Public Service Announcement: HinduPACT’s HinduVote Unveils American Hindu Agenda for the 2024 Elections

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HinduPACT Initiative Launches Comprehensive Community Outreach Programs and Engages Over 1,000 Candidates with a New Questionnaire

September 10, 2024. Chicago, IL – HinduVote, a project of HinduPACT (an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America, VHPA), has officially released its American Hindu Agenda for the 2024 Elections, which aims to inform and influence political discourse on issues critical to the American Hindu community. The agenda outlines vital legislative priorities and policy goals that reflect the interests of Hindu voters across the country, ranging from addressing Hinduphobia to promoting U.S.-India relations.

The American Hindu Agenda for 2024 includes the following significant points:

• Combatting Hinduphobia: Advocate for legislation to bar Hinduphobic rhetoric and defund academic institutions that actively promote anti-Hindu sentiments.
• Protecting Hindu Temples: Support FBI investigations to identify and address the systemic causes behind vandalism targeting Hindu temples and Mahatma Gandhi statues across the U.S.
• Repatriation of Stolen Artifacts: Push for legislation to repatriate stolen Hindu artifacts from museums and private collections back to their countries of origin.
• Strengthening U.S.-India Relations: Promote a multifaceted partnership with India, ensuring non-interference in their sovereign rights, and appoint Hindu representatives to faith-centric U.S. agencies such as the USCIRF.
• Fair Immigration Policies: Advocate for removing country-based caps on H1B visas and expedited green cards for highly skilled immigrants while protecting children with H4B visas from deportation.
• Human Rights Advocacy: Hold religious theocracies, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, accountable for human rights abuses and halt U.S. aid to these nations until reforms are enacted.
• Fairness in Education and Employment: Support merit-based educational opportunities and endorse the Fair Admissions vs. Harvard verdict.
• Environmental Responsibility: Promote policies that advance environmentally sustainable development.

Alongside the agenda, HinduPACT has developed a 36-page comprehensive guide for 501(c)(3) organizations, including temples and community groups, outlining permissible activities during election periods. This guide explains the importance of these entities’ civic engagement while ensuring compliance with federal regulations.

Additionally, HinduPACT has created a 24-page guide for Hindu voters that offers clear, practical information on navigating the election process and making informed choices that align with their values and priorities.

Both these guides are available for download on the hinduvote.org website.

Community Outreach and Candidate Questionnaire

 HinduPACT has sent a comprehensive questionnaire to approximately 1,000 U.S. House of Representatives and Senate candidates. The questionnaire, aligned with the American Hindu Agenda for 2024, aims to educate the voters about the candidates and ensure that the voices of Hindu Americans are heard in the halls of power.

“The HinduVote initiative and the American Hindu Agenda for 2024 mark a new chapter for our community’s civic engagement,” said Deepa Karthik, Executive Director of the HinduVote project.  “We are empowering Hindu voters with the resources and information they need to make informed decisions and encouraging political candidates to take a clear stance on issues that matter to the Hindu community.”

Deepti Mahajan, Co-Convenor of HinduPACT, said, “We hope that our temples become centers of the broader community around them. Our Elections Guide for Temples and Organizations provides these organizations with clear guidelines on election-related activities they can engage in to fulfill this important role in society.”

Ajay Shah, President of VHPA and Co-Convenor of HinduPACT, said, “American Hindus have made tremendous contributions to our nation across all spheres of life. This agenda is not only aimed at ensuring the safety and security of the community but also addresses issues that will benefit all Americans, not just Hindus.”

About HinduPACT:

The Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective (HinduPACT) is an initiative of the World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) dedicated to the advocacy and policy research of issues concerning the American Hindu community.  HinduPACT promotes human rights, voter education, and policies affecting American Hindus, aiming for peace and understanding through informed policy initiatives and grassroots advocacy.

Contact HinduPACT: