Category: Media

HinduPACT Demands PM Trudeau Respect Canadians’ Right to Dissent, Must Refrain from Comparing Nazi Hakenkreuz to Peaceful Swastika to Prevent Targeting of Hindus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C – Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) stands with the people of Canada during these trying times and urges Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to respect the rights of the Canadian people to peacefully protest. The right to peaceful protest is fundamental in any democracy and the promulgation of an Emergency Order to quell the voices of dissent sets, for the first time, a tragic precedent for Canada.
HinduPACT Executive Director Utsav Chakrabarti said,
“I would be remiss if I didn’t start by recognizing the news coming out of Canada about the protests and the Draconian measures being taken to counter them. The situation is concerning, and we are all very worried about our family and friends.”
HinduPACT also urges Prime Minister Trudeau and New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh not to conflate the ‘Swastika’, an ancient and auspicious symbol for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and many indigenous communities around the world, with the ‘Hakenkreuz’, a 20th century Nazi symbol of hate. Both Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh have made statements in the recent past, accusing protesters of “waving Swastikas”.
We believe this misrepresentation will lead to hate crimes against Hindus and Sikhs. In the past month alone, six Hindu temples were vandalized and looted in Canada. A prominent member of the Canadian Hindu community and a recipient of the Order of Canada, Aditya Jha while speaking to HinduPACT said,
“I appreciate the gravitas of Indian leadership, that they have stayed away from commenting on protests by truckers in Canada. In contrast, PM Justin Trudeau has behaved immaturely by constantly commenting on protests in India, with very little knowledge and understanding”.
Speaking about NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, Jha added:
“He is openly supportive of Khalistani extremists, makes alliances with radical Islamists, and is a politician who wants to be in India, but accidentally ended up in Canada. He doesn’t know much about the Sikh Panth either. But the problem today is that politics has become so shallow that any well-spoken minority is given a platform as long as they can speak good English.”

February 15, 2022
African American Hindu leaders join HinduPACT in Condemning the vandalization of Gandhi Statue in New York During Black History Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2022
African American Hindu leaders join HinduPACT in Condemning the vandalization of Gandhi Statue in New York During Black History Month
WASHINGTON, D.C – On Saturday, a life-sized bronze statue of the late Mahatma Gandhi, located in New York City’s popular Union Square was vandalized. The Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) sees this hate crime against Hindus and Indian Americans – which took place during Black History Month, nonetheless – as an affront to both Gandhi and the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.; two public figures and leaders who sought to eradicate hate on the basis of race, religion and creed.
Balabhadra Bhattacarya Dāsa (Benny Tillman), President, Vedic Friends Association said,
“Some years ago I had the great fortune of attending the annual Gandhi/ King celebration in Atlanta, and the keynote speaker that year was MLK’s wife Coretta Scott King.” Dāsa recalls her saying “My husband MLK, was a disciple of Gandhi.” Dāsa added: “As an African American practitioner of the Hindu Dharma, I am deeply offended that anyone would disrespect Mahatma Gandhi, who inspired MLK to take up the mission of non-violence, which inspired major changes in society that are still positively impacting our lives today.”
Utsav Chakrabarti, Executive Director of HinduPACT said,
“This is not the first time that statues of Mahatma Gandhi have been vandalized in the US. In the past few years, statues of Mahatma Gandhi had been vandalized by groups aligned with radical Islamists and their sympathizers in South Asian communities.”
Ajay Shah, President of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) and Convenor of HinduPACT and American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) said,
“Mahatma Gandhi and the freedom movement he spearheaded served as the inspiration for Dr. Martin Luther King and the American Civil Rights movement. The MLK Memorial in Atlanta, GA has an area dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. It is no coincidence that Mahatma Gandhi’s statue was desecrated during the Black History Month. The perpetrators of this act and their sponsors are sending the message that they have not accepted peace, human rights, freedom and equality of all human beings.”
This is not the first statue of Gandhi to be desecrated.
In Washington, DC, his statue at Gandhi Memorial Plaza was vandalized amidst George Floyd riots on June 4, 2020and it “was defaced by Khalistani elements” on December 12, 2020.
In California, Gandhi’s statue in the Northern California City of Davis’s Central Park was vandalized on January 26, 2021; half of Gandhi’s face was severed and missing and was sawed off at the ankles then toppled over.
Statues of Gandhi are a symbol of equality. Those who attempted to desecrate his image are indicating their aversion to seeing a society where equality reigns supreme among all people.

