Sridhar Vembu, former CEO of Zoho, has entered a political debate in the United States after defending Tulsi Gabbard over criticism tied to a Bible verse she shared on social media.
The controversy started after far-right activist Laura Loomer criticized Gabbard on X, for posting a Biblical message despite her long association with Hinduism. Loomer accused Gabbard of being a “lifelong Hindu pretending to be Christian,” sparking a broader online debate about religion, faith, and public identity in American politics.
Vembu pushed back strongly against the criticism and publicly defended Gabbard. The Indian billionaire said he frequently quotes the Bible himself despite being Hindu and argued there was nothing unusual about Gabbard sharing Christian scripture online.
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Vembu also accused Loomer of failing to understand religious openness and how people from different faith traditions often draw inspiration from multiple spiritual texts. His comments added fuel to an already heated online debate around religion, identity, and political messaging in the United States.
Vembu wrote on X: “Laura Loomer appears not to know this, but as a Hindu, the entire Universe, all of it, is the Divine. Going to a Church and praying to Jesus is perfectly fine and I have done it myself on many occasions. I often quote the Bible and my favorite verse is Matthew 25:40 where Jesus says: ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'” That is the call to service. What would be a sin for me as a Hindu would be to call what other people hold sacred as “Demonic”, which unfortunately a Christian pastor recently did to Hindu deities. That is why Sanatana Dharma is the most tolerant spiritual system in the world. The world needs to understand the eternal Dharma, if we all have to get along.”
The back-and-forth quickly spread across social media, drawing sharp reactions from users on both sides. Some backed Vembu and praised his comments as a defense of interfaith understanding and religious inclusivity. Others argued that public figures, including Tulsi Gabbard, should be clearer and more consistent about their religious identity, especially when faith becomes part of political discourse in the United States.
Tulsi Gabbard has for years spoken openly about her Hindu faith, even as she regularly references Christian teachings and Biblical passages in public speeches and social media posts. The former U.S. congresswoman, who now serves as America’s intelligence chief, has often described spirituality in broader terms, drawing from multiple religious traditions in her public messaging.