Hindu American Foundation (HAF)

What it is: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is a US non-profit that calls itself "the largest and oldest education and advocacy organization" for Hindu Americans and says it is non-partisan. Wikipedia reports that second-generation Hindu Americans including Mihir Meghani, Aseem Shukla, Suhag Shukla and Nikhil Joshi founded it in 2003, in Philadelphia. Its programmes include textbook work, training for police and workplaces, media guides and litigation. Suhag Shukla is its executive director and Samir Kalra its managing director (Wikipedia; The Wire).

How it is described: HAF denies links to Hindu nationalist politics. Scholars and journalists cited by Wikipedia describe it as embedded in Hindutva politics, and critics cite its position on caste and its advocacy for India. Both views are reported here as attributed claims.

Its part in this history: HAF comes into the Sikh record through disputes with Sikh American organisations over India and Khalistan.

Key moments

• 2 October 2024: the Sikh Coalition, Jakara Movement, SALDEF and American Sikh Caucus Committee said they were angered by an HAF outreach director's suggestion that gurdwaras are tied to drugs, weapons and organised crime, and expected a public apology. The statement does not record a reply.
• June 2025: the Fremont gurdwara, through counsel, asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to examine whether HAF must register as a foreign agent under FARA, alleging it acts for the Indian Embassy and the BJP. It pointed to a Right to Information reply in which the embassy refused to release emails with HAF, calling some information "fiduciary". HAF called the complaint the "latest dual loyalty smear", said it "categorically rejects" any coordination with the Government of India, and linked the complaint to Khalistan supporters. As of late July 2025 the Department of Justice had not commented publicly (Mother Jones; American Kahani).
• 13 October 2025: Governor Newsom vetoed SB 509, a police training bill on transnational repression that passed the Senate 38 to 0 and the Assembly 47 to 0. HAF and the Coalition of Hindus of North America opposed it, arguing its vague wording could institutionalise bias against Hindus and Indian Americans. Kalra called the veto a victory for the civil rights of all Californians (Scroll).
• 19 February 2026: Kalra, on HAF's show, mocked the incompetence of the plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The Sikh Coalition, SALDEF and Hindus for Human Rights said his words appeared to concede that India could have been involved. The Wire reported no HAF reply (The Wire).

Where it stands: HAF is active. Wikipedia also records that it sued the California Civil Rights Department in September 2022 over the state's caste case against Cisco.