Raja Krishnamoorthi lone Indian-origin House member backing Russia sanctions

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi was the only lawmaker of Indian origin in the US House of Representatives to vote in favour of a Bill on sanctions against Russia, going against the stand taken by his Democratic Party colleagues. The measure was passed by the House on Wednesday by a 262-159 margin.

The Bill, titled the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning of Russia and Iran Act, also targets the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas with 100 per cent tariffs, a move that could affect India and China. Fifty-eight Democrats voted in favour of the legislation.

There are six Indian-American members in the House of Representatives, all Democrats. Following the party line, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera, Shri Thanedar and Suhas Subramanyam voted against the Bill, which exempts US purchases of uranium from Russia from the scope of the sanctions.

Krishnamoorthi, who unsuccessfully contested the US Senate primary in March, is set to retire from the House of Representatives in January next year. Ahead of Wednesday's vote, the Congressman from Illinois met a Ukrainian advocacy group.

After meeting the Illinois Ukraine Action members on Wednesday, he said in a post on X: "The people of Ukraine continue to fight courageously for their freedom and sovereignty, and the United States must stand with them. I'm grateful to Illinois' Ukrainian community for their commitment to keeping that support strong." Krishnamoorthi is among the more vocal Indian-American Congressmen and has often urged members of the diaspora to seek public office and play an active role in politics.

The vote stood out because Krishnamoorthi was the only Indian-American member of the House to back the Russia sanctions Bill, while the other five voted against it along party lines.