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US lawmakers urge Rutgers to reconsider controversial Hindutva event
They argued that the Oct. 27 panel discussion on Hindutva misrepresents Hindu groups as politically motivated and calls for disengagement from them.
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Anushka Pathak - Sat, 25, Oct 2025
- 15:14 EDT
- 31
(Top L-R) Rep. Rich McCormick and Rep. Shri Thanedar; (Bottom L-R) Rep. Suhas Subramanyam and Rep. Sanford D. Bishop Jr. / File Photo
Four U.S. Representatives have asked Rutgers University to reconsider hosting a panel titled “Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism,” warning it could worsen prejudice against Hindu Americans at a time of increasing anti-Hindu hate crimes.
In a letter dated Oct. 24, 2025, Representatives Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), and Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-GA) expressed concerns to Rutgers president William F. Tate IV.
They argued that the event, set for Oct. 27 at the university’s Center for Security, Race and Rights, and the publication on which it is based, misrepresent Hindu groups as politically motivated and call for disengagement from them.
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“We strongly support efforts to address discrimination and prejudice facing all communities, and as members of Congress, we are committed to combating hateful forces of speech and expression, including on college campuses,” their letter clarified.
However, the lawmakers cautioned that “the report and upcoming event misrepresent a diverse and peaceful religious community and will have impacts on Hindus on college campuses and around the country.”
The representatives objected to the report’s claim that “certain U.S.-based Hindu organizations are aligned with foreign political agendas or seek to suppress opposing voices,” arguing this could lead to greater bias.
They cited recent attacks on Hindu temples, including the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Indiana and the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Utah, as evidence of growing hostility toward Hindu Americans.
Urging Rutgers to foster academic freedom without targeting any faith, the lawmakers wrote, “We urge Rutgers to ensure that its planned programming promotes freedom of speech and expression but not single out and target Hindu American individuals and organizations.”
They called for “fact-based discussions that sufficiently distinguish extremist ideologies from the beliefs of individuals and missions of religious organizations” and encouraged the university to “celebrate diverse perspectives and foster a welcoming environment.”
BREAKING | Concern over the planned @RUCSRR conference targeting Hindu American orgs has reached Washington DC.
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) October 24, 2025
Members of the US Congress @RepSuhas @RepMcCormick @RepShriThanedar @SanfordBishop write to @RutgersU President @WFTate4 asking him to consider the “implications of… pic.twitter.com/nk9PJpcihp
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) commended the congressional appeal, calling it a necessary step to prevent religious misrepresentation. “Concern over the planned conference targeting Hindu American orgs has reached Washington, DC,” HAF posted on X, noting that “anti-Hindu hate is at an all-time high.”
The event, moderated by legal scholar Sahar Aziz, aims to examine Hindutva’s influence in the US.
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