NRI candidate for US called ‘turban topper’

An Indian-American candidate for the US House of Representatives has become a victim of a racially charged slur emanating from the rival camp.

An Indian-American candidate for the US House of Representatives has become a victim of a racially charged slur emanating from the rival camp.

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Raj Goyle, who has clinched the Democratic Party’s nomination, to seek a seat in the US House of Representatives from the state of Kansas for the November 2 mid-term elections, was described as a ‘turban topper’ in an article that was promoted as a “good read” by his Republican opponent’s campaign in a Twitter post.

The article, linked to the Twitter post that was subsequently deleted, said, “This goyle character is just another ‘turban topper’ we don’t need in congress or any political office that deals with the U.S. Constitution, Christianity and the United States of America!!!”

Goyle’s campaign senior advisor Robert Becker said, in a statement, that Republican Mike Pompeo’s “campaign published this bigoted attack online under the heading ‘here’s a good read’. This goes beyond the rules of engagement in politics.”

Becker added that Pompeo “needs to personally and publicly answer for his campaign’s promotion of intolerance immediately.”

He apparently later called Goyle to apologise for the post. The local newspaper, The Wichita Eagle, reported that the Pompeo campaign released a statement which said it had “inadvertently posted a link to a tremendously offensive blog post.”

Goyle, an Indian-American, lives in the city of Wichita. His parents, Dr Krishan and Vimal Goyle, who immigrated from India, run a medical clinic there. He has said in recent media interviews that he was brought up as a Hindu.

Goyle won the Democratic Party primary to seek to become a Congressman on August 3 when he defeated his rival capturing 80 per cent of the vote. Goyle is considered close to Kathleen Sibelius, the former Kansas Governor who is currently the Health and Human Services Secretary in President Barack Obama’s Cabinet.