Category: AHAD Press Releases

Press Release: AHAD Demands Immediate Dismissal of Peter Navarro for Promoting Hindu Hate

Washington, D.C., [September 2, 2025] HinduPACT’s American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) today issued a decisive call for the President of the United States to dismiss Peter Navarro from his position as Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, following his deeply inappropriate and Hinduphobic reference to caste and his portrayal of India’s Prime Minister in a sacred act of Hindu prayer. Navarro’s rhetoric constitutes not only a cultural violation but also a reckless provocation that endangers the dignity of over a billion Hindus and threatens the foundational relationship between the two largest democracies.

Caste Tropes Are Not a Policy Tool — They’re a Colonial Weapon

Navarro’s comment, accusing “Brahmins profiting at the expense of the Indian people,” is not a critique; it’s a colonial-era trope recycled to divide Hindu society and depict India as inherently unjust. Using caste rhetoric to pressure a democratic ally is beneath the diplomatic dignity of the United States.

“This is not foreign policy. It’s weaponized Hinduphobia,” said Ajay Shah, Executive Chair of HinduPACT. “Dividing Hindus through colonial scripts doesn’t build relationships. It destroys them. People like Navarro have no place in American political life.”

Mocking Hindu Prayer Undermines Religious Respect

Navarro also circulated an image of India’s Prime Minister meditating in saffron robes; a sacred Hindu practice rooted in dharma. The implication was clear: ridicule Hindu spirituality while pushing economic pressure.

“Saffron is sacred. Prayer is not propaganda. What exactly was Navarro trying to say by using that image?” asked Deepti Mahajan, President of HinduPACT. “If the target was the Hindu faith, that’s religious hostility. If the target was India’s leadership, that’s diplomatic recklessness. Either way, it’s a serious violation.”

Hindus in the US Are the Collateral Damage

Navarro’s language empowers the worst elements of public discourse. Caste slurs and attacks on Hindu symbols don’t stay in policy papers. They show up in classrooms, in hiring panels, in temple vandalism.

“When someone like Navarro uses caste to shame India, it lands on Hindus here,” said Deepa Karthik, General Secretary of HinduPACT. “Kids get bullied. Workers get profiled. We get treated like we owe the world an apology for our heritage.”

A Clear Message to the White House: Fire Navarro

AHAD calls on the President to fire Peter Navarro immediately. His language encourages division. His symbolism targets religion. His politics poison one of America’s most natural global partnerships.

If Hindu hate and Hindu ridicule are tolerated inside US policy circles, it tells over five million Hindus in this country, and over a billion in India, that their identity is negotiable. This is not who we are. And it cannot be allowed to stand.

About AHAD (American Hindus Against Defamation):

Established in 1997, AHAD stands as the pioneering Hindu movement globally dedicated to combating Hinduphobia and the denigration of Hindu scriptures, deities, icons, and cultural symbols across publications, mass media, and educational materials. AHAD leverages innovative AI methods to detect and counter Hindu hatred and ensure the sanctity of Hindu heritage. Visit https://ahadinfo.org

About HinduPACT:

The Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) is dedicated to the advocacy and policy research of issues concerning the American Hindu community. HinduPACT promotes human rights, voter education, and policies affecting American Hindus, aiming for peace and understanding through informed policy initiatives and grassroots advocacy. Visit https://hindupact.org

Contact HinduPACT:

Ajay Shah Founder and Executive Chair ajay.shah@hindupact.org (858) 866-9661	Deepti Mahajan President deepti.mahajan@hindupact.org	Deepa Karthik General Secretary deepa.karthik@hindupact.org
Web: hindupact.org Facebook: HinduPACTTwitter / X: @hindupact Instagram: @hindupactEmail: info@hindupact.org

September 2, 2025

Press Release: HinduPACT Releases Landmark Report Refuting Baseless Transnational Repression (TNR) Allegations Against India – Highlights Detrimental Impact on Hindu Diaspora

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 15, 2025
San Ramon, CA. American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), an initiative of HinduPACT, announced today the release of its comprehensive research report, “Tarnishing India, Targeting Hindus: The Global Weaponization of Transnational Narrative.” The report provides an evidence-based analysis that unequivocally refutes the widespread allegations of transnational repression (TNR) against India.

