HinduPACT

Category: 2020 Elections

  • HinduPACT Outlines Hindu Agenda for First 100 Days of Biden/Harris Administration

    HinduPACT Outlines Hindu Agenda for First 100 Days of Biden/Harris Administration

    January 21, 2020

    American Hindus played a key role in the battleground states during the 2021 Presidential elections with an estimated 60 percent of American Hindus voting for candidates on the Democratic ticket.  HinduPACT, one of the key organizations representing Hindus in the US, urges the Biden administration to take action on the following issues that are of importance to the Hindu community in the first 100 days of their administration:

    1. Ensure legal protection for DALCA (Deferred Action for Legal Childhood Arrivals) kids. DALCA kids are comprised of more than 150,000 hard working Hindu kids who fear the possibility of ageing out at 21 through no fault of their own or of their parents. Unfortunately, the DACA regulations do not apply to DALCA kids since these regulations only help kids who entered the US illegally.  The DALCA kids, on the other hand, entered the United States lawfully and legally.  We request that the DACLA kids be considered for permanent residency within first 100 days.
    1. Expedite green cards for high-skilled professionals. The high-tech economy of today has enormous need for scientific and technical talent. US has been able to attract exceptional scientists and technologists from around the world, a vast majority of whom are Hindus from India who come to the US on H1B work visa.  The path to legal permanent residence for these legal residents is torturous and can take up to two decades.  We request that that in the first 100 days the Biden administration expedite the permanent residency process for H1B visa holders
    1. Support the human rights of persecuted religious minorities in authoritative theocracies. Certain vulnerable religious communities are facing organized and brutal pogroms like Yezidis in Iraq and Syria and Hindu Rohingyas in Muslim majority Rohingya refugee camps.  As one of the world’s super powers, the United States has a moral duty to help those who are suffering on a regular basis in their home countries, especially in cases in which the home country does not follow the democratic ideals that allow and ensure that all citizens have a voice.  The Biden administration must immediately grant prioritized asylum to these persecuted minorities as part of its first 100-day agenda.
    1. Facilitate strong policy reform on religious-based bullying on both state and federal levels. Bullying has been linked to many negative ills found among our youth in society, including extreme impacts on mental health, substance abuse, and suicide.  According to a recent Hindu American Foundation study, one third of the Hindu youth surveyed said they had been bullied simply because of their religion, while half of those surveyed expressed feeling social isolation and awkwardness simply because they practiced a faith with a different mode of worship.  The Biden administration must launch a study on reforming federal and state bullying laws to ensure the mental health and safety of all youth.  
    1. Prohibit state-funding of universities to suppress free speech on college campuses. In recent years, there have been numerous vicious attempts to target courses and instructors of Hindu Studies as well as publicly admonish Hindu students from expressing their views on topics related to Hinduism.  University campuses should allow for the free expression and exploration of thoughts and ideas.  Within first 100 days, the Biden administration must issue a directive to make the federal grants to the universities contingent up on them honoring and protecting the rights afforded under the First Amendment.
    1. Balance Merit and Equal Opportunity in Academics. American Hindus fully embrace the allocation of resources to ensure that every child and youth in America has fair and equal access to the best educational institutions in America.  We endorse the idea of early childhood education and special supplemental educational facilities for those who need.  We, however, do not believe that the importance of merit should be diminished.  The de-emphasis of merit in academics adversely impacts Asian American students, including Hindu students.  The Biden administration must form a commission within first 100 days to reimagine federal government’s role in promoting merit and equal opportunities to all deserving youth.
    1. Ensure equal healthcare access to all and inclusive clinical trials. It is appalling that in one of the most highly developed and civilized countries in the world almost 30 million Americans did not have health insurance at one point.  It is imperative that the reduction of health care disparities in the country, which include clinical trials, be a focal point of this new administration.  It is well understood that people of different races and ethnicities are not uniformly affected by a given disease and the drugs work differently among patients of diverse background.  The federally funded clinical trials and the criterial for approval of drugs must ensure that the clinical trials include diverse populations.
    1. Provide greater capital access for faith-based communities, including American Hindus.
      Faith-based communities play a critical role in providing social capital and community resilience in our society. Unlike other faith communities, the Hindu community has had little access to capital because of which the Hindu organizations have remained under-resourced in their community revitalization and disaster relief capabilities. The Biden administration must ask FEMA to actively work with the Hindu community organizations to ensure their inclusion in all future relief efforts.
    1. Promote a carbon neutral American economy. Hindu ethos prescribes theological impetus to a worldview that allows humanity to pursue universal wellbeing in harmony with the Nature. We hope that these ethos become integral to the new administration’s framework to rework and further strengthen the American economy. Within the first 100 days, the Biden administration must create a plan to set measurable environmental goals leading to a carbon neutral American economy that balances protection of the environment with the creation of more American jobs.
    1. Respect the sovereign rights of India, a democratic ally, to govern and manage its own laws for the benefit of its people. America and India are two of the most prominent democracies in the world.  For all Hindus, regardless of their race and nationality, India is a dharmabhoomi (sacred land).  As the people of India have always been respectful to the United States and to its democracy, Hindu Americans ask the Biden administration to also respect India and its democracy and to not interfere in the domestic affairs of India at the behest of extremist groups in America.
    1. Finally, refer to Indian Americans as “Indian Americans”. As Americans would likely not wish to be labeled as North Americans, Indian Americans do not wish to be referred to as South Asians.  South Asian label robs Indian American of their unique Indian identity.

