcement officers with the necessary training to recognize and respond to transnational repression, a phenomenon where foreign governments target diaspora communities on US soil.
While some groups wholeheartedly support the bill, others vehemently oppose it, citing concerns over potential biases and misapplication.
At the forefront of the bill’s supporters is Senator Anna Caballero, a Democrat who emphasizes the critical gap in California’s public safety system.
“California can’t protect our most vulnerable communities if our officers don’t even recognize the threat,” she stresses.
The bill, co-authored by California’s first Sikh Assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains and Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, seeks to bridge this gap by providing law enforcement with the necessary training to identify foreign interference.
The Sikh community, in particular, has been vocal about the need for this legislation. With an estimated 250,000 Sikhs residing in California, the community has faced a spate of attacks and threats over the past two years, which US and Canadian officials have accused India of orchestrating.
Gurtej Singh Cheema, a retired clinical professor of internal medicine, drove 620 kilometers from Los Angeles to Sacramento to testify in support of the bill. “Any efforts that help a community feel safe, and you are a part of that community – naturally, you would support it,” he says.
However, not everyone shares Cheema’s enthusiasm. Critics argue that the bill risks targeting sections of the diaspora, particularly Hindu Americans opposed to the Khalistan movement, and could deepen biases against India and Hindu Americans.
Samir Kalra, managing director at the Hindu American Foundation, has emerged as one of the bill’s most vocal opponents. “I believe that they have not gone far enough in providing adequate guardrails and safeguards to ensure that law enforcement does not institutionalize biases against groups from specific countries of origin and or with certain viewpoints on geopolitical issues,” Kalra asserts.
The bill’s detractors also point to the supporters of the legislation, noting that the vast majority are of Indian origin and have focused on India in their comments and press statements.
“It’s very clear that the true target of this bill is India and Indian Americans,” Kalra says. Many Hindu temples, he adds, have been desecrated in recent months with pro-Khalistan slogans, and the bill could lead to law enforcement downplaying these incidents.
Despite these concerns, proponents of the bill argue that it is a necessary measure to protect vulnerable communities.
Harman Singh, executive director of the Sikh Coalition, emphasizes that the training will be created by professionals within law enforcement organizations, rather than a small group of activists.
“If a gurdwara committee leader calls the police to report a man who claims to be from the government of India coming to the gurdwara asking about other committee members’ immigration status, the trained officers will react to that very differently than those who aren’t,” Singh says.
The bill’s fate remains uncertain as it heads to the California Senate for another vote. If passed, it will be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature. The outcome will have significant implications for California’s Indian American community and beyond.
For Cheema, the bill represents more than just policy – it symbolizes recognition and protection on US soil. “I could be the next victim if law enforcement in my community is not able to recognize foreign interference,” he says. “It doesn’t matter who is indulging in it or which country, I would naturally like my police officers to be aware of the threats.”
As the debate surrounding the bill continues, it is clear that the issue of transnational repression is complex and multifaceted. While some groups push for greater protections, others express concerns over potential biases and misapplication.
Ultimately, the bill’s success will depend on its ability to balance these competing interests and provide meaningful protection to California’s diaspora communities.
The California bill is not an isolated incident. In recent years, there have been growing concerns over alleged Indian government efforts to target Sikh dissidents in North America.
In 2023, Canada officially accused India of masterminding the assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. India has rejected the accusation, but relations between the two nations remain tense.
In the US, prosecutors have accused Indian intelligence agencies of plotting the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a New York-based Sikh activist. These incidents have left many Sikhs on edge, fearing for their safety and questioning whether law enforcement can protect them.
As the California bill navigates the legislative process, it is clear that the issue of transnational repression will continue to be a pressing concern for diaspora communities.
The controversy surrounding California’s anti-intimidation bill has brought to light deeper divisions within the Indian American community.
While some groups, like the Sikh Coalition and Hindus for Human Rights, support the bill, others, such as the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America, vehemently oppose it.
Critics argue that the bill could institutionalize biases against specific communities, particularly Hindu Americans.
Samir Kalra, managing director at the Hindu American Foundation, expresses concerns that the bill’s supporters seem to be targeting India and Indian Americans.
“The vast majority of supporters of this bill who have shown up to multiple hearings are of Indian origin and have focused on India in their comments and press statements around this bill,” Kalra says.
Meanwhile, Hindu leaders have been rallying against rising Hinduphobia and targeted hate crimes in America. Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar has joined a group of Hindu leaders and organizations seeking to fight this growing hate crime against the community.
Suhag Shukla from the Hindu American Foundation notes that college campuses are experiencing rampant anti-Hindu bias and hate, with a spike in anti-Hindu incidents over the past two years.
California has previously seen controversy over caste-based discrimination. Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have banned caste discrimination, citing existing laws that already protect people from such bias.
The Hindu American community lauded this decision, saying it was brought with the sole intention of “stereotyping the community”. The bill’s opponents argued that it unfairly targeted South Asians and Hindus.
As the debate surrounding the anti-intimidation bill continues, it’s clear that finding a balance between protecting vulnerable communities and avoiding biases will be crucial.
The bill’s proponents argue that it’s necessary to equip law enforcement with the necessary training to recognize and respond to transnational repression.
Opponents, however, caution that the bill could be misused, targeting specific communities and exacerbating existing tensions. Ultimately, the bill’s success will depend on its ability to address these competing concerns.