Summary Pakistani, Kashmiri and Sikh protestors chanted“Modi go back”, “shame on you Modi” outside stadium.
LONDON (Dunya News/AFP) – Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s address to a rally of supporters at the Wembley stadium, London was marked by numerous protests. Modi, along with British PM David Cameron was to give a public address. However, the Indian PM was closely followed by Pakistani, Kashmiri, Sikh and Nepalese protestors as they demonstrated and chanted slogans against Modi outside the stadium shouting “Modi go back” and “shame on you Modi”. Tensions soared as Indian supporters of the PM also arrived at the venue.
Protestors had also demonstrated earlier at Downing Street against the Indian PM’s visit. During a press conference, Modi looked distressed and had to face some harsh questioning pertaining to the rising extremism in India and on his involvement in the Gujarat massacre in India from the journalists. Modi managed to dodge the questions by responding with vague, confused answers.
Read Further: Modi perturbed by harsh questions, denies extremism in India
Modi was elected by a landslide in 2014 but he and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have faced accusations from opponents that they are failing to protect minorities.
He is on a three-day visit to Britain which will include talks with Cameron, lunch with Queen Elizabeth II and a rally with supporters at Wembley Stadium.
Modi was effectively banned from Britain until three years ago over anti-Muslim riots which killed more than 1,000 people in 2002, when he was chief minister of Gujarat state. He has always denied any responsibility.
Nirmala Rajasingam, one of the protest organisers, said: "We have been protesting against the Modi government for a very long time because the matters of the Gujarat atrocities have not been settled yet.
"Signs of religious antipathy have been there for a long time but since the BJP took power, it s gone to a new high. There is a very specific project that they are pursuing to make India a country for Hindus only."
Another protestor, Thaman Singh Sidhu, added: "The Sikh community, the Muslim community, all minorities feel threatened... he has never condemned anything."
