Ro Khanna Takes Jab At Talk Of ‘Hinduphobia’
WASHINGTON, DC (IANS) – Ro Khanna, a US lawmaker of Indian descent, has urged those among the Indian diaspora who have been raising the bogey of growing “Hinduphobia” lately, to focus on unifying issues.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the day-long conference he is hosting today, April 26, on Capitol Hill on India-US elections, the lawmaker also indicated that he would push for an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a joint session of Congress during his June visit, which, to be clear, has not been announced officially.
Khanna is one of US Congress’s three Hindu Americans and his home state California is currently a battleground for Hindu Americans who are trying to prevent the enactment of a proposed law that seeks to ban caste-based discrimination, which they have blamed on, among other things, those opposed to Hindus.
“I grew up Indian American, Hindu American, in the 1980s, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was 97 percent, white and Christian. And I didn’t know the word Hinduphobia or feel Hinduphobia at any single point in my life growing up,” he said recalling something he said in an earlier conversation with someone. “So now we’ve got all these Hindu Americans and it’s all over the…,” he added, leaving that sentence hanging.
“I think that what we have to focus on as a community is how do we contribute to the American project? How do we be proud of our identity? And obviously, if someone feels that they are discriminated against, they should speak up, but my personal experience has been one of great hope for the American people, that they have been very embracing and understanding of people of different faiths. I think you’ve got Indian Americans leading the most important companies in the world. Now, there was a time you know, back in the 1980s, when people couldn’t meet a staffer for a member of Congress. They didn’t cry Hinduphobia.”
The lawmaker clearly has no sympathy for those crying “Hinduphobia”, which includes elements of rightwing Hindu Americans tied to the wider Sangh parivar.
On Modi’s upcoming visit, Khanna said the India caucus, which he co-chairs, could write to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to invite the Indian Prime Minister to address the joint session of Congress.
Harilal Patel
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Tell Ro Khanna today is not 1980.
April 26, 2023Today , Indian Muslims, Christian Missionaries, Biden Administration and George Soros are after India and Hindus.
If he does not see this as a politician, he does not deserve to be a congressman.. THese are many master plans to destroy India’s growth and direct attcks on Hindu.
Last 30 years Bollywood was controlled by Muslim mafia and they did culture busting. Now Democratic party , is anti Hindu. and even white house has hired Muslim as advisor to president. The state and religions are supposed to be separate in US constitution, for which Ro Khanna has pledged to up hold. All Indian origin congressman are silent about it. Ro is blind to see or think through what is happening around today.
Anil
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He is a politician. He will sell his mother to win an election.
I love that he wants to invite Modi to address the joint session Congress. That also means India has to invite Trump and Kamala. NO THANK YOU.
April 26, 2023Krishna
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May be, Khanna should visit India some time, not everyone is on the same page of unity sir.
April 30, 2023Who Cares
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Do you have the gonads to say the same about Islamophobia?
April 26, 2023Subhash Garg
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Rep. Khanna confuses the lives of individual Hindus with systemic ignorance and prejudice about Hindus collectively. For example, the caste system is wrongly considered a surrogate for Hinduism, so enemies of Hindus attack caste instead of Hinduism.
Since the ignorance and prejudice is against Hinduism and not Hindus, only Hindus who are religious are aware of the discrimination.
April 26, 2023Ashok Batra, Esq.
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I have spent more than 50 years here and never experienced any discrimination because of my religion. I observed that African American were subject to discrimination. Number places of worship are constructed every where. I saw how badly people were treated being members of other communities.
April 26, 2023I agree with congressman in his views. It was a joke when a state legistrated passed a law againstHindu phobhia. Check the facts. Educate me how many Muslims in the cabinet and now compared with number of Hindus are serving in the Biden administration.
Jay
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Ro Khanna seems to live in different world. I guess he probably does not know the existence of HAF. Really, ignorance is blessing. Close your eyes and the world does not exist!!
April 26, 2023PA
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I stopped making any donation to dems. When money trail fails, suddenly, they wake up. I am changing my registrations from democrat to independent. Pramila Jaypal- this Mr. Khanna are in same league. Indians needs to understands that a label of Indian does not mean they are supportive to you. They want campaign money by having an Indian name. Ro Khanna is raised with American education system, he does not understand Hindu philosophy. Ask him 5 questions about Being Hindu, he will get three wrong.
April 26, 2023iyer
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Nice to see plenty of comments, guess it is an important topic. There is also “islamophobia”, wonder why Mr Khanna is silent on that topic. Need consistency to have some semblance of integrity. Otherwise, he has trust deficit.
April 27, 2023