    As one of the most successful communities in America, the Hindu American community stands as a testament to the success of the American dream.  Undoubtedly, Hindus in America are strong and positive contributors to the American economy and to the societies in which they live.  We hope that the Biden administration will recognize the success and contributions of our community and further engage with HinduPACT to address the concerns of our community as listed above. 

    We wish the Biden administration a very successful and fruitful term in office. 

    About HinduPACT USA

    Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective, USA – HinduPACT USA is an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA). HinduPACT (hindupact.org) aims to bring Hindu ethos and dharmic values of unity in diversity, plurality, compassion and, mutual respect amongst religions to policy and advocacy for human rights, environmental protection, racial and gender equality, and, interfaith dialog.  HinduPACT activities include voter education (hinduvote.org), and weekly live show on contemporary American Hindu issues HinduLounge (hindulounge.com). 

    About HinduVote.Org

    HinduVote.Org, a project of HinduPACT USA is dedicated to engagement of voters in American electoral process at local, state and federal levels.  HinduVote promotes voter education, voter registration, and, get-out-the-vote efforts.   HinduVote engages legislators at all levels to ensure that issues important to American Hindus are addressed.

    About World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)

    World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) is the most prominent organization of Hindus in the USA.  Founded in 1970, it has chapters across the country.   VHPA runs educational programs for Hindu children and youth in addition to community service (Seva) activities, and initiatives such as Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), Hindu Womens’ Network, American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective USA (HinduPACT).

  • HinduPACT Press Release on the Riots at Capitol Hill

    HinduPACT Press Release on the Riots at Capitol Hill

    The following statement was issued by HinduPACT, an initiative of World Hindu Council of America
    (VHPA).

    HinduPACT has stood for the democratic right to peaceful protest. However, the events this week at the Capitol Hill are not reflective of peaceful protests. We believe that such riots undermine the democracy and democratic processes and must be denounced by all. We also believe that there is no place for flags of any country other than the USA at these protests. We note that attempts to link the Indian flag to Hindus by Hinduphobes has failed after the identity of the person carrying the flag was revealed.

    Commenting on the Capitol Hill riots, Ajay Shah, the President of VHPA and Convenor of HinduPACT stated:

    “American Hindus are categorically against any rioting. We believe that riots and anarchy have no place in a democracy. We believe that the right to peaceful protest is sacrosanct and an orderly transfer of power is essential for the survival of democracy. HinduPACT was against the Antifa takeover of public spaces during the past summer, and we are against the breach of Capitol Hill by the rioters in Washington DC this week. We note with dismay that an Indian flag was seen at the demonstration. We believe that the Indian flag, or a flag of any country, had any place at the demonstrations when issues at stake are internal to that country. This is again, consistent with the stand we had taken when foreign flags were seen during protests and riots in summer. “

    Utsav Chakrabarti, Executive Director of the HinduPACT commented:

    “It is truly unfortunate to see the events that unfolded at the Capitol Hill yesterday. These events highlight the point that street justice has no place in the democratic process. Unfortunately, this form of grievance redressal was glorified and used a successful tactic for mobilization during the run up to the election by one side. A tactic that successfully worked for one side, is bound to be picked up and applied by the other side, in a situation where both sides have little desire or space to reconcile.”

