COLUMBUS, Ohio (Diya TV) — Indian American attorney Mathura Sridharan has been appointed as Ohio’s 12th Solicitor General by Attorney General Dave Yost, drawing both praise and racist backlash online. The appointment was announced on July 31 and quickly became a topic of national conversation, not just for Sridharan’s legal record but also for the xenophobic remarks that followed.

Attorney General Yost took to social media to share the news, calling Sridharan “brilliant” and highlighting her recent argument win before the U.S. Supreme Court. Sridharan, who had been serving as the state’s Deputy Solicitor General, now steps into a role that makes her Ohio’s top appellate attorney. She will represent the state in high-profile cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as federal and state appellate courts.

Sridharan brings a strong academic and professional background to the role. She earned multiple degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), including in electrical engineering, computer science, and economics. She later graduated from New York University School of Law in 2018. Her legal career includes clerkships for two federal judges and leadership at Ohio’s Tenth Amendment Center, where she worked to defend state rights against federal overreach.

Despite her qualifications, Sridharan faced a wave of racist online attacks after her appointment. Social media posts questioned her American identity, mocked her Indian heritage, and targeted her for wearing a bindi traditional forehead mark worn by many Indian women. One user commented, “Why would you select someone who isn’t an American?” Another wrote, “The only thing Mathura Sridharan should be selected for is a one-way ticket to India.”

A particularly offensive post read, “Do they have anyone in Ohio who doesn’t look like an ad for the H-1B visa program?” Some users also made derogatory remarks about her bindi, calling it a “dot” or “perma-dot,” showing clear cultural insensitivity.

Attorney General Yost responded firmly to the backlash, defending Sridharan’s appointment and condemning the attacks. “A few commenters have asserted incorrectly that Mathura is not American. She is a United States citizen, married to a U.S. citizen, and the child of naturalized U.S. citizens,” he wrote in a post on X. “If her name or her complexion bothers you, the problem is not with her or her appointment.”

Yost also emphasized her strong legal background and noted that both former Solicitors General Ben Flowers and Eric Murphy recommended her for the position. “I told her when I originally hired her, I needed her to argue with me. She does… All the time!” Yost joked in another post, praising her assertiveness and legal skill.

While Sridharan has not released a public statement about the controversy, she continues to focus on her new responsibilities as Solicitor General. Her promotion comes at a time when more Indian Americans are taking on leadership roles in law, politics, and public service across the United States.

Sridharan’s legal work has already made a significant impact. In the landmark case Ohio v. EPA, she represented the state before the U.S. Supreme Court, showcasing her ability to lead complex legal arguments at the highest levels.

Her rise in public office is seen as a positive sign for diversity and inclusion, but the backlash also highlights the persistent challenges faced by minority leaders in the United States.