Americans4Hindus Calls for Equal Political Rights and Rejects Ideological Profiling of Hindu Americans 

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Americans4Hindus (A4H) expresses serious concern regarding the recently announced campaign by nearly 100 elected officials and candidates pledging to reject political contributions from individuals and organizations characterized as “RSS-linked.”

Americans4Hindus unequivocally supports democracy, nonviolence, religious freedom, pluralism and peaceful civic participation. Political violence, intimidation and hatred regardless of their source have no place in American democracy.

However, opposition to violence must never become a justification for broadly profiling American citizens because of their religion, heritage, beliefs, associations or perceived connections with organizations in another country.

WHO DEFINES “RSS-LINKED”?

This is the fundamental question.

What objective criteria determine whether an American citizen is “RSS-linked”?

Does attending a cultural gathering constitute affiliation?

Does participating in a Hindu organization?

Does visiting a temple where individuals associated with RSS or other Hindu organizations may also participate?

Does supporting certain policies of the Government of India qualify?

Does meeting an RSS leader make someone “RSS-linked”?

How many degrees of association are sufficient before an American citizen becomes politically unacceptable?

Without transparent, objective and consistently applied standards, such labels can become dangerously expansive and risk stigmatizing ordinary Hindu Americans who are peacefully exercising their democratic rights.

HINDU AMERICANS ARE AMERICANS

Millions of Hindu Americans have made the United States their home.

They are physicians, engineers, entrepreneurs, educators, scientists, public servants, small-business owners, students, philanthropists and community volunteers.

They pay taxes. They vote. They serve their communities. Their children are Americans.

Their lawful participation in American democracy should be evaluated by the same standards applied to every other American.

No Hindu American should have to pass an ideological loyalty test before participating in the democratic process.

WE INVITE DIALOGUE, NOT DIVISION

Americans4Hindus does not seek confrontation with elected officials who have signed this pledge.

We seek dialogue.

A4H will invite participating elected officials and candidates to meet with Hindu-American leaders and explain precisely how they intend to define “RSS-linked,” how those determinations will be made, and what safeguards they will employ to ensure that Hindu Americans are not subjected to religious, ethnic or associational profiling.

We also invite the organizers of the pledge to engage in a respectful public dialogue.

If the objective is genuinely to oppose political violence and protect American democracy, that principle should apply universally and consistently to every ideology, every religion and every community.

OUR RESPONSE WILL BE MORE DEMOCRACY

Hindu Americans should not respond with anger, isolation or withdrawal.

We should respond with greater civic participation.

We encourage Hindu Americans across the United States to register and vote, attend town halls, meet elected representatives, participate in campaigns, serve on commissions and school boards, support candidates of their choice within applicable laws, and consider running for public office themselves.

Our younger generations especially must understand that America belongs equally to them.

Their Hindu heritage and their American citizenship are not contradictory. They can be proud Hindus and proud Americans while contributing to the betterment of all humanity.

A4H CALLS FOR A NATIONAL CONVERSATION

Americans4Hindus will reach out to elected officials, civil-rights organizations, constitutional scholars, election-law experts, interfaith organizations and leaders from diverse communities to examine the broader implications of political exclusion based upon loosely defined organizational associations.

Our principle is simple:

• No Loyalty Tests.
• No Religious Profiling.
• No Collective Guilt.
• Equal Rights.
• Equal Voice.
• Equal Participation.

Hindu Americans will continue contributing to the American Dream and strengthening the world’s great democratic experiment.

We believe in Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World Is One Family.

We believe that a stronger, more engaged Hindu-American community can help build a stronger America and a better world.

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.