Ajay Shah, Executive Chair of HinduPACT, stated, “Our report unequivocally demonstrates that the transnational repression (TNR) narrative against India is a dangerous fabrication, unsupported by verifiable evidence and driven by ideologically motivated groups. To equate India, the world’s largest constitutional democracy, with robust judicial oversight, to authoritarian regimes notorious for extrajudicial actions, is not only analytically flawed but serves to undermine global democratic values.”

In stark contrast to the practices of authoritarian regimes like China, Russia, Iran, and Turkey, which have documented histories of assassinations, abductions, and covert coercion, India’s overseas actions are described as “legally authorized, procedurally proper, and fundamentally misrepresented” when categorized as repression. The report emphasizes that constitutional safeguards, administrative protocols, and judicial oversight mechanisms guide India’s counter-extremism measures.

The report asserts that the TNR narrative against India has been “propagated by a coalition of ideologically motivated NGOs, advocacy networks, and certain state actors”. These groups, identified as including the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), Sikh Coalition, and SALDEF, seek to delegitimize India’s global standing and sever the cultural and civilizational ties of the Hindu diaspora with their homeland.

Deepa Karthik, General Secretary of HinduPACT, highlighted the adverse consequences: “The weaponization of this TNR narrative has had a profound and chilling impact on Indian and Hindu diaspora communities worldwide. It fosters suspicion, fuels hate crimes and threatens to break our deep cultural and civilizational ties with our homeland. This report is an act of community self-preservation, defending the fundamental rights and identity of millions.”

The report highlights an increase in hate crimes and political marginalization experienced by the diaspora since these narratives gained traction. It lists vandalism against Hindu temples defaced with Khalistani slogans and shows a clear link between the TNR narrative and its effects on American Hindus.

HinduPACT has actively opposed California SB-509, a TNR bill. Deepti Mahajan, President of HinduPACT, emphasized that “SB-509, as written, functions like a Trojan Horse. Under the guise of community protection, it risks enabling profiling and discrimination against American Hindus, casting suspicion over our cultural and civic activities. It threatens to silence our voices in public life and discourage participation in the democratic processes that strengthen California. We urge elected officials to reject such politicized policy initiatives.”

HinduPACT urges elected representatives to adopt evidence-based policy and maintain rigorous evidentiary standards for TNR labeling, upholding legal reciprocity and avoiding politicized or selective oversight. The organization also calls for transparency in funding sources for TNR-related research and advocacy campaigns.

The report concludes that the “TNR narrative against India is a product of coordinated advocacy, ideological bias, and geopolitical strategy, rather than evidence,” and its propagation “threatens to undermine civil liberties, disrupt diaspora engagement, and erode the rights and cultural identity of Indian and Hindu communities abroad”.

About AHAD (American Hindus Against Defamation):
Established in 1997, AHAD stands as the pioneering Hindu movement globally dedicated to combating Hinduphobia and the denigration of Hindu scriptures, deities, icons, and cultural symbols across publications, mass media, and educational materials. AHAD leverages innovative AI methods to detect and counter Hindu hatred and ensure the sanctity of Hindu heritage. Visit https://ahadinfo.org

About HinduPACT:
The Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) is dedicated to the advocacy and policy research of issues concerning the American Hindu community. HinduPACT promotes human rights, voter education, and policies affecting American Hindus, aiming for peace and understanding through informed policy initiatives and grassroots advocacy. Visit https://hindupact.org

