News Analysis |
Indian Premier Narendra Modi is facing a tough time at home and outside India, with recent rape cases denting his credibility and fresh spasm of violence in Kashmir, drawing the ire of the international community.
Modi, who is in London to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, along with 53 other world leaders faced massive protests by Pakistani Diasporas in favor of Kashmir. The BJP leader was greeted with anti-Modi slogans raised by the activists who decried sexual violence and suppression of Dalits and religious minorities in India.
Although Narendra Modi is touring the United Kingdom for the second time in past three years, this year’s journey would be hard to digest as multi-pronged protests supported by Caste Watch UK, South Asian Solidarity Group, Dal Khalsa, Sikhs for Justice and Sikh Federation (UK), and Pro-Kashmir organizations decided to raise voice against the brutalities and injustices meted out by Modi regime.
Despite advocating that the ‘Achhe Din’ of India would drastically reform the lives of common men, Modi seems to be troubled waters and his UK tour doesn’t seem like an easy one either!
The Pakistani expats, residing in London, have been decrying the attitude of India towards the restive Kashmir region under the leadership of Lord Nazir, however, the Sikh uprising in the British capital is of prominence.
The Sikh community, that has been terrorized by Indian Jaunta despite the promise of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Premier of India, about the protection of the community, is now taking to streets in London, although massive community members of Sikh have settled in Canada as well.
Read more: Hindu Nationalists demand release of Asifa Bano’s rapists
The Khalistan movement had stemmed out of repeated betrayals by Indian regime regarding the promise made by Nehru, who had clarified that he had no objection if brave Sikhs of Punjab were given a province in the north, so that they are also able to experience the glow of freedom, however, a recent spree of violence by New Delhi has given new spark to the movement.
Amarjit Singh who also heads “Khalistan Affairs center” in Washington and has been a prominent voice of Sikh community denounces the Indian constitution that refers to three communities, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists as Hindus, disposing off their rights as minorities.
Indian Premier Narendra Modi is facing a tough time at home and outside India, with recent rape cases denting his credibility and fresh spasm of violence in Kashmir, drawing the ire of the international community.
At a time when the Indian premier would be having huddles with world leaders to attract international investors in sectors of technology and energy, three prominent communities i.e. Pakistanis, Sikhs and Dalits would be exposing the face of secular India, probably causing embarrassment to Narendra Modi.
The Indian officials seem to be losing their cool over Kashmir and Khalistan issue, as they violently handled a protest staged jointly by Kashmiris and Sikhs in January, this year.
Same types of protests were arranged in August 2017 and in 2015 as well, however, the January protests rattled the Indian authorities. The fresh protest – planned coincidently with the Commonwealth moot – would help shame the Indian premier in front of the international community for his ruthless attitude towards Kashmir.
Read more: Kareena Kapoor criticized for marrying a Muslim
The Kashmir cause has been languishing in the United Nations from as early as 1948, however, the fresh spate of violence unleashed by the Modi regime after the Killing of BurhanWani, HizbulMujahideen commander, has attracted the attention of international community.
Moreover, the Modi administration, in its bid to suppress the voice of Kashmiris has martyred over 20 people in April alone, which riled the Pakistani expat community, which would display its anger outside the Parliament Square. The protest is sure to be covered by international media because the top political brass of Azaad Jammu & Kashmir, including Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan has gathered in British capital.
The Dalit community would also be showcasing its power to the world, advocating the provision of equal rights for their fellows living in India. For just to get an idea of how the Dalit community is treated in India, the murder of Dalit youngster named Pradeep Rathod is enough, as he was recently killed merely for owning a horse, which is considered a symbol of power and wealth, alien to the low-caste. By comparison, Pakistan has elected it’s first-ever Dalit Senator in the recently concluded Senate elections.
The fresh protest – planned coincidently with the Commonwealth moot – would help shame the Indian premier in front of the international community for his ruthless attitude towards Kashmir.
After landing back in India, Modi’s problems would not culminate because two of the recent rape cases – one reported in Unnao and the other one in Kathua – have stirred massive protests in the country. The rape case regarding the 16-year-old Unnao girl relates to Kuldeep Singh, a sitting lawmaker of Bharatiya Janata Party, while the rape case of Kathua minor, AsifaBano, has a communal angle attached to it.
Read more: Losing face: 50 Retired IAS, IPS, IFS Officers pen letter to…
Modi Losing Face
What is shaming Modi, in India and in the international community, is the fact that an 8-year-old girl (Asifa Bano) was raped inside a temple, with suspects claiming that they wanted to purge the native Bekarwals out of the area, through the brutal act. Modi’s party is being criticized for defending the culprits and for spreading hate against the Muslims.
A party member of BJP is also alleged to be involved in the crime. Asifa Bano’s family reports that they searched for her everywhere, when she went missing, except the temple because they thought it was a safe scared place. Recently 50 retired officials also wrote to Modi, shaming him over his incompetence to serve justice in his country.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tore into the ruling BJP government for “shielding” the villains in the Kathua and Unnao rape cases which have sparked widespread outrage for their brutality against innocents, one of them barely 8 years old. Gandh, last week, led a midnight vigil at India Gate in New Delhi.
Like millions of Indians my heart hurts tonight. India simply cannot continue to treat its women the way it does.
Join me in a silent, peaceful, candlelight vigil at India Gate at midnight tonight to protest this violence and demand justice.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 12, 2018
Despite advocating that the ‘Achhe Din’ of India would drastically reform the lives of common men, Modi seems to be troubled waters and his UK tour doesn’t seem like an easy one either!