Vijayawada: The statement by US vice president JD Vance that he would want his wife Usha to believe in the faith what he believes, did not go well with Telugu people in the USA, as they identify Usha as one of their own because of her roots in Andhra Pradesh. While many see it as part of appeasement politics by Vance, who is being projected as the next presidential candidate from the Republicans, others expressed concerns over the debate on one’s religious faith.The former president of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA), Niranjan Srungavarapu, observed that this kind of debate over the religious faith of people at the helm never happened in US politics. He said that USA is considered the epitome of freedom, and it should remain like that. Any discussion on one’s faith is totally unwarranted, he said, adding that there cannot be any force on anyone to practice a particular religion. It hits the foundational values of the USA, he said.Srinivas Chandu, the founder president of the American Progressive Telugu Association (APTA), took a different view, focusing on the root cause of the problem. He observed that the Make America Great Again (MAGA) campaign gained momentum after the American system was taken for a ride by either the illegal immigrants or those who broke immigration laws, including the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO). The MAGA campaign created room for appeasement politics, and the statement by Vance is more of a political one than religious.A former president of the American Telugu Association (ATA), who did not want to be named, said that he was disappointed with the remarks of Vance on his wife’s faith. “He has a duty to support the principles of the First Amendment – respect all forms of religion and lead with a secular mindset. Vance’s statement only brings concern for not only Hindus but also other religious communities in the US,” he said.JD and Usha Vance got married according to both Hindu and Christian traditions. Even after the marriage, they stuck to their belief systems and celebrated festivals of both religions. However, ever since JD Vance’s candidature was finalised, there has been some discussion on her religion. Usha made it clear that she has no intention to change her faith, and her children will choose on their free will.