    About HinduPACT USA

    Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective, USA – HinduPACT USA is an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA). HinduPACT (hindupact.org) aims to bring Hindu ethos and dharmic values of unity in diversity, plurality, compassion and, mutual respect amongst religions to policy and advocacy for human rights, environmental protection, racial and gender equality, and, interfaith dialog. HinduPACT activities include voter education (hinduvote.org), and weekly live show on contemporary American Hindu issues HinduLounge (hindulounge.com).

    About HinduVote.Org

    HinduVote.Org, a project of HinduPACT USA is dedicated to engagement of voters in American electoral process at local, state and federal levels. HinduVote promotes voter education, voter registration, and, get-out-the-vote efforts. HinduVote engages legislators at all levels to ensure that issues important to American Hindus are addressed.

    About World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)

    World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) is the most prominent organization of Hindus in the USA. Founded in 1970, it has chapters across the country. VHPA runs educational programs for Hindu children and youth in addition to community service (Seva) activities, and initiatives such as Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), Hindu Womens’ Network, American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective USA (HinduPACT).

  • HinduPACT Press Release on Presidential Elections

    HinduPACT Press Release on Presidential Elections

    The following statement was issued by Ajay Shah, Convener, HinduPACT USA:

    While the official elections have yet to be certified, the media has projected Vice President Biden and Sen. Harris as winners of the elections.  If these results eventually hold, on behalf of American Hindus we congratulate the Democratic ticket.  We want to commend a record number of voters who turned out to vote for elections in the 2020 Presidential election cycle.  We anticipate that a record number of American Hindus also voted in these elections.  The American Hindu community was more informed and more engaged than ever before.  We thank American Hindus for tuning into various HinduLounge shows and debates to understand both sides of the issues and utilizing resources available on our voter education website HinduVote.org to make an informed decision.

    We heard from both the campaigns in this closely fought election that the American Hindu vote would play the most critical role in ten battleground states.  This should serve as a reminder that promises made to the American Hindus during the elections should now be kept

    We want to remind tentatively President-elect Biden that while his campaign did not create a website with an agenda for Hindus (like it did for other faiths), his likely administration will abide by the promises given by his surrogates in various forums and address genuine domestic and international Hindu issues.  These include reduction of wait time for H1B visa holders (an issue disproportionally affecting Hindus), providing protection to children of H1B visa who attain adulthood (DACLA kids), reining in of blatant Hinduphobic resolutions by various Democrat-run city councils, Department of Education that ensures fair and accurate representation of Hindu dharma in federally funded educational institutions, fight against radical Islamic terrorism and advocacy for persecuted Hindu minorities globally.

    This election cycle has also seen many American Hindu candidates elected.  HinduPACT will issue a separate press release on Congressional election results.

    About HinduPACT USA

    Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective, USA – HinduPACT USA is an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA). HinduPACT (hindupact.org) aims to bring Hindu ethos and dharmic values of unity in diversity, plurality, compassion and, mutual respect amongst religions to policy and advocacy for human rights, environmental protection, racial and gender equality, and, interfaith dialog.  HinduPACT activities include voter education (hinduvote.org), and weekly live show on contemporary American Hindu issues HinduLounge (hindulounge.com). 

    About HinduVote.Org

    HinduVote.Org, a project of HinduPACT USA is dedicated to engagement of voters in American electoral process at local, state and federal levels.  HinduVote promotes voter education, voter registration, and, get-out-the-vote efforts.   HinduVote engages legislators at all levels to ensure that issues important to American Hindus are addressed.

