Republican Hindu Council beats the drum for Donald Trump in Delhi

In the run up to the US presidential elections, a group of Indian Americans led by Republican nominee Donald Trump's key advisor, endorsed Trump today, saying that his presidency will eventually benefit India. 

"If that happens, this century will be that of Indians and Americans. India will benefit in different areas of trade and that of procurement of arms from US," Shalabh Kumar, the founder and chairman of the Republican Hindu Council (RHC) told the media in the Indian capital city of Delhi. 

Kumar, while describing RHC, said that the group, that has a membership of around 10,000 "conservative" Hindus living in the United States, was formed on the lines of Jewish American Council and is significantly impressed by its functioning. 

"The group primarily stands for four principles: free enterprise, fiscal discipline, family values and firm foreign policy,"  Kumar said while emphasising on the need for a firm foreign policy to tackle the "growing menace of Islamic terrorism".  Kumar is also the chairman of Indian American Council that is actively campaigning for Trump. 

Referring to a New Jersey charity event that Trump will be addressing on October 15, Kumar termed it as "historic" saying that the presidential candidate has never addressed an ethnic community before.  The event is being organised by RHC. 

"This is the first time that he will be addressing the Indian Hindu community living in America,"  he said.

The money raised from the event will go for the "betterment of Kashmiri Pandits (a minority community from the Kashmir Valley) living in different parts of India," he said. It will also be used for other Hindu terror victims. 

"We will be creating history. Such an event has never been organised in India, US, or the history of Hindu civilisation. During his campaign, Trump has never addressed any ethnic community. This will be the only ethnic community Trump has ever spoken to. He has also released a statement saying that Hindus have made a fantastic contribution to the American civilisation,"  Kumar asserted.

Responding to WION'S question on similarities between the Republican Jewish Council and Hindu council, Kumar said that "both the communities are very hardworking and have contributed a lot to the American economy". 

Meanwhile, he chose not to speak about his inclination in Indian politics, but he mentioned that he and the council members are quite impressed with the way Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the country. He also claims to work in close association with Anupam Kher in India. 

(WION)