August 15, 2025
Press Release: HinduPACT AHAD Exposes Rutgers Report on Hindutva as Hinduphobic; Launches Sharp Rebuttal with “Hindutva in America: A Case for Inclusion and Representation”
San Ramon, CA: In a decisive pushback against academic bias, HinduPACT’s American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) initiative has released a cutting-edge, AI-driven rebuttal to Rutgers University Center for Security, Race, and Rights (CSRR)’s controversial report “Hindutva in America: An Ethnonationalist Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism,”
AHAD’s counter-report, “Hindutva and the American Dream: A Counter-Narrative to Hindutva in America Report by Rutgers University,” uses breakthrough AI to expose “institutionalized Hinduphobia masquerading as scholarship.”
Technology That Sees Through Bias
The AHAD report utilized Tattwa.AI’s HinduHate Detector and Counter-Narrative Generator, which employs a model based on over 150 books, peer-reviewed studies, investigative reports, and global media archives. The system dissects sentiment, bias, narrative manipulation, fact omission, and source bias with unprecedented precision.
Ajay Shah, Founder of HinduPACT, explains: “We’ve built AI that doesn’t just detect negative words – it unmasks systematic narrative distortion. This is about defending truth, not ideology, and holding academics accountable when they cross the line into discrimination.”
Key Findings
The analysis of the Rutgers report utilizes the term “Hindutva” or the essence of Hindu dharma in a consistently pejorative manner. The report also associates inflammatory labels such as “fascist” and “supremacist” with Hindu identity, without offering substantiated evidence for such claims. Despite its sweeping conclusions, not a single major Hindu organization was consulted to provide perspective or balance. The report is ideologically loaded, methodologically flawed, and designed to stigmatize an entire community, while conveniently omitting their positive civic, cultural, and humanitarian contributions that strengthen American society and interfaith harmony. As a result of these patterns, the Hinduphobia Risk Score for the document reached the maximum danger level.
“This report recycles colonial-era stereotypes and applies cancel-culture tactics to erase Hindu voices from public life,” says Deepti Mahajan, President of HinduPACT.
Stigmatizing Civic Life

AHAD analysis shows that the Rutgers report has painted ordinary Hindu community activities, temple worship, youth camps, charitable fundraising as sinister plots. Such framing is never applied to other religious communities.
Rutgers’ proposals for U.S. authorities to monitor Hindu charities highlight troubling civil rights violations. Shah said, “To cast suspicion on our community is to undermine American pluralism and First Amendment rights. Such rhetoric divides Americans when we should build unity.”
HinduPACT Demands
Transparency in authorship of all such reports.
Disclosure of funding and foreign influence.
U.S. Department of Justice must launch investigations into Rutgers, Columbia University, and the University of Denver for potential Title VI civil rights violations
Federal receivership for programs that exclude Hindu voices.
Investigations into anti-Hindu advocacy groups’ extremist links.
Oversight of groups eroding U.S. pluralism.
Mandatory financial compliance for activist academic centers.
Fair hiring practices for Hindu scholars and their inclusion in Hindu curriculum development.

