Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Warren, Michigan.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Economic insecurity and cultural anxieties triggering white nativism is the familiar explanation for the sustained popularity of Donald Trump in the United States, but that may not be the whole story. Segments of Hindu and Muslim immigrants in the key swing State of Michigan also support the Republican for the same reasons, as they begin to view the Democratic Party’s cultural agenda disorienting and its soft border policy threatening their interests.

Kamal Rahman, who was mayoral candidate in Hamtramck, a city in the outskirts of Detroit which has an all-Muslim council, had voted for Joe Biden in 2020, and always for Democrats earlier but this time he is rooting for Mr. Trump. “Trump is better for all immigrants, Hindu or Muslim, in America and for all Muslims around the world,” Mr. Rahman, who migrated from Bangladesh told The Hindu on Friday evening, even as Mr. Trump campaigned for Muslim votes in the city. “American attacks killed more Muslims when Barack Obama was President than when Trump was. Trump did not start new wars when he was in office and he has promised he will stop ongoing wars,” Mr. Rahman said, blaming the “collapse of leadership under the Biden-Harris” administration for the plight of Palestinians. The multi-front war in West Asia is one major reason for Muslims – Arab and South Asian – to split from the Democrats this time.

Mr. Trump has sensed the opportunity in this tilt among minority voters in the State he won in 2016 and lost in 2020. Amer Ghalib, the Yemeni American mayor of Hamtramck, and now a political ally of Mr Rahman, has endorsed Mr. Trump and so has Bill Bazzi, the first Muslim and Arab American mayor of Dearborn Heights, another nearby city. Mr. Trump was in Dearborn, called the Arab capital of America, on Friday. “We have a great feeling for Lebanon, and I know so many people from Lebanon, the Lebanese people,” Mr. Trump said. “The Muslim population, they’re liking Trump, and I’ve had a good relationship with them. ..we want their votes, and we’re looking for their votes, and I think we’ll get their votes.” Earlier in the week, Mr. Trump had specifically addressed the Hindu community on Deepavali, promising to protect their religious freedom.

Though three of the Muslim members of the Hamtramck city council are supporting Ms. Harris, Mr. Rahman and Mr. Ghalib are united in their preference for Mr. Trump. “I will not run for mayor next time if Ghalib is contesting,” he said.

Mr. Rahman is also coordinating his community mobilisation with Sunny Reddy, a Telugu businessman who is running for the governing board of Wayne State University as a Republican. Top on Mr. Reddy’s agenda are, “fighting wokeness” and ensuring that affirmative action barred by the US Supreme Court in 2023 does not make a “backdoor return.” Mr. Rahman concurs. “Children of immigrants are denied college admission when race considerations kick in. People from all Asian countries are clubbed together as one in such policies, and even after the SC barred it, there are moves to factor race and gender,” said Mr. Reddy, wowing to ensure that the court order prevails. Both of them – the Republican and the Democrat- are in agreement that Democrats are diverting the resources of the Citizenship and Immigration Services are diverted to process applications of undocumented entrants into the country. “Let’s be very clear on this one – illegal immigration is most harmful for legal immigrants, present and future,” said Mr. Reddy.

Ashok Baddi, trustee of a local temple who identifies himself as a Hindu activist is a Democrat but on Saturday morning, he was mobilising several Indian families to vote for Mr. Trump. “We will have at least 100 people voting in a group today,” he said, quickly adding that barring for President, his other votes will all be for Democrat candidates, including a Muslim. “Trump and Modi-ji work well, and his presidency will be good for bilateral relations,” Mr. Baddi said. Mr. Baddi feels at least half of Hindus in Detroit region would be voting Mr. Trump, Mr. Ramhan puts the proportion of Trump supporters among Muslims at 20 percent. “Most supporters of Trump prefer to remain silent.”

Conflicts over gender debates and school administration in the recent past, in Detroit and surrounding cities of Hamtramck and Dearborn Heights are also among the reasons for minorities relooking at their association with the Democratic Party. “It is one thing to say that everyone should have equal rights. But to indoctrinate children, and to even offer them transition therapy in schools, is unacceptable to immigrant communities,” Mr. Rahman said. Both Mr. Reddy and Mr. Rahman had no personal knowledge of any such incidents, but they view the Democrats as promoters of such an agenda nationwide. “But we have incidents of inappropriate books being placed in school libraries. The law does not even allow these children to choose between their father and mother in the event of a custody battle, until a certain age. How can we argue that let kids choose whatever they want?” said Mr. Reddy.