    About World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)

    World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) is the most prominent organization of Hindus in the USA.  Founded in 1970, it has chapters across the country.   VHPA runs educational programs for Hindu children and youth in addition to community service (Seva) activities, and initiatives such as Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), Hindu Womens’ Network, American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective USA (HinduPACT).

  • Responses to Congressional Questionnaire

    Responses to Congressional Questionnaire

    StateElected OfficeName of the CandidateAffiliationConstituencyAttachment
    CACongressAlison HaydenRepublicanCA-15Download
    CACongressNisha SharmaRepublicanCA-11Download
    CACongressRitesh TandonRepublicanCA-17Download
    CACongressAnna EshooDemocratCA-18Download
    CACongressRishi KumarDemocratCA-18Download
    OhioCongressKevin KahnLibertarianDistrict 1Download
    OhioCongressAaron Paul GodfreyDemocratDistrict 16Download
    GASenate Al BartellIndependentGADownload
  • HinduPACT Co-Sponsors 2020 Presidential Debate from Hindu Perspective

    HinduPACT Co-Sponsors 2020 Presidential Debate from Hindu Perspective

    HOUSTON: The political divide between Hindu supporters of US President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden is getting deeper with the presidential election less than two weeks away and the starting of early polls in some states. 

    In a sign of the growing political prominence of Hindus in America, the Trump and Biden campaigns are wooing this religious minority community like never before. Hinduism is the fourth largest faith in the US, representing approximately one per cent of the US population in 2016. 
    The Biden campaign in September launched ‘Hindu Americans for Biden’ in September, while the Trump campaign in August announced the formation of the ‘Hindu Voices for Trump’ as part of their efforts to attract the over two million members of the religious community in the US. 
    A virtual debate held on Sunday between American Hindu supporters of Trump and Biden brought the message home that there is a clear political divide among the community in the US. 

    While one group alleged that Biden “panders to Muslims”, the other accused Trump of being a “racist”. 

    The webinar titled ‘2020 Presidential Election: A debate on the American Hindu issues’ was co-sponsored by the Hindu American Foundation, the Hindu American PAC, the HinduPACT and the HinduVote. 

    During the debate, Biden supporters alluded to the Obama-Biden administration’s lifting of nuclear sanctions against India as a demonstration of Biden’s pro-India stance, while Trump supporters brought to light how Biden as the senate foreign relations committee chair passed a bill pumping billions of dollars for improving Pakistan’s economy, which ended up funding the Pakistan military and promoting terrorism across the border. 

    Trump supporters underlined that Pakistan honoured Biden with ‘Hilal-i-Pakistan’, the country’s second-highest civil award. On the other hand, Trump, they said, named Pakistan a ‘country of particular concern’ for supporting cross-border terrorism and drastically cut the financial aid to the nation. They recalled that Hindus had asked the Obama administration to cut aid to Pakistan, but it was not done. 

    A much more direct question to the Biden team was about the party platform having sections on American Muslims, American Jewish, but “nothing clear cut about American Hindu community, not even a mention”. 
    In response, the Biden team said the Democratic Party as a policy recognises “cultural communities” and not religious communities, thus, its policy towards “Indian American community” is on the platform. 
    Utsav Chakrabarty, a Trump supporter, said he had written at least six letters to the Democratic Party leadership, asking them to post a policy paper on American Hindus, but he never got any response. A Democratic Party operative, he claimed, told him that unless he made a contribution to the Biden campaign, nothing would change. 

    Tushar Dayagude, another Trump supporter, echoed Chakrabarty’s assertion that campaign contribution was a must for Hindus to have their cause recognised in the Biden team. 

    Dayagude opined that Hindu members contributing to Trump’s campaign was the reason Biden campaign ignored the community. 

    In this context, Srilekha Palle, a Trump supporter from Fairfox, Virginia, disputed the assertion that American Hindus largely donated only to the Trump campaign. Palle pointed out that a prominent Houston-based American Hindu raised USD 3.5 million from the community members in single night for Biden campaign. 

    Trump supporters said the Democrats have always “pandered to Muslims” and its support to the Hindu community was nothing more than a “tokenism”. 

    To drive home their point, they cited the Diwali celebration at the White House in 2012 when Obama was the president. The supporters pointed out that the Democrats invited the Islamic Society of North America as one of the sponsors of the event and provided a platform to its spokesperson to speak at the Hindu religious festival. 

