Nikki Haley, Indian-American Republican Governor, faced flak from the Donald Trump supporters, as she cited her family's immigrant experience to warn against rhetoric that could make hardworking people feel unwelcome in the US. (AP photo)
Asian American leaders have termed the call given by supporters of Donald Trump to deport Indian-American Republican Governor Nikki Haley as 'silly' and 'unfortunate' while criticising politics that targets people based on religion and race in the US.
"There is no need to answer the question on deportation (of Nikki Haley as being demanded by some of the Trump supporters). It (such a demand) is silly," Shekar Narasimhan, chairman of the AAPI Victory Fund, said yesterday.
The Indian-American Republican Governor on Wednesday faced flak from the supporters of her party's presidential candidate Donald Trump, as she cited her family's immigrant experience to warn against rhetoric that could make hardworking people feel unwelcome in the US.
"We all listened (to Haley)," Mr Narasimhan said in response to a question at the launch of the AAPI Victory Fund, which aims at encouraging Asian Americans to come out and vote in the November presidential elections.
"The (Asian American) community is up in arms about it (what the Republican frontrunner has said). Absolutely. But it is unfortunately not entirely unexpected," Dilawar Syed, co-founder and vice chairman of the AAPI Victory Fund, said.
"We have heard some horrible things this election season. There is a frankly shocking narrative of division, absolutely hate and total bigotry. That is un-American. That is dangerous... It is time for the community to step up," Mr Syed said.
"Because not only we are getting our act together and putting our resources on one platform, but also we are finding the fastest growing electorate, the most strategic electorate, the most influential electorate charged on these issues," Mr Syed said, adding that such a rhetoric is unacceptable.
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said the comments against Haley are "very unfortunate" so is the kind of rhetoric coming from some of the campaigns.
Mr Syed said there has been a rise in this type of rhetoric, from the use of racial slurs or the mocking of Asian accents, to misdirecting blame to entire AAPI communities for concerns ranging from economic competition from Asia to terrorist acts committed by extremists.