A group of Hindu nationalist organizations will be part of the India Day parade in New Jersey this Sunday, despite the outrage and criticism from some Indian Americans and human rights activists. The parade, which celebrates the 76th anniversary of India’s independence from British colonial rule, will feature at least two groups that are affiliated with the right-wing ideology of Hindutva, or Hindu supremacy, that has been accused of fueling violence and discrimination against Muslims and other minorities in India.

The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) are among the 21 organizations that will participate in the parade, which is organized by the Indian Business Association (IBA) and will take place in Woodbridge and Edison, two towns with a large Indian American population. According to scholars, the HSS is the overseas branch of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist paramilitary group that is considered the ideological parent of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The VHPA is the American offshoot of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a religious organization that is part of the RSS family and has been involved in several violent campaigns against Muslims, Christians, and Dalits in India.

The presence of these groups in the parade has sparked anger and dismay among some Indian Americans, especially Muslims, who see it as an endorsement of their divisive and hateful agenda. They have also pointed out the irony of celebrating India’s freedom while supporting groups that undermine its secular and democratic values.“

This is a slap in the face of all those who fought for India’s independence from colonial oppression,” said Mohammed Jawad, a spokesperson for the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), a civil rights group that has been vocal against Hindutva. “These groups are not representative of India’s diversity and pluralism. They are promoting a narrow and exclusionary vision of India that is based on religious supremacy and bigotry.”Jawad also recalled the incident that took place during last year’s parade, when a bulldozer decorated with posters of Modi and Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and a hardline Hindu cleric, was paraded through the streets. Adityanath is notorious for his anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions, including using bulldozers to demolish mosques and homes of Muslims. The float was widely condemned as a symbol of anti-Muslim hate and intimidation.“You have to ask yourself: what is a bulldozer doing at a parade about independence?” Jawad said. “It was a blatant display of Hindutva’s aggression and contempt for Muslims and other minorities. It was also a clear violation of the spirit and purpose of the parade, which is supposed to celebrate India’s unity and diversity.”

The IBA, however, has defended its decision to allow the HSS and VHPA to join the parade, saying that it does not discriminate against any organization based on their political or religious views. Dhiren Amin, president of the IBA, told Middle East Eye that the parade was open to all groups that support India and its culture.

“We are not here to judge anyone or to endorse anyone,” Amin said. “We are here to celebrate India’s independence and its achievements. We welcome anyone who wants to join us in this celebration.” Amin also denied that there was any connection between the bulldozer float and the HSS or VHPA, saying that it was an independent initiative by some individuals who wanted to show their admiration for Modi and Adityanath. He said that the IBA had no control over what people put on their floats, as long as they followed the rules and regulations.

“We have no idea who brought the bulldozer or why they did it,” Amin said. “We did not approve it or endorse it. We did not even see it until it was on the road. We have thousands of people participating in the parade, we cannot monitor everything they do.”

However, some activists have questioned the credibility of Amin’s claims, pointing out that he himself is an avid supporter of Modi and Hindutva. They have also accused him of being influenced by political and financial interests, as well as pressure from some influential members of the Indian American community who are aligned with Hindutva.

“Amin is not being honest or transparent,” said Sunita Viswanath, co-founder of Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), a group that opposes Hindutva and advocates for human rights in India. “He knows very well what these groups stand for and what they are doing in India. He is choosing to ignore their crimes and atrocities because he shares their ideology or because he benefits from their patronage.”

Viswanath also said that Amin was ignoring the voices and concerns of many Indian Americans who do not support Hindutva and who want the parade to be inclusive and respectful of all religions and communities.

“There are many Indian Americans who are appalled and disgusted by the presence of these groups in the parade,” Viswanath said. “They are not anti-India or anti-Hindu. They are pro-India and pro-Hindu, but they are also pro-humanity and pro-justice. They want the parade to reflect the true spirit of India, which is based on secularism, democracy, and diversity.” Viswanath said that her group, along with other organizations, was planning to hold a peaceful protest outside the parade on Sunday, to express their opposition to Hindutva and to show solidarity with the victims of its violence in India. She said that the protest was not meant to disrupt or disrespect the parade, but to raise awareness and educate the public about the dangers of Hindutva.

“We are not against the parade or the people who participate in it,” Viswanath said. “We are against the ideology and the groups that are hijacking the parade and using it as a platform to spread their propaganda and hatred. We are here to expose them and to challenge them. We are here to reclaim the parade and to reclaim India for all Indians.”