Congressional Elections 2022

HinduPACT is sending the following questionnaire to several congressional candidates running for 2022 Elections.  The responses to these questions will result in a Voters’ Guide.

September 8, 2022

The earliest Hindu immigration to the US was recorded in the 1600s.  Today, it is estimated that there are close to six million Hindus in the US or close to 2% of the US population.  There are several million more citizens, who have adopted one or more Hindu sacraments and practices in their daily lives. 

From early days of farming started in Hindus have made immeasurable contributions to American society for generations. These contributions began at an early stage of America’s advancement as a global superpower, from Henry David Thoreau’s commentary on civil disobedience at Walden Pond, Massachusetts that were informed by the teachings of sacred Hindu text of the Bhagavad Gita, and the famous speech of spiritual luminary Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of World’s Religions on September 11, 1883 opening with the famous phrase, “My brothers and sisters of America.”

Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective USA (HinduPACT USA) is preparing the 2022 Hindu Voters’ Guide.  The 2022 Hindu Voters’ Guide will help the voters’ determine the compatibility of the candidates with universal Hindu values and the candidate’s views on issues that are important to American Hindus.  We intend to publish these answers as voters’ guide for the Hindu community.  The 2022 Hindu Voters’ Guide is intended for information and educational purposes, and, consistent with our 501(c)3 status will not be endorsing any candidate.

We request that [Candidate], respond to the following questions

Questions from Hindu Community

  1. Will you consult practitioners of the Hindu faith to develop guidelines related to the accommodation of Hindus in workplaces, educational institutions, hospitals, prisons etc.?

  2. Will you ensure that textbooks and instructional materials that promote anti-Hindu tropes and reflect misrepresentation of Hindu dharma (faith) in publicly funded school textbooks and educational materials are removed in consultation with American Hindu organizations?

  3. Will you defund publicly funded universities and colleges that continue to institutionalize Hindupobic teachings?

  4. Will you address and counter targeted hate campaigns based on any individual or group’s religious or ethnic identity?  The same issues facing the American Jewish community- issues of anti-Semitism rooted in the BDS movement – are now affecting the American Hindu community. Will you introduce legislation that addresses this?

  5. Will you ensure that the Department of Homeland Security, Justice Department, and the FBI work closely with Hindu Mandirs (Temples) and other organizations to ensure that American Hindus are provided with protection against hate crimes and discrimination?

  6. Over 80% of highly skilled immigrants who are eligible for a Green Card are Hindus. What are your views on extended delays in Green Card processing times for these legal immigrants?

  7. Will you introduce and promote legislation that ensures equal rights and security for Hindu communities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh; nations where religious minorities face state-sanctioned discrimination?

  8. Our CHINGARI project addresses the tragic realities of young women of minority status in Pakistan. Will you co-sponsor a resolution to recognize and address this issue?

  9. More than 3 million people were murdered in Bangladesh by the Pakistani Army in 1971. Pro-Pakistan radical Islamists in Bangladesh continue to target Hindus in Bangladesh even today. Will you work to see that this human rights catastrophe 1971 is officially recognized as a genocide?

  10. India is a strategic US ally. Will you support India’s role in a new vision for the Indo-Pacific to counter terrorism and work to wards replacing China with India as a global manufacturer and a key component in our supply-chain, so that we can advance our shared security and economic interests in the region? 

Questionnaire for 2020 Congressional Candidates

HinduPACT is sending the following questionnaire to several congressional candidates running for 2020 Elections.  The responses to these questions will result in a Voters’ Guide.

August 25, 2020

The earliest Hindu immigration to the US was recorded in the 1600s.  Today, it is estimated that there are close to six million Hindus in the US or close to 2% of the US population.  There are several million more citizens, who have adopted one or more Hindu sacraments and practices in their daily lives. 

From early days of farming started in Hindus have made immeasurable contributions to American society for generations. These contributions began at an early stage of America’s advancement as a global superpower, from Henry David Thoreau’s commentary on civil disobedience at Walden Pond, Massachusetts that were informed by the teachings of sacred Hindu text of the Bhagavad Gita, and the famous speech of spiritual luminary Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of World’s Religions on September 11, 1883 opening with the famous phrase, “My brothers and sisters of America.”

Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective USA (HinduPACT USA) is preparing the 2020 Hindu Voters’ Guide.  The 2020 Hindu Voters’ Guide will help the voters’ determine the compatibility of the candidates with universal Hindu values and the candidate’s views on issues that are important to American Hindus.  We intend to publish these answers as voters’ guide for the Hindu community.  The 2020 Hindu Voters’ Guide is intended for information and educational purposes, and, consistent with our 501(c)3 status will not be endorsing any candidate.

We request that [Candidate], respond to the following questions

Questions from Hindu Community

Domestic Issues

  1. Will you protect Hindu American constitutional and civil rights; honor the contribution of Hindu American communities across America; and create a safe environment for their growth and prosperity.

  2. Will you ensure that the Homeland Security, Justice Department, and the FBI will work closely with the Hindu Mandirs (Temples) and other organizations to ensure that they are provided protection against hate crime and discrimination?

  3. As a Congressman/Congresswoman, will you support legislations that:
    1. To consults practitioners of Hindu faith to develop guidelines related to accommodation of Hindus in workplaces, educational institutions, hospitals, prisons etc.?
    2. Ensure that the textbooks and instructional materials that promote Hinduphobia and reflect misrepresentation of Hindu dharma (faith) in school textbooks are removed.
    3. Defund Universities and colleges that continue to institutionalize Hindupobic teachings?

  4. Over 80% of high skilled immigrants who are eligible for Green Card are Hindus. What are your views on extended delays in Green Card processing times (often more than 20 years) for these legal immigrants? 

Global Hindu Issues:

  1. Will you promote equal rights and security for Dharmic communities (Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist) in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh? 

  2. The United States has a long tradition of offering hope and safe haven to refugees and to those seeking asylum.  Will you give persecuted followers of Dharmic faiths who are minorities in these countries, asylum under the “emergency refugee protection” program?
  1. Will you refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of a fellow democracy like India that seeks to give asylum to religious minorities that are legally or constitutionally persecuted in theoretic countries in the region

  2. Will you promote stronger relations with India and support India’s role in a new vision for the Indo-Pacific, to counter-terrorism and advance our shared security and economic interests in the region?