Spelling Bee Kid aims to Bring Back Deported VHP Rowdy

Today the New York Times is running a story about a thirteen year old scripps national spelling bee contestant Kunal Sah who aims to win the competition to raise awareness of his parent's stalled immigration case. It's the sort of quirky story that immediately pulled on my heartstrings because I have known many people to get stuck in an oppressive US immigration bureaucracy, humiliated and eventually deported back to their home countries.

Kunal's parents were Bihar natives who were seeking asylum in the states on the basis of what they perceived as persecution from their neighbors. See, Mr. Sah had been a rowdy for Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a fundamentalist Hindu outfit known around the world for its deep pockets and regressively conservative agenda.

Mr. Sah acknowledged in his application that he had been active in organizing a campaign against Babri Mosque, in northern India, because it was “built on our sacred land” and that he “actively participated” in riots intended to demolish.

After several years pursuing his case in courts and in front of immigration officials the Times reports that:

In denying him haven, immigration officials noted that Mr. Sah “had participated in the persecution of non-Hindus and thus was ineligible for asylum.”

While I feel for the son who has been separated from his parents by State powers, I basically agree with the decision. Why should the United States allow violent anti-muslim groups into the the country. This is the same outfit that helped plan and execute the riots in Gujarat, demolished the Babri mosque and continues a direct lineage of colonial "divide and rule" strategy as it sets one community against another.

Sah says he feels that Muslims in his community may target him for retaliation for his involvement in the VHP. I find this unlikely in itself, but while it could be true, I see no reason that America should protect perpetrators of hate crimes from other countries.

While the story has a premises with a good hook: "thirteen year old spells to get his family un-deported", the Times should think twice about running articles that are sympathetic to the struggles of violent fundamentalists from other countries. No matter how cute their sons' story's may be.