Washington: India’s 71st Republic day celebrations in the US on Sunday were marred by protests and marches, albeit peaceful ones, against recent changes in the citizenship law by large number of Indian Americans in various cities of the country.
In more than 30 cities, particularly New York, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta and San Francisco having Indian consulates, and at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, the protestors shouted slogans like “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Hindu, Muslim Sikh, Isai: Aapas Mein Saab Bhai Bhai” No More No More RSS No More’ No to CAA’ .
The protesters, however were countered by a number of Indian Americans who supported the enactment and congratulated the Modi Government for taking such a bold step. The largest gathering of anti-CAA protestors was reported from Chicago where Indian Americans gathered in large numbers and formed several mile-long human chain.
In the American capital of Washington DC, more than 500 Indian Americans marched from a park near the White House to the Gandhi Statue in front of the Indian Embassy.
“It gives hope that democracy and Constitution can ultimately be saved by the common people from a government which is bent upon destroying them,” he said.
IAMC president Ahsan Khan said from the Bay Area in California, the rally of Indian Americans represents an extension of the massive unrest in India against the ruling BJP government for its relentless attacks against the secular Constitution. “Indian Americans and people of conscience in the US are seeking accountability from the Hindu nationalist regime that wants to turn Indian Muslims into foreigners and render them stateless,” said Mr Khan after the rally in San Francisco.
“Protests happening not only in India but around the world represent a global consensus against the draconian policies of the Modi-Shah government,” said Dr Shaik Ubaid from New York. “All Indians are equal citizens and that is the foundational social contract between the Indian nation and its citizens,” said Minhaj Khan from New Jersey.With PTI inputs.