    Buttressing the point further, Trump supporters showed on the screen an “insensitive” image tweeted by Meena Harris, niece of Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris. The tweet has now been deleted by Meena, 35, who is a lawyer and a children’s book author. 

    Meena had tweeted the image to greet Hindus on the ongoing festival of ‘Navratri’, which celebrates women power and the triumph of good over evil. In the image, Kamala Harris, depicted as goddess Durga, was seen killing President Trump, who was depicted as buffalo demon ‘Mahishasura’. The image also showed Biden as a lion, the ‘vahana’ (vehicle) of the goddess. 

    Chakrabarty said the only outreach the Biden team has made to Hindus is this kind of “tokenism, which at best is cheap and hurtful and at its worst, creates Hindu phobia”. 

    The Trump team at the debate also included Jay Kansara, a former director of governmental relations for the Hindu American Foundation in Washington DC, who played a key role in the Howdy Modi summit last year. 

    The Biden team panelists were Nish Acharya, who was Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship in the Obama administration; and Niki Shah, a Hindu community organiser who worked closely on Hindu initiatives for former president Obama’s faith-based council. 
    Asked why the Trump campaign did not respond to a questionnaire sent by the Hindu American Foundation PAC, while the Biden campaign did, Kansara said he found the questionnaire heavily biased against Trump and, therefore, advised the Trump campaign against responding to it.

  • HinduPACT Co-Sponsors 2020 Presidential Debate from Hindu Perspective

    HinduPACT Co-Sponsors 2020 Presidential Debate from Hindu Perspective

    San Francisco, CA (Sunday, October 18, 2020): A coalition of Hindu American organizations joined hands to conduct a first of its kind debate to discuss issues relevant to the Hindu American community in the upcoming presidential election. On Sunday, October 18, 2020, six Hindu Americans, split evenly between the two presidential candidates, met virtually to debate topics as they related to the Hindu American community in the following three broad areas: domestic policy, foreign policy, and overall party stance. For each of the three areas, the debaters presented positions favoring their candidate as well as opposing the other candidate.

    The debaters, all of whom had demonstrated a commitment to the Hindu American community through their activism or spirit, were vocal supporters of the candidate they were representing. The debaters for the Trump side were Jay Kansara, Srilekha Reddy Palle, and Utsav Chakrabarti. The debaters for the Biden side were Nish Acharya, Tushar Dhayagude, and Niki Shah.

    In an active and, at times, very passionate debate, the debaters discussed, among many others, sub-topics such as the interactions and commitment of each candidate to the Hindu American community, President Trump’s presence at the Howdy Modi event last September, the Hilal-i-Pakistan award presented to Candidate Biden by the Pakistani government, and the commitment of each candidate to helping Hindu and Sikh persecuted minorities in Afghanistan.

    Jay Kansara, who served for nine years as Director of Government Relations at the Hindu American Foundation, spoke in depth about his experience of working with the Trump administration to foster a closer working relationship between the Trump administration and the Hindu American community. “I must say that the Trump administration is far more inclusive of Hindu thought or Hindu perspectives than the alternate, than the Obama-Biden ever was,” said Mr. Kansara.

    The other two debaters to represent the Trump side were Srilekha Reddy Palle, the Political Director for the American Hindu Coalition and an active leader in the Trump campaign and in the Republican party, and Utsav Chakrabarti, an active contributor to lawmakers on Capitol Hill and to representatives of the Human Rights Commission at the United Nation.

    Nish Acharya, who was appointed by President Obama to be a Senior Advisor to the US Secretary of Commerce and Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and is currently a Senior Fellow with the Center for American Progress, spoke about the similarities between the Democratic party in the US and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s platform in India. “The reality is, I would like to point out, that the BJP agenda in India actually is fairly progressive, in line with the Democratic Party. So when you look at some of Prime Minister Modi’s biggest agenda items…these are all efforts to progressively, economically, and socially empower Indians from the bottom everywhere and connect them to society so they have a chance for success and survival…That is an agenda of progressive economics that we all see on the Biden side,” said Mr. Acharya when questioned about the past relationship between the then Senator Biden and Pakistan as well as the excess foreign aid given to Pakistan under the Obama-Biden administration.

