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VHPA alleges smear campaign after library event cancellation
The event was planned to mark the addition of 160 Hindi-language books funded in part by Balvihar Hindi School, affiliated with VHPA.
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Staff Reporter - Sun, 19, Apr 2026
- 00:20 EDT
- 16
VHPA logo. / VHPA
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) on April 18 said it “strongly condemns” what it described as a “vicious smear campaign” against the group following the cancellation of a Hindi-language library event in Montgomery County, Maryland, last week.
In a statement, VHPA said a coalition of advocacy groups launched the campaign based on “unsubstantiated claims” and accused them of using “innuendo and selective narratives” to mislead institutions unfamiliar with the facts.
ALSO READ: Montgomery library Hindi book event canceled over VHPA link
The statement followed the cancellation of ‘Many Languages, One Library: Celebrating Hindi,’ scheduled for April 12 at the Germantown Library, part of Montgomery County Public Libraries. The event was planned to mark the addition of 160 Hindi-language books funded in part by Balvihar Hindi School, affiliated with VHPA.
The library canceled the event after receiving an April 8 letter from a coalition including Hindus for Human Rights, the Indian American Muslim Council, the Sikh Coalition, Dalit Solidarity Forum USA, and Peace Action Montgomery. The groups raised concerns about VHPA’s links to Hindutva, which they described as a political ideology, and said such associations risk introducing exclusionary ideas into public institutions.
VHPA rejected those characterizations. It said critics “frequently target minority Hindu communities” by conflating their activities with political developments in India and described the pattern as an attempt to “wage ideological battles” in the United States.
“Political disputes should be addressed in the appropriate context and geography,” the statement said, adding that diaspora communities engaged in cultural and service work “should not be drawn into these conflicts.”
The organization said it “does not profess any political ideology” and is guided by principles of “peaceful and respectful coexistence.”
The library had said the event would not take place due to “significant interest from the community” and that it would reimagine how it celebrates the Hindi-speaking community with a focus on inclusivity.
VHPA also highlighted its humanitarian and community initiatives in the United States and abroad in their statemnt, including disaster relief efforts and educational programs, and said it would “continue its grassroots service efforts” despite the controversy.
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