India, Feb. 17 -- A wave of hostility targeting people of Indian origin in the United States is causing concern as public meetings, political campaigns and online platforms see a surge in openly racist rhetoric directed at Indians.

The backlash was on display at a recent City Council meeting in Frisco, a fast-growing suburb north of Dallas in Texas where about one-third of residents are of Asian heritage, The New York Times reported. During nearly two hours of public comments, several speakers described what they called an "Indian takeover" of their city. Some alleged, without offering proof, that Indians working in high-skilled sectors were "fraudsters" and "low-quality scammers."

One speaker, identifying himself as a college student, ...