August 5h, 2020 Contact: info@fiids-usa.org

To The Biden Campaign

On behalf of Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), we write this letter to you in consternation at the public pronouncements of Democrat candidates in general and, Vice President Biden in particular. A large percentage of the Indian American are alarmed at the hostility being articulated by the Democrat establishment, vis-à-vis India. This unseemly turn of events is driving away the natural supporters of the Democratic Party into the uncomfortable arms of the incumbent president. So, we write on behalf of Indo Americans who are actually considering their political alignments in this election, persuaded by the lack of an even handed posture on India in general and Hindus in particular. In our perception, Mr. Biden is ill-advised to express sentiments that are hostile and patronizing of India. So, it is indeed perplexing, no, vexing to see the Indo American votes being driven away from Mr. Biden, due to these ill-informed and apparently biased views being aired in public.

Let us give you an idea of what the issues are:

Alleged human rights violations: Mr. Biden has said that he is concerned about the treatment of minorities in India and would seek to engage with India on this matter if elected. This is so far from the truth of what is happening in India, that the Indo American has serious misgivings about Mr. Biden’s utterances. This view of Mr. Biden is based on the legislation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the abrogation of Article 370, which had endowed special rights to people of Kashmir. It is very apparent that the Democrat establishment has chosen to be deliberately ignorant about both the reality of these matters, lest it be persuaded by facts on the ground to change its’ convenient but far from true position on these issues. CAA is no longer a burning issue in India but city after city in the US is passing resolutions condemning India! It should be obvious that a deliberate and coordinated effort by the anti-India lobby is at work here. (Their secret communication reveal this as such.) India has a long history of giving refuge to persecuted minorities – Zoroastrians from Persia/Iran, the Jewish community who were persecuted everywhere else in the world, the Tibetans/Dalai Lama and now the non-Muslims in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Incidentally, this provision is similar to the democrats supported US government’s stand in giving asylum to Christians from Syria. But them seeing nothing wrong in criticizing India’s actions is not lost on Indo Americans.
Relative silence on Pakistan’s history of egregious behaviour on Human rights, treatment of minorities and support for terrorism: This silence is very loud. There is a sense in the Indo American community that the Pakistanis have bought influence through the conferment of the Hilal-e-Pakistan award on Mr. Biden. The Democrat establishment is known for its historic indulgence of Pakistan in all its transgressions and now, this castigation of India for human rights violations is perceived as morally misguided, laughable and patently dishonest on the part of the establishment.
Mr. Biden has also opined that not enough about Islam is taught in schools in the US. However, he ignored the poor coverage of Hinduism, the faith followed by the majority of Indo-Americans. Hinduism is painted in a relatively poor light, amplifying the negatives and diminishing its rich, tolerant, essentially peaceful and all-embracing world view. The sense of injustice is being exacerbated by the studied silence of the Democrat establishment on matters of concern to the Hindu American.

Attached are some articles for your perusal. You will see precisely what is annoying the Democrat-leaning Hindu American, causing them to re-visit their affiliations.

You have the opportunity to see matters as they really are and advise Mr. Biden accordingly. We hope that there is a course correction in future pronouncements from the Biden campaign. The Hindu American vote, a traditional democratic vote bank, would vote for Mr. Biden if he acknowledges the facts on the ground and desists from driving these votes away.

Sincerely,

Bala Subramaniam, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) Political Analyst

Anand Bemra, Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) Political Analyst

FIIDS response to USCIRF on India’s Citizenship Amendment Bill [https://tinyurl.com/y3zrgf6r]FAQ on CAA and NRC [https://tinyurl.com/y3oyyxsn]