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Trump stands for religious freedom, strong Indo-US Ties, says Hindu PAC founder Sanduja
“President Trump has a great relationship with Prime Minister Modi. They love each other's pro-business policies,” Sanduja said.
Utsav Sanduja, founder and chairman of Hindus for America First. / Courtesy Photo.
In a recent conversation with New India Abroad, Utsav Sanduja, founder and chairman of Hindus for America First, lauded former President Donald Trump for his Diwali message, stating that the former president’s acknowledgment of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh communities had resonated strongly. “President Trump is a great man, a great leader… full credit goes to him… for wishing all the Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs a very blessed Diwali,” Sanduja remarked.
He added that Trump's message was particularly impactful due to the focus on human rights and the issue of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh.
Sanduja expressed his gratitude for what he described as Trump’s commitment to addressing religious persecution: “He really understands what's going on in Bangladesh. He sees the ongoing persecution [of] Hindus; he's concerned about religious minorities… suffering right now in that country.” Sanduja credited himself and others in the Hindu community with raising awareness around the issue within Trump's team. “I’ve been just doing my part in trying to shine a light on these issues… I'm very grateful to President Trump,” he said.
Turning to the political impact of Trump's message, Sanduja noted a shift in Indian American support for the Democratic party, referencing recent data. According to him, there has been a decrease in Indian American support for the Democratic candidate, dropping from 68 percent for Joe Biden in the last election to 60 percent support for Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. “Trump, last time around, had 22 percent from the Indian American community. Now he's at 32 percent,” he cited, referencing a Carnegie Endowment survey. Sanduja anticipates that the statement could draw more Indian American support for Trump in the upcoming election.
Sanduja highlighted Trump’s unique approach to addressing Hindu persecution, claiming Trump is “the first presidential candidate to talk about the issue of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh in 2024.” He contrasted this with what he described as the Biden-Harris administration’s role in Bangladesh’s destabilization, stating, “It should be noted… Biden-Harris' Treasury Department sanctioned RAB, which is a security force that has been going after terrorists, ISIS, [and] so on.” Sanduja argued that these actions, which included visa restrictions on the family of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, harmed Bangladesh’s political stability and empowered elements hostile to minority interests. He claimed that under Hasina’s successor, Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh had seen increased persecution of minorities.
Discussing Trump’s stated commitment to the Indo-US relationship, Sanduja spoke on the former president's rapport with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he described as grounded in a shared focus on economic growth. “President Trump has a great relationship with Prime Minister Modi. They love each other's pro-business policies,” Sanduja said, indicating optimism that this could lead to enhanced economic cooperation.
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