FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, [August 6, 2024] — Hindus for Human Rights, a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2019 to mobilize progressive Hindus and provide a Hindu voice of resistance to caste, Islamophobia, and Hindu supremacy, issued the following statement regarding New York City’s 2024 India Day Parade:

As we near New York City’s 42nd annual India Day Parade, it is crucial to foreground the values of decolonization and secularism that informed the Indian independence movement. The Indian Consulate of New York, however, has other plans. In collaboration with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHP-A), the Consulate plans to feature a recreation of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir as its centerpiece float. This Mandir—a temple built over the ruins of the Babri Masjid, a centuries-old mosque destroyed by Hindu extremists in 1992—has become a symbol of power for the global forces of Hindu nationalism and cannot be conflated with Indian identity. 

The VHP-A is the American wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an India-based Hindu supremacist organization that has been directly implicated in many high-profile cases of deadly violence against Indian minorities. Together, these organizations form part of a transnational Hindu supremacist network whose explicit goal is to extend a right-wing Brahminical vision of Hinduism that relies on the subjugation of religious minorities, Dalits, Adivasis, and other marginalized groups. Hindu nationalism, or Hindutva, is a political project designed to legitimize this vision by creating an Indian state that codifies and maintains social stratification. These ideas are completely at odds with the Constitution of India and the principles of pluralistic democracy. The inclusion of the Ram Mandir float in the India Day Parade is not a display of cultural pride, but rather a celebration of both a violent history and a violent ambition that should be condemned by all. It is also not the first instance of such groups using these parades to stoke fears, but rather a continuation of an alarming trend—in 2022, Edison, New Jersey’s India Day Parade similarly featured a bulldozer (a symbol of the destruction of Muslim homes and houses of worship by Hindutva forces) adorned with photos of right-wing Hindu political leaders as part of the procession.  

This disturbing development concerns all New Yorkers—and all Americans more broadly. We know that the Hindu supremacist movement in the United States, represented by groups like the VHP-A, is increasingly converging with other segments of the American far-right, and given the growing political activity and influence of Indian Americans, debates within this community have broader implications for American society. As members of the diaspora, and in particular as progressive Hindus, we must use our platform to advocate for a vision of India that is inclusive, tolerant, and reflective of the diversity that characterizes both India and the United States. The VHPA and similar organizations do not speak for all Hindus, nor do they speak for all Indian Americans. The vast majority of us, regardless of faith, seek peaceful and respectful relations between communities. We reject the extremist views of those who would divide us and instead embrace a vision of India that honors the bonds of friendship and family that have long united our diverse communities.

As the political landscape in India shifts, with the current regime facing increased opposition, Indian Americans have a unique opportunity to support the growing resistance to hate and division. By standing against the hateful displays planned for this year’s Parade, we can offer an alternative vision. To this end, Hindus for Human Rights demands the removal of the Ram Mandir float from the 2024 India Day Parade, and urges elected officials and community leaders to condemn this brazen display of far-right nationalism for what it is.