Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: IN a legislative update on October 13, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a slew of Senate bills he had signed and vetoed, including the SB 509 introduced by Senator Anna Caballero, aka the “transnational repression training” bill.
Issuing a veto message for the same, the Democratic politician listed out his “reasons” for not signing the much-contested bill.
“I am returning Senate Bill 509 without my signature,” Newsom began his statement. Noting that even though he appreciated the bill’s “intent to enhance the state’s ability to identify and respond to transnational repression,” he couldn’t push the issue forward without coordination with federal agencies, according to Financial Express.
Had the bill been passed, it would have spurred the Office of Emergency Services (OES) push for law enforcement authorities to undergo training to identify and respond to “transnational repression.” While those of Hindu faith believed it would target them, some from the Sikh community saw the bill as a protection against political violence allegedly orchestrated by India (as per certain accusations raised by the US and Canada).
Pro-Khalistani activists were particularly among those backing the legislation.
According to Senator Anna Caballero’s official website, she took a stand against “transnational repression” with SB 509 earlier this year. Introducing it as a “New Legislation to Strengthen Protections for Diaspora Communities Targeted by Foreign Governments,” she pushed for it as a “critical measure to address the growing threat of transnational repression in California.” Hindu and certain Indian-American communities in the United States welcomed the development.
