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Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
'Foreign Media's Skewed...': Hindu American Org Lauds India's Pahalgam Delegations I Suhag Shukla
/ Jun 04, 2025, 10:31AM IST Despite firm support from Western governments following the Kashmir massacre, Western media coverage is drawing criticism for its language. Many outlets are referring to the perpetrators as "gunmen" or "militants" rather than acknowledging the act as terrorism. Watch TOI Podacast as Hindu American foundation's Suhag Shukla lauds India for owning the narrative. Watch#KashmirAttack #PalkiSharma #WesternMedia #Terrorism #IndiaUnderAttack #MediaBias #PakistanTerror
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Hindu American Foundation slams California senator for his statement after Pahalgam attack: Don't give us dismissive rhetoric
Hindu American Foundation slammed Senator Alex Padilla for his response after Pahalgam attack. Hindu American Foundation slammed California senator Democrat Alex Padilla for his response statement after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 Indians were killed. The foundation said in his statement, the senator ignored the attack entirely and recycled some talking points attacking India's domestic policies. "This response failed to mention decades of Pakistan-backed terror, choosing instead to echo USCIRF's biased narratives – a body known for excluding Hindus and erasing Hindu victims of religious persecution." — HinduAmerican (@HinduAmerican) "California is home to one of the largest Indian and Hindu American communities. When constituents reach out about terrorism, they deserve moral clarity and respect, not dismissive rhetoric that shifts blame onto the victims." The senator, in his reply to the Hindu American Foundation, spoke about religious freedom, human rights in India and cited some figures without referring to the latest happenings in the region. In contrast to California senator's response, the foundation posted the statement of Republican senator of North Carolina, Thom Tillis and appreciated his clarity on the issue " We are grateful for your steadfast support and for honouring the US-India partnership in the fight against terror. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around in 2025 Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Thank you for standing on the right side of history," the foundation wrote for Tillis. Thom Tillis in his response to the Hindu America Foundation condemned the "targeting and butchering" of Indian citizens and tourists on April 22. "I share your concerns about the continued threat that radical Islamic terrorism poses at home and abroad," he wrote. "India has been a vital ally to the United States in the War Against Terror, and we must support our allies just as they have stood with us over the years," Tilis wrote.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
JD Vance reveals how Usha Vance has received 'celebrity status' in India
Image credits: Getty Images American Vice President JD Vance was on an official visit to India from April 21-24, 2025. During his trip he was accompanied by his wife Usha Chilikuri Vance and their three children. While Vance's visit may have raised hopes for the bilateral trade between the two countries, what really had the Indian public and media excited was the arrival of the second lady of America who is not only the first Indian-American second lady of the United States but also the first Hindu American one. From media houses roaring about the second lady's Indian connection to people priding in an Indian-origin woman holding a powerful political status in America, it is safe to say as much as JD Vance's visit was looked upon by the Indian government, Usha Vance was the one who had all eyes on her. Usha Vance has achieved 'celebrity' status Image credits: Getty Images In his speech in Jaipur, JD Vance himself seemed to be awestruck with Usha's popularity in India, saying, 'She's a bit of a celebrity, it turns out, in India, I think more so than her husband." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo This remains true for the most part considering various media outlets mentioned how the Vance kids had all worn Indian ethnic clothes during their visit. Additionally, a lot of light was shined on Usha's Indian heritage which goes back to a Telugu-speaking family in Andhra Pradesh, specifically the Vadluru village in East Godavari district and Saipuram village in Krishna district. During Usha's visit to India, many of her family members in the country came into the limelight such as her great aunt Shanthamma Chilikuri , a 96-year-old physicist and former village head P Srinivasa Raju whose grandfather was friends with Usha's grandfather. Usha's great-aunt revealed in an interview that the last time she had seen the second lady was "as a child" when she was visiting relatives in Chennai. Usha's grandfather was one of the five brothers of her husband. Raju, also shared that the village had built a temple at the site where Usha's ancestral family lived and how they would love for the second lady to visit the temple if she visited again. Who is Usha Chilikuri Vance? Image credits: X/@archer_rs Usha Bala Chilikuri was born to Radhakrishna Chilikuri and Lakshmi Chilikuri, who migrated to the States in the late 1970s. Usha spent most of her childhood in San Diego and grew up to study at Yale Law School , where she met her now-husband, JD Vance. Ever since their marriage, the couple and their children have never visited their Indian roots, and the official trip marked their first-ever visit to India. JD Vance himself seemed to be quite impressed with the country's culture and beauty, saying, 'I am amazed by the ancient beauty of the architecture of India's history, by the richness of India's history and tradition, but also by India's laser-like focus on the future. I think this appreciation for history and tradition and this focus on the future is very much something that I think animates this country in 2025. Now in other countries I've visited, it sometimes feels like there's a flatness, a saneness, a desire to just be like everyone else in the world. But it's different here."
