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Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu Congresswoman in the United States has officially launched her 2020 presidential campaign on Saturday in Hawaii.

Gabbard, the Iraq war veteran kicked off her campaign with an anti-war message, denouncing the U.S. interventions abroad and criticizing “powerful politicians” in both parties for seeking new wars to wage.

“It is this principle of service above self that is at the heart of every soldier, at the heart of every service member, and it is in this spirit that today I announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America,” CNN quoted Gabbard as saying.

“I will bring this soldier’s principles to the White House, restoring the values of dignity, honor, and respect to the presidency and above all else, love for our people and love for our country. I ask you to join me, join me in putting this spirit, this spirit of service above self at the forefront and to stand up against the forces of greed and corruption.

“The road ahead will not be easy. The battles will be tough. The obstacles great, but I know when we stand united by our love for our people and for our country, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome. There is no battle we cannot win,” said Gabbard, who is not of Indian descent but comes from a Hindu family in Hawaii.

Gabbard will run for President as an anti-interventionalist Democrat who supports a populist economic agenda. She gained national prominence in 2016 as an outspoken supporter of Vermont Senator Bernie Sander’s 2016 campaign.

While the Congresswoman has highlighted health care access, criminal justice reform and climate change as key platform issues for her presidential run, her term of office in Congress have been defined by her anti-interventionist foreign policy positions.

-Sowmya Sangam