ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
CoHNA criticizes Rutgers panel on Hindutva for exclusion, bias
The Coalition of Hindus of North America accused Rutgers University of allowing an unbalanced panel on Hindutva that excluded Hindu voices and risked fueling bias against Hindu Americans.
-
1759163132.png)
Anushka Pathak - Wed, 29, Oct 2025
- 14:26 EDT
- 27
Coalition of Young American Hindus (CYAN) organized a silent protest in Rutgers University against the alleged biased panel discussion / Courtesy: CoHNA
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) condemned Rutgers University for hosting a panel discussion titled “Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism,” calling it biased and exclusionary.
The event, held on Oct. 28, was organized by the Rutgers Center for Security, Race, and Rights and co-sponsored by Global Asia and the Rutgers Anti-Caste Collective despite resistance from several Hindu American groups, including CoHNA.
CoHNA said the panel lacked representation from practicing Hindus and failed to include viewpoints that could provide balance or context to the discussion. The organization argued that the event misrepresented Hinduism by conflating it with political nationalism and criticized its comparisons between the Hindu swastika and the Nazi Hakenkreuz.
Also Read: Rutgers University’s Academic Freedom Becoming Religious Persecution Against Hindutva
The group also objected to what it described as unfounded claims linking U.S. Hindu organizations to India’s political parties. “The absence of Hindu voices was glaring and deeply concerning,” CoHNA said in a post-event statement, adding that such academic discussions risk normalizing prejudice against Hindu Americans.
CoHNA further pointed out that questions raised by Hindu participants were dismissed, and the discussion failed to acknowledge a rise in anti-Hindu incidents across the United States.
These include vandalism at several temples and state data showing Hindus as among the top targets of religious hate crimes in California.
Student protest
In response, Hindu students from the Coalition of Young American Hindus (CYAN) organized a silent protest outside the Alexander Library venue, holding signs that read “Stop Hindu Hate.”
Student organizers said the protest aimed to promote safety and fair representation, not disrupt the event. Some participants reported intimidation attempts, including efforts to photograph them without consent.
“It was scary to see an adult trying to dox us,” said one Hindu student. “So many of my peers wanted to join the rally. But they were too scared to come because Rutgers ignored the letters we sent asking for fairness and safety,” they added.
Poster for the Rutgers University panel discussion / Courtesy: Rutgers UniversityThe controversy gained national attention before the panel took place. CoHNA’s outreach campaign generated over 10,000 emails to Rutgers officials and 4,000 messages to state and federal lawmakers urging reconsideration of the event.
On Oct. 24, four bipartisan members of Congress—Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), and Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-GA)—sent a letter to Rutgers President William F. Tate IV, warning that the discussion and its underlying report could fuel prejudice against Hindu Americans.
Following the event, CoHNA said it would seek dialogue with Rutgers leadership to address what it described as “false claims” and ensure greater inclusion of Hindu perspectives in future university forums.
Related
 (1).jpg)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
Video
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login