The “Hindutva” Controversy: Hindu Advocacy Groups vs. CSRR’s “Systemic Hate”

While much of the national focus on the Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR) has centered on its rhetoric regarding Israel, a second front of intense opposition has emerged from the Hindu American community. Organizations like the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) argue that under Sahar Aziz’s leadership, CSRR has become a primary source of institutionalized Hinduphobia.

The Catalyst: “Hindutva in America”

In late 2024 and early 2025, CSRR published a report and hosted a subsequent event titled “Hindutva in America: A Threat to Equality and Religious Pluralism.” The content of this programming was not merely academic; it was a direct political indictment of Hindu American civil society.

• The Claim: CSRR materials characterized Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) as a “supremacist ideology” comparable to white supremacy.
• The Radical Recommendation: The report explicitly called for federal authorities to investigate major Hindu American nonprofits, labeling them as “proxies” for foreign political entities.
• The Advocacy Response: Hindu groups responded with outrage, stating that the CSRR was effectively “othering” millions of Hindu Americans and calling for the criminalization of Hindu religious and cultural expression.

Specific Allegations: “Stigmatizing Hindu Students”

The criticism from groups like Rutgers CYAN (the Hindu student council) centers on the real-world impact of Professor Aziz’s framing on the Rutgers campus.

1. Erasure of Religious Identity: Critics argue that Aziz’s work fails to distinguish between personal religious practice and political movements. By labeling Hindu advocacy as “supremacist,” student groups claim the center makes Hindu students targets for harassment.
2. The “Foreign Agent” Trope: During a 2025 campus protest, Hindu students held signs stating “MY RELIGION IS NOT A THREAT.” They argued that Aziz’s call for federal investigations into Hindu groups echoes historical tropes used to question the loyalty of minority communities in America.
3. Bipartisan Congressional Opposition: The controversy reached a boiling point when an open letter was sent to Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway. The letter, backed by members of Congress from both parties, warned that the CSRR event was “dangerous” and risked inciting “hostility and violence” against the Hindu community.

The “Selective Justice” Critique

A recurring theme in the insights provided by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is the ideological hypocrisy of the CSRR.

“While Professor Aziz claims to protect ‘Racial Muslims’ from state surveillance and federal overreach, she simultaneously calls for the FBI and DOJ to investigate Hindu American neighbors. It is not scholarship; it is a targeted political hit-job.” – Excerpt from HAF Public Statement.

Critics point out that while CSRR defends the right to “resistance” for certain groups, it applies a “national security threat” label to Hindu organizations that are engaged in standard American civic participation.

Legal and Institutional Challenges

The backlash has moved beyond letters of protest:

• Title VI Complaints: There are ongoing discussions regarding Title VI complaints, alleging that Rutgers University has allowed a “hostile environment” to flourish where Hindu students are discriminated against based on their shared ancestry and religion.
• Demands for Oversight: Hindu advocacy groups have joined Jewish organizations in demanding a Transparent Review of CSRR’s funding sources, specifically looking for ties to global movements that seek to destabilize religious pluralism in the West.