Democrats used human rights as political tool to win over Hindu-Americans: Community leader

Disenchanted with the Democratic Party's approach to human rights issues in countries like India, and inspired by Donald Trump's stance on Hindu rights in Bangladesh, about 70% of Hindu Americans cast their votes for the Republican presidential candidate in the November 5 elections, an influential community leader has said.

"The Democratic Party has not done much to court Indian Americans. In fact, they have taken actions that many in our community find insulting, infuriating, and humiliating," said Dr. Bharat Barai, a prominent Indian-American leader, in an interview with PTI. "When it comes to India-related issues, the Democrats have often used human rights as a political tool."

Barai also pointed out the lack of condemnation from President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, or Vice President Kamala Harris regarding the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, where over 100 people were killed, temples desecrated, and Hindus were forced to wear hijabs.

Though the Hindu-American population is relatively small, Barai emphasized their significance as a key voting bloc, particularly in tight races. "I believe 70% of Hindu Americans voted for Trump this time," he said.

Barai, who attended the Diwali celebrations at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. this week, noted that Trump's position on the plight of Bangladeshi Hindus helped bolster his support. "Trump got the benefit of the doubt, partly because of his strong statements about the situation in Bangladesh. Of course, people will judge Trump by his actions once he returns to office," Barai said.

He also pointed to Trump’s appointments of two prominent Hindu Americans—Vivek Ramaswamy and Tulsi Gabbard—to key positions as an additional factor that boosted his standing within the community.

Barai expressed confidence that the India-U.S. relationship would continue to strengthen under the next administration, largely due to the personal rapport between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The two leaders share a special bond," he said, recalling the "tumultuous welcome" Trump received during his visit to India, including a highly publicized appearance at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

"Trump did not try to needle India or cross India when he was president," Barai noted. "In fact, he was instrumental in accelerating the process of the Quad. With China becoming increasingly aggressive in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India all realize that their cooperation is essential to countering China's growing influence."

In the 2024 elections, Barai emphasized the significant role that Hindu Americans played in Trump's success, particularly in key swing states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. "In Georgia, Trump’s margin increased by over 180,000 votes. I would say at least 100,000 of those votes came from Hindu Americans. His statements about Bangladeshi Hindus definitely won people over," Barai said.