The Washington, D.C.-based Hindu American Foundation has criticized comments made before the South Carolina primary by Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum that HAF said is “playing to the lowest common denominator of religious bigotry and prejudice.”
While speaking to a town hall audience before the Jan. 21 primary, Santorum said that the concept of equality did not come from Islam or “Eastern religions,” but rather from the “God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
HAF, which previously worked with Santorum and recognized his work on human rights in the U.S. Senate, said it was outraged by Santorum's remarks.
“Senator Santorum’s presidential campaign is now playing to the lowest common denominator of religious bigotry and prejudice by attacking Eastern religions and Islam,” said HAF co-founder and board member Dr. Aseem Shukla.
“His comments not only demonstrate a disregard for America’s great history of pluralism and religious diversity, but also show a profound ignorance of the teachings of Dharma spiritual traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.”
Added HAF associate director Jay Kansara, “Hinduism, the world's oldest spiritual tradition, has long advanced the concept of equality that transcends humanity and is inclusive of the entire creation that is a manifestation of an immanent and omnipotent God.”
“Mr. Santorum would do well in joining the millions of Americans who have actually read and drawn inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita and other Dharmic, or Eastern, scripture before making such divisive and ill-informed statements.”
Santorum finished in third place in the South Carolina primary with 17 percent of the vote, trailing Newt Gingrich (40.4 percent) and Mitt Romney (27.8 percent).