US Lawmakers Urge Indian-Americans to Enter Politics at All Levels

Two Indian-American members of the US Congress have called on the community to increase its participation in public office, speaking at an event in Washington marking 250 years of American independence.

Congressmen Shri Thanedar of Michigan and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois addressed a gathering organised by the Indian American Committee, urging Indian-Americans to run for positions from local councils to the US Senate.

Thanedar, a Democrat, said the United States was built by immigrants and that hatred towards immigrant communities should not be tolerated. He stated that change requires more people to enter public service, and that the country needs more Indian-Americans at all levels of government.

Krishnamoorthi, also a Democrat, spoke about anti-India sentiment in parts of the US. He said, “We are here to stay. We are part of the fabric of this country,” recalling an incident where he faced calls for deportation. He emphasised that the community would oppose anti-India and anti-Hindu hatred, along with all forms of prejudice and discrimination.

Krishnamoorthi noted that Indian-Americans are among the best-educated and most prosperous communities in the US, comprising 10 per cent of all doctors and owning 60 per cent of hotels and motels. He urged Indian-Americans to contest elections regardless of party affiliation, warning that the stakes are too high to remain uninvolved.

The event highlighted the slow growth of Indian-American political representation. According to a 2024 ABC News interview featuring Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, Thanedar, and Krishnamoorthi, Indian-Americans have grown from about 12,000 in 1960 to roughly 5 million today, making them the largest Asian-alone group in the country. Yet only five of 535 members of Congress were Indian-American at the time.

Jayapal said stronger representation could change perceptions of opportunity and encourage greater democratic participation, adding, “We’ve got a real opportunity to increase our numbers for Indian-Americans.”

The event was organised by the Indian American Committee, led by Narasimha Koppula, Ramesh Kapur, Deepak Raj, Shekhar Tiwari, and Harsh Sethi, and was held to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.