Two US lawmakers to boycott Modi’s speech at joint session of US Congress
Washington: Two Congresswomen from the Democratic Party, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, took to Twitter to announce their decision to boycott Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s joint congressional address on Thursday. Both of them cited gross human right violations, including repression of religious minorities under the Modi government.
Rashida Tlaib mentioned that giving Modi a space at US’s capital is very shameful. She shared that Modi’s long history of human rights abuses, anti-democratic actions, targeting Muslims and religious minorities, and censoring journalists is unacceptable.
Ilhan Omar, the first African refugee to become a member of Congress, stated that the Modi government has emboldened violent Hindu nationalist groups and targeted journalists and human right rights advocates. Furthermore, she will hold a briefing with human rights group to discuss Modi’s record of repression and violence.
Reacting to this, Atif Rasheed, former vice chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, stated that a wrong picture of India is being depicted under Ilhan’s hate agenda. He said that he belongs from a religious minority in India and lives freely with religious freedom and identity in “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India”.
Meanwhile, 75 Democratic senators and members of the House of Representatives have signed and sent a letter to the White House on Tuesday urging President Joe Biden to raise issues such as growing religious intolerance, press freedom, restrictions on internet access, targeting civil groups and other human right violations in India with Modi.
Prime Minister Modi’s government has repressed religious minorities, emboldened violent Hindu nationalist groups, and targeted journalists/human rights advocates with impunity.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 20, 2023
I will NOT be attending Modi’s speech.
It’s shameful that Modi has been given a platform at our nation’s capital—his long history of human rights abuses, anti-democratic actions, targeting Muslims & religious minorities, and censoring journalists is unacceptable.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) June 20, 2023
I will be boycotting Modi’s joint address to Congress.
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Man City makes it six Premier League wins in a row with 2-1 victory against Nottingham Forest
Manchester (England) (AP): Rayan Cherki kept Manchester City's Premier League title challenge powering on with a late winner at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The France forward's 83rd minute strike secured a 2-1 victory at the City Ground to make it six league wins in a row for Pep Guardiola's team.
City is on an eight-game winning run in all and provisionally moved to the top of the standings — one point ahead of Arsenal, which was playing Brighton later on Saturday.
“Today is a big win,” Cherki told TNT Sports. “I'm proud of the team because this game is very complicated to win.”
It was Cherki's second goal in three games and fifth over all. He also provided an assist with an intricate pass to Tijjani Reijnders to put City ahead three minutes into the second half.