    The other two debaters for the Biden side were Niki Shah, a member of the Hindu Americans for Biden and a National Co Chair for South Asians for Biden, and Tushar Dhayagude, an active contributor to the political process by writing opinions and rebuttals.

    The debate was moderated by Rakhi Israni, an entrepreneur living in the San Francisco Bay Area. The event was sponsored by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), the Hindu American Political Action Committee (HAPAC), HinduPACT, HinduVote, and the Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA).

  • Presidential Elections – Debate on American Hindu Issues

    Presidential Elections – Debate on American Hindu Issues

    For the first time ever!

    2020 Presidential Election: A Debate on the American Hindu Issues

    HinduPACT and HinduVote (initiatives of the World Hindu Council of America), in co-sponsorship with Hindu American Foundation (HAF), Hindu American PAC (HA PAC), CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) is hosting a debate between Hindu Trump and Biden supporters on the issues of importance to American Hindu community in the 2020 Presidential Election.

    Join us live on Zoom – the link to register is https://bit.ly/318N6pU.

    This is a nonpartisan voter education forum, and the views of the speakers are solely their own and do not represent the views of the sponsoring organizations.

    Support HinduPACT – Please donate to HinduPACT

  • TRT World Interviews Ajay Shah on US Elections

    TRT World Interviews Ajay Shah on US Elections

    Turkish Public Broadcaster, TRT interviewed Ajay Shah, Convener of HinduPACT on the show Inside America hosted by Ghida Fakhry.  The topic of interview was  participation of Hindus in the 2020 US Presidential elections.  The relevant portion of the interview starts at 15:36 mark in the video

  • HinduPACT Quoted in Sri Lanka Express

    HinduPACT Quoted in Sri Lanka Express

    No place for Buddhists with Joe Biden’s identity politics?

    OPINION
    By Hassina Leelarathna
    https://www.srilankaexpress.org/dncbuddhist
     
    Comments are welcome.  Please write to hassinal@gmail.com
    August 23, 2020
     
    The run-up to the U.S. 2020 election is in full swing and so is the game of identity politics.
     
    While Donald Trump and the far right might seem like masters at it, Democrats are not far behind as they woo targeted racial and religious populations.  In the process, they’re raising hackles in traditionally Democratic-leaning ethnic communities.
     
    Buddhists are ignored by the right and taken for granted, even cold shouldered, by the left.  Some Sikhs and Hindus have their own grievances and are veering right.
     
    Take some of the remarks made by Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in his address to the Million Muslim Votes Summit last month:
     
    “As Hindu American advocacy organization, we at HinduPACT USA believe that just as Vice President Biden has created a special page for Islam and other faiths on his website, he should create a special section for other faiths.  So far, he has ignored this demand from the dharmic traditions, which include Hindus, Buddhist, Sikhs and Jains,” says Ajay Shah, Executive VP of the World Hindu Council of America.
     
    Shah sees Biden’s reference to teaching Islam and confessional faiths in schools as troubling as it excludes dharmic faiths.
     
    “If Vice President Biden wants to be the President of all Americans, he should first try to become a presidential candidate who includes all Americans and not pander to any particular faith community. We eagerly look forward to Vice President Biden’s campaign becoming more inclusive towards dharmic traditions.” 
     

    Turn now to the Democratic National Convention (DNC).  If it’s any consolation to Ajay Shah and others sharing a Hindu American advocacy platform, the virtually-run event last week featured Hindu and Sikh representatives.  However, it was at an interfaith service on Sunday, a day before the start of the convention (that ran  Aug 17- 20).

     
    Neelima Gonuguntla, an attorney from Texas recited the Shanti Mantra from the Vedas.  Sikh and interfaith community leader  Pardeep Kaleka of Wisconsin prayed for those who lost their lives and those who are all sick from the pandemic, and called for a more just and compassionate world. 
     
    Imam Noman Hussain of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an  Islamic Studies Instructor and founder & CEO of an Islamic school, offered Muslim prayers.
     
