Frustrated with the Democratic Party using human rights as a political tool for countries like India and encouraged by Donald Trump’s stance on Hindu rights in Bangladesh, nearly 70 percent of Hindu-Americans voted for the Republican presidential candidate in the November 5 elections. Voted for the candidate of. , a respected community leader has said.
“The Democratic Party hasn’t really done much to woo Indian Americans. Not only that, they’ve done things that are very insulting, infuriating and humiliating to Indian Americans… especially when When it comes to India-related issues, number one, the Democrats, somehow or the other, use human rights as a political tool,” influential Indian American Dr Bharat Barai told PTI in an interview.
Barai pointed out that violence against Hindus in Bangladesh – where more than 100 Hindus were killed, temples were desecrated, and people were forced to wear hijab – was not condemned by President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Or by Vice President Kamala. Harris.
He pointed out that, although the Hindu American population is small, they are an important voting group, especially in tight races. He said, “I believe that this time 70 percent of Hindu Americans voted for Trump.”
Barai, who was in Washington DC this week to attend Diwali celebrations at the US Capitol, said, “Trump got the benefit of the doubt, partly based on his strong statements about Bangladeshi Hindus. But certainly Ultimately, people will evaluate Trump based on what he has done (since coming to office).”
He also said that Trump’s appointment of two Hindu Americans – Vivek Ramaswamy and Tulsi Gabbard – to key positions has increased his support within the community.
Barai expressed confidence that India-US relations will strengthen under the next administration, largely due to the personal relationship between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The two leaders share a “special bond”, which was evident during Trump’s visit to India when he was given a “warm welcome” at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with the Hindu American expressing hope that the relationship will grow stronger.
“Trump did not try to infiltrate or infiltrate India while he was president. He was the one who turbocharged the process of the Quad and now it will move even further because all four countries, the United States, Japan, Australia And India realizes that China is becoming very aggressive in the Indo-Pacific region, all four countries feel that if they stay together, they will be able to counter China better.
Barai said that in the recent election, Hindu Americans played a key role in Trump’s success, especially in influential states like Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
He said, “His margin in Georgia went over 180,000. I would say 100,000 of those votes are from Hindu Americans. His last statement about Bangladeshi Hindus, I think he won people over.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
