'Hindu supremacist move': Plea to Bollywood actors not to attend I-day India parade in New York

By A Representative

Veteran Indian American journalist and civil rights activist Ajit Sahi has sought "immediate intervention" to contact Bollywood actors Sonakshi Sinha and Pankaj Tripathi regarding their scheduled participation in the India Day Parade in New York City on August 18, 2024.

In an open plea, Sahi says, "As you may be aware, the parade has recently attracted significant controversy due to the inclusion of a Ram Temple float, which is being brought by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA). The float is widely perceived as divisive, Islamophobic, and a direct reflection of the Hindu supremacist ideology that has long oppressed the Muslim minority in India."

According to him, "The VHPA is well known for its affiliations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in India—organizations that have been instrumental in fostering communal violence and spreading anti-Muslim sentiment."

Sahi (photo) reveals, "The Bridge Initiative at Georgetown University has flagged the VHPA as a hate organization due to its extremist views and activities. Additionally, Savera, a respected civil society coalition, has published extensive reports exposing the direct links between the RSS-VHP in India and the VHPA. These connections are well-documented and have raised alarm among various human rights groups both in India and abroad."

He says, "The issue has garnered widespread attention in the U.S. mainstream media, with prominent outlets such as the New York Times, CNN, NBC, and ABC extensively covering the negative publicity surrounding the parade."

Stating that "the controversy has already cast a dark shadow over the event, leading to New York City Mayor Eric Adams publicly condemning the anti-Muslim float", he notes, "Mayor Adams has even announced that he will not participate in the parade this year, breaking with tradition from previous years."

He continues, "Many others, such as New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani and New York City Council members Shahana Hanif and Shekar Krishnan have condemned the float and asked that it be canceled."

"Given this context", he adds, "It is crucial that Sonakshi Sinha and Pankaj Tripathi reconsider their participation in the parade."

Sahi insists, "Associating with an event that features such a controversial and divisive element could severely damage their reputations, making them appear partisan and alienating a significant portion of their audience. The potential backlash could be detrimental to their careers and public standing, both in India and internationally."

He believes, "Their decision to withdraw from the parade would send a powerful message of solidarity with oppressed communities and uphold the values of inclusivity and respect."

Comments

Why Venezuela govt granting amnesty to political prisoners isn't a sign of weakness

By Guillermo Barreto On 20 May 2017, during a violent protest planned by sectors of the Venezuelan opposition, 21-year-old Orlando Figuera was attacked by a mob that accused him of being a Chavista. After being stabbed, he was doused with gasoline and set on fire in front of everyone present. Young Orlando was admitted to a hospital with multiple wounds and burns covering 80 percent of his body and died 15 days later, on 4 June.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Walk for peace: Buddhist monks and America’s search for healing

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The #BuddhistMonks in the United States have completed their #WalkForPeace after covering nearly 3,700 kilometers in an arduous journey. They reached Washington, DC yesterday. The journey began at the Huong Đạo Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 26, 2025, and concluded in Washington, DC after a 108-day walk. The monks, mainly from Vietnam and Thailand, undertook this journey for peace and mindfulness. Their number ranged between 19 and 24. Led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara (also known as Sư Tuệ Nhân), a Vietnamese-born monk based in the United States, this “Walk for Peace” reflected deeply on the crisis within American society and the search for inner strength among its people.

Four women lead the way among Tamil Nadu’s Muslim change-makers

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* A report published by Awaz–The Voice (ATV), a news platform, highlights 10 Muslim change-makers in Tamil Nadu, among whom four are women. These individuals are driving social change through education, the arts, conservation, and activism. Representing diverse fields ranging from environmental protection and literature to political engagement and education, they are working to improve society across the state.

Trade pacts with EU, US raise alarms over farmers, MSMEs and policy space

By A Representative A broad coalition of farmers’ organisations, trade unions, traders, public health advocates and environmental groups has raised serious concerns over India’s recently concluded trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, warning that the deals could have far-reaching implications for livelihoods, policy autonomy and the country’s long-term development trajectory. In a public statement issued, the Forum for Trade Justice described the two agreements as marking a “tectonic shift” in India’s trade policy and cautioned that the projected gains in exports may come at a significant social and economic cost.

Bangladesh goes to polls as press freedom concerns surface

By Nava Thakuria* As Bangladesh heads for its 13th Parliamentary election and a referendum on the July National Charter simultaneously on Thursday (12 February 2026), interim government chief Professor Muhammad Yunus has urged all participating candidates to rise above personal and party interests and prioritize the greater interests of the Muslim-majority nation, regardless of the poll outcomes.

When free trade meets unequal fields: The India–US agriculture question

By Vikas Meshram The proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has triggered intense debate across the country. This agreement is not merely an attempt to expand bilateral trade; it is directly linked to Indian agriculture, the rural economy, democratic processes, and global geopolitics. Free trade agreements (FTAs) may appear attractive on the surface, but the political economy and social consequences behind them are often unequal and controversial. Once again, a fundamental question has surfaced: who will benefit from this agreement, and who will pay its price?

Why Russian oil has emerged as the flashpoint in India–US trade talks

By N.S. Venkataraman* In recent years, India has entered into trade agreements with several countries, the latest being agreements with the European Union and the United States. While the India–EU trade agreement has been widely viewed in India as mutually beneficial and balanced, the trade agreement with the United States has generated comparatively greater debate and scrutiny.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha raises concerns over ‘corporate bias’ in seed Bill

By A Representative The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has released a statement raising ten questions to Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan regarding the proposed Seed Bill 2025, alleging that the legislation is biased in favour of large multinational and domestic seed corporations and does not adequately safeguard farmers’ interests.

Search This Blog