The Rutgers report reflects a growing pattern of using selective narratives to marginalize American Hindus, limit their democratic participation, and distort their contributions to the U.S.
“Religious freedom is for everyone – including Hindus,” Mahajan concludes. “We will not stand by while our community is deplatformed and defamed. This is about truth, justice, and the America we believe in – a nation where all faiths have equal dignity and voice.”
August 14, 2025
Breakthrough: AHAD Launches Groundbreaking AI Initiative to Detect Hinduphobia and Hindu Hatred
December 16, 2024
[Sugar Grove, IL] – American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), the first Hindu organization against Hindu defamation formed in 1997, announces a cutting-edge AI-driven initiative to identify and counter Hinduphobia and Hindu hatred. Leveraging advanced algorithms developed by Tattwa.ai, AHAD has unveiled a suite of transformative applications designed to empower stakeholders in academia, journalism, and advocacy to address anti-Hindu bias effectively.
Pioneering Applications in Hinduphobia Detection
The following AI-driven tools were announced today:
HinduHate Detector: This innovative tool evaluates published work using a multidimensional analysis of bias. Its proprietary algorithm combines deep learning with over 2,000 rules.
Academician, Journalist, and Commentator Profiles: An expansive database profiling individuals for their documented contributions to discussions on Hinduism, Hindutva, and related issues.
360-Degree Political View: A comprehensive graphical representation of American political candidates from a Hindu perspective, providing insights into their positions, funding, and public statements.
An X (formerly Twitter) Feed Analyzer: An advanced tool to analyze social media content for Hinduphobia patterns and misinformation will soon be available.
Analysis of “We Are Savera” Reports Published
As part of its initiative, AHAD has already utilized the HinduHate Detector to publish a detailed analysis of reports by the “We Are Savera” group on the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF). This analysis shows that the authors and sponsors of the “We are Savera” report are highly biased. The use of linguistic nuances, the sources they have referred to, and the overall sentiment of their hatred towards Hindus and mainstream Hindu advocacy organizations should not be considered credible by any serious scholar or other stakeholder.
The profiles feature intends to provide biographical information about academicians, researchers, and journalists. The biographies will provide a context for analyzing their published work.
Empowering the Fight Against Hindu defamation, Hindu Hatred, and Hinduphobia
“Since its inception in 1997, AHAD has been at the forefront of combating anti-Hindu defamation in all its forms. With these new AI tools, we are entering a new era of data-driven advocacy, equipping stakeholders with the insights needed to challenge biases and build a more informed dialogue,” said Ajay Shah, Convenor of AHAD and the President of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA).
AHAD invites academicians, journalists, and nonprofit organizations with a proven track record of countering Hindu hatred to collaborate with us and utilize these tools.
About American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD):
American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) is the first and the most prominent Hindu organization against defamation in the USA. An initiative of World Hindu Council of America (VHPA), AHAD has been actively monitoring mass media, products, public places etc. to ensure respectful and accurate representation of Hindu dharma, culture, images and icons. Active since 1997, hundreds of thousands of Hindus have participated in various advocacy activities led by AHAD.
For more information about AHAD and its groundbreaking AI initiatives, visit www.ahadinfo.org.
December 16, 2024
Representative Thanedar: “We must show that we will not tolerate fear and hate, and we will spread the truth about Hindu Dharma.”

April 15, 2024
Rep. Shri Thanedar exclusively appeared on HinduPACT’s HinduLounge show hosted by Tejal Shah (Convenor Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council and Jt. Gen. Secy. World Hindu Council of America, VHPA) and Sudha Jagganathan HinduLounge co-host and a prominent American Hindu community organizer this week, emphasizing the critical need to protect personal freedoms and take serious actions against incidents that undermine the freedom to practice one’s religion. Highlighting the challenges faced by the Hindu community, Rep. Thanedar discussed the underutilization of government programs by the community, including Homeland Security grants that support sophisticated security systems for religious institutions during special events.
Rep. Thanedar firmly stands against terrorism, violence, and vandalism, condemning these acts as direct attacks on peaceful religious practices. He pointed out that while Hindu dharma is a peaceful religion, its passive nature is often mistakenly perceived as a weakness. This perception underscores the urgency for increased involvement of the Hindu community in mainstream politics and activism to safeguard their own freedoms and those of future generations.
In his commitment to combating Hinduphobia and hate crimes, Rep. Thanedar has introduced Resolution HR 1131 and formed a Hindu caucus in the U.S. House. He advocates for greater civic involvement among Hindus and stresses the importance of building strong relationships with local elected leaders, not only in times of crisis but as a continual effort.
Rep. Thanedar calls on the community to develop political influence, stating, “We must show that we will not tolerate fear and hate, and we will spread the truth about Hindu Dharma.” He also emphasized that this responsibility extends beyond the Congressional Hindu Caucus to every individual within the community.

