By IANS
Washington : The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), a political awareness group of Indian Americans, Saturday rapped US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's campaign for its "anti-Indian American stereotyping".
In letter to Obama, USINPAC chairman Sanjay Puri stressed on ethics in political campaigning and denounced the politics of stereotyping as exhibited by research notes of the Obama for America campaign, a USINPAC press release said.
"As representatives of the Indian American community, we have been encouraged by Senator Barack Obama's message of inclusion and his promise to bring a new kind of politics to the United States.
"This is why we are so concerned about media reports indicating that his staff may be engaging in the worst kind of anti-Indian American stereotyping," Puri wrote in his letter.
Indian Americans have been caught in the campaign crossfire of the two leading Democratic presidential hopefuls – Obama and former first lady Hillary Clinton.
Obama fired the first salvo shortly after Clinton released her financial information under government ethics rules for presidential candidates.
Obama's team circulated what was purported to be an analysis of "Hillary Clinton (D-Punjab)'s Personal Financial And Political Ties To India".
The title had an apparent reference to a joke that Clinton once made during a fund-raiser in a Sikh supporter's home that she can run for a Senate seat from Punjab and win easily.
The document circulated to news organisations – with the not-for-attribution proviso – referred to the Clintons' investment in India and Hillary Clinton's fund-raising efforts among Indian Americans.
The Clintons have reaped significant financial rewards from their relationship with the Indian community, both in their personal finances and Hillary's campaign fundraising, it alleged.
Hillary Clinton, who is the co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, has drawn criticism from anti-offshoring groups for her vocal support of Indian business and unwillingness to protect American jobs, it said.
It also highlighted the acceptance by her husband bill Clinton of $300,000 in speech fees from Cisco, a company which the Obama campaign said "laid off American workers to hire Indian techies".
In his letter to Obama, Puri stated that USINPAC was proud of the contributions Indian Americans have made, and continue to make to the US.
"We are also proud of the strong relationship shared by the United States and India. This is a vital partnership between the two largest democracies who share common values. Our sincere hope is that you will seek to strengthen this relationship and celebrate the contributions Indian Americans make to our country and the world," Puri wrote.
The letter ended with a request to Obama to respond to the charges.
"We request that you respond directly to these media reports and let us know if indeed your staff is promoting these hurtful stereotypes. We trust that you will take all appropriate action on this matter and look forward to your response on this issue of great concern to the Indian American community."
USINPAC co-founder Robinder Sachdev added in the release that this might be the work of some overzealous supporters of Obama.
"USINPAC is proud to have facilitated the creation of Senate Caucus with Senator Hilary Clinton as co-chair – but we fail to understand why that is anti-American? Or, for that matter, why is Cisco anti-America?" he asked adding that presidential campaigns need to devote proper money and attention to research and communicating their messages.