German-based Indian businessman Mayukh Banga described the online backlash against an Indian folk dancer performing against the backdrop of the Washington Monument in the United States as “outright racism.”
“Banga responded to a post expressing concern over the historic site being turned into a “Telugu Tiktok dance theatre” and pointed out what he described as double standards and questioning anti-India sentiments.“If this were a group of white people performing a traditional Irish dance, you wouldn’t have the slightest problem with it,” he wrote.“I often criticize the behavior of expatriates on foreign shores. But the hatred towards this lady is just plain racism,” Banga wrote.
He said he was confused by the repeated targeting, and asked for an explanation for “this obsession with Indians.”Addressing the recurring hatred of H-1B immigrants from conservative factions in the United States, Banga said the H-1B visa program was signed into law by Republican President George W. Bush.On the economic side, Banga said the average salaries of technology workers in India exceeded US$150,000, with many earning nearly half a million dollars or more. These roles do not involve competing for regular jobs, he said.
“So, what exactly are you so upset about?” The appropriate response to the performance “should be appreciation with a touch of gratitude,” Banga said, adding that the appropriate response to the performance “should be appreciation with a touch of gratitude.”In a follow-up response, he said such activities at popular sites are permitted by law and shared a link to National Park Service guidelines.This controversy has fueled ongoing online discussion about cultural expression, norms of public space, and attitudes toward Indian immigrants in the United States.