April 15, 2024
AHAD and HinduPACT Demand Removal Bhagavad Gita Shloka from the Movie “Oppenheimer”

The following press release was issued by American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) and HinduPACT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28. 2023
We are deeply offended by a scene in the Christopher Nolan’s Hollywood movie Oppenheimer that shows the eponymous character having sex while reading out verses from The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most revered and sacred Hindu scriptures. As representatives of one of the oldest and the largest American Hindu organizations, we strongly urge the producers of the film and the distributor, Universal Pictures to remove the shloka from the movie.
A shloka is a sacred verse from Hindu scriptures that carries profound spiritual significance to the Hindus. It is not merely a piece of background music to be used for dramatic effect in a movie; rather, it holds immense religious sanctity and is meant to be recited with utmost respect and reverence. By using the shloka from the Bhagavad Gita without the appropriate religious context, the producers of “Oppenheimer” are trivializing and commodifying a central aspect of Hindu spirituality. This not only shows a lack of understanding of the cultural and religious sensitivities of the Hindu community but also amounts to cultural appropriation, which is deeply disrespectful and offensive.
Commenting on the inappropriate use of shloka, Ajay Shah, Convenor of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) and Convenor of AHAD and HinduPACT said:
“Hollywood must resist the urge to use Hindu scriptures as props in their movies. In 1999, Stanley Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut,” used a shloka from the Bhagavad Gita during an orgy scene. After our protest, this scene was removed from most locations. We would have hoped that after almost a quarter century after “Eyes Wide Shut,” Hollywood producers are more enlightened, more aware of religious and cultural sensitivities and more attuned to the global audience they serve. Evidently, they remain as tone-deaf as they were twenty-five years ago, and perhaps as prejudicial towards Hindus as the colonialists who ruled India for a thousand years. We call up on the producers and United Pictures to remove the offending scene immediately. “
(News item about the “Eyes Wide Shut” protest is available here)
As consumers and supporters of the entertainment industry, we call on the producers of “Oppenheimer” to uphold the principles of cultural sensitivity and religious respect by promptly removing the shloka from the movie. AHAD is launching an online campaign to advocate for the removal of the scene.

July 28, 2023
Press Release: New Jersey Democratic State Committee Rebukes Anti-Hindu Elements in Party; Hindu Americans Call for Disbandment of Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee

HinduPACT joined Hindu organizations coalition in countering the Hindu-hate at the Teaneck New Jersey Democratic Municipal Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Rakhi Israni, pr@sewausa.org, (510) 399-5551, Samir Rawal, syrawal@gmail.com
New Jersey Democratic State Committee Rebukes Anti-Hindu Elements in Party; Hindu Americans Call for Disbandment of Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee
Teaneck, NJ (October 3, 2022): The New Jersey Democratic State Committee (NJDSC) issued a statement Friday condemning an Anti-Hindu resolution recently passed by the Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee (TDMC). The statement read, “A foundational goal of the Democratic Party is to bring people together, not to divide them, and the anti-Hindu Teaneck Democratic Committee resolution does not accomplish this important goal. We stand with those who value inclusivity and diversity, and against hate and bigotry in any form.”
The TDMC resolution at issue, passed on September 12, 2022, falsely labeled five major Hindu American organizations as “Hindu Nationalist” with “direct or indirect ties” to an India-based organization simply on the basis that all are Hindu-faith based organizations. All organizations mentioned are independent 501(c)(3) organizations that are governed by their own board and/or management team; none of the organizations are financially or legally controlled, managed, supervised, or directed by any other organization, domestically or abroad.
Community outrage against the TDMC resolution led to a letter signed by a coalition of over 65 organizations, representing over 190,000 residents of Bergen County and surrounding areas. They called for the rescission of the TDMC resolution. In addition, lawmakers across New Jersey and the United States joined the Hindu American community in expressing their outrage over the level of hate and bigotry exhibited in the TDMC resolution. United States Congressman Josh Gottheimer condemned the resolution, saying, “I’m deeply disappointed by the anti-Hindu resolution in Teaneck. Jersey Values are about bringing people together and celebrating diversity, and decrying extremism where we see it.” The Mayor of Teaneck also issued a statement strongly condemning the resolution saying, “…Teaneck now and will always denounce any words or actions which serve to divide us or inaccurately label groups in a derogatory manner as the Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee has done.”

