California Governor Vetoes Bill Banning Caste Discrimination

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that aimed to explicitly ban caste discrimination, citing existing laws that already prohibit ancestry discrimination. The bill, known as Senate Bill 403, would have made California the first U.S. state to explicitly ban caste discrimination. Activists who had been advocating for the legislation see the veto as a setback, while opponents argue that existing anti-discrimination laws already cover caste discrimination. The issue of caste discrimination is particularly important to Americans of Indian descent and Hindus, as it affects many in the tech industry. The caste system is one of the world's oldest forms of social stratification, with the Dalit community facing significant discrimination and abuse.