The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) has strongly condemned Monday’s event, “Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism,” at Rutgers University, which has drawn bipartisan criticism from Members of Congress and outrage from the Hindu community.
The event, framed as academic discussion, featured no practicing Hindus and made sweeping, uninformed claims about the faith. Panelists attempted to distinguish Hinduism from Hindutva while dismissing concerns about Hinduphobia. They also equated the Nazi Hakenkreuz with the Hindu Swastika and implied Hindu organizations were “agents of India.”
Outside the venue, Hindu students held a peaceful, permitted protest but faced intimidation from attendees. “It was scary to see an adult trying to dox us,” said one student. “Many wanted to join but feared backlash.”
Rutgers Hindu chaplain Hitesh Trivedi said, “We didn’t ask Rutgers to cancel the event—only to clarify that its brand doesn’t endorse anti-Hindu rhetoric.”
In the weeks prior, CoHNA organized a national awareness campaign generating 10,000 emails to Rutgers officials and 4,000 to lawmakers. On October 24, U.S. Representatives Sanford Bishop, Suhas Subramanyam, Rich McCormick, and Shri Thanedar wrote to Rutgers expressing concern that the event “misrepresents a diverse and peaceful community” and could “fuel further prejudice.”
CoHNA co-founder Suresh Krishnamoorthy said, “When others malign our beliefs and dismiss Hindu voices, we cannot stay silent. CoHNA will always stand up for our community, especially our youth.”
The organization reaffirmed its support for free speech but urged universities to ensure academic responsibility and student safety.
About CoHNA:
The Coalition of Hindus of North America is a grassroots advocacy and civil rights organization promoting awareness of Hindu heritage and protecting Hindu rights across North America.
Learn more at www.cohna.org or follow CoHNA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
