By indica
Ritu Jha–
Hindu advocacy non-profit organization Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) CoHNA’s Cleveland chapter volunteers protested against the “teach-in” workshop “Holi Against Hindutva” event which was planned at Oberlin College in Ohio, and was sponsored by the college’s Muslim Students Association and the Asian American Alliance on April 21. However, the speaker at teach-in event called the claim by CoHNA ridiculous.
“The claims that this event was ‘Hinduphobic’ or was intended to shame or denigrate Hindu festivals are completely ridiculous, and do not in any way reflect the substance of the event itself,” Pranay Somayajula, Director of Research and Advocacy Campaigns, Hindus for Human Rights and one of the speakers, told indica.
But CoHNA alleges that their goal was to tarnish, co-opt and politicize a 2000-year-old Hindu festival for their own political propaganda. And to create hate against students who may want to openly profess their Hindu faith and traditions such as Holi.
“We will not remain silent when people co-opt and desecrate our religious festivals, symbols, and figures for their political agenda and then turn around and accuse Hindus of being “Islamophobic” simply for raising their voices against this anti-Hindu bigotry.” said Dr. Ranjan, leader of CoHNA’s Cleveland Chapter said through a press note.
This story was originally published in indicanews.com. Read the full story here.