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DATE: May 20,
2004
The Hindu American Foundation
(HAF), launched with a dinner reception in the U.S. Capitol
on May 5, 2004, held constructive meetings with nearly 20
members of the House of Representative and the Senate on May
6, 2004. Members of Congress and their staffers were presented
policy briefs prepared by HAF on domestic and international
issues with a focus on human rights abuses against Hindus
in Bangladesh, the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan.
During meetings with Rep.
Frank Pallone (D-NJ), founder of the Congressional
Caucus on India and Indian Americans, HAF received assurances
that the congressman supported these Hindu human rights issues
and would bring them to the attention of his congressional
colleagues. On May 17, 2004, Rep. Pallone
took the floor of the House of Representatives and delivered
a categorical condemnation of the violent persecution of Hindus
in Bangladesh following the ascension to power of the Islamist
Bangladesh National Party.
“The coalition government
of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which came to power
on October 1, 2001, has initiated a violent campaign and since
the BNP's parliamentary victory nearly three years ago, a
campaign of terrorism, murder and religious cleansing has
been unleashed on Hindus living in Bangladesh,” said
Rep. Pallone. He added, “Although the
latest wave of violence has been ensuing since the BNP took
power in 2001, Hindus have been a disappearing minority in
Bangladesh at the hands of Bangladeshi forces who have employed
human rights abuses, atrocities and ethno-religious cleansing
tools.”
“Congressman
Pallone has consistently stood firm against ethno-religious
cleansing of Hindus throughout Asia and the world. He is a
true friend of Hindu Americans, and we are grateful that he
has reaffirmed his commitment to the issue as he indicated
he would during our meetings,” said Aseem Shukla,
M.D., member of the HAF Board of Directors. “Rep.
Pallone’s unequivocal support for Hindus in
Bangladesh carries added credibility as he is also member
of the Bangladesh Congressional Caucus,” added
Aditi Banerjee, member of the HAF Executive Council
and liaison for Bangladesh Hindu issues. HAF leaders were
particularly pleased that Rep. Pallone used the HAF-prepared
Bangladesh policy brief as one of the primary references in
his speech.
Concurrent with HAF’s
policy position, Rep. Pallone called for
a restoration of secularism in the Constitution of Bangladesh,
recognition of historical atrocities against Hindus since
1971, repatriation of Hindu refugees and passage of laws forbidding
hate crimes and torture.
The recently formed Hindu
American Foundation (HAF) is a human rights group whose purpose
is to provide a voice for the 2 million strong Hindu American
community. HAF interacts with and educates government, media,
think tanks, academia and public fora about Hinduism and issues
of concern to Hindus locally and globally. Promoting the Hindu
and American ideals of understanding, tolerance and pluralism,
HAF stands strong against hate, discrimination, defamation
and terror.
For
the full text of Congressman Palone's speech: Please
click here.
For further information: Please
contact HAF.
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