*Santa Clara, CA: Sept. 1, 2019 —Top Hindu American Congressman slamsModi’s BJP Hindutva ideology in India.*
US Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), a Hindu of Indian origin, recently urgedhis fellow Hindu-American lawmakers to “reject Hindutva,” referring to areligious nationalist political ideology which treats non-Hindus as foreignto India.
“It’s the duty of every American politician of Hindu faith to stand forpluralism, reject Hindutva, and speak for equal rights for Hindus, Muslims,Sikhs, Buddhist[s] & Christians,” wrote Congressman Khanna on Twitter onAugust 29 link. “Thatis the vision of India my grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar fought for.”Vidyalankar (1901-1985), who was repeatedly jailed for participating inIndia’s struggle for independence, later served as a Member of Parliamentin the Republic of India.
Referring to a profile of Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard published by*Caravan* magazinein Augustlink,Khanna called it an “important article.” The 18,000-word cover storydocuments how Gabbard’s early congressional career was heavily financed byleaders and members in American affiliates of the Rashtriya SwayamsevakSangh, an Indian paramilitary which promotes Hindutva.
link
Entitled “All in the Family: The American Sangh’s Affair With Tulsi Gabbardlink,”the article states, “By the end of her first term, one Indian paper wasdescribing Tulsi Gabbard as ‘the RSS fraternity’s newest mascot.’ Few inthe United States realize that Gabbard’s relationship with the RSS does notagree at all with the progressive image she cultivates.”
“The Sangh in America backed Gabbard because they understand that theinternational community is worried about the sectarian violent politics ofthe Sangh in India,” states Dr. Ashok Swain in the article. A Hinduprofessor working in Sweden, Swain claims, “They want some powerfulpolitical personalities on their side, particularly in the United States.They believe Tulsi can be one of them, who can provide them cover frominternational sanctions. Tulsi has also done that in the past.”
Discussing Gabbard’s interactions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,the article notes, “Gabbard emerged on the US political scene at a pivotalmoment for the Sangh’s aspiration to see Modi as the Indian primeminister…. The greatest diplomatic triumph for the American Sangh wasrehabilitating Modi’s tainted reputation in the United States. Gabbardplayed a significant part in that project.”
The article identifies nearly 60 executives in Sangh organizations —including the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (international wing of the RSS),Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (international wing of VHP, the religiouswing of RSS), and the Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party(international wing of the BJP) — as donors to Gabbard’s congressionalcampaign between 2011 and 2014. It states that over 20 percent of Gabbard’scampaign financing came from “Sangh and pro-Modi sources” during 2013, herfirst year in office. It discusses how she met with then BJP PresidentRajnath Singh and then RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav in Washington, D.C. in2013, the year before Modi was elected. Additionally, it discusses how shespoke at multiple HSS, VHPA, and OFBJP events as well as worked againstlegislation and hearings opposed by her American Sangh donors.
“Congressman Khanna’s courage in denouncing Hindutva is an example we hopeall will follow,” comments Arvin Valmuci of Organization for Minorities ofIndia. “As recent documentation published by *Caravan* shows, the RSS isnot only involved in pogroms and massacres against Christians, Dalits,Muslims, and Sikhs in India, but it is also trying to cultivate politiciansin America. Last year, Illinois State Senator Ram Villavalam took a similarcourageous stand against supremacy. We hope to see words translated intoaction.”