Two million American Hindus ‘would not endorse any presidential candidate’

suchandra · October 29, 2008

Two million American Hindus ‘would not endorse any presidential candidate’

Sunday, 26th October 2008. 6:36am

By: Judy West.

American Hindus, numbering around two million, would not endorse any single candidate for the November four presidential election, it has been reported.

</td><td class="MainText" align="center" valign="top" width="29%"></td></tr></tbody></table>The Indo-American Hindu leader Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that religion was something sacred and spiritual; a tool for communication with God; ‘human response to divine Reality’; and meant for focusing the heart/mind of the devotee to some higher ideal. It should not be associated with materialistic objectives like partisan politics.

Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, points out that most Hindus are well versed with nitisastra, covering political science and political ethics in all its practical aspects. Moreover, ancient Sanskrit scriptures like Atharva-veda, Aitareya Brahmana, Arthasastra of Kautilya, Santiparvan in Mahabharata, Barhaspatya Arthasastra, Nitisara, etc., have educated them to make wise political decisions.

Zed says that he has received lot of pressure to endorse presidential and other candidates but has stayed away from this ‘allurement’. Religious organizations and leaders can work for spreading justice, freedom, responsibility, righteousness and fairness; but religion loses moral power when it gets involved in partisan politics.

But Zed has asked all eligible Hindu-Americans to stand up and vote, because it puts them in the driver’s seat; helps them control their future, speak their mind, and make others listen; and demands respect. “Hindus are prudent enough to vote with their well-formed conscience in the November 4 general election for president; federal, state, district, and city offices; measures and constitutional amendments,” he said.

He added that there was no ‘divine political blueprint for us human beings to implement’. Hindus are well versed with the concept of dharma (righteousness) and can distinguish it from adharma (unrighteousness). Anything that has to do with materialism is inevitably transitory, he said.

http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3153