New York caste discrimination bills fail to advance: 'As a Bahujan Hindu myself....'

Two legislative bills in New York State that aimed to include caste as a protected category under anti-discrimination laws have failed to advance during the current session. Senate Bill S.6531 and Assembly Bill A.6920, introduced in 2025, sparked significant debate regarding their potential to single out and stereotype Hindus, Indians, and people of South Asian origin living in New York.

The Coalition of Hindus of North America actively campaigned against the bills. They urged residents to contact their assembly members and senators to vote against the legislation. The coalition argued that 'caste' is not a neutral term and proposed that 'ancestry' should be added as a category to New York's Human Rights Law instead.

Following the bills' failure to advance, the coalition expressed its approval. Sudha Jagannathan, the coalition's director of government relations, stated, "As a Bahujan Hindu myself, I have held many meetings with lawmakers in New York for the past two years to share my story and to educate. I find it offensive that New York State would try to weaponize my identity against my own culture and traditions that provide me solace and strength."

The coalition cited a 2024 study from Rutgers University and the Network Contagion Research Institute, which reportedly found that even casual discussions about caste by individuals in positions of power could lead to severe consequences, including increased agreement with anti-Hindu and anti-Indian-American sentiments. Proponents of the failed bills argued that existing laws lack explicit caste protections, potentially deterring victims from reporting discrimination. The bills were sponsored by state Senator James Sanders Jr. and Assemblymember Steven Raga.

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As a Bahujan Hindu myself, I have held many meetings with lawmakers in New York for the past two years to share my story and to educate. I find it offensive that New York State would try to weaponize my identity against my own culture and traditions that provide me solace and strength.