There is a lot going on this week. Opposition parties united in their demand to ask the government to roll back 18% GST on life and health insurance – an issue affecting 45 crore of the middle class. Banner headlines from Bangladesh. Vinesh Phogat. The silver lining of Neeraj Chopra and Indian hockey. 

In all of this, some subjects do not get the column centimetres they deserve in newspapers, nor do they make for content for clickbaits.  

On 29 June this year, a young MP from the Bharat Adivasi Party, representing Banswara, led a unique march. His supporters carried blood samples in protest of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minister’s remark suggesting a DNA test to prove he was Hindu. The young MP stood firm – they were Adivasis who didn’t need a DNA test to define their identity. 

So today, on International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, your columnist is writing about an issue, often ignored – tribal rights in the last decade of the ruling dispensation. 

To begin, here’s how the Ministry of Tribal Affairs fared in India Budget 2024: 

• The word ‘Scheduled Tribe’ appears only once in the Budget speech.
• Allocations for National Commission for Scheduled Tribes – a constitutional body, reduced from Rs 22 crores to Rs 20 crores. 
• PM Jan Jatiya Vikas Mission budget cut by 62%. 
• Allocations for the National Tribal Welfare Program went down by 10%. 
• Development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) received only Rs 20 crore

Displacement And Dispossession

According to the Xaxa Committee on Tribal Communities, over 40% of those displaced by development projects are tribals. The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, was rushed through the Lok Sabha in just 38 minutes, with only four MPs participating. 

This Act weakens clearance requirements and gives blanket exemptions, impacting forests, wildlife, and indigenous communities. Procedurally, the Bill should have been sent to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for scrutiny. Instead, it was sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee which was packed with BJP MPs. The committee approved all amendments despite six MPs submitting dissent notes.

Between June 2022 and July 2024, over 1,000 projects received forest clearances, while only six projects were denied clearance between 2018 and 2022. Interestingly, at least four companies that topped the list of electoral bond donors are notorious for violating forest and tribal rights. 

Questions in Parliament have revealed that the Great Nicobar Project worth Rs 72,000 crores will lead to a felling of 10 lakh trees and alter the face of the Ecologically Sensitive Area. 

Consider this:

• The Tribal Council of Nicobar Island withdrew its No-Objection Certificate for the project.
• The Government hasn’t consulted the original inhabitants-the Shompens (a PVTG tribe) and the Nicobarese.
• The Anthropological Survey of India wasn’t consulted either.

Misgovernance 

Speaking in Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister claimed that the BJP government secured the rights of people from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) in India. But the situation on the ground tells a different story. Eklavya Model Residential Schools have more than 10,000 vacancies across the country. Announced two years ago, the Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes (VCF-ST) is still not operational. 

Socio-economic indicators for the ST population in India are also worrying. Six out of 10 ST women and seven out of 10 ST children are anaemic. Four out of 10 children over six years of age have had no schooling. Five out of 10 of the ST population belong to the lowest wealth quintile. Crimes against STs increased by 14%, with Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra recording the highest number of assault cases on ST women and children.

Homogenisation 

In 2022, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes put out a book called Contributions of Tribal Leaders in the Freedom Struggle. The book which faced sharp criticism for downplaying Adivasi resistance to caste structures, is a replica of an e-book by the Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram (ABVKA, an RSS affiliate focused on organising religious events in tribal areas). At the time, the NCST was led by a former member of the ABVKA. In fact, both BJP and RSS commonly refer to the ST population as “Vanvasi” (forest dweller) rather than “Adivasi” (original inhabitants), which reflects their long-standing stance. The ABVKA runs 21,000 projects in more than 16,000 tribal areas, most of which are religious in nature.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections threw up these numbers. In 47 ST reserved constituencies, the BJP’s seat count fell from 32 in 2019 to 24, while the opposition’s rose from six in 2019 to 19 in 2024. 

As the world observes International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Adivasi communities in Hasdeo, Singrauli, Talabira, Gare Pelma, Chhindwara, and elsewhere are resisting the takeover of their jal, jangal, and zameen. 

We stand by them as they fight the good fight. 

(Research credit: Anagha)

(Derek O’Brien, MP, leads the Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

The Lok Sabha witnessed heated exchanges between the treasury benches and the opposition during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. The claims, counterclaims, and interjections all point towards a confrontational atmosphere in the 18th Lok Sabha, perhaps shaped by changes in its composition.

From 2019 to 2024, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and friendly parties held a significant lead of around 300 MPs over the INDIA bloc and opposition. However, this session saw the margin narrowing to just 60 MPs. The verbal sparring between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi turned acrimonious and personal, reflecting the recently concluded election campaign dynamics and entrenched positions.

Both Congress And BJP Remain Steadfast

While the Congress aims to sustain momentum, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remains resolute not to concede further ground. The shift in strength, allocation of time for parties, and the calibre of speakers on both sides will significantly influence proceedings over the next five years. During the recent Motion of Thanks debate, Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, spoke for nearly an hour and 40 minutes out of the allotted 16 hours – roughly 15% of the total time allotted to the opposition.

Time allocations are based on Lok Sabha strength. During the No Confidence Motion of August 2023, the BJP received around 45% of the time, while the Congress’ share was just 18% With the BJP’s friendly parties (the Biju Janata Dal, the YSR Congress Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party) losing ground in recent elections, their allocation has shifted notably to opposition parties.

Also Read | ‘Hug, Wink In Parliament’: PM Modi’s Dig At Rahul Gandhi

Some prominent speakers from the treasury benches, such as Smriti Irani, were notably absent. Conversely, the presence of parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP) has bolstered the opposition, particularly with effective speakers in fluent Hindi. Akhilesh Yadav’s speech, noted for its sarcasm without overt anger, followed Rahul’s assertive tone.

Rahul’s Performance As LoP

During Monday’s session, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, highlighting issues including inflation, unemployment, NEET, Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, the Agniveer scheme, and Hindutva, aiming to put the government on the defensive. Top ministers, including the Prime Minister, intervened during Rahul’s speech.

While Rahul addressed critical issues, some noted the absence of specific data and figures in his speech. There is already an ongoing debate over Rahul’s performance in his role as Leader of the Opposition, with supporters arguing his assertiveness marks a significant political presence that cannot be ignored.

Not new to controversy, Rahul made a reference to the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), stating, that those who called themselves Hindu only talked about violence, hatred, and untruth. PM Modi rebutted instantly.

Also Read | “Every MP’s Right”: Rahul Gandhi Questions Expunging Of Parts Of Speech

References in Rahul’s speech to to Hinduism and violence, two prominent industrialists, the Agnipath scheme, and NEET, were expunged. The LoP subsequently wrote to the Speaker questioning the decision and demanding the restoration of his remarks in parliamentary records.

Modi’s Address

On Tuesday, PM Modi delivered the concluding remarks on the Motion of Thanks in the Lok Sabha. His speech, lasting around 2.5 hours, was a scathing attack on the Congress and Rahul. Throughout his address, the opposition shouted slogans, prompting Modi to use headphones to counter the noise. Despite the interruptions, Modi’s speech, though not entirely audible, gave enough hints of the things to come in the next five years.

Modi criticised the opposition’s maturity level, noting that while the treasury benches listened to Rahul’s speech with interjections rather than shouting slogans, the opposition did not afford the same respect to the Prime Minister. Expressing displeasure at the sloganeering, Modi referred to Rahul as “balak buddhi” (childish) and mocked how a party celebrating 99 out of 543 seats was acting as if it had won 99 out of 100. He criticised the Congress party’s promise of transferring Rs. 1 lakh to women’s bank accounts, highlighting the public’s scepticism about similar promises made earlier.

Modi accused Rahul of resorting to drama to garner sympathy, pointing out his bail status in alleged financial misconduct.

Overall, the debate was disappointing for both the opposition and the ruling party. BJP leaders neglected discussion around their agenda for the next five years, while the opposition failed to engage in constructive criticism and effectively address issues like NEET. Both sides instead resorted to mudslinging, seemingly forgetting that the elections were over.

The session’s outcome suggests the potential for more disruptions and chaos in Parliament. Both sides must reconcile with the electoral mandate and strive for a fresh start in the upcoming Budget session.

(Amitabh Tiwari is a political strategist and commentator. In his earlier avatar, he was a corporate and investment banker.)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

Nagpur:

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat said that there is a lack of knowledge about our identity among the countrymen, adding that people should proudly acknowledge that their identity is Hindu.

The RSS Chief was speaking at a launch event of a book titled ‘Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’ in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on Thursday.

Addressing the event, Mr Bhagwat said, “Again and again someone comes and we become slaves due to our mistakes. It needs to be addressed. This disease needs to be treated; otherwise, such things will keep happening. We need to treat some of our basic mistakes.”

He further said that the country needs to organise the entire society with a common thread so we can be clear about our identity.

“Due to dis-orientation, there is lack of knowledge in our country about who we are and who is ours, about our identity and there is no clarity about it. Due to several years of slavery, there is mental suppression,” the RSS chief said.

“Hence, we need to organise the entire society with a common sutra which unites us all. We should know our identity clearly and tell the world as well. If we know who we are then we also know who is ours and that our identity is Hindu and we should say with pride that we are Hindus,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)