A legislation has been introduced by an Indian-American lawmaker in the state of Michigan, United States, to classify defacing a place of worship as a hate crime. Michigan State Representative Ranjeev Puri, whose parents immigrated from Amritsar to the US in the 1970s, has also put forth a bill to designate Diwali, Baisakhi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and Lunar New Year as official state holidays in Michigan.
Puri, currently serving his second term as State Representative and holding the influential position of Michigan House Majority Whip, has been actively addressing social issues. The proposed legislation aims to update the definition of hate crimes, which has remained unchanged since 1988, to encompass acts of vandalism and desecration targeting religious institutions. Puri believes that the revised legislation would facilitate the prosecution of individuals involved in vandalizing places such as temples, mosques, or gurdwaras.
Puri’s personal background and the influence of his father, who played a key role in establishing the first Sikh gurdwara in Wisconsin, have likely shaped his commitment to safeguarding places of worship and promoting inclusivity. By introducing these bills, Puri seeks to address various societal challenges and ensure equal protection under the law.
