On September 29, 2023, the Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar said over two dozen US lawmakers had joined the bipartisan Congressional Hindu, Buddhist, Sikhs, and Jain American Caucus.
On the same day, Thanedar formally launched the caucus that aims to combat religious discrimination and promote more religious freedom for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains.
A caucus is basically a group of members of the US Congress that meet to pursue common legislative objectives. At a news conference, “We are not merely congregating to initiate another caucus; we are assembling to pioneer a movement, one that strives for understanding, inclusion and affirmative policy actions,” he said.
Thanedar’s Address
“A movement that says that every faith, every culture, and every community has a place in America, the land of the free and home of the brave. My name is Shri Thanedar, and I am the proof of America’s diversity in the Congress,” he said. He was flanked by a group of eminent Indian Americans who gathered at the steps of the US Capitol Hill from across the country.
“Today is significant for many reasons, To many of you, the launch of the Hindu, Buddhist Sikhs and Jains (HBSJ) American Congressional Caucus may seem like a formal procedure, but let me assure you that it is much so more,” he said.
“It is a state of commitment. A commitment to stand against religious discrimination to propel the wheels of inclusion and to cultivate a nation where diversity is not just tolerated but also celebrated,” he said.
“This caucus will create a platform to have discourse, engage in action, dispel misinformation and disinformation of our culture and society, express religious freedom, protect our existence and speak the truth about who we are pushing back on hate and bigotry,” he said.
He noted that as many as 27 Congressmen from both Republican and Democratic Parties have joined the latest caucuses of the American Congress. “To illustrate the urgent need of the Caucus, it is also important to put some numbers into the context. We are not talking about abstract communities or conceptual problems. These are the real issues affecting real people, our friends, our neighbours and our constituents, “he said.
Diaspora in the US
Approximately 3 million Hindus. 1.2 million Buddhists, 500,000 Sikhs, and 200,000 Jains enrich our nation’s cultural and spiritual life,” he said. About 1000 Hindu temples, 1000 Buddhist Temples, 800 Sikh Gurudwaras and 100 Jain temples are spread all across America and are acting as centres for community development, philanthropy, and spiritual well-being, Thanedar said.
“So, when we speak about these communities, we are speaking of our substantial portion of the nation’s populace, which is a segment that contributed specifically to the American fabric yet often remains misunderstood, under-represented,” he said.
Thanedar said the HBSJ American Congressional Caucus aims to fulfil four fundamental objectives: combating religious discrimination, accurate representation and inclusion, addressing cultural misunderstandings and empowerment and well-being.
Romesh Japra, founder and chairman of Americans for Hindus, described it as a momentous occasion. There was a long-felt need for the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains in the country. The new caucus would help in raising the causes and protecting the interests of these minority communities in the US, Japra said.
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