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First Post
25-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
‘They are terrorists not militants': Has the Western media whitewashed the Pahalgam attack?
Twenty-six innocent civilians were shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. However, some Western media outlets such as the New York Times, BBC and others chose to downplay the severity of the attack by terming the perpetrators as 'gunmen' and 'militants'. Why has it triggered so much outrage? read more Family members of Sanjay Lele, who was killed in the terror attack near Pahalgam, mourn his death before his funeral in Dombivli, Thane district of Maharashtra. Reuters Was the Pahalgam attack on April 22, claiming the lives of 26 people, perpetrated by terrorists or by militants? The answer is terrorists. But that's not the case for many Western media outlets who have reported on the tragedy, who have called the perpetrators gunmen or militants. The issue of terrorism vs militant became even more prominent in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack when a House Committee in the US pulled up the New York Times for its reportage. Moreover, the Hindu American Foundation, a non-profit advocacy organisation for the Hindu American community, also issued a scathing criticism of Western media's reporting on the incident, calling it a 'shameful and deliberate erasure'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the country grapples with the aftermath of the terror attack, we take a deep dive into this matter and try to answer the question: Is the western media whitewashing the Pahalgam terror attack? Pahalgam attack reported by Western media In the hours after terrorists emerged from the pine tree forests and swooped down on unsuspecting tourists in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, killing 26 of them, all media outlets from across the world carried the report. However, several of the Western media outlets didn't call the perpetrators terrorists but rather termed them as gunmen or militants. For instance, the BBC referred to the attackers as 'gunmen'. Its headline read: 'More than 20 killed after gunmen open fire on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.' A screenshot of BBC's coverage of the Pahalgam terror attack. Noted news agencies Reuters and Associated Press also chose similar language. Reuters chose to describe the perpetrators merely as 'suspected militants', while AP called them 'militants'. The Guardian downplayed the Kashmir terror attack by repeatedly labeling the perpetrators as a 'group of gunmen' and 'suspected militants' instead of terrorists, avoiding clear condemnation. It also emphasised the scenic setting, quoted survivors in distress, and focused on the emotional aftermath rather than ideological motives or the extremist nature of the attack. The reporting wasn't much different in the Washington Post. It described the attackers as 'gunmen' and 'suspected militants'. Similarly, the New York Times avoided naming the perpetrators, and used language like 'gunmen began firing'. Sky News in the United Kingdom also reported the attack, but inserted quote marks on 'terror attack', questioning the severity of the tragedy. And Turkey's TRT headlined their report as 'Multiple tourists killed in shooting incident'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A shoe of a child lies at the site of the terror attack on tourists in Baisaran near Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag. Reuters Western media slammed for reportage However, many have called out these outlets for their unabashed distortion of events. For instance, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States government publicly called out the New York Times on social media. It rebuked the American media outlet for its use of words in a post on X. Sharing an image of the original headline — 'At Least 24 Tourists Gunned Down by Militants in Kashmir' — it struck off the word militants and replaced it with 'terrorists' in bold red colour. It wrote, 'Hey, @nytimes we fixed it for you. This was a TERRORIST ATTACK plain and simple. Whether it's India or Israel, when it comes to TERRORISM the NYT is removed from reality,' the committee wrote, calling out what it sees as a pattern of minimising terror acts through diluted terminology. Hey, @nytimes we fixed it for you. This was a TERRORIST ATTACK plain and simple. Whether it's India or Israel, when it comes to TERRORISM the NYT is removed from reality. — House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority (@HouseForeignGOP) April 23, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) slammed the Western media for its reportage. Suhag Shukla, executive director of the organisation, said, 'Let's get this straight. Terrorists from the Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, took credit for storming a meadow in Pahalgam and murdering at least 26 tourists, seeking out Hindus with chilling precision, in the worst civilian massacre in Kashmir since 2008.' Shukla said that the nature of the attack left no ambiguity, and argued that these outlets had diluted or distorted the framing. On April 22, 2025, the worst civilian terror attack in Kashmir since 2008 unfolded in broad daylight. 26 Hindu tourists were singled out and executed by terrorists. The Resistance Front—a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy backed by Pakistan has taken credit for the horrific attack. But if… — Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) April 23, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She added, 'Across the board, you'll see patronising sneer quotes around 'terror attack' and sanitised references to the killers as militants,' she said. 