Trivedi accuses rival of using racially coded language

Washington, Aug 24: Indian-American Congressional candidate from Pennsylvania Manan Trivedi has accused his rival Jim Geralch of using racially-coded language against him for calling him an outsider, saying he was disappointed with his opponent's "cowardly" political attacks.

Trivedi, who is running as a Democrat from Congressional District-6 in Pennsylvania against the sitting Republican Geralch, was described by Gerlach and his campaign as being "foreign" to his district. Trivedi lives in Distict-7, two miles outside District-6. "As a proud Indian-American, I was disappointed to see that my opponent has resorted to such cowardly political attacks again," Trivedi said in a statement yesterday.

"I intend to run a campaign focussed on the issues and contrasting the status quo in Washington with my vision for the future. It is a disservice to everyone in the 6th district that Jim Gerlach isn't willing to do the same," he said.

State Democratic leadership has sought an apology from Geralch. On Wednesday, "Congressman Gerlach and his campaign demonstrated the low-side of politics when trying to describe Manan Trivedi as being 'foreign' to his district...Congressman Gerlach should publicly apologise for interjecting insulting rhetoric into this campaign," Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Jim Burn said.

PTI