By Geeta Sikand
Geeta Sikand is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, Irvine. She is a community activist, an author specializing in combating anti-Hindu hate narratives in the media, and an influencer to retract anti-Hindu hate narratives.
This is a 3-part series: Part I, Part II, Part III (this article)
In the previous two parts, the author discussed “How American Hindus Contributed to Trump’s Triumph in 2024? Clearly, these Hinduphobic events have contributed to a growing sense of distrust of the Democratic Party, attributed to the Leftist Islamists AKA ‘Progressive Socialist Democratic’ wing that are visibly anti-Hindu.
This final part includes three sections: 1) Summary of catastrophic Hinduphobia and Hindumisia events during the past four years; 2) Recommendations for President-elect Trump to combat Hinduphobia and 3) Suggestions to implement the Recommendations, speaking in a way to drive solutions.
I. Summary of catastrophic Hinduphobia and Hindumisia events over the past four years
Accelerated ongoing Genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh (August 2024 to present): The sources point to the alleged lack of attention given to the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh by mainstream media outlets. In contrast, Trump’s vocal support for Hindus facing persecution in Bangladesh demonstrates the mainstream media is in cahoots with the Democratic Party that has instigated this barbaric catastrophe against Hindus. This presentation highlights the media bias against Hindus in Bangladesh and against several other Hinduphobia events.
Attacks on Hindu places of Worship from New York to California (2023 to present) No investigation to date by the authorities. Our great disappointment was that our Hindu places of worship (Mandirs) did not receive the same protection from the Biden-Harris administration as Islamic Mosques! Are American Hindus less equal than American Muslims? Don’t we all deserve the same protection? Like the document for countering Islamophobia, can the current White House show us a document for countering Hinduphobia? Or is it a dubious ASK?
Introduction of CA SB 403, a Hinduphobic legislation by CA Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Fremont), an anti-Hindu leftist progressive (2023): The Democratic Party of CA and the Legacy media uncritically accepted and supported this anti-Hindu hate legislation without addressing the concerns raised by American Hindus.
Hindu activist Milind Makwana died due to a heart attack (July 2023) after testifying in opposition to SB 403 at the Cupertino City Council meeting.
Blatant refusal by the Legacy media to cite the 2021 PEW Research findings that countered the media’s allegations about India being a compromised democracy.
False labeling of American Hindu activists and Hindu organizations as fascists, nationalists, and supremacists by the Legacy media. The use of these terms to describe Hindus, particularly those associated with “Hindutva,” further fuels this sense of alienation and distrust. The legacy media uses it in an inflammatory context, intended to paint Hindus in a negative light.
Targeting of Hindus by supporting the Leftist anti-Hindu hate conference titled “Dismantling Global Hindutva” (2020) under the veil of social justice: The Hinduphobic Leftist-Islamist-Marxist cabal supported by the leftist Academia and the Legacy media assaulted Hindus by hosting this anti-HIndu hate conference. Hindutva is the identity of Hindus, just as Christianity is the identity of Christians.
2. Framing of “Hindutva” and Hindu Identity in a negative light
Negative portrayals of Hindu identity: The demeaning portrayal by the mainstream media and Wikipedia of “Hindutva,” that it is presented in a negative light, equated with fascism, and used to demonize all Hindus contributes to a feeling of being misunderstood and misrepresented by the mainstream media. Sundar Iyer was victimized by the CRD. The Legacy media refused to publish his story.
3. Ignoring or Downplaying Anti-Hindu hate
Rise in anti-Hindu Hate Crimes: FBI reports indicating a doubling of anti-Hindu hate crimes. This data was subverted by the mainstream media. It was never published.
Attacks on Hindu Temples: A series of recent attacks on Hindu temples across the US have not been investigated. There is frustration that these attacks have not received sufficient attention from the mainstream media, contributing to a sense that their community’s safety and concerns are not being taken seriously. Even the Christian radicals practice intolerance. The legacy media has a Hindu problem, and it is time we call out their Hinduphobia and Hindumisia.
Mainstream Legacy Media
Deliberate flaming of Hinduphobia by the “pro-Islam leftist” wing of the Democratic Party and the Progressive Socialist wing of the Democratic Party are driving the party’s agenda and influencing media coverage. Deliberate framing by the media is an extension of the Democratic Party.
Control Over Media Narratives: Clearly, the biased coverage by the mainstream media could be attributed to the significant control of the media by the Democratic Party. It favors the Democratic Party’s perspective and silences dissenting voices, including those from the victimized Hindu-American community.
Silencing of Hindu Voices: The mainstream media outlets have not condemned Hinduphobia. In fact, it has actively silenced Hindu voices who spoke against the anti-Hindu false narratives published by the Media. American Hindus have been excluded from public discourse. Sundar Iyer was victimized by the CRD falsely and deviously accused of caste discrimination. His story was never published despite reaching out to reporter Jeong Park of the Los Angeles Times.
II. Recommendations to President-elect Trump to combat Hinduphobia
Speaking in a way that is about driving solutions, we American Hindus urge President-elect Trump to meet with the Hindu-American community and with Pro-Hindu advocacy organizations on an ongoing basis.
Stop the atrocities being reigned on Hindus in Bangladesh. The Genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh must cease NOW.
Cease Hinduphobia immediately, instigated by the pro-Islam Leftist wing of the Democratic Party (AKA Progressive Socialists of the Democratic Party). A glaring oversight by the Biden-Harris administration!
Immediately pass the bipartisan H. Res. 1131 “Condemn Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry Act in the upcoming 119th Congress in 2025.