'Some even have the gall to call them rebels. For the record: a rebel fights authority, a militant targets the state, and a terrorist deliberately targets and kills civilians to spread fear for ideological or religious aims.' Protesters hold placards during a protest march towards the Pakistan High Commission condemning the Pahalgam tourist attack, in New Delhi. AFP Difference between terrorist and militant But many must be wondering if there is actually a difference between the words terrorist and militant. While it is often used interchangeably, experts note there is a stark difference. The India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, defines a terrorist as 'whoever does any act with intent to threaten or likely to threaten the unity, integrity, security, [economic security,] or sovereignty of India or with intent to strike terror or likely to strike terror in the people or any section of the people in India or in any foreign country'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Writing for Encyclopaedia Britannica, John Philip Jenkins calls terrorism 'the calculated use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective.' According to the US Federal Bureau of Invetigation (FBI), terrorism refers to 'violent, criminal acts committed by individuals and/or groups to further ideological goals stemming from influences, such as those of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.' On the other hand, militancy or militants usually refers to an armed rebellion from within a State in order to achieve a political or social outcome. As Firstpost's Managing Editor Palki Sharma explained in a X post earlier, 'Calling a terrorist a militant, is like calling a heart attack — a chest pain. Technically you're not wrong, but there's a world of difference between the two. You're downplaying their threat and insulting their victims.' Past instances of Western media's double standards But this isn't the first time when Western media has carried a double standard against India. For instance, most of these outlets report Russia's moves in Ukraine as 'an invasion'. However, the same media reports Kashmir as a 'dispute' and not Pakistan's invasion of Indian territory. If that's not enough proof, then look back at the reportage when Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar died in Canada. While Nijjar was labelled as a terrorist in India, the Washington Post referred to him as a 'Canadian citizen'. The BBC called him a 'Sikh separatist activist', while AP called him a 'Sikh independence advocate'. A CNN article described Nijjar as 'a prominent Sikh leader in western Canada'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the time, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor hit out at the BBC analysis titled 'Hardeep Singh Nijjar: Why Western nations fear India-Canada row, saying hat Western media was 'so quick to judge other countries, so blind to their own'. I never cease to be amazed by the blinkers regularly put on by Western media. They are so quick to judge other countries, so blind to their own! This @BBC analysis says, "Western nations have condemned alleged extraterritorial assassinations carried out by countries such as… — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 20, 2023 He also highlighted the BBC report, which said: 'In the past, Western nations have condemned alleged extraterritorial assassinations carried out by countries such as Russia or Iran or Saudi Arabia. They will not want India to join that list.' To this, Tharoor retorted, 'Hello? The two foremost practitioners of extra-territorial assassinations in the last 25 years have been Israel and the US! Any mirrors available in the West?' The same is the case for Sikhs for Justice chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. He's a designated terrorist in India but TIME magazine in an interview with him, described him as 'a New York-based lawyer and general counsel for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group founded in the U.S. in 2007 that calls for an independent Sikh homeland called 'Khalistan' in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab'. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pahalgam terror attack: Hindu America Foundation slams Western media for 'whitewashing terror attack' on Hindus
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has sharply condemned what it calls a 'shameful and deliberate erasure' by major Western media outlets in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam , Kashmir, where 26 Hindu tourists were executed in cold blood by terrorists affiliated with The Resistance Front—a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy backed by Pakistan. 'Let's get this straight,' said Suhag Shukla , Executive Director of the Hindu American Foundation, in a scathing rebuke of international media coverage following the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam. 'Terrorists from the Resistance Front , a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, took credit for storming a meadow in Pahalgam and murdering at least 26 tourists, seeking out Hindus with chilling precision, in the worst civilian massacre in Kashmir since 2008.' — HinduAmerican (@HinduAmerican) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo According to Shukla, the headlines should have written themselves: Hindus massacred in Kashmir by Islamists in a terror attack claimed by a Pakistan-backed group. But instead, Western media outlets like The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, BBC, Reuters, and AP delivered 'another masterclass in whitewashing, gaslighting, false equivalencies, and revisionist history.' 'Across the board, you'll see patronising sneer quotes around 'terror attack' and sanitised references to the killers as militants,' she said. 'Some even have the gall to call them rebels. For the record: a rebel fights authority, a militant targets the state, and a terrorist deliberately targets and kills civilians to spread fear for ideological or religious aims.' Shukla citing survivor accounts to highlight the ideological nature of the killings. 'Terrorists demanded victims identify their religion—forcing them to show IDs or recite the Kalma—and murdered them if they were Hindu. They deliberately spared their wives and children to report the message of hate.' What especially enraged Shukla was the BBC's description of the victims as 'non-Muslims.' 