Indiaspora, a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to community engagement and social change, has issued a strong condemnation of the racial attacks directed at Mathura Sridharan, appointed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on July 31, 2025, as the state’s 12th solicitor general.

In a statement released on August 5, Indiaspora described Sridharan as “a highly qualified Indian-American lawyer,” and criticized the racialized backlash she has faced. Those targeting her “heritage and religion” should be unequivocally condemned, the organization said.

Reaffirming its commitment to merit-based representation in public service, Indiaspora echoed Attorney General Yost’s assertion that “American identity is about merit, not appearance.” Sridharan, an Ohio native, holds engineering degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a law degree from New York University (NYU), earned in 2018. She has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court and is recognized for her strong record in appellate law.

“It is disappointing to see baseless accusations that question her American identity or suggest that wearing a bindi makes her a threat,” added the statement. “Such rhetoric is unacceptable and disheartening. It is vital to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Indian Americans of all backgrounds and faiths who dedicate themselves to serving the public good.”

The backlash began shortly after Attorney General Yost announced Sridharan’s appointment on social media on July 31. While many welcomed the news, it also drew racist and xenophobic remarks. One user on X wrote, “Indians don’t belong in American government positions. They shouldn’t be allowed to live in America at all.” Another questioned, “Native Ohioans can’t even get jobs with the state. Who is this foreigner?”

Yost, in his official announcement, on July 31, emphasized that Sridharan’s appointment follows the departure of former Solicitor General Elliot Gaiser, who was selected by former President Donald Trump to lead the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel. Sridharan, who has served as deputy solicitor general since 2021, will officially assume the role in early August.

“Mathura is a relentless defender of Ohioans, a champion of federalism and legal force to be reckoned with in a courtroom,” Yost said. “Her brilliant legal mind and masterful understanding of constitutional law make her the obvious choice to lead the team as Ohio’s solicitor general.”

The Office of the Solicitor General, operating within the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, represents the state and its agencies in appellate matters before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Ohio Supreme Court, and other courts.

Sridharan expressed gratitude in her response to the appointment. “It is an honor and a privilege to stand up for the rights and freedoms of my fellow Ohioans,” Sridharan said. “I am profoundly grateful for the trust Attorney General Yost has placed in me to defend our constitutional ideals, advance the rule of law and fight for our federalist system of government.”

Since joining the Attorney General’s Office nearly four years ago, the statement said Sridharan has argued and briefed numerous high-stakes appeals. In February 2024, she successfully represented the state in Ohio v. EPA before the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s “good neighbor plan.” She also secured a major victory in 2022 in H.C. v. DeWine, defending Ohio’s foster care maintenance payment standards.

In 2023, she was named director of Ohio’s Tenth Amendment Center, a division established in state law to protect Ohioans against federal overreach and preserve the balance of power between state and federal governments.

Prior to her public service in Ohio, Sridharan clerked for Judge Steven J. Menashi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Judge Deborah A. Batts of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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