Washington: When Kash Patel arrived for his Congressional confirmation as the chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), he performed Hindu rituals that left a mark on millions of Indian-Americans watching. He chanted “Jai Shree Krishna” (Victory to Lord Krishna) and bent down to touch his parents’ feet. He swore his oath on the Bhagavad Gita. That day, he was celebrated as the perfect blend of diaspora tradition and MAGA (Make America Great Again) defiance.

Now, he finds himself at the centre of a raging controversy. A photograph has triggered anger across India and its global diaspora. The image showed him warmly shaking hands with Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The meeting took place in the White House last week. President Donald Trump had invited Pakistan’s P

See Full Page