Thousands to protest outside UN as Modi set to address UNGA

Thousands of Indian-Americans will protest the speaking of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly outside the UN headquarters in New York on Friday.

The Coalition Against Fascism in India (CAFI), who has organised this protest, said in a press release that Modi is “orchestrating a pogrom of hate and violence against Muslims and Dalits in India,” and is “disenfranchising over seven million Kashmiris”. The Modi government had “rendered nearly two million people stateless in Assam and is building detention centres to imprison them,” they said referring to the NRC exercise.

The Coalition Against Fascism in India (CAFI), who has organised this protest, said in a press release that Modi is “orchestrating a pogrom of hate and violence against Muslims and Dalits in India,” and is “disenfranchising over seven million Kashmiris”. The Modi government had “rendered nearly two million people stateless in Assam and is building detention centres to imprison them,” they said referring to the NRC exercise.

Calling Hindutva “a bigoted political ideology with many victims”, Truschke said she opposes the government because of the fact that India’s religious minorities had faced increasing disenfranchisement and violence under Modi’s tenure. The government had condemned the media, institutions and anyone who questioned his actions, his power and his ideology.

A performer at the protest, New York-based American dhol player, drummer, and composer Sunny Jain, said that Modi’s Hindu nationalist ideology was conflict-ridden and incited hostility towards the marginalised, reported The Wire. “I condemn nationalism from Trump to Modi and urge all artists, South Asians and people to raise their voice against these hurtful ideologies,” Jain said.

Council on America-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said that he opposes the Article 370, saying Kashmir was stripped off of its autonomy in such an illegal, unethical manner that he feels like

What are CAFI’s demands?

CAFI has demanded that

1) The Modi government restore Article 370, end Kashmir’s “military occupation” and respect Kashmiris’ right to decide their own future.

2) It has also demanded the repeal of the Public Safety Act and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act,

3) The termination of the National Register of Citizens

4) Constructive action and accountability an end to the lynchings of Dalits, Muslims and Adivasis.

5) The organisation also called for the freeing of political prisoners like Professor G.N. Saibaba and those in the Bhima Koregaon case, and has demanded the withdrawal of “false cases” against anti-caste activists such as Anand Teltumbde.

The protest has been co-sponsored by the Alliance for a Democratic and Secular South Asia, Hindus for Human Rights, India Civil Watch and Indian American Muslim Council. The protest has also been endorsed by several organisations and groups including Black Lives Matter (Greater New Y0rk), Democracy, Equality and Secularism in South Asia (DESSA), Winnipeg; India Civil Watch (ICW-Canada) and the Jewish Voice for Peace NYC, reported The Wire.

Many people plan to attend this protest, including Audrey Truschke, Peter Friedrich, Sunita Vishwanath- Founder of Hindus for Human Rights.

People on twitter also expressed that they will be attending this protest.