While the resolution was passed and approved by the TDMC, the press statement for the action was released by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC). This led to members of the Hindu American community calling for an investigation into the individuals and/or organizations that may have incited the TDMC to pass this defamatory and hateful resolution. The coalition letter released earlier this week acknowledged that “the TDMC may simply be a pawn in a much larger agenda to malign and denigrate the Hindu American community.”

TDMC chairwoman Alexandra Soriano-Taveras, who signed the anti-Hindu resolution, had also made bigoted comments about the Jewish American community in 2021. The community outrage from those comments resulted in her withdrawal from the contest for a State Assembly seat. At that time, Teaneck Mayor James Dunleavy had said, “Ms. Soriano-Taveras has a history of making inappropriate, impolitic and unprofessional comments. Those comments have been hurtful to different communities in Teaneck and have helped to sow division and distrust among one of the most diverse towns in New Jersey.” Teaneck City Councilmember Ellie Katz, in response to Ms. Soriano-Taveras’ antisemitic comments, stated, “I want to make clear that I have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism or bigotry of any kind”.

Representatives of the Hindu American organizations accused in the TDMC resolution have attempted to reach out to the TDMC multiple times by email and by phone. Their attempts to reach out and discuss were ignored. Instead, in a recent candidate forum event hosted by TDMC, members of the Hindu American community were forcibly removed from the zoom meeting and denied the opportunity to participate in the event.

Given the history of bigotry and hatred exhibited by the TDMC against various communities in the past, the Hindu American community is calling for the revocation of the TDMC charter by the Bergen County Democratic Committee and a disbandment of the organization. “This is a platform being used to spread hate and division in a community in which people have coexisted and thrived. TDMC should not be allowed to continue to sow hatred and division in the community. As the community prepares to celebrate October as Hindu Heritage Month, we hope that responsible leaders in the Democratic Party will take action to revoke the charter for this bigoted committee.,” said Tejal Shah, a resident of Bergen County and the Overall Coordinator for the Hindu Mandhir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), a coalition of over 1100 Hindu temples across the United States.

September 29, 2022
Press Release: New Jersey Hindu Americans Condemn and Demand Rescission of Hateful Resolution by Teaneck Democrats

Press Release by Hindu organizations in New Jersey, including HinduPACT, HMEC and World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)

