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Hindu groups raise caution over passage of California bill
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) have condemned the bill’s progression
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 18, Jun 2025
- 10:34 EDT
- 30
Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) / Official logo
Hindu civil rights organizations in California voiced strong opposition to a bill which they say threatens the rights of immigrant-heavy communities while ignoring the documented rise in anti-Hindu hate.
Their opposition comes as Senate Bill 509 (SB 509), aimed at addressing “transnational repression,” has passed the Senate and been referred to the Assembly's Emergency Management Committee, without incorporating any amendments suggested by Hindu advocacy groups.
Also Read: Anti-Hindu hate crimes on the rise in California
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) have condemned the bill’s progression, warning that its “vague language could be weaponized against immigrant-heavy communities, under the guise of tackling ‘transnational repression.’”
Over recent weeks, both organizations submitted proposed amendments to safeguard civil liberties and ensure equal protection across communities, which were rejected by the bill's authors—Senator Anna Caballero and Assembly Members Jasmeet Bains and Esmeralda Soria.
However, the bill was revised to include provisions that, according to the groups, benefit individuals aligned with extremist Khalistani ideologies.
They argue the bill could be misused to target peaceful advocacy—particularly by diaspora groups critical of extremism—while protecting individuals or entities involved in politically motivated violence under the label of “dissent.”
“The Hindu community approached this legislative process in good faith, believing lawmakers would prefer to make a law respectful of the diversity of California’s communities,” said Sudha Jagannathan, a CoHNA board member who testified before the Senate Committee. “It is deeply troubling to see our concerns repeatedly dismissed.”
If enacted, SB 509 would authorize the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to train law enforcement on identifying “patterns of behavior” linked to transnational repression.
Urgent-For California Residents Only – Say No to SB 509
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) June 17, 2025
The Bill has now advanced to the assembly, with vague language that could be weaponized against immigrant heavy communities, under the guise of tackling “transnational repression.” Meanwhile, anti-Hindu hate is… pic.twitter.com/NgztBhN8hy
Critics argue Cal OES lacks both the constitutional mandate and subject-matter expertise to deal with matters traditionally under federal jurisdiction, such as national security and foreign policy.
“SB 509 lacks the adequate guardrails necessary to prevent trainings on transnational repression from being politicized,” said Samir Kalra, managing director of HAF and a civil rights attorney.
“More dangerously, under the guise of protecting ‘dissent,’ SB 509 would empower law enforcement to criminally prosecute diaspora groups and community organizations who merely speak out against terrorism and extremism, by accusing them of being foreign ‘agents’ or engaging in ‘transnational repression,’” Kalra added.
The criticism comes amid a spike in hate incidents targeting Hindu communities. “Four temples have been vandalized in 14 months in the state, but no arrests have been made so far,”
CoHNA said in a public statement. According to California’s Hate Helpline, anti-Hindu hate is now the second most frequently reported category of hate incidents in the state, after antisemitism.
Despite these developments, lawmakers have yet to address attacks on Hindu temples or the broader rise in anti-Hindu hate. Community leaders argue the focus on SB 509 signals misplaced priorities and a failure to respond to real threats.
CoHNA and HAF have launched a statewide mobilization effort, urging residents to contact their Assembly Members and Governor Gavin Newsom to reject the legislation. Community outreach includes webinars, online petitions, and email campaigns.
“Ask them to vote no on a bill that ignores real threats and instead discriminates between California communities,” CoHNA wrote on X. “Then ask 5 more Californians to do the same.”
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