February 8, 2022
HinduPACT Urges Pakistan to Replace as US Envoy Masood Khan, with Religious Minority

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2022

HinduPACT Urges Pakistan to Replace as US Envoy Masood Khan, with Religious Minority
WASHINGTON, DC – The Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) urges President Joe Biden to reject Pakistan’s Ambassador-Designate to the United States – a known terrorist sympathizer – Masood Khan and to appoint a religious minority in his place. This will reflect that Pakistan is taking a tangible first step towards ending the state sponsored violence against religious minorities within their borders.
Masood Khan has been open and vocal about his support for convicted terrorist Aafia Siddiqui, who is known colloquially as “Lady al-Qaeda.” He has also supported UN designated terrorist organizations like Hizbul Mujahideen – which he praised as “a role model for freedom fighters across the globe” –, Jamaat-e-Islami – which was directly involved with helping the Pakistani military commit the egregious genocide against hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshi religious minorities in 1971 –, and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen – which has ties to the late Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. Khan even attended at least one event with promoters of Hizbul Mujahideen during which convicted spy Ghulam Nabi Fai was a speaker.
Khan openly praised convicted terrorist, ISIS supporter and commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Burhan Wani; a machine gun touting jihadist. On the fifth anniversary of his death, in July 2021, Khan stated: “Don’t think for a minute that Burhan Wani is dead or gone. Burhani Wani lives in our hearts and stands tall. He sacrificed his life for a cause. His legacy continues. We, the people of Jammu and Kashmir complete his mission of freedom.”
Further, Khan’s appointment undermines both America’s and India’s national security interests; a key US ally.
The percentage of religious minorities in Pakistan has decreased exponentially over the past seven decades, and the appointment of Khan only further emboldens the perpetrators of crimes against these minorities to continue unchecked. We are calling upon the administration and State Department to reject Masood Khan’s appointment for the aforementioned reasons and for the sake of upholding the true tenants of democracy which includes the right to religious freedom and the ability to practice without fear of reprisal.
We hope that by appointing a member of the Hindu, Sikh or any other religious minority as their representative to the US, the government of Pakistan will be able to take a long overdue step in sending a message to the global community and to the people of Pakistan, that it intends to secure the rights of all its citizens irrespective of their faith.
Adelle Nazarian
Director of Legislative Outreach and Communications
HinduPACT

February 4, 2022
Press Release: HinduPACT Urges Senate to Amend Islamophobia Act S.3384 to Reflect Global Protection of Civil Liberties

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 20, 2022
HinduPACT Urges Senate to Amend Islamophobia Act S.3384 to Reflect Global Protection of Civil Liberties
WASHINGTON, D.C – The Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) is circulating a petition to U.S. Senators requesting critical amendments be made to Senate Bill 3384 (known colloquially as the Islamophobia Act) prior to its passage as the bill in its current form fails to protect human rights globally, including the rights of religious minorities, underage girls, and members of the LGBTQ+ communities. This petition is now signed by close to 1200 citizens, generating about 2400 letters to the Senators.
“The bill in its current form does not do justice to reflect American values,” said HinduPACT Executive Director Utsav Chakbrabarti. “If passed as is, it will diminish America’s role as a purveyor of justice and democracy for all communities, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation.”
“To present a bill that aims to eliminate discrimination against one particular religion or faith without including the entire gamut of religious groups is fundamentally un-American,” said HinduPACT Director of Legislative Outreach and Communications Adelle Nazarian. “The United States is a global leader as a defender of human rights and religious freedom and does not hold any religion, faith, gender or creed superior to another. Equality for one is equality for all.”
Ajay Shah, President of World Hindu Council of America and the Convenor of HinduPACT said, “Hindus inherently value freedom of religion, spiritual diversity and respect towards all faiths. We believe that this Bill will aggrandize the freedom of religions around the world. For example, those who abduct and forcibly convert girls from Hindu, Christian and Sikh communities in Pakistan will now seek to silence their opponents and threaten them with the consequences of being designated as “Islamophobic” by the US government. We believe that the Bill will enable an arbitrary designation of organizations from Hindu and other communities outside the US, as Islamophobic. The Senate must either reject the Bill or amend the Bill to comprehensively address ‘phobias’ against all the faiths.”
Part of the addendum requested by HinduPACT says, “No funds made available pursuant to this Act, or an amendment made by this Act may be used to boycott, promote or endorse discrimination or hatred against members of Yezidi, Coptic Christian, Catholic, Protestant, Mormon, Evangelical, Jewish, Bahai, Druze, Alawite, Sabian-Mandean, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh individuals, businesses or institutions operated by these communities.” It also requests that “No funds made available pursuant to this Act, or an amendment made by this Act may be used to promote or endorse marriage, specifically marriage of girls under the age of 18.”

