Seattle has come the first US megacity to outlaw estate demarcation after its original council passed a resolution, moved by an Indian-American politician and economist, to add estate to itsnon-discrimination policy. The resolution moved by Kshama Sawant, an upper-estate Hindu, was approved by the Seattle City Council by six to one vote. The results of the vote could have far-reaching counter accusations on the issue of estate demarcation in the US.
The measure has been opposed by some Hindu American groups, who argue a ban isn’t necessary as US law formerly prohibits similar demarcation. In an open letter, the Washington DC- grounded Hindu American Federation said that while the constitution’s pretensions were estimable, it “unfairly targets an entire community on the base of their public origin and strain for distant treatment”. They added that Indian Americans made up less than 2% of Washington state’s population, and argued there was little substantiation of any wide demarcation grounded on estate. Estate demarcation has been banned in India since 1948, still, demarcation continues, especially against the Dalits, who were formerly called” rejects”. “Central to this coalition is a network of further than 30 anti-caste Ambedkarite organisations,” Equality Labs said. Among them are the Ambedkar King Study Circle, Ambedkar International Center, Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas and Boston Study Group.
The Hindu American Foundation, which had campaigned against the resolution, said singling out South Asians and the addition of ‘estate’ to the non-discrimination policy violates the veritable programs it now amends. “The City of Seattle has suggested to treat South Asians (and Southeast Asians and African) in a manner that no other ethnic or ethnical community is treated under the guise ofnon-discrimination. It has suggested yes to differencing against ethical nonages, repeating the ugliness of internationalists in the state nearly a century ago,” Suhag Shukla,co-founder and superintendent director of the Hindu American Foundation said.
