00:02An Indian American congressman is facing questions about his position on India, Hindu
00:08nationalism, and the Modi government even as his name begins circulating in conversations
00:13about a 2028 US presidential race. And now Ro Khanna has made his position clear. The
00:20California Democrat has unequivocally condemned what he calls Hindu nationalism while expressing
00:25support for student demonstrators protesting corruption and demanding greater inclusion.
00:31But what makes his remarks particularly significant is the timing. Khanna is also facing growing
00:36speculation about a possible presidential run in 2028, with a group of Democratic supporters
00:42already launching an initiative to encourage him to enter the race. So what exactly did
00:47Khanna say, and how serious is this emerging presidential push? Let's break it down.
00:52The exchange began when ex-user Gaurav Sabnes questioned Khanna about his position on Hindutva,
00:59the RSS, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sabnes pointed to concerns about political prisoners
01:05and the treatment of minorities in India. He also suggested that if Khanna was preparing
01:09for a potential 2028 presidential campaign, he would face questions about his position on
01:15developments under the Modi government. In response, Khanna delivered a statement. He said,
01:20I have unequivocally condemned Hindu nationalism and applauded the students in the streets speaking
01:26out against corruption and for inclusion. Khanna also invoked his family's political history,
01:32saying his grandfather had participated in Mahatma Gandhi's independence movement. He added that he
01:37believed in the vision of pluralism associated with Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. This is an important
01:43part of his response. Khanna is presenting his position through the principles of pluralism,
01:48inclusion, and opposition to corruption, while explicitly distinguishing those values from
01:53Hindu nationalism. But the main question is, why is Khanna's response drawing attention now?
01:59Because his name is also emerging in discussions about the next U.S. presidential election.
02:04According to a report by Politico, some of Khanna's allies have launched an initiative called
02:09Run-Roe to encourage him to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
02:14The effort is being spearheaded by former Democratic congressman Jamal Bowman and progressive strategist
02:20Nomiki Konst. The draft committee reportedly aims to raise funds, organize supporters, and build
02:27grassroots momentum around a possible Khanna presidential campaign. But there is an important
02:32distinction here. Khanna himself is not directly affiliated with the political action group.
02:37In other words, this is an initiative launched by his supporters, not an official presidential announcement.
02:43Well, Khanna has not made that decision yet. Speaking to Politico, the California Democrat said,
02:49whether I run or support someone else is something I will decide with my family after the holidays.
02:55That statement leaves two possibilities open. He could eventually launch his own presidential campaign,
03:01or he could decide to support another Democratic candidate. For now, he says the decision will come
03:07after discussions with his family.
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