The HinduPACT petition can be found and signed here: https://hindupact.org/islamophobiaact2022/
For media inquiries, contact adelle.nazarian@hindupact.org

January 20, 2022
HinduPACT Stands in Solidarity with Bangladeshi Hindus Ahead of Rally Seeking Justice for Continuous Violence Since 1971 Genocide

November 17, 2021

HinduPACT Stands in Solidarity with Bangladeshi Hindus Ahead of Rally Seeking Justice for Continuous Violence Since 1971 Genocide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, November 19, HinduPACT will join members of minority communities from Bangladesh in a rally meant to shed light on the continuing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

Pranesh Halder, one of the organizers of the event said that the organizers would send a message to the White House that it must ensure the Government of Bangladesh will deliver swift and comprehensive justice. Pranesh added, “the surest way to guarantee justice is served for this atrocity is to hold a tribunal that delivers sentences to anyone involved in the brutal murder of Hindus” He urged the U.S. Department of State to work with Hindu temple organizations in the US to “create a partnership to monitor the reconstruction of Hindu temples that were destroyed during Durga Puja celebrations in Bangladesh this past October”.

Utsav Chakrabarti, Executive Director of HinduPACT, said, “The radical Islamists who are targeting Hindus in Bangladesh today, carry the same ideology and mindset that the Pakistan Army professed in 1971. Those who committed violence against Hindus in Bangladesh today, have an intrinsic ideological link to Pakistan and the concept that created the nation in the first place.”
Chakrabarti added, “Holding Pakistan accountable for the 1971 genocide will send a strong message to Islamists who target, maim and kill Hindus and Muslims whose ideological underpinnings do not match with theirs, and destroy temples today.”

Friday’s rally will take place at 2 pm at Lafayette Square, which is located at 1608 H Street NW.

November 14, 2021
HinduPACT Welcomes Introduction of Legislation to Recognize Diwali as Federal Holiday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2021

HinduPACT Welcomes Introduction of Legislation to Recognize Diwali as Federal Holiday
WASHINGTON, D.C – Diwali marks the start of a New Year for over 2 billion Hindus throughout the world. It is a celebration of renewal, knowledge, the perseverance of good over evil and the credo that light will always overcome darkness.
On Wednesday, the Deepavali Day Act was introduced in an historic event on Capitol Hill.
“Today’s introduction of landmark legislation to recognize Diwali as a Federal holiday is a long-overdue step in the right direction,” said HinduPACT Executive Director Utsav Chakrabarti. “Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)’s intention to make Diwali the 12^th federal holiday recognized by the United States, is an important motion in recognition of one of America’s largest-growing demographics.”
https://twitter.com/CongressmanRaja/status/1455939112301744128?s=20

https://twitter.com/RepMaloney/status/1456360093172305924?s=20

HinduPACT also thanks President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden and House Minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarty (R-CA) for their warm greetings during this auspicious time.
https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1456271532783661057?s=20

https://twitter.com/GOPLeader/status/1456026113017319445?s=20

For media inquiries, contact adelle.nazarian@hindupact.org

November 5, 2021
Press Release: New Jersey Democratic State Committee Rebukes Anti-Hindu Elements in Party; Hindu Americans Call for Disbandment of Teaneck Democratic Municipal Committee

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.

October 18, 2021
Press Release: New Jersey Hindu Americans Condemn and Demand Rescission of Hateful Resolution by Teaneck Democrats

Teaneck, NJ (September 26, 2022): Almost fifty-seven 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 Jersey resident. 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.