'The intent here is as clear as it is old: target, murder, and terrorise Hindus for an ideological and religious war. Please spare us the neutral terms and erasure.' For Shukla, the Pahalgam massacre fits into a broader pattern of anti-Hindu violence in Kashmir—one that media outlets routinely downplay or ignore. 'Attacks on Hindus in Kashmir by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists are neither rare nor random,' she said, referencing the ethnic cleansing of over 350,000 Kashmiri Pandits in the late '80s and '90s and the deaths of Hindu pilgrims at sites like Amarnath and Vaishno Devi since 2000. Shukla also pointed out the legal discrimination Kashmiri Hindus faced before Article 370 was revoked in 2019. 'Before then, indigenous Hindu Pandits—already ethnically cleansed—were legally barred from reclaiming property. Kashmiri women couldn't pass property to their children if they married outsiders. Indians from outside the region couldn't settle there. And yet AP and Reuters describe those seeking to return as 'outsiders'? Would they call a Californian moving to Pennsylvania an immigrant?' Citing the operational ties between Lashkar-e-Taiba and The Resistance Front, she reminded audiences that this was not rogue violence. 'Pakistan's intelligence agency bankrolls, trains and directs them. TRF's Falcon Squad is trained in L.E.T. camps in Pakistan. Their propaganda machine runs on L.E.T. networks—all to push Islamabad's anti-Indian, anti-Hindu agenda.' Shukla pointed out in a final indictment, 'Legacy media's whitewashing and spin don't just insult the victims. It enables the very forces behind these atrocities. If you can't call out terror for what it is, maybe you shouldn't be reporting on it at all.' Global Reactions International condemnation poured in after the April 22, 2025, massacre in Pahalgam, where 26 Hindu tourists were executed by terrorists from The Resistance Front. Leaders across the globe strongly denounced the attack, with many expressing solidarity with India and the victims' families. US President Donald Trump called the incident 'an act of savage hatred' and declared, 'The United States stands strong with India against terrorism. Prime Minister Modi, and the people of India, have our full support and deepest sympathies.' US Vice President JD Vance, who was in India at the time of the attack, issued a somber statement describing the massacre as 'an unspeakable atrocity.' He added that the terrorists' deliberate targeting of Hindus was 'a reminder that religious persecution remains one of the gravest threats to global peace.' From Capitol Hill, members of the Congressional Hindu Caucus condemned both the attack and the lack of clarity in international media reporting. Representative Tulsi Kapoor stated, 'This isn't just a terror attack—it's an anti-Hindu hate crime. The world must call it by its name.' The House Foreign Affairs Committee Majority took direct aim at Western media coverage, particularly The New York Times, saying: 'Hey, @nytimes, we fixed it for you. This was a TERRORIST ATTACK, plain and simple. Whether it's India or Israel, when it comes to TERRORISM, the NYT is removed from reality.' In an unexpected move, even the Taliban condemned the killings. A spokesperson called the attack on civilians 'un-Islamic' and said that deliberately targeting innocent tourists based on religion was 'not permissible under any circumstance.' Around the world, leaders echoed similar sentiments. French President Emmanuel Macron labelled it a 'heinous act of terror.' British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the killings as 'an attack on humanity.' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it a 'cowardly act,' while Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said, 'Terrorism that targets faith has no place in our world.' Leaders from China, Australia, Nepal, and the European Union also issued statements condemning the massacre, with many affirming their commitment to counter-terrorism cooperation with India. India's Response In India, the attack has triggered both national mourning and geopolitical consequences. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the massacre as 'a crime against humanity' and vowed a 'strong and measured response.' The Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan's envoy and suspended cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty—India's most significant diplomatic weapon against Islamabad short of war. Home Minister Amit Shah chaired an emergency security review and pledged to intensify counter-terror operations in Kashmir. Read: Must-read stories from TOI A Trail of Horror: Eyewitness Accounts The attack in the picturesque meadow of Baisaran, 5km from Pahalgam, has become one of the bloodiest civilian massacres in Jammu & Kashmir in over a decade. Survivor testimonies reveal a grim pattern: names, religious symbols, and even dietary choices became markers for death. Florida-based techie Bitan Adhikary was gunned down in front of his family when he couldn't "prove" he was Muslim. His widow, Sohini Adhikary, said their vacation turned into a nightmare of gunfire and screams. Another victim, Bengaluru techie Bharath Bhushan, was executed after simply stating his name. 'My name is Bharath,' he told the attackers. That was enough. Assam professor Debasish Bhattacharya, whose academic fluency in Islamic scripture saved his life, recalled: 'Overwhelmed by fear, I began chanting the kalma. After a few moments, the gunman lowered his weapon and we escaped through the forest.' In other cases, sheer chance played saviour. A Kerala family delayed their trip due to a salty lunch and missed the ambush entirely. Landslides, horse delays, and missed flights spared dozens of others. One couple, newly married and denied a Swiss visa, chose Kashmir for their honeymoon—only for Himanshi to return alone, dazed and bloodied beside the corpse of her husband Lt Vinay Narwal.
