Misogynistic and Anti-Semitic Attacks on HfHR Staff by the BJP IT Cell
Misogynistic and Anti-Semitic Attacks on HfHR Staff by the BJP IT Cell
Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) strongly denounces the recent attacks perpetrated by the IT Cell of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against our dedicated staff members. As a human rights organization, we are appalled by the baseless and malicious nature of these attacks, which are beneath the dignity of a ruling political party. The misogynistic and anti-Semitic tropes utilized in these assaults bear the unmistakable hallmarks of far-right movements that perpetuate bigotry, borrowing from ideologies popular on the far right globally.
HfHR was established in 2019 in the U.S. with the mission of advocating for pluralism, civil rights, and human rights in South Asia and North America, guided by the principles of peace, justice, and truth. We are resolute in our commitment to raising our voice against caste discrimination, Hindutva (Hindu nationalism), racism, and all forms of oppression.
Our organization owes its existence to the generous support of numerous individuals and organizations representing diverse faiths, all sharing a deep love for India and a collective desire to safeguard its multi-religious and multi-ethnic tapestry, where people coexist harmoniously despite their differences. We maintain complete transparency in our work, thoroughly documenting our activities on our website and social media platforms.
It is essential to clarify that our organization's mandate strictly prohibits direct campaigning for any particular political party, whether in India or the U.S. However, after extensive internal deliberations, we made a conscious decision to extend support to the organizers of Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to the U.S., providing Indian Americans with an unfiltered opportunity to hear directly from him about his transformative journey across India, away from the distortions of the BJP IT cell and compliant mainstream media in India. Throughout his visit, Mr. Gandhi predominantly shared his personal experiences during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and delivered a powerful message of love triumphing over hate, in stark contrast to the unashamedly bigoted propaganda by the ruling party in India.
Mr. Gandhi's well-documented remarks were neither anti-India nor biased towards any specific community. Instead, they offered an optimistic and hopeful vision for Indian democracy, driven by the empowerment of the working class. It is regrettable and disheartening that Mr. Amit Malviya of the BJP IT cell has chosen to target our organization with bigoted attacks. We condemn these desperate actions in the strongest possible terms.
As Prime Minister Modi prepares for his upcoming U.S. trip, where he is expected to receive the red carpet treatment from the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress, HfHR remains steadfast in shedding light on the persistent repression of human rights and religious freedom under his government. While the ruling party may choose to turn a blind eye to the dire situation in Manipur, the distressing calls for expelling Muslims from Uttarakhand and the alarming rhetoric inciting violence against Muslims by saffron-clad BJP supporters, we believe it is our ethical duty as Hindus and Indians to draw attention to these troubling incidents and hold the BJP and its supporters accountable for either fueling or ignoring them. For HfHR, Vasudaiva Kutumbakam is not a slogan to glorify the past, but a resounding call to action in the present moment.
