Trump's remarks unnerve Indian-Americans: US lawmaker

Kolkata, Sep 6: The Indian-American community in the United States is greatly concerned by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's remark against Mexicans and Muslims and that Indians were taking away jobs from the country, Democratic legislator Aruna Miller has said.

"The rhetoric that all Mexicans are rapists and Muslims are terrorists are of great concern to the Indian-American community. He continues to ridicule outsourcing and call centres," Miller, a legislator from Maryland told reporters.

A Democratic representative and a member of the House of Delegates since 2011, she is on a visit to Kolkata and New Delhi to talk about the ongoing US presidential elections, which has generated global interest.

The Hyderabad-born American citizen said Trump's statements against immigrants are not going down well with the Indian-American community as well.

Republican senator Wayne Harper, who is also accompanying her on the visit, however, defended Trump, saying people around Trump were now expecting that he would make people understand his point of view without being rough.

"I am anticipating that relationships will increase between India and USA because both need each other. The relationship is more than just based on business but it's about partnership and about national and international security," he said.

The two politicians are impressed by the high voter turnout in India.

"I wish the high level of interest that the people here have about American elections was the same in America," Miller said , adding in the mid-term polls, about 38 per cent of eligible voters turned out last time.

"We have built up barriers for voters as in some states it is mandatory to have a voter ID card to cast ballots. It is easier to buy weapons than vote. We need to drop those barriers," she said.

PTI