Controversy has erupted in the United States after Indian-origin Congress candidate Jai Waingakar was criticized for campaigning in Hindi while addressing members of the ‘desi’ community in New Jersey.The controversy began when Indian American commentator Mehak Cook posted on Twitter reacting to a video of Waingakar speaking in Hindi about the rise of the “desi community” in the state.He said that Jai is replacing Americans in the US: “A candidate for the US Congress is running his entire campaign in a foreign language. Jai Vaingankar is not campaigning for Americans – he is campaigning for their replacement. This is not subtle anymore.”
Who is Jai Waingakar?
28-year-old Waingakar is a former Biden administration official and is contesting from New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. His campaign has also recently highlighted strong early fundraising figures.According to his campaign, he raised nearly $110,000 in the first quarter of 2026, bringing his total to more than $260,000. This includes more than $150,000 raised in December 2025 when they launched their bid.A press release from the campaign stated that the funding came largely from grassroots support, with no contributions from corporate political action committees or special interest groups. The average online donation was reported to be $33.44.“We are running this campaign the right way, with real grassroots support from people who want a new generation of leadership in Congress,” Waingakar said.Jay said, “We are not taking a dime from corporate PACs or special interests, and that means we are accountable to the people we set out to serve. This early support shows that our message is resonating and that we are in a strong position to compete against elected officials twice our age, candidates who have run for office before or who have long-standing political networks.”Wangacker previously served as a special advisor in the Office of Policy at the U.S. Department of Energy. His work focused on energy policy, including clean energy initiatives and efforts to improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.He grew up in Hightstown, New Jersey, to immigrant parents and studied at the University of Pennsylvania. She later worked as a community organizer and in the community solar sector, focusing on increasing access to affordable energy.The campaign video that sparked controversy shows Waingakar speaking in Hindi while addressing the South Asian community, an important voter group in parts of New Jersey.He is of Indian descent and was raised in Hightstown, New Jersey by parents who immigrated from Mumbai before his birth.