Sikh community plans strong protest on Modi's arrival in Washington
The protesters will raise anti-India and anti-Modi slogans.
WASHINGTON (Web Desk) - Supporters of a separatist Sikh organisation have planned a strong protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival in Washington on June 8.
Speaking exclusively to Dunya News, Sikh community leader Gurdev Singh said that Sikhs from across the world won’t rest until independence of Punjab and creation of Khalistan.
"Any person intending to see Hitler at present should see Narendra Modi’s face," he added.
Another leader Mandeep Singh stated that ‘nazi-cracy’ won’t last long in India now. We will bring this into notice of the US administration and citizens that the Indian government itself is terrorist. Extremists in the incumbent Indian government are spreading anarchy in India and other countries.
To a question, another activist Tajinder Pal remarked that there is no doubt that the BJP-led Indian government is involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan.
He said that other communities have also been invited to join the protest on June 8 to foil Modi’s ‘malafide intentions’ through joint efforts.
Under the banner of Sikhs for Justice, hundreds of Sikhs, alleging human rights violations in Punjab, are demandiong referendum in 2020 for a separate Khalistan.
Since 1947, the Indian rulers have been committing human rights violations in Punjab. Death is better than living as slaves, member of the community Jagrup Singh said.
For Modi, Tuesday’s visit is a time to set the seal on what has been achieved and set the stage for what he hopes will be a mushrooming in US-India trade from $120 billion to $500 billion.
Ahead of the trip, India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar told reporters Obama had invited Modi as one of the leaders with whom "he had a close and productive working relationship."
"So, in many ways you can say it is sort of a consolidation visit," he added.
On Monday, Modi will head to Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath-laying ceremony and meet with think tank scholars.
He will have a working lunch with Obama on Tuesday, followed by a series of meetings with US business leaders and members of the three million strong Indian-American community.
On Wednesday, he will become the fifth Indian premier to address a joint session of the US Congress, and afterwards will be hosted at a reception for dignitaries and lawmakers.
(Reported by: Manzoor Salahri)
