The right-wing Hindu group that supports Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump as a “savior of humanity” is celebrating the real estate mogul’s 70th birthday.
About 20 members Hindu Sena, or Hindu Army, marked the billionaire’s birthday Tuesday in New Delhi by wearing red and blue hats, and serving a birthday cake that read “long live Trump.”
The group is rallying behind the reality TV star because of his controversial comments about Islamic extremists. Some extreme factions of right-wing Hindus have been associated with violent attacks on Muslims in India.
"Trump has said Muslims should be banned from entering America. Everyone should support that," Hindu Sena leader Vishnu Gupta told Reuters.
The group also observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Sunday mass shooting at an Orlando, Florida, gay nightclub that left 49 dead and 53 wounded.
"Trump is about to become the king of the world," Gupta said. "How will we attack Pakistan without his support?"
India believes Pakistan was behind a 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai that killed 166.
Trump recently mocked an Indian accent while inveighing against outsourcing American jobs. India is home to many customer service call centers serving American companies.
Some less radical groups have courted controversy by banning beef production and reported forced conversions. There are more than 170 million Muslims in India, or about 15 percent of the total population.
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, a member of the conservative Hindu party, Bharatiya Janata, has been linked to riots against Muslims in 2002 in the state of Gujarat where he was chief minister. The riots claimed more than 1,000 lives.
He was banned from entering the United States in 2005 because of his alleged role in the violence. The ban was later lifted, and Modi made a U.S. visit in 2014.
Modi is not associated with Hindu Sena.
