‘UnAmerican Bindi’: Ohio’s New Solicitor General Faces Racist Backlash, Raising Specter of Anti-Indian Sentiment in State Politics

The appointment of Indian American lawyer Mathura Sridharan as Ohio’s 12th Solicitor General has unleashed a torrent of racist commentary on social media, with critics attacking her for wearing a bindi and questioning her American citizenship – a controversy that may signal broader challenges for other Indian-American politicians in the state.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Sridharan’s promotion on July 31, praising her as “brilliant” and noting that she “won her argument at SCOTUS last year.” However, the announcement on X (formerly Twitter) quickly became a lightning rod for xenophobic attacks targeting her Indian heritage and Hindu religious practices.

The racist responses were swift and visceral. Social media users posted comments questioning “why would you select someone who isn’t an American for such an important role?” Another commenter made a derogatory reference to her bindi, writing “Well the dot is discreet, but ultimately still visible.”

Additional inflammatory posts emerged across platforms. Some trolls questioned why a ‘non-U.S. citizen’ was selected for the position, with others pointing to her bindi, saying “This one has a perma-dot, huh,” according to IANS news service.

Online trolls seized on her Indian heritage, her Hindu religious symbol (the bindi), and even her name as proof that she did not belong. Outright racist rhetoric (“Another American job given away to foreigners”) mixed with religious bigotry (“Is she a Christian?”), an Indian news publication reported.

Islamic Council Condemns Attacks

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Ohio chapter condemned the attacks, with Executive Director Khalid Turaani stating they were “deeply disturbed by the online attacks directed at Solicitor General Sridharan.”

Attorney General Yost also pushed back forcefully against the criticism, clarifying Sridharan’s citizenship status and condemning the racist undertones. “A few commenters have asserted incorrectly that Mathura is not American. She is a United States citizen, married to a U.S. citizen, and the child of naturalized U.S. citizens,” Yost wrote on X. “If her name or her complexion bother you, the problem is not with her or her appointment.”

The attacks ignore Sridharan’s impressive qualifications. She holds degrees from MIT in electrical engineering, computer science, and economics, plus a law degree from NYU.

Before joining Ohio’s Solicitor General’s office, she clerked for federal judges and has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including representing several states in Ohio v. EPA challenging federal environmental regulations.

Implications for Ramaswamy’s Ambitions

The visceral reaction to Sridharan’s appointment raises important questions about the reception awaiting another prominent Indian-American politician in Ohio: Vivek Ramaswamy, who is in the race for Ohio Governor.

If a highly qualified conservative lawyer with sterling credentials faces such attacks merely for her cultural identity, it suggests Ramaswamy could encounter similar resistance from voters who view Indian heritage as disqualifying.

Ramaswamy has already faced similar discrimination. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter told him directly on his podcast in 2024: “I still would not have voted for you because you’re an Indian,” highlighting the prejudice that Indian-American candidates can face even within their own party.

The targeting of Sridharan’s bindi – a religious and cultural symbol worn by Hindu women – is particularly significant given that Ramaswamy is also Hindu. If a highly qualified conservative lawyer with sterling credentials faces such attacks merely for her cultural identity, it suggests Ramaswamy could encounter similar resistance from voters who view Indian heritage as disqualifying.

A Broader Pattern

The backlash reveals uncomfortable truths about how some Americans define “authentic” citizenship and belonging, according to political analysts. The attacks on Sridharan echo broader patterns of discrimination against Indian-Americans in politics, where success and qualifications are overshadowed by questions about cultural authenticity.

The controversy also highlights tensions within the Republican Party, which has increasingly embraced Indian-American leaders like Ramaswamy, former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, and other prominent figures, while still containing elements that view non-white heritage with suspicion.

For Ramaswamy, the Sridharan controversy serves as both a warning and a preview. While he has secured endorsements from Donald Trump and other Republican leaders for his gubernatorial bid, the vitriolic response to a accomplished conservative lawyer simply for wearing traditional Hindu attire suggests he may face similar attacks as his campaign intensifies.

Polling shows Ramaswamy leading in the Republican primary with 52 percent support, according to Newsweek, but the raw animosity displayed toward Sridharan indicates that electoral success may not eliminate the undercurrent of racial and religious prejudice among some Ohio voters.

The question now is whether Ohio Republicans will rally around qualified candidates regardless of their heritage, or whether the kind of attacks leveled at Sridharan represent a more significant obstacle for Indian-American politicians seeking statewide office.

As Sridharan begins her tenure as Solicitor General, her experience – and the public’s ultimate judgment of her performance versus her identity – may provide crucial insights into whether Ohio is ready to elect an Indian-American governor in 2026.