IAMC Urges Rhode Island Lt. Gov. to Rescind Recognition of Hindu Supremacist Leader Kajal Hindustani

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 25, 2025) – The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) expresses grave concern over the issuance of an official certificate of recognition from the Office of Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos to Kajal Hindustani, a known Hindu supremacist figure with a documented record of hate speech and calls for violence against Muslims and Christians.

This public honor, granted by a U.S. elected official, marks a deeply troubling moment for Indian American and South-Asian communities across the country. Kajal Hindustani, also known as Kajal Shingala, has amassed a record of extreme rhetoric, including open calls for religious violence, social and economic boycotts of Muslims and Christians, and conspiratorial hate narratives. Her speeches have drawn condemnation from Indian civil society and international human rights groups and have led to criminal charges for incitement in India.



“It is appalling that a U.S. office would extend recognition to someone with a known track record of hate speech and extremist propaganda,” said IAMC President Mohammed Jawad. “Recognitions from public offices carry symbolic power. When used carelessly, they risk legitimizing hate and undermining the safety of the very constituents the office of lieutenant governor is meant to protect,” Jawad added.



Kajal Hindustani’s public record is well-documented by prominent media outlets and research groups. In India, she has been booked for inciting violence at Hindu nationalist rallies. In the United States, her appearances have prompted backlash from interfaith and civil rights groups. Recently, New York City Mayor Eric Adams canceled his appearance at an event after learning he would share the stage with Hindustani. In Dallas, she advocated an economic boycott of Muslims, prompting community leaders to file a complaint with law enforcement.



IAMC calls on the Lieutenant Governor’s office to immediately rescind this certificate of recognition and issue a public statement distancing itself from the hate speech and supremacist ideology that Kajal Hindustani promotes.



IAMC further urges elected officials across the country to exercise greater due diligence before extending honors to individuals whose supremacist ideologies contradict the values of human rights, religious freedom, and justice.