United Minnesota Hindus demand justice for Pahalgam massacre

Minnesota Hindus hold candlelight vigil in rain to honour victims of Pahalgam terror attack

Nearly two hundred members of Minnesota’s passionate Hindu community stood united in the rain on May 1 at the Capitol Grounds, holding umbrellas and candles in solemn remembrance of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Organized by the Minnesota chapter of the Coalition of Hindus in North America (CoHNA), the vigil lasted over an hour, undeterred by the downpour and cold. The CoHNA MN core team included– Neha Markanda, Arun Bansal, Arun Bhargava, Arun Sharma, Raj Dash, Sunil Puri, and Vijendra Agarwal.

The tragedy in Pahalgam, where Hindu pilgrims and tourists were reportedly pulled from vehicles, forced to declare their religion, and shot dead by Islamist terrorists, sent shockwaves through the global Hindu community. For Minnesota Hindus, the attack evoked painful memories of other brutal acts of terrorism: September 11 in New York City, November 26 in Mumbai, and October 7 in Israel.

The vigil opened with a powerful message from CoHNA Minnesota Director Neha Markanda, followed by reflections from a diverse group of speakers, including this author. Several messages of support were also read on behalf of local leaders who were unable to attend in person. Bhargava read the message from State Representative Robbins. Another message, read by Bansal, came from State Senator Warren Limmer, who wrote:

“We stand with you, both as neighbors and as family. My heart goes out to the victims, their families, and the global Hindu community still reeling from this senseless violence. The vigil is not just about grief—it’s about responding to hate with unity.”

Dash shared earlier notable statements from the FBI Director Kash Patel and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, now serving as Director of National Intelligence. Their messages echoed a common theme: this massacre must not become another footnote in the silent history of Hindu persecution.

Sharma displayed photographs of the victims, and names were read aloud by Puri in a gesture of dignity and remembrance. The crowd listened intently, and many visibly moved. The watchwords of the evening were chillingly clear: Islamist terrorism. Religious targeting. Cold-blooded murder. And an urgent call for swift and decisive action, particularly toward Pakistan, which many speakers and the audience believe is the state sponsor of such violence.

Markanda offered a personal reflection:

“I haven’t slept well since hearing of this tragedy. I was born in Punjab, bordering both Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan. My relatives live there. What if this had been my family? What if their Hindu identity became the difference between life and death?”

Her words set the tone: global events have local echoes. She reminded the community that silence in the face of hate is complicity—and called on Hindus everywhere to remain vigilant.

She also reminded attendees of the Hindu symbol of resilience—the diya, or earthen lamp.

“For thousands of years, Hindus have lit diyas to push back darkness—not just of night, but of ignorance, fear, and hatred.”

In my remarks, I recounted how victims in Pahalgam were pulled from their vehicles, interrogated about their faith, and some forced to recite the Kalma. Those who couldn’t were shot. This wasn’t just terrorism. It was targeted, religious hate.

I shared grief, for example, for the young Navy officer and his wife, murdered during their honeymoon, for the Florida-based worker visiting Bharat to renew his visa, and for Manjunath, killed because he would not recite a prayer that was not his own.

And yet—no global headlines. No condemnation. No justice.

A question was raised- Do Hindu lives matter?

And a statement was made, “No one should be hunted for their faith.”

A call to action was clear:

• Officially designate Pakistan a terrorist state
• Demand an unequivocal response from the Indian government
• Press for international condemnation of Hindu hate and terrorism
• Unite as a community to ensure these atrocities are never repeated

As we lit candles, we called on each other to illuminate the truth—to mourn with dignity and act with unwavering conviction.

The vigil concluded with Shanti prayers, a moment of silence, and a solemn pledge not to let the victims’ deaths go in vain. The collective sentiment was a clear message to the Government of Bharat: Punish the perpetrators. Dismantle their hideouts. Terrorists should have nowhere to run.

This is not just about justice—it’s about ensuring no person should ever fear for their life while traveling, worshipping, or simply living. A new global order must uphold one standard: Zero Tolerance for Terrorism!

For the Hindu community in Minnesota, a community member reminded the crowd of Chief Minister Yogi’s words- Batenge to katenge; Saath rahenge to safe rahenge.

There were no answers. But there was clarity. The time is now for Bharat to take decisive action. Beyond diplomacy, the community expects and demands that Bharat reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, dismantle Pakistan’s terror infrastructure, and deliver a message of strength, not out of vengeance, but with resolve.

In conclusion, the Minnesota Hindus chanted “Vande Mataram,” “Om Shanti,” and a call for Hindu unity.

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2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

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