House Bill Aims to Condemn ‘Hinduphobia’ but Draws Concern From Progressive Groups

A new piece of legislation introduced in the House of Representatives aims to condemn “Hinduphobia,” a term used by some Hindu Americans to describe what they say are burgeoning anti-Hindu sentiments in the United States.

The bill was introduced by Democratic Rep. Sri Thanedar, an Indian American from Michigan. At a news conference Monday, he described what he feels is a growing threat to Indian Americans who practice Hinduism, the world’s third-largest religion.

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Thanedar’s resolution enumerates several points, including that the House celebrates the contributions of Hindus to the U.S. and condemns “Hinduphobia” and anti-Hindu bigotry.

But progressive Hindu and South Asians groups are expressing concern about this legislation, saying that, while anti-Hinduism sentiment does exist, the term “Hinduphobia” was invented by the Indian far-right to shut down criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

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In the U.S., Muslims and caste minorities have reported facing targeted attacks and violence for speaking out against far-right, Hindu nationalist actors that aim to make India a Hindu-dominated nation. Hindus for Human Rights said in its release that Thanedar’s resolution could shut down those conversations by painting them as “Hinduphobic.”

Really, the organization said, the core threat to Indian American immigrants in the U.S. is white nationalism.

“Though it claims to celebrate Hindu Americans and speak for our community’s interests, this resolution does not respond to real concerns about how Hindu Americans are affected by white Christian nationalism in the United States,” the release said. “Instead, it reflects a longstanding effort by the Hindu supremacist movement in the United States to divide South Asian communities.”