A huge protest in Houston Sunday denounced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies outside as his nationalist government continues to suppress Kashmiris under an unprecedented military lockdown that began with suspension of the disputed region’s autonomous status on August 5.
Activists and members of Kashmiri, Indian, Pakistani and Sikh communities got support from Americans as they condemned Modi’s exclusionary Hindutva ideology outside the NRG Stadium, where the Indian leader and President Donald Trump addressed a large rally.
The criticism of India’s human rights violations became a rallying cry among American communities.
Prominent among thousands of demonstrators were those holding placards and banners telling tales of horror the people of Indian-administered Kashmir have been subjected to, in probably the largest military concentration in a civilian populated area in recent times.
Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA) – a coalition of Indian-Americans – also participated in opposing Modi’s ultranationalist policies while he attended the ‘Howdy Modi’ event, which, according to its organizers, was set to draw a crowd of around 50,000 people.
“We are a bona fide group of Indian Americans with roots in India, and not connected with any other nationality or separatist causes,” the AJA said in a statement ahead of the protests.
“We have one and only one agenda: to expose the undemocratic, anti-people and anti-minorities agenda of Mr. Modi’s government and BJP party.”
The coalition says it comprises groups of Indian-Americans across religions, including the Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), the Indian American Muslim Council and the Organization for Minorities of India, and has the support of Jewish Voice for Peace and Black Lives Matter.
“We are horrified that our religion…is being hijacked by extremists and nationalists who are lynching Muslims, trampling on democracy and law and order, and arresting if not murdering those who are speaking out,” HHR co-founder Sunita Viswanath said.
The group says the Modi government is suppressing all voices from Jammu and Kashmir after reading down Article 370 of the constitution.
MODI PROTEST CONTINUES: Thousands of @narendramodi critics being vocal, but peacefully protesting the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Houston. #HowdyModi #Modi #Houston #Kashmir #India #DonaldTrump #Trump #HoustonProtest #AdiosModi pic.twitter.com/IRkNdgiZ99
— Diya TV (@DiyaTV) September 22, 2019
“India’s crackdown on Kashmir comes even as violence against India’s social and religious minorities — Muslims, Christians, Dalits, and Adivasis — has escalated massively in the five years since Mr. Modi has been Prime Minister. This is a recipe for disaster and and a threat to India’s integrity.”
Pakistani-Americans also joined the Kashmiris in large numbers to condemn the draconian clampdown in Kashmir as India continues to keep Kashmiri leaders under house arrest and has imprisoned several thousand Kashmiris in different parts of India.
Sikhs supporting Khalistan – an independent homeland for the Sikh community – have also been on the forefront in lambasting Modi’s BJP party, which has support of militant groups and seeks inspiration from extreme RSS ideology.
Modi is in the United States to attend UN General Assembly, His show of support at the RNG center is part of his diplomacy to show to the world that he enjoys backing for his policies.
At the rally, both Trump and Modi praised each other and vowed to take forward the U.S.-India partnership in a wide range of areas including economy and security.
Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., a truck with pictures of tortured Kashmirs and criticism of Modi highlighted the situation in Kashmir as it passed by monuments in the capital.
