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Date: October 30, 2005
Washington,
D.C.: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) ended its two-day second
annual Government Outreach and Leadership Conference on October 27,
2005. The conference included meetings with several members of
Congress, the Justice Department and a dinner reception on Capitol Hill
on the evening of October 26.
The morning prior to legislative
meetings, attendees of the conference caucused at a breakfast meeting
to discuss a "Hindu Agenda" that encompassed issues of concern to Hindu
Americans. This agenda included violations of Hindu human rights in
South Asia, religious liberty and pluralism in the United States, and
promotion of closer relations between the United States and India, and
served as the basis for discussion for the many meetings with members
of Congress and the Department of Justice. On October 27, HAF became
the first Hindu organization to hold a Round Table Conference where
members of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans were
invited to discuss these issues in greater depth.
Hindu American Foundation Board Member,
Nikhil Joshi, presents Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
(R-FL) recognizing her support for HAF's Hindu human
rights report of 2004. |
"Once again,
Hindu Americans descended on the Capitol to represent the Hindu
perspective on issues of national importance," said Nikhil Joshi, Esq.,
Chairman of the conference and member of the HAF Board of Directors.
"With these meetings becoming an annual event, we are pleased that our
impact, influence and recognition continue to increase."
Recognizing their support for HAF's
previously released Hindu human rights report of 2004, Ileana
Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Gary Ackerman (D-NY) were presented awards for
service to the Hindu American community at the HAF dinner reception.
Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) also addressed the reception, explaining
his long-standing ties to Indian Americans and Hindus in his district.
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, who
hosted HAF's reception and the Round Table Conference, spoke of her
support for Hindus in the United States and for human rights in South
Asia during an address at the HAF reception.
"I am proud to be associated with
such a dynamic organization as the Hindu American Foundation," she
said. Ros-Lehtinen drew cheers from the audience as she announced her
plans to introduce two resolutions in the House of Representatives.
"One of these resolutions will recognize the religious and historical
significance of the Hindu holiday of Diwali. The second resolution
would condemn ongoing violations of the human rights of Hindu citizens
of Bangladesh, Pakistan and India," she said.
HAF leaders also focused efforts on
countering allegations made during recent hearings on discrimination
faced by underprivileged castes, or Dalits, in India, held by
Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ). Caste-based discrimination is a social
evil that must not be conflated with Hinduism, HAF members held during
their meetings. They specifically raised concerns that the witnesses
that spoke at the hearings were affiliated with radical left-wing
groups and the Communist Party of India.
"We explained to Members of
Congress that we as Hindu-Americans are united in supporting efforts to
rid all forms of discrimination, including caste-based discrimination
in South Asia," said Rajan Patel, coordinator of the HAF conference and
member of the HAF Executive Council. "But when hearings are held under
the auspices of the U.S. government, it is of critical importance that
witnesses have credibility and legitimacy. We cannot allow individuals
with virulent anti-American and anti-Hindu agendas to discredit these
important hearings."
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