US Congressman Brandon Gill stirred controversy after criticizing an Indian-origin individual on X and labeling a Patidar community volleyball tournament in the US as “casteist.” His remarks faced strong opposition from Indian-Americans, who argued that such statements fuel anti-Indian and anti-Hindu sentiment.
Gill, a Texas representative, insisted that America should not accommodate “foreign class allegiances” and warned that unchecked immigration without cultural assimilation could lead to a “national and cultural downfall.”
His comments sparked a debate on social media, with some Indian-Americans correcting his understanding of caste, while others echoed his concerns. Many emphasized that a community gathering is different from a caste-based division.
“America thrives as the ‘land of opportunity’ precisely because we do not have a caste system,” Gill posted on X. “We cannot sustain prosperity and liberty by importing foreign class allegiances. Unassimilated immigration leads to cultural collapse.”
His remarks were in response to Dylan Patel, a Gujarati entrepreneur, who praised the volleyball event in the US, which had drawn a crowd of 8,000 attendees out of approximately 40,000 Patidars in the country.
Patel had described the gathering as a reflection of a shared way of life among Gujarati immigrants. His post gained traction, drawing mixed reactions, including Gill’s concern over “caste allegiances.”
Patel responded by calling the criticism misplaced. “People misunderstand the caste system and reduce it to a few broad categories. This is just a tight-knit community event with shared experiences,” he wrote.
Gill’s statement triggered an outpouring of responses. Some criticized his misrepresentation of caste, while others backed his concerns about cultural divisions.
Scholar Lavanya Vemsani pointed out that the term “caste” was being misused. “This is merely a community gathering, not a caste-based division. Using such rhetoric fuels anti-India narratives based on outdated colonial interpretations,” she said.
Another Indian-American, Suhag A. Shukla, Executive Director of the Hindu American Foundation, also condemned Gill’s remarks, warning that such comments contributed to growing anti-Indian and anti-Hindu hostility.
“Respectfully, Rep. Gill, your misuse of the term ‘caste’ is fostering hate. This was simply a community reunion of Indian-American immigrants,” Shukla wrote.
However, some agreed with Gill, arguing that caste divisions were incompatible with Western democracy. One user commented, “Only immigrants who assimilate should be welcomed.” Another even suggested, “Revoke their visas.”
Gill is no stranger to controversy. He recently announced a plan to introduce a bill proposing that Donald Trump’s face replace Benjamin Franklin on the $100 bill.
He has also been a vocal critic of USAID’s DEI policies, LGBTQ+ initiatives, and taxpayer-funded projects. In a separate move, he launched a petition calling for the deportation of Rep. Ilhan Omar, stating that she should be sent back to Somalia.
“America would be better off if Ilhan Omar were deported,” Gill declared, urging supporters to sign his petition.