    Other faith community leaders at the event:
     
    • Rex Lee Jim –  of the Diné (Navajo) tribe, a former Vice President of the Navajo Nation
    • Marin Webster Denning – Milwaukee, Wisconsin: member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
    • Bishop William Murphy III – Atlanta, Georgia: Lead Pastor of The dReam Center Church of Atlanta
    • Bishop Samuel Green – Columbia, South Carolina:  African Methodist Episcopal Church
     
    In addition, there were confessional- faith blessings throughout the week of the convention.  On Thursday, the final day, as the Washington Post framed it, “Reflecting Democrats’ interest in interfaith engagement” four faith leaders from three religious traditions were featured:
     
    • Rabbi Lauren Berkun, vice president of the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America.
    • Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of the advocacy group NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
    • Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor at large of the Jesuit magazine America;
    •  Imam Al-Hajj Talib ’Abdur-Rashid, a Muslim social justice activist who leads the New York-based Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood.
    Biden’s unspoken message to Buddhists during the weeklong pageant celebrating the nation’s “collective strength and diversity:” blessings not needed. 
     
    Given an estimated 4 million American Buddhists, about 66 percent of whom lean liberal and vote Democratic, the snub is quite noteworthy, eliciting the following responses.
     
    “If they [Democratic National Convention] had only one prayer, I think it appropriate that they asked a Christian minister to recite the prayer, since Christianity is the majority religion of the country, and the minister’s short prayer was not especially sectarian, apart from the mention of “the matchless name of Jesus” at the end. But if they had a variety of clergy, they should certainly have included a Buddhist representative,” said Ven. Bhikku Bodhi, well-known American (Theravada) scholar-monk in response to my request for his views. 
     
    Ven. Walpola Piyananda, Chief Incumbent of the Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara, who has a large following of American Buddhist practitioners said it was “troubling that Buddhists are continuously overlooked by American political leaders.” 
     
    As an example, Ven. Piyananda points out that  The Hindu Diwali festival is celebrated both at the White House and the State Department, so is the Muslim Ramadan festival,” adding that it’s the right thing to do to make ethnic minorities feel welcome.  He has been trying for a long time without success to have Washington give Buddhists the same nod.  “I have written several letters on the subject, including to Sec. of State John Kerry.  Never received a response.”
     
    However, Ven. Piyananda is not giving up.  “Going forward, Buddhists must unite and make our voices heard.  Doing nothing is not an option.” 
     
    Mark Zuckerman of San Francisco, who describes himself as a “life-long Democrat and engaged meditator, a skill learned at Buddhist Temples,” noted the DNC’s “loud silence of faith leaders who speak to the American experience out of a Buddhist perspective.”  While his primary faith background is Jewish,  Zuckerman says his exposure to Buddhism has enriched him with “a message that blends beautifully into the community of beliefs contributing to the enhancement of our national motto: one from many, E Pluribus Unum.”
     
    With its emphasis on peaceful and nonviolent behaviors, he sees Buddhism as a positive force in crucial policy areas such as climate change. “The Democratic Party should overtly recognize these communities of faith and urge them to join in at this critical time in American history.”
     
    Ideally, Democrats should have refused to play that game of faith-based identity politics and simply assured us of a just society that respects and treats all people alike, with sound policy decisions backing up that promise. 
     
    With its decision to open and close its signature event with prayers of confessional faiths, with no representation at all of the Buddhist religion, the Democratic Party has indicated which religions are more welcome, whose votes more important. 
     
    It has also shown that they don’t practice in America what they preach to the rest of the world. 
  • HinduPACT Quoted in India Today

    HinduPACT Quoted in India Today

    Indian-Americans not happy with Kamala Harris as Democrats VP pick

    Born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, California Senator Harris, if elected, would be the first woman vice president ever for the country.

    Kamala Harris” selection as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate has evoked mixed reactions from the influential Indian-Americans, with a majority of them expressing unfavourable opinions about the Indian-American senator”s track record and her stance towards India and the community.

    Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden scripted history on Wednesday by selecting 55-year-old Harris, an Indian-American and an African-American, as his running mate in the election on November 3.

