Hindu Policy Research and 
Advocacy Collective
Ajay Shah
Convener, AHAD,
American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) & HinduPACT 
HinduPACT
Utsav Chakrabarti Director, Public Relations
Senator Harris, Insulting Goddess Durga for Votes is NOT Acceptable
October 18, 2020
The following statements were issued by American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) and HinduPACT (initiatives of World Hindu Council of America) on Kamala Harris as Goddess Durga meme:
Statement by Ajay Shah, Executive Vice President, VHPA, Convener AHAD and HinduPACT:
“It seems to us that Sen. Harris, a self-acknowledged non-Hindu has now realized that in the battleground states, the Hindu votes matter. So, Senator Harris is now rapidly discovering her Hindu roots. Welcome home, Senator, you have now moved on from masala dosas and cleverly inserted reference to “chitti” to donning the dress of Goddess Durga. Do you want to know what those who practice Hindu dharma think about this cartoonish portrayal of you as Durga Mata? Before assuming the form of Durga Mata, through your niece, did you bother picking up a book on Hindu Dharma 101 or at least talk to your “chitti?” Hindus are offended, and Hindus are outraged, because you have insulted Hindu Goddess and while you continue to claim to be a non-Hindu, you have the audacity to assume the form of a revered Hindu Goddess during one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals, Navaratri for scoring political points.”
Statement by Utsav Chakrabarty Executive Director, HinduPACT:
“The caricature of Hindu deities wreaks is tokenism that has become a hallmark of Biden-Harris ticket. At best it is cheap and hurtful and at its worst, creates tank Hinduphobia in communities that already have very little knowledge about Hindu Dharma.”
Statement by Rakhi Israni, Executive Director, Legal, HinduPACT
“It’s quite telling that a campaign that won’t even put out an agenda for the Hindu American community when they have done so for other religious communities is misappropriating the religious symbols and pictures of this same community for their own purposes. In other words, it seems that what the Biden/Harris Campaign is saying is don’t ask what we will do for you, but continue giving your all to us. It’s about time Hindu Americans wake up. We can’t afford to be emotionally tied to one party or another lest we are taken for granted.”
About AHAD
American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) is the first and the most prominent Hindu organization against defamation in the USA. An initiative of World Hindu Council of America (VHPA), AHAD has been actively monitoring mass media, products, public places etc. to ensure respectful and accurate representation of Hindu dharma, culture, images and icons. Active since 1997, hundreds of thousands of Hindus have participated in various advocacy activities led by AHAD.
About HinduPACT USA
Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective, USA – HinduPACT USA is an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA). HinduPACT (hindupact.org) aims to bring Hindu ethos and dharmic values of unity in diversity, plurality, compassion and, mutual respect amongst religions to policy and advocacy for human rights, environmental protection, racial and gender equality, and, interfaith dialog. HinduPACT activities include voter education (hinduvote.org), and weekly live show on contemporary American Hindu issues HinduLounge (hindulounge.com).
About World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)
World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) is the most prominent organization of Hindus in the USA. Founded in 1970, it has chapters across the country. VHPA runs educational programs for Hindu children and youth in addition to community service (Seva) activities, and initiatives such as Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), Hindu Womens’ Network, American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD), Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective USA (HinduPACT).
Ajay Shah
Executive Vice President, Awareness, Advocacy, Public Relations
Email: ajayshah@vhp-america.org Phone: (858) 866-9661
Utsav Chakrabarti
Director, Awareness, Advocacy and Public Relations
American Hindus Against Defamation is an initiative of World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) P.O. Box 2009 Natick, MA 01760
Web: ahadinfo.org | hindupact.org | hinduvote.org | hindulounge.com | vhp-america.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VHPAmerica.org/
Twitter: @VHPANews
Instagram: @worldhinducouncilvhpa
YouTube: youtube.com/vhpavideos
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Source: World Hindu News