FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hindus for Human Rights Condemns Introduction of H.Res.1131
“As Hindus whose faith powers our commitment to fighting supremacist hate and standing up for the rights of all people, this resolution does not represent us,” the Hindu American civil rights organization said in a statement.
Press Contact:
Pranay Somayajula, Hindus for Human Rights Director of Research and Advocacy Campaigns
pranay@hindusforhumanrights.org
April 12, 2024 – Hindus for Human Rights issued the following statement in response to H.Res.1131, “Celebrating Hindu Americans, and condemning attacks on Hindu places of worship, Hinduphobia, and anti-Hindu bigotry, and for other purposes,” which was introduced on April 10th in the House of Representatives by Rep. Shri Thanedar:
We firmly condemn H.Res.1131, introduced on Wednesday in the House of Representatives by Rep. Thanedar. Though it claims to celebrate Hindu Americans and speak for our community’s interests, this resolution does not respond to real concerns about how Hindu Americans are affected by white Christian nationalism in the United States. Instead, it reflects a longstanding effort by the Hindu supremacist movement in the United States to divide South Asian communities, undermine hard-won efforts to advance the civil rights of Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh Americans after 9/11, and construct a politically motivated narrative of rampant ‘Hinduphobia’ to silence and censor anyone who criticizes Hindutva or speaks out against the violence of Hindu supremacy and caste oppression.
Anti-Hindu prejudice, discrimination, and violence absolutely exist around the world, including here in the United States, and must be condemned. ‘Hinduphobia,’ however, is a neologism that has been popularized in the United States by the Hindu supremacist far-right, in order to convey the false impression—particularly to well-meaning liberals and members of mainstream civil society who rightly wish to avoid prejudice of any kind—that Hindu Americans face disproportionate and widespread discrimination and bigotry, specifically on the basis of their Hindu identity. The term ‘Hinduphobia’ is designed to falsely equate anti-Hindu prejudice with Islamophobia and antisemitism, obscuring the fact that unlike Muslim and Jewish Americans, Hindu Americans do not face any such systemic discrimination or oppression. In many cases, instances of anti-Indian sentiment, general xenophobia, or even mistaken Islamophobia are misleadingly labeled as ‘Hinduphobic’ regardless of whether or not there is any evidence to support claims of religious motivation. Even worse, claims of ‘Hinduphobia’ have routinely been weaponized to smear anyone—including self-identifying Hindus—who criticizes the current Indian government or the Hindu supremacist movement. This tactic, which echoes the weaponization of bad-faith antisemitism claims to target pro-Palestinian and anti-Zionist activists, was intentionally copied from the pro-Israel playbook by the Hindu far-right. Perhaps most horrifyingly, dominant-caste Hindu supremacists deploy the term ‘Hinduphobia’ to describe legislation and policies that would end caste discrimination, including against fellow Hindu Americans. By explicitly invoking the rhetoric of ‘Hinduphobia,’ this resolution plays directly into the hands of Hindu supremacist groups, who have already seized upon its introduction as a victory for their cause.
It is telling that this resolution is being introduced in apparent partnership with HinduACTion, which is hosting a press conference this coming Monday to celebrate the resolution’s introduction. HinduACTion presents itself as an independent entity, but in practice functions as an offshoot of the oldest Hindu supremacist organization in the United States, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHP-A). The VHP-A is the subject of a groundbreaking report published this February by the Savera: United Against Supremacy coalition, of which HfHR is a core member, which details not only the VHP-A’s role as the epicenter of the Hindu supremacist movement in America, but its ties to other sections of the American far-right as well. In keeping with the Hindu supremacist ecosystem’s longstanding tactic of maintaining plausible deniability by diffusing its work across numerous interlinked subsidiaries and affiliates, HinduACTion shares its seniormost leadership with the VHP-A, and has regularly collaborated with the VHP-A and its various branches. Moreover, HinduACTion has amplified conspiracy theories against Hindu American leaders, which have then been used by the Indian government to intimidate and silence these individuals—including HfHR’s Executive Director, Sunita Viswanath. The fact that Rep. Thanedar has partnered with an organization that not only fails to represent Hindu Americans, but also endangers them, to promote this resolution demonstrates the true agenda behind it.
As a major Hindu civil rights organization, we will always support any effort to uplift the Hindu American community that respects our diversity across faith, caste, and ethnic lines. In October, Rep. Thanedar introduced a Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain Caucus without speaking to HfHR, the two largest Sikh American organizations, and Dalit and linguistic community organizations. Yet again, he has failed to consult major stakeholders, and instead collaborated with Hindu supremacist groups who falsely claim to speak for all Hindu Americans. As Hindus whose faith powers our commitment to fighting supremacist hate and standing up for the rights of all people, this resolution does not represent us.
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