TEANECK, N.J., Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Almost fifty-five Hindu American organizations representing more than 155,000 residents of Bergen County, NJ and surrounding areas signed a coalition letter condemning a hateful resolution recently passed by the Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee (TDMC). The resolution recklessly and falsely labels almost every major Hindu American organization in the United States, including Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Sewa International, and others, as a fascist organization which promotes hate and terrorism without providing any of those organizations the opportunity to be heard. The resolution has outraged Hindu Americans who see this as a vicious, false, and provocative act by Democratic Party activists in Teaneck to demonize the entire Hindu community, their activities, their beliefs, and their political participation in New Jersey. The Hindu American community, considered by many to be a model minority community, has recently experienced numerous instances of hate crimes, including against many Hindu temples in the New Jersey area.
“Just like the ‘Dot-Busters’ gangs in New Jersey in the late 80s that violently targeted Hindu Americans because of their religious beliefs or skin color, the TDMC chose to also make baseless assumptions and operate from a position of ignorance and hate,” said S. Rawal, a New Jerseyresident. Rawal was 7-years-old when the “Dot Busters” announced their campaign in 1987 to eradicate Hindus from New Jersey. “Back then, it was ‘dirty’ Hindu, today it is ‘fascist’ Hindu,” he said.
Civic leaders and officials from the surrounding areas also expressed their support for the Hindu American community while condemning this Hindu hate campaign initiated by the TDMC. New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal, in a strongly worded statement of support for the Hindu American community condemned the resolution and called for its immediate rescission. In his statement, he said, “It is unfortunate that this committee that purports to support the ideals of the Democratic Party would act in a manner that illustrates the type of bigotry and hatred that we are working hard as a country to eradicate from our society.” Teaneck City Council Members Keith Kaplan and Michael Santiago Pagan also issued a strong statement in response to the resolution in which they said, “Unfortunately, the TDMC resolution at issue… was felt by some to condemn all Hindus, which encompasses many peaceful members of our larger community here in Bergen County and beyond.” They added, “Just as we did on the day we were sworn in, we proclaim: Hate has no home in Teaneck.”
In the recent Teaneck City Council meeting, Hindu American community members called for an investigation into the individuals and organizations that may have incited the TDMC to pass this defamatory and hateful resolution. The coalition letter stated, “We understand that the TDMC may simply be a pawn in a much larger agenda to malign and denigrate the Hindu American community, but we wish to impress upon the TDMC that there are real consequences when one makes misplaced, false, and malicious allegations about a law-abiding and peaceful community.”
Interestingly, Alexandra Soriano-Taveras, the TDMC Chairman who signed off on the hateful resolution, is no stranger to stirring up ethnic and religious animosity. Last year, while campaigning for the open State Assembly seat in the 37th district, she was seen suggesting a boycott of Jewish businesses in Teaneck.
The TDMC resolution should be considered in the context of the extensive community service rendered by the Hindu American community through various organizations; service that has been recognized by government officials at every level. In a recent Congressional Statement, US Congressman Gerald Connolly stated, “Without regard for race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality, Sewa International USA has done tremendous work to ameliorate the effects of some of the world’s greatest disasters.” Hindu American organizations, some of which were demonized by the TDMC resolution, collectively donated over 30 million pounds of food and over $50 million dollars worth of food, supplies, and other essential services during the pandemic to help the elderly or lower-income communities hit hard by the COVID lockdowns. “Our volunteers strive to serve humanity considering that as serving divinity. It is surprising that the TDMC is trying to demonize those that do good in the world with this bigoted and evil resolution that simply promotes Hindu hate. We hope that during this festival season that sanity prevails, and they rescind this awful resolution,” said Rashmita Shanbhag, North Jersey Chapter Coordinator for Sewa International USA.
The letter urged the TDMC to do the right thing by immediately rescinding their hate-filled resolution and apologizing for hurting the sentiments of the Hindu American community and for endangering the security, well-being, and safety of Hindus in New Jersey.

September 27, 2022
Press Release: BAPS Toronto Mandir Vandalism: HinduPACT Calls for Authorities to Stop Pakistan-Backed Khalistani Targeting of Hindus Across North America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C – A series of strategically targeted attacks against Hindus across North America, several of which were carried out by Pakistan-backed Khalistani extremists, is raising questions about whether enough is being done to address the alarming rise in anti-Hindu attacks by law enforcement.
On Wednesday evening, Khalistani extremists vandalized and defaced the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto spray painting saffron-colored profanities on the temple’s entrance including “Hindustan murdabad” which translates to “death to India” and “Khalistan zindabad” which translates to “long live Khalistan.” Khalistan is a made up name for a non-existent nation idealized by Pakistani-backed Sikh obscurantists who wish to separate a part of Northern India into a nation by that name. It is important to note that the Khalistani narrative finds little to no support among Sikhs in India and elsewhere.
This incident follows a similar one last month where a Khalistani nationalist began berating a Hindu man in a California Taco Bell based on his dietary preferences and his choice of attire.
Tejal Shah, Director of the VHPA’s Hindu Mandir Executive Conference (HMEC), said
“HMEC strongly condemns the defacing and vandalization of the BAPS mandir or any mandir. This is a shameful act of Hinduphobia, a hate crime and blatantly anti-India activity. We are looking for full scrutiny and strict actions from the government of Canada and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in addressing this unacceptable crime. This weekend, leaders of dozens of Hindu mandirs are gathering in Cincinnati, OH to discuss the safety and security of Hindu temples in North America and how mandirs can actively engage the local communities and law enforcement to provide enhanced security to mandirs and prevent such attacks in future.”
The Hudson Institute recently published a study on Kashmir and Khalistani movements in the United States titled, “Pakistan’s Destabilization Playbook: Khalistan Separatist Activism Within the US.”
Highlighting the Hudson Institute study, HinduPACT’s Executive Director Utsav Chakrabarti said,
“This hate campaign is similar to the kind of hate that emerged in Khalistanis in the early 80s. It took very little time for the Khalistanis to go from hate speech to terrorist attacks. One such attack in 1985 led to the murder of 351 innocent people, the largest terror attack in Canadian history. It is important that the Justice Department and anti-terror agencies in Canada and the US realize this,” he added.
Ajay Shah, President of World Hindu Council of America and Convenor of HinduPACT while codeming this attack on the Hindu Mandir said,
“This incident comes just a few weeks after the vandalism at the Mandir in Queens, NY where a statue of Gandhi was twice vandalized. We strongly believe that these increased incidents of vandalism are directly correlated with the vitriol unleashed by Hindu-hating groups such as Hindus for Human Rights that have specifically targeted BAPS. It is disappointing to see that in addition to increased attacks on Mandirs, systemic Hinduphobia is growing in every sphere of North American Hindu life and is well documented.” Shah further added, “In Canada, we have seen the Prime Minister denigrate the sacred Hindu symbol the Swastika, giving Hindu haters more ammunitIon to attack them. On the other side of the border, in America, President Joe Biden and the White House failed to invite even one Hindu representative to their interfaith meeting titled “United We Stand” which was held on September 15.”