Urge legislators to expeditiously join the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains by Congressman Shri Thanedar and the non-partisan Americans for Hindus Super PAC. Of note, a recent study by the NCRI (Network Contagion Research Institute) and the Rutgers Social Perception Labs is alarming. Shamefully but not surprisingly, the same anti-Hindu hate organizations denounced the formation of the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain Caucus just like they denounced House Res. 1131 “Condemn Hinduphobia and Attacks on Hindu Places of Worship Act.”
Stop the anti-Hindu hate voices of the ultra-right-wing Christian Evangelists from indulging in anti-Hindu hate. This will increase the migration of American Hindus from the Left into the GOP. I am not conflating all of Trump’s voters with the ultra-right-wing Christians.
Scrutinize the anti-Hindu hate organizations for their attacks on Hindus and Hindu organizations and for co-opting Hindu religious festivals.
Hold the mainstream media to the same standard of scrutiny that is demanded of other powerful institutions.
Maliciously inflaming Hinduphobia with disingenuous disinformation, has become an agendized journalistic malpractice by the leftist mainstream media to cultivate collective ignorance attributed to Hinduphobic attacks. The mainstream media should use authentic Hindu scholars to write about Hindu issues.
Stop the anti-Hindu hate threats by the “Break India” cabal, AKA ‘Khalistanis.’
III. Suggestions on how to implement the above recommendations for the cessation of Hinduphobia….while speaking in a way that is about driving solutions.
Hold a Congressional Hearing on the ongoing Genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Expeditiously support the passage of H. Res. 1131 “Condemn Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry and Attacks on Hindu Places of Worship” in the upcoming 119th Congress in 2025.
Urge members of Congress to join the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Hindus.
Cease the rampant Hinduphobia, instigated by the pro-Islam leftist wing of the Democratic Party (AKA Socialist Progressive wing of the Democratic Party). A glaring oversight by the Biden-Harris administration! Furthermore, curbing the anti-Hindu hate voices of the ultra-right-wing Christians. This will lead to an additional increase in the migration of American Hindus from the Left into the GOP. I am not conflating all of Trump’s voters with the ultra-right-wing Christians.
Many anti-Hindu hate organizations under the veil of civil liberties are actually targeting Hindus. These organizations include 1) Hindus for Human Rights, 2) Sikh Coalition, 3) Sikh American Legal Defence Education Fund, 4) Indian American Muslim Council, and 5) Many more that wear a South Asian Label in their names. They denounced H. Res. 1131 “Condemn Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry
Stop the propagation of Hinduphobia at the source. For example, the anti-Hindu hate-mongering organizations including the pro-Islam leftist media and the leftist Academia must be scrutinized for their agenda-driven attacks on Hindus and Hindu organizations and for co-opting Hindu religious festivals.
Hold the mainstream media to the same kind of scrutiny that is demanded of other powerful institutions. Deviously flaming Hinduphobia with disingenuous disinformation, has become an agenda-driven journalistic malpractice to cultivate collective ignorance attributed to Hinduphobic attacks.
Conduct ongoing meetings with the American Hindu Community represented by authentic Pro-Hindu American Advocacy organizations and not some poser organizations. Recommend 1) AmericansforHindus (A4H), 2) HinduACTion, 3) American Hindu Coalition (AHC), 4) Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), 4) Hindu American Foundation (HAF), and 5) Hindu PACT among others. To underscore, ‘Hindus for Human Rights (HFHR) must be excluded. It is an anti-Hindu hate organization. It has assaulted Hindus with anti-Hindu hate such as supporting SB-403 and denouncing the H. Res. 1131 “Condemn Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry Act” among others.
Undo the damage done by the devious mislabeling of ‘Hindutva.’ It is our authentic Hindu identity. It should not be considered a ‘fascist’ terminology.’ It has been deviously propagandized by the anti-Hindu echo chamber of the pro-Islamist leftist mainstream media.
Conclusion
American Hindus have been ambushed by institutionalized Hinduphobia, attributed to the Legacy media and the left-leaning academe becoming an echo chamber for the political pro-Islam leftist wing of the Democratic Party (Part I). Consequently, many Hindus abandoned the Democratic party and voted for Trump and the GOP.
As demonstrated by our fifteen lived stories (Part II), we Hindu Americans used a multi-pronged approach to help Trump triumph. We leveraged online communities and social media; educated our Hindu voters on pro-Trump and anti-Democratic Party content and disseminated it online; conducted direct voter outreach and engagement; organized fundraisers for candidates who acknowledged they supported American Hindus’ concerns; shared personal testimonies and leveraged the Influence of our networks and emphasized the shared GOP and Hindu values and concerns to our voters.
We urge President-elect Trump to investigate and combat Hinduphobia with our multiple suggestions listed above: 1) Stop the Genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh; 2) Pass H. Res. 1131; 3) Strengthen the bipartisan Congressional Caucus for Hindus.
4) Engage with authentic Hindu advocacy organizations; 5) Investigate the anti-Hindu hate organizations for repeatedly assaulting American Hindus and 6) Stop the anti-Hindu hate voices of the ultra-right-wing Christian Evangelists of the Republican Party from indulging in anti-Hindu hate. 7) Hold the pro-Islam leftist mainstream media to the same standards of scrutiny as other large corporations.
It is beyond disturbing that President Biden has remained silent on the accelerated ongoing massacre of Hindus in Bangladesh since August 5th, 2024. Importantly, Trump made a strong, supportive statement opposing the ongoing genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh.
American Hindus have great hopes in you, President-elect Trump!!! Please don’t let us down like Biden did!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Voice of Hindus. Any content provided by our contributors or authors is their opinion.
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