Diaspora group, Church leaders urge cancellation of Dallas event featuring Indian speaker with controversial record
The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a U.S.-based civil rights advocacy group, has called for the cancellation of a scheduled event in Dallas, Texas, featuring Indian speaker Kajal Singhala, also known as Kajal Hindustani. The event, set to take place on June 29 at Bhartiya Nivas, is being organized by the Global Hindu Heritage Foundation (GHHF) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA).
In a statement, IAMC expressed concern over Singhala’s reported history of delivering inflammatory speeches in India. The organization cited findings by media outlets and research groups that have accused Singhala of making statements targeting religious minorities, including Muslims and Christians.
IAMC President Mohammad Jawad said the group’s primary concern is the potential normalization of hate speech and incitement in American public life. “We must be clear that there is no place for bigotry, incitement, or religious hatred in our city,” Jawad stated. He urged elected officials, interfaith leaders, and civil society groups in Dallas to oppose the event.
Singhala, a political commentator from the Indian state of Gujarat, has been featured in domestic media and tracking reports by groups such as India Hate Lab. According to their data, Singhala delivered dozens of speeches in 2023 and 2024 that allegedly included calls for violence and boycotts against religious minorities. She has also been subject to legal proceedings in India over some of her public statements.
IAMC also pointed to previous incidents involving VHPA, including a 2021 attempt to host Indian religious figure Yati Narsinghanand, which was canceled following public backlash due to his controversial statements.
Neither VHPA nor GHHF immediately responded to requests for comment on IAMC’s statement. The event remains listed on community calendars as of Thursday.
IAMC describes itself as the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States, with chapters across the country. The group has previously raised concerns about what it describes as the "transnational spread" of religious and political extremism from South Asia to diaspora communities abroad.
Church leaders' plea
A coalition of over 30 Christian leaders and churches from across the United States and India has issued a joint statement condemning an upcoming event in Dallas featuring Hindu nationalist figure Kajal Singhala, also known as Kajal Hindustani. The statement, released by the New York State Council of Churches and The Religious Nationalisms Project, calls for the event’s cancellation, warning that it promotes religious hatred and threatens the safety and dignity of religious minorities.“Within 24 hours, we gathered signatures from a broad-based and ecumenical group of Christian clergy and laity,” said Rev. Neal Christie, Principal of the Religious Nationalisms Project. “We represent a wide spectrum of Christian denominations—Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, Anglican, Presbyterian—united by the belief that religious hatred has no place in our communities.”
Christian leaders warned that giving a platform to such ideologies in the United States undermines American values of religious freedom and inclusion, while endangering local South Asian Christian and Muslim communities.
“This ideology has already wreaked havoc across India—churches burned, prayer gatherings attacked, pastors jailed on baseless charges,” said the statement. “Bringing its advocates to U.S. soil, especially in a diverse city like Dallas, sends the dangerous message that hate is welcome here.”
The joint letter denounced Singhala's repeated use of slurs and calls for violence and social exclusion of minorities. Citing her speech record, the signatories argue that hosting her legitimizes hate speech under the guise of cultural or religious expression.
Notably, Singhala has previously been condemned by leading Christian organizations, including the National Council of Churches of Christ, United Methodist Church, and United Church of Christ, among others.
The letter concludes with a call for action: “We urge the venue and local officials to cancel this event immediately. Religious bigotry and hate speech—whether in India or America—must be challenged wherever it appears.”
Signatories include:
- Rev. Neal Christie, The Religious Nationalisms Project
- Rev. Peter Cook, New York State Council of Churches
- Martin Padeti, Texas Indian Christian Coalition
- Daniel Mutyala, Bible Believers Fellowship of Dallas
- Jensen John, Church of The Way Frisco
- Rev. Cece Jones-Davis, The Prophetic Convening
- Jorge Parrott, President, CMM.world
- Pastor MDaimai, World Road Church
Pastor Paul Sunkari, Indian Christian Church of Sacramento
- Elizabeth Mangalwadi, RevelationMovement.com
- Father Joshua Lickter, Incarnation Anglican Church
- Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell, American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin
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