Dismantling IAMC’s Fabricated Smear Campaign Against VHPA (Part 8 of 8) – Hindutva vs. Islamophobia

Throughout his article, Ahmed repeatedly invokes terms such as “Hindutva,” “Islamophobia,” “majoritarianism,” and “Hindu nationalism” as though their meanings are self-evident. Yet these labels do much of the article’s rhetorical work while remaining largely undefined. Clarifying what these terms mean — and how they are selectively applied — is essential to understanding the framework through which VHPA is being portrayed.

In Ahmed’s framing, Hindutva is presented as synonymous with extremism or exclusionary politics. Yet the Supreme Court of India, in its landmark 1995 judgment and subsequent rulings[1], has described Hindutva as a “way of life” or “state of mind” rather than a narrow form of religious fundamentalism or allegiance to a single faith. In that interpretation, it reflects India’s cultural ethos and civilizational heritage, closely associated with the idea of Bharatiyata or Indianization, encompassing the diverse traditions, philosophies, and values that shape Indian society.

At its core, Hindutva is understood as “Hindu + Tattva,” referring to the essential principles of Hindu Dharma. It draws from enduring concepts such as the idea that truth may be expressed in many forms, openness to wisdom from all directions, and the belief that the world functions as one extended family. Within this framework, emphasis is placed on dharma, personal growth, coexistence, and an inclusive worldview rooted in ancient Indian thought.

Viewed through this lens, Hindutva exists not as a political doctrine, but as a cultural and philosophical outlook tied to Hindu identity, continuity, and civilizational memory. Within that framework, it rejects colonial and Marxist narratives that supporters believe imposed inherited guilt or diminished Hindu civilizational confidence. It advocates for a self-assured and cohesive Hindu society that preserves its heritage, resists fragmentation, and pursues cultural renewal alongside national integration. In this understanding, Hindutva envisions a strong and prosperous Bharat in which Hindus no longer feel culturally defensive or marginalized within their own homeland. Supporters frame it as a response to historical erasure and continuing cultural pressures, grounded in continuity, pride, and respect for others rather than aggression.

In sharp contrast, Islamophobia is the rational, evidence-based fear of Islam and its adherents, rooted in its 1,400-year history of violence, supremacism, and intolerance. It stems from doctrinal calls for jihad and subjugation of non-Muslims, paired with real-world patterns like the 9/11 attacks[2]   and the Boston Marathon bombing[3], along with dozens of other plots on American soil[4]. Muslims often demand hypersensitivity and special exclusionary accommodations. Yet they offer zero reciprocity, destroying non-Muslim sites abroad while shielding their own ideology from scrutiny through intimidation.

This is not irrational prejudice. It is the natural reaction to a belief system and community that repeatedly proves dangerous, intolerant, and incompatible with open societies.

If you don’t like Islamophobia in the United States, you only need to address the community habits and patterns that create it. To do so, you must take concrete steps:

• Condemn and dismantle domestic extremism by actively rejecting and reporting jihadist ideology, addressing why 9/11, Boston, and dozens of other plots were carried out by Muslims in the name of Islam.
• Fully support free speech and academic freedom by ending the weaponization of “Islamophobia” to silence criticism, including CAIR-style threats over historical art or cartoons.
• Embrace full integration and the rule of law by prioritizing American values and the Constitution over Sharia, rejecting parallel societies and supremacist attitudes.
• Reject hypersensitivity and victimhood by accepting that critique of Islam is protected free speech, just like any other ideology.
• Demonstrate genuine reciprocity and integration by publicly supporting equal rights for all faiths without demanding exemptions and proving loyalty to America first.
• Reform internal education and leadership by purging radical preaching from mosques and teaching American Muslim youth peaceful coexistence instead of conquest or grievance.

Islamophobia will fade in America only when American Muslims consistently prove they are fully compatible with American freedoms and security. The solution lies in behavior, not denial.

Closing Remarks

Rasheed Ahmed’s piece is not an isolated piece of criticism; it is part of a larger effort to stigmatize Hindu organizations through insinuation, selective standards, and guilt by association. For 56 years, VHPA has served American Hindu communities through transparent education, cultural preservation, and humanitarian work with zero violations of U.S. law.

The real scandal is the glaring double standard: Hindu Americans are subjected to obsessive scrutiny and smear campaigns for routine cultural activity, while organizations with documented ties to terror financing and extremism receive red-carpet treatment.

The message to IAMC and the professional grievance industry is simple: Hindus are minding their own business. It’s about time you did the same. Stop manufacturing scandals and focus on reforming the real problems in your own circles.

We have had enough. Patriotic Hindu Americans will not apologize for their identity, their heritage, or their right to participate fully in this democracy. VHPA will continue its mission undeterred. Those peddling ideological venom from compromised institutions deserve only contempt — not credibility.

Read Part 7: Manufacturing a National Security Threat

Citations

[1] Supreme Court of India on Hindutva (1995). https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/supreme-court-says-it-wont-reconsider-1995-judgment-defining-hindutva-as-way-of-life/articleshow/55045616.cms

[2] September 11, 2001 Attacks (al-Qaeda). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks

[3] Boston Marathon Bombing (2013). https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/boston-marathon-bombing

[4] Broader Islamist Terror Plots since 9/11. https://www.heritage.org/terrorism/report/60-terrorist-plots-911-continued-lessons-domestic-counterterrorism (60+ plots)