    Born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, California Senator Harris, if elected, would be the first woman vice president ever for the country.

    While her nomination has filled many aspiring women, particularly young women of colour, with joy across the globe, Harris” selection has also generated mixed reactions from about 3.9 million Indian-Americans, both Republicans and indecisive voters, who believe she lacks understanding of what she stands for and does not consider herself as a woman of Indian origin.

    After talking to various Indian-American groups, they all seem proud but have doubts at large on her handling of various critical issues towards the community and India.

    Radha Dixit, the founding member of Indo-American Conservatives of Texas, said, “The Democratic Party’s reliance on ”Identity politics” has undermined her campaign because the focus has shifted to her being Indian, Asian, Jamaican, African-American and a woman of colour. Divisions in these communities are now coming to surface. Nowhere did Kamala try to claim her Hindu or Indian heritage but people are thrusting their values on her”.

    “If the Democratic Party platform and Kamala Harris”s position on policy issues are the basis for deciding this election as it should be, no conservatives, men or women, will support this ticket,” Dixit said.

    Padma Shri awardee Subhash Kak, Regents Professor Emeritus at the prestigious Oklahoma State University is pleased with Harris” selection but is not happy with her political affiliation.

    “But I’m disappointed with her political positions that are not India-friendly and are far to the left on the political spectrum. In this, she appears to be consistent with Joe Biden who has adopted an agenda that does not acknowledge the need for a special relationship between the United States and India,” Kak said.

    Aditya Satsangi, founder Americans4Hindus, a SuperPAC organisation that represents the interests of Hindus, strongly believes that Harris is a major deception planned by the Democrats to divide the Indian-American votes.

    “She has always claimed to be of African descent rather than Indian and her record as an attorney in California is highly questionable. She has in fact promoted corruption in California,” Satsangi said.

    Founder of the ”Living Planet Foundation” Kusum Vyas considers Harris” nomination as refreshing but questions her track record.

    “She has solid credentials, but do we need to support a person who is a known critic of India”s Kashmir policy and has a strong leaning towards Pakistan. She has recommended abolishing the legal immigration process and supports illegal immigration which hurts people from countries like India, who come here legally,” Vyas said.

    “Harris is a supporter of the anti-India, anti-Hindu brigade, who calls herself Black, hates Indian side of her family, never recognised herself as an Indian,” said Radhika Sud from Atlanta.

    She is unaware of the atrocities of Kashmiri Hindus and has aligned with Pakistan. Indian-Americans won”t vote for pro-Pak, pro-China Harris, just because her mother happens to be an Indian, she said.

    “I would evaluate her on her past policies towards American Hindus and her future approach towards the community. On the first account, I do not see her having given any significant contribution. As for the future posture of the Biden campaign, I am concerned about the public bias they have shown against the American Hindu minority with their policy pronouncements,” said Utsav Chakrabarti, Executive Director HInduPACT.

    Rajiv Verma, a Houston community activist, believes that with Harris as Vice President, the Biden campaign has willfully forfeited any hopes to get the Indian-American votes as she opposes both removal of Article 370 and passage of the new citizenship amendment act by the Indian parliament.

    “Harris” uninformed comments on Kashmir are interference in another sovereign country”s internal matter and are setting up a dangerous precedent for American politics. The fact that the Democrats have shown no understanding of why India has taken the steps it has, makes me think they are purposely being obtuse. How is implementing the Constitution of a sovereign nation across the country discriminatory?” asks Professor Amulya Gurtu of Green Bay, California.

    “Harris needs to brush up her knowledge of Indo-US relations, failing which the votes of admiring Indian-Americans are not likely to translate into votes for the blue ticket. The present Indo-US relations with Modi-Trump chemistry is at its peak since centuries and Indo-American voters are happy with that,” said Subhash Razdan, Chairman and Co-Founder of Gandhi Foundation USA, in Atlanta.

    “My decision not to support Kamala has nothing whatsoever to do with whether she identifies as Indian or Black. It”s about all the Democrats, including her & Biden, toeing the line for vile Kashmiri terrorists in my ancestral homeland of Kashmir,” said Dr Vasudev Patel, president Federation of Indian-American Association.