September 16, 2022
Press Release: HinduPACT Condemns Growing Hate Against Hindu Communities Across America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2022
HinduPACT Condemns Growing Hate Against Hindu Communities Across America
WASHINGTON, D.C – A recent slew of anti-Hindu attacks across America have resulted in a renewed focus on the targeting of American Hindus on the basis of their race, religious and national origin. HinduPACT condemns this growing hate and vitriol against a thriving and flourishing diaspora community that is proudly part of America’s civil society and fabric.
These latest slew of attacks follow two hateful incidents in New York where a Hindu temple was twice attacked and a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was defaced and destroyed.
Rakhi Israni, Executive Director, Legal, HinduPACT, said:
“Along with the irrational hate being directed at Asian Americans in general, hate crimes against Hindu Americans and Indian Americans are on the rise nationwide. From the recent vicious incident at a Taco Bell in Fremont, California, to the attack on the four Indian American women in Plano, Texas, it is unfortunately becoming too common in our daily society to verbally or, even worse, physically assault another person because of their skin color, religion, or national origin. We urge the law enforcement in these cities to aggressively pursue these acts as hate crimes as a deterrent to others who choose to act on their irrational hatred for other people who differ from them in any way.”
HinduPACT Executive Director Utsav Chakrabarti said of the attack by Khalistani in Fremont, California:
“The Khalistanis are totally divorced from Sikh theology and history. The Sikh diaspora is being rapidly digested by the Pakistani and Islamist diaspora.” Chakrabarti added, “This kind of hate-mongering that is rapidly rising across the country is an outcome of growing identity politics and narrative building by special interest groups.”
Ajay Shah, Convenor of HinduPACT and American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), speaking on behalf of AHAD said:
“The physical assault on Hindu women in Plano, Texas, and verbal assault against a Hindu customer in Fremont, California, are a continuation of Indiaphobia, Hinduphobia and Asian hate in our society. It would be easy to blame these incidents on the envy of success of the immigrant Hindu community or even their skin color. Undoubtedly, these factors play a significant role.” Shah continued, “However, we would be remiss if we overlooked the role of Hindu hating organizations such as Hindus for Human Rights, Equality Labs, Indian American Muslim Council, Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) and Dismantle Global Hindutva. Their ilk fosters and enables for an environment where such incidents are able to take place. We call upon the Hindu community to be extra vigilant in countering hate as we continue to positively reinforce the image of Hindus in America through movements like Hindu Heritage Month in October.”

August 27, 2022