Raja Condemns Morning TV Host’s Telling Indian-American Spelling Bee Champion That She Is “Probably Used To Using” Sanskrit

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi released the following statement in response to a CNN morning host telling 12-year-old Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Ananya Vinay that she is "probably used to using" Sanskrit:

"It's disappointing that a segment which should have honored the accomplishments of Ms. Vinay instead other-ized her and the Indian-American community by playing into stereotypes. The hosts' treatment of Sanskrit is also insensitive to the language's rich, ongoing sacred tradition and continues a troubling trend in the network's treatment of Hinduism which was also evident on the network's program Believer."