MEDIA ALERT : Clarification on Quotes in Middle East Eye Article

This is in response to a tweet by Congressman Ro Khanna about a recent article in the Middle East Eye in which our co-founder Raju Rajagopal's views were quoted. The congressman had taken strong exception to one of several quotes from Raju, which had stated that the congressman’s actions were guided by his concerns about the clout of Hindu nationalists in the U.S.

Hindus for Human Rights fully stands by Raju’s quotes in the article and shares the views expressed in the article about the congressman’s troubling public stance on India. However, we understand that the above quote caused considerable distress to Congressman Khanna and we believe that it is essential to provide clarity on the matter.

First and foremost, Raju’s quote above were his impressions of the congressman’s dilemma, which is a widely shared view among Indian American human rights activists, and is also the view of HfHR. Raju did not directly quote Congressman Khanna, but rather paraphrased his previous conversations with our Executive Director, Sunita Viswanath, in D.C. in late 2019. Sunita had recounted how the congressman had inquired about the strength of HfHR's membership base and had seemed overly concerned about the clout of Hindu nationalist groups in comparison to HfHR. That meeting was the primary basis of Raju’s (and HfHR’s) impressions quoted in the article. The congressman has done nothing since that meeting to alter our impression. However, HfHR and Raju are not aware of any on-the-record statement by the congressman citing the clout of Hindu nationalists as the reason for not speaking up.

We acknowledge that the wording of Raju’s quote might have led to misunderstandings, and we want to set the record straight.  

As an organization committed to human rights and standing up for marginalized communities, Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) has been vigilant about human rights violations around the world. In the context of India, HfHR/Raju conveyed their deep sense of disappointment over Congressman Khanna's silence on the issue of human rights violations under Prime Minister Modi's rule.

HfHR had highly appreciated Congressman Khanna's past tweets against Hindutva, which had raised hopes among many that he would take a principled public stand against anti-minority hate and violence in India. However, we are deeply troubled that the congressman’s subsequent actions, such as providing a platform to Prime Minister Modi in D.C., contradicts those expectations. We also feel that the congressman has missed numerous opportunities to show solidarity with the victims of Modi's government, including the victims of the Manipur violence, which was triggered by the BJP government – even after the world had witnessed the horror of tribal women being paraded naked.

We want to make it clear that our intention is not to challenge Congressman Khanna's credibility as a progressive Democrat. Rather, we seek an open and honest dialogue with him, as we consider him a colleague and compatriot. Our goal is to engage constructively on the substantive issues raised in the article, particularly regarding human rights and religious freedom in India. We believe that an open conversation can help bridge any gaps in understanding and provide an opportunity for mutual learning and growth.

We sincerely believe that as the Co-Chair of the House India Caucus, Congressman Khanna has an important responsibility to represent the diverse perspectives within the Indian American community. This includes advocating for the protection of human rights and religious freedom, and expressing his views on any concerns regarding the situation in India. It is essential to ensure that any support for defense and security assistance to India is contingent upon the Indian government's commitment to upholding its constitution, which guarantees fundamental rights and freedom of religion to all its citizens.

HfHR remains committed to advocating for human rights, justice, and equality. We stand firm in our dedication to the values that guide our work.