Calling out “bigotry against Hindus and Hinduism”, Tulsi Gabbard defends religious freedom.

‘No love for any dictator’: Tulsi Gabbard defends her Hindu identity, slams Democrats for religious bigotry against Hinduism. 

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Feb 1, 2025:: Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, faced intense scrutiny during her confirmation hearing on Thursday. The hearing turned contentious when Gabbard’s religious beliefs and ties to the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF), a Hindu religious group, came under scrutiny.

Gabbard’s ties to SIF, an offshoot of the Hare Krishna movement, have raised concerns due to the group’s alleged authoritarianism, social conservatism, and secrecy. Critics have labeled SIF a “cult” and questioned the potential influence of its leader, Chris Butler, on Gabbard’s political career .

Gabbard has publicly referred to Chris Butler as her “guru” and credited his teachings with positively influencing her life. However, former members of SIF have described the group as cult-like, citing instances of rigid control over followers and intolerance toward dissent.

The scrutiny of Gabbard’s religious beliefs has sparked a broader debate about the intersection of faith and politics. Some argue that her ties to SIF should be examined to ensure that her beliefs won’t influence her decision-making as Director of National Intelligence. Others see the criticism as a double standard, pointing out that conservative Christian groups have faced less scrutiny despite their significant influence on U.S. politics.

Gabbard directly addressed questions about her faith, emphasizing the importance of religious freedom as enshrined in the US Constitution. She defended her right to hold her beliefs without fear of persecution or discrimination, highlighting the Constitution’s guarantee of religious freedom.

“Unfortunately, there are some Democrat senators who still don’t understand the principle of freedom of religion and Article 6 of the Constitution,” she said, referring to the clause that states, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

Gabbard went on to accuse certain senators of fostering religious bigotry, claiming they were targeting her Hindu faith. “They’re once again using the religious bigotry card, but this time trying to foment religious bigotry against Hindus and Hinduism,” she added.

Gabbard also invited those interested in her spiritual path to learn more about her beliefs on her X account. “If anyone is sincerely interested in knowing more about my own personal spiritual path of Hinduism, I welcome you to go to my account on X where I’ll share more on this topic.”

Tulsi vehemently  slammed Democrats over ‘Putin, Modi’ puppet charge in fiery speech.

“Democrats have accused me of being Trump’s puppet, Putin’s puppet, Assad’s puppet, a Guru’s puppet and Modi’s puppet, but what truly unsettles them is I refuse to be their puppet,” she said during a tense confirmation hearing that could block her nomination to lead the country’s vast intelligence apparatus.

Tulsi Gabbard faced intense scrutiny during her confirmation hearing for the Director of National Intelligence position, which lasted over two hours. Senators grilled her on her past statements and actions, particularly her 2017 meeting with Syrian leader Bashar Assad and her comments on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Her remarks were seen as sympathetic to Russia’s stance, sparking concerns about her foreign policy judgment.

Gabbard’s previous support for Edward Snowden, the NSA leaker, also came under fire, with senators questioning whether her views on surveillance posed a risk to national security. Despite the challenges, Gabbard defended her positions, arguing that her policy stances were often misinterpreted or taken out of context.

The hearing highlighted concerns about Gabbard’s qualifications and past statements, which conflict with US intelligence assessments. Many have questioned her ability to lead the 18 agencies charged with protecting the United States against evolving threats.

In her speech, Tulsi Gabbard exposed how the Democrats allegedly had conspired against her to thwart her appointment as Director of National Intelligence, targeting her Hindu faith and association with the Hare Krishna movement.
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__Inputs from ANI.