Hinduphobia on surge in the US: Indian-American Congressman Thanedar vows to fight targeted hate crimes and bigotry
Congressman Shri Thanedar, alongside prominent Hindu leaders and organizations, convened at a Capitol Hill briefing which was organized by HinduACTion on Wednesday.
They discussed the urgent need for measures to combat the rising tide of anti-Hindu sentiment, including Hinduphobia and attacks on Hindu temples, institutions, and individuals across the United States and Canada.
“There should be no place for hatred in America,” declared Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI), reinforcing the event’s call to action. He also assured the audience that an anti-Hinduphobia resolution is being worked on in Congress.
Suhag Shukla, Executive Director of the Hindu American Foundation, reported a significant escalation in incidents of anti-Hindu bias, stating, “rhetoric from social media to media to college campuses to the institutionalizing of anti-Hindu hate and caste policies as well as hate incidents that are brewing at many of our temples across the country.” Shukla urged the Hindu community to take an active role in preventing these incidents and ensuring law enforcement’s effective response. “If and when you are a victim of an anti-Hindu hate crime, or if your institution has been attacked, it is very important to report these incidents to law enforcement.”
Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur Sunder Iyer shared a pre-recorded message detailing his experience as a victim of targeted hate and racial profiling at Cisco. He appealed to Congress, “I respectfully ask the members of Congress to allocate a budget within the Department of Justice to investigate the California Civil Rights Department and for the greater good of America. An agency that does not represent the truth harms all Americans. Several of my colleagues at Cisco and many other companies across California will be willing to give testimony. They must not live their lives in fear and their voices must not be suppressed.”
Journalists Rohit Sharma and Se Hoon Kim were awarded the “Friend of Community Award” for excellence and integrity in journalism.
Journalist Se Hoon Kim and Afghan Human Rights Activist Zeba Mohammad urged lawmakers to take the rising anti-Hindu hate events very seriously and urged them to take immediate steps to prevent the spread of Taliban-like ideologies on our campuses.
Clifford D Smith, Washington Director of the Middle East Forum, highlighted the role of Hamas-linked radical Islamist groups in spreading anti-Hindu hate and anti-Semitism across the United States, especially on college campuses.
Jay Kansara, a political analyst while introducing Representative Thanedar commented on the spread of anti-Hindu content online, noting India’s decisive action against big tech, a move that America is now emulating, “to radicalize communities and foment communal violence.”
Jaanhavi Ganesh from Rutgers University addressed the impact of Hinduphobic narratives on Hindu students, emphasizing the need for academic institutions to foster a more inclusive and understanding environment. “The challenges faced by Hindu students extend beyond isolated incidents of discrimination and are often deeply rooted in systemic issues within academic institutions creating a hostile environment for Hindu students.”
Tejal Shah of the Hindu Temple Empowerment Council highlighted the psychological impact of recent temple attacks, pointing out instances where the perpetrators remained unidentified and law enforcement failed to take action.
Puneet Sahani, a Sikh scholar and anti-Khalistan analyst, spoke on the significant threat posed by Khalistani terrorism to both American and Indian Americans, adding a critical dimension to the discussions on hate and extremism. He warned that U.S. law enforcement is ignoring the radicalization of many pro-Khalistan institutions that openly eulogize terrorists.
The briefing concluded with HinduACTion and the Namaste-Shalom Multifaith Alliance presenting a joint declaration that called on Congress to officially recognize the increasing anti-Hindu hatred through a formal resolution. The declaration urged Representatives who are committee members overseeing the budget for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Justice Department to allocate funds to address and combat rising anti-Hindu hate in the United States.
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