Gabbard’s Hindutva Relationships
Gabbard’s Hindutva Ties
OFBJP Interference in Reelection
When speaking at the August 2014 OFBJP banquet in Atlanta, which was hosted to celebrate Modi’s victory in India, Gabbard was then running for reelection to a second term. At the event, which was organized to promote a foreign political party:
- OFBJP organizer Dhiru Shah, master of ceremonies, stated: “It’s necessary that we support a person like Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. And whatever the donations you make is not enough, because she needs to win.”
- Vijay Jolly, then the BJP’s Foreign Affairs Cell Chief, stated: “We are sure, with the support of the people of Indian origin, the non-resident Indians and, of course, the US citizens, your victory later this year is a foregone conclusion…. I’m predicting today for your victory.” Jolly also compared Gabbard’s electoral success to Modi’s.
- Jolly noted in his speech that it was his third time meeting Gabbard, suggesting that the two had interacted repeatedly before Modi’s election.
- When questioned in 2020 about wearing a BJP scarf, Gabbard responded: “Somebody put something around my neck and snapped a picture without my knowing what it was.” Her answer did not reflect that she wore the BJP scarf at two separate events in two separate states, that both events were hosted by the OFBJP to celebrate the victory of the BJP, and that the picture from Atlanta was taken with her co-speaker, who is a BJP politician. Her response implies duplicity.
Intimate Relationships With Hindutva
Beyond her relationships with Hindutva as a politician, Gabbard appears to have much deeper and more intimate connections to some major Sangh figures and pro-Hindutva organizations, both those in the U.S. and from India.
Ram Madhav:
Madhav was national spokesperson for the RSS from2003 to 2014, at which time he became a national spokesperson for the BJP. In 2015, Madhav flew to Hawaii to attend and speak at Gabbard’s wedding. He presented her with a personal gift directly from Modi.
The Bhutada Family:
Vijay Pallod, the cousin-in-law of HSS Vice-President Ramesh Bhutada, was the first Sangh-affiliated donor to support Gabbard. Pallod, along with the entire Bhutada family (Ramesh, his son Rishi, and their wives) flew to Hawaii to attend Gabbard’s 2015 wedding.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF):
Gabbard ties with HAF are so close that Gabbard has said, while in office, that she was in touch with them “if not on a daily basis, probably a weekly basis.” Additionally, shortly before she decided to ran for president, she met with HAF Executive Director Suhag Shukla in her DC office.
Gabbard’s Hindutva Financing
Gabbard’s connections to Hindu nationalist groups and figures have translated into crucial financial and political support:
Out-of-State Donations:
While serving as a U.S. representative from Hawaii, a large portion of Gabbard’s campaign contributions come from out-of-state Hindutva donors, often after keynoting Sangh Parivar events.
Fundraising Events:
Gabbard has been hosted at numerous fundraising events organized by Hindutva leaders which often generated tens of thousands of donations. These include events featuring major American Hindutva leaders like Bharat Barai, Ramesh Bhutada, and Mihir Meghani.
Campaign Donations:
According to analysis of Federal Election Commission records, at least 105 current and former officers and members of American Sangh affiliates (including the HSS, VHPA, and OFBJP), and their families, have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Gabbard’s campaigns since 2011.
Performing single-property analyses
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