NEW YORK: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has completely rejected the controversial column by Arun Gandhi, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, in Washington Post online, in which he criticized Jews.

Gandhi sparked widespread condemnation with his entry on January 7 lambasting Jews, the HAF said. He failed to categorically disown his remarks in a carefully written follow-up posting, and in the face of opposition, now has resigned as the director of the MK Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence based at the University of Rochester.

"The simplistic and biased comments by Gandhi were not just unbecoming of one who presumes to lead a conflict resolution institute, but dangerously misguided," said Nikhil Joshi, Esq., a member of the HAF Board of Directors. "His resignation is a rather unhappy end to his controversial career as director of the MK Gandhi Institute."

The Foundation took strong exception, especially, to Gandhi’s sweeping attack on Jews as a people, rather than focusing an argument against specific policies of Israel in response to the daily threats against and attacks on Israel. The American Jewish Committee, The Anti-Defamation League and many other prominent Jewish-American organizations released statements condemning Gandhi’s remarks.

"The Hindu American Foundation continues to believe that true inter-faith dialogue must be predicated on mutual respect, tolerance and understanding," Joshi said. "Sadly, Arun Gandhi failed to uphold these principles, and by his capricious comments could reverse many gains of painstaking progress."

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