“I condemn in the strongest terms the ordinance passed by the Seattle City Council. Caste discrimination simply doesn’t exist now. Adding it to their non-discrimination policy is Hinduphobic, and is a tool those that are anti-Hindu use to discriminate against Hindus in America, in India, and around the world,” Niraj Antani, the first Hindu and Indian-American State Senator in Ohio’s history, said in a statement.

“Instead of passing this racist policy, Seattle should be passing policies to protect Hindus from discrimination,” he added.