Mehdi Hasan Urges Indian American Community to Amplify Modi Government Critique
Rich Matthews and Editorial team
Mehdi Hasan demands that Indian American Muslims should share their own experiences because the Modi government needs criticism. The event at a packed venue brought together 400 people who listened to Mehdi Hasan and Indian American Muslim Council leaders discuss the rising persecution of Indian Muslims and the essential role diaspora communities must play in fighting oppressive foreign policies. The event led by IAMC Dallas President with Ajit Sahi from IAMC Advocacy Director position demonstrated both the progress made by US-based Hindutva opposition work and the necessity for Indian American Muslims to increase their vocal criticism of Indian conditions.
Full House for Critical Conversation
The audience filled the entire hall to listen to Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan explain how American Muslim activism relates to human rights abuses in India. The Indian American Muslim Council shared its 2024-2025 advocacy work through reports that documented systematic religious minority discrimination under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration according to civil rights organizations.
Bulldozers, Jailed Journalists, and Systematic Oppression
Sahi presented evidence about state-backed violence against Indian Muslims through the forced destruction of Muslim homes after activist arrests during protests. The BJP-controlled state governments use bulldozer operations as their primary enforcement method to destroy Muslim properties under false construction claims while protecting Hindu buildings in the same area according to civil rights organizations.
The journalist demonstrated through his presentation that multiple Indian journalists currently face imprisonment because they reported on government suppression activities. The World Press Freedom Index shows India dropped from 140th place in 2014 to its current position at 161st in 2023 while becoming the world leader in internet shutdowns for five consecutive years according to TRT World reports about press freedom.
Hindutva Organizations Operating in America
The discussion focused on Hindu nationalist groups operating in America through their two leading organizations which are the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). The United States branch of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) operates through HSS which serves as its American affiliate according to both the event report and civil rights investigations.
The organizations aim to establish Islamophobia in America while defending Modi government actions against religious minorities according to gain political support.
Civil rights organizations have documented multiple Hindu nationalist speakers as they conduct inflammatory tours across American cities. The Indian American Muslim Council together with other organizations held protests against Kajal Hindustani (also known as Kajal Singhala) in July 2025 because India Hate Lab identified him as one of India’s leading hate speakers. Research indicates Singhala performed 35 live hate speeches throughout 2023 and nine of them contained direct threats of violence according to civil rights documentation.
Hasan’s Call for Greater Activism
Hasan who used to host MSNBC and Al Jazeera programs before launching Zeteo in 2024 stressed that Indian American Muslims who protest against global injustices in Palestine and Syria need to increase their vocal opposition to Muslim persecution in India.The event summary states that Indian American Muslims lead all activism efforts which include demonstrations against Palestinian and Syrian genocide and other worldwide atrocities. The Modi government requires discussion from Indian American Muslims when they discuss Palestinian events according to the event summary.
The British-American journalist maintains his position as a political commentator who delivers direct and unyielding analysis about human rights and politics. The media outlet Zeteo which he founded uses its name to represent the Greek words “seeking out” and “striving” because it seeks answers to vital questions while pursuing truth according to the City Club of Cleveland during his May 2025 appearance.
The annual list of “The 500 Most Influential Muslims” included Hasan. At the same time, his book “Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking” reached New York Times bestseller status according to Wikipedia and promotional materials from the event.
IAMC’s Expanding Advocacy Infrastructure
The Indian American Muslim Council operates as the largest advocacy organization for Indian Muslims in the United States since its founding in 2002 under the name Indian Muslim Council-USA according to Wikipedia and official organizational materials. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization holds membership in the Coalition Against Genocide.
The organization shared their accomplishments from 2024 and 2025 but failed to provide specific numbers in their event summary.
The Muslim Public Affairs Council awarded Sahi their “Voice of Courage” honor in September 2022 because he continued his reporting despite receiving severe threats which led him to leave India. The journalists who attempt to share this story face severe dangers. Mr. Ajit Sahi stands as one of the journalists who has faced dangerous situations. The Hindu journalist Ajit Sahi escaped to the United States because he reported about Muslim persecution in India according to MPAC’s statement.
The event focused on diaspora activism at a time when Muslim advocacy groups document rising anti-Muslim incidents throughout the United States with 8,658 complaints in 2024 representing a 7.4% increase from 2023 according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The meeting demonstrated how Indian American Muslim organizations now work together with wider Muslim advocacy groups to tackle both American civil rights issues and global human rights abuses. The speakers including Hasan stressed that Indian American Muslims need to use their existing activism network to fight for justice in their homeland while continuing their global justice work.