October 18, 2021
HinduPACT Condemns Pakistan’s Rejection of Forced Conversion Bill, Calls for Pakistan to Become Secular State

WASHINGTON, D.C – Pakistan’s decision to reject a bill that would have banned forced conversions to Islam is the latest blow to the Islamic Republic’s religious minority population. This exasperates the need to ensure the country becomes secular and HinduPACT is calling on the international community to unify and ensure this comes to fruition.
The fragility of the democratic process, that is still non-existent in Pakistan, is on full display with this latest failure to protect the most vulnerable members of Pakistan’s society, especially Christians, Hindus and other minorities in Sindh and Punjab.
“Democracy in Pakistan is weak and even in that system there is no willingness to help the country’s religious minorities,” said HinduPACT Executive Director Utsav Chakrabarti. “True democracy cannot take place unless Pakistan becomes a secular State and it is incumbent on the international community to make sure Pakistan becomes a secular State.”
“The rejection of a bill that expressly prohibits forced conversions of religious minorities, and even more important, criminalizes the forced conversion of underage non-Muslim girls in Pakistan is truly tragic, but for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interreligious Harmony to term a bill that aims to protect the basic rights of minority citizens as non-Islamic is clear evidence of how systemic the religious intolerance is in the Pakistani establishment,” said Rakhi Israni, who leads HinduPACT’s CHINGARI, a project that deals with this issue.
The bill, which was signed by nearly 40 human rights groups and included signatures by known human rights activists like Irfan Mufti, Mohammad Tahseen, Peter Jacob, Rubina Jamil, and Syeda Ghulam Fatima, among others, was rejected by Pakistan’s Parliamentary Committee. It sought to make 18 years the minimum legal age for conversion.
For Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs Noorul Haq Qadri to suggest that there should be no age limit for conversion is egregious. And for him to reason that a potential law meant to protect minority rights would “create further problems” for them and would make them “more vulnerable” is counterintuitive.
True democracy is defined by a nation’s ability to protect its most vulnerable citizens. Until Pakistan becomes a secular state, the fate of its non-Muslim minority population continues to hang in the balances.
For media inquiries, contact adelle.nazarian@hindupact.org

October 16, 2021
HinduPhobia (Hindudvesha) Conference Series Set to Take Place During Hindu Heritage Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2021
HinduPhobia (Hindudvesha) Conference Series Set to Take Place During Hindu Heritage Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The “Hindu Dharma, Hindutva and Hindudvesha” conference series kicks off this weekend in coordination with and in celebration of Hindu Heritage Month. The virtual conference will showcase the diversity of views within the Hindu world, feature friends of the Hindu community, and address a troubling trend of anti-Hindu sentiment (Hindudvesha or Hinduphobia) which has more recently plagued the Hindu diaspora in the United States, Canada and other parts of the world.
This conference is organized by American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) and Dharma Civilization Foundation (DCF). The conference will begin on Saturday, October 16, 2021, from 11AM-1PM and will help attendees understand the true nature and meaning of Hindu Dharma and Hindutva. The second day of the conference will take place on Sunday, October 17, between 11AM-1PM EST and will focus on Hindu dharma (religion and culture) and the Hindutva Movement and Christianity, Race and the Hindu World. The entire conference will take place on every consecutive Saturday and Sunday over the course of four weeks.
“Hindudvesha is a global phenomenon, stemming from a disdain for Hindu practices and traditions,” explained HinduPACT Executive Director Utsav Chakrabarti. “It is now becoming increasingly visible in the public square and in academia as Hindu communities around the world decolonize and express themselves. Our effort is to understand, analyze and counter it in an informed manner.”
In a joint statement, Kalyan Viswanathan, President of the Hindu University of America and VHPA Vice President Dr. Jai Bansal said: “Hindus are a deeply spiritual and peace-loving community. At one billion strong globally and roughly four million in the US, they represent a growing immigrant minority community in the United States. Historically, Hindus have never invaded, conquered, or enslaved others nor confiscated land or property. On the contrary, Hindus have repeatedly been victims of colonization and invasions. Perhaps their greatest characteristic is that they live and let live. At the core of Hindu dharma is a certain foundational embrace of plurality which honors diversity and fosters co-existence. Unfortunately, as they are being repeatedly and increasingly maligned in unprecedented ways, it is important that Hindus speak up to set the record straight to contest the lies and misinformation circulated by those seeking to undermine them.”
Convenor of AHAD and HinduPACT Ajay Shah said, “Hindu hate is either due to ignorance of Hindu dharma or hatred towards it. Attacks on Hindutva, or essence of Hindu dharma is a new weapon of choice for those who are against the universal ideals of freedom and peace espoused by the Hindu dharma. This conference is an opportunity for those who seek to learn about Hindu dharma and the drivers for Hindu hatred.”
To register for the conference, click here.
For media inquiries, contact adelle.nazarian@hindupact.org

October 16, 2021