American Sikhs March at Capitol Against Tulsi Gabbard as DNI
American Sikhs March at Capitol Against Tulsi Gabbard as DNIProtesters call Gabbard a "Modi puppet" for her BJP ties
A group of American Sikhs marched around the U.S. Capitol on 29 January to protest Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination as Director of National Intelligence (DNI), hosting placards and chanting: “Say no to Tulsi.” 
While most major criticisms of her have focused on her visits with Syria’s Assad, her affinity for Putin, and other issues, the protesters had a different concern: Gabbard’s long-term liaisons with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). They were particularly disturbed by Gabbard’s nomination after Modi’s regime was accused of orchestrating assassination plots against Sikhs in North America in 2023. “We’re here in Washington, DC today urging all the Senators to say ‘no’ to Tulsi Gabbard,” said protester Pawan Singh. “She is compromised. She is a threat to our national security. She will be soft on transnational repression. She will be able to enable foreign governments to interfere and commit crimes on American soil, including killing American citizens. Standing in front of the Capitol, he held a sign with a QR code directing people to DNITulsiGabbard, a website I set up to detail Gabbard’s 14-year history with the BJP, its parent organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) paramilitary, and the RSS-BJP’s American affiliates.
“She’s a friend of Modi,” added Singh. “She’s a friend of Putin. She’s not going to be looking out for the American Republic.” The protest came two weeks after I led visit dozens of U.S. Senate office to educate them about Gabbard’s RSS-BJP ties.
Every office received a copy of the 25-page dossier I created on the issue. “Assad, Putin, that’s all worrisome,” I told the Senate offices. “But the really terrifying thing are Gabbard’s connections to India’s Hindu nationalist movement. Those are foundational to her entire national political career.” The offices were particularly interested in Gabbard’s ties, past and present, to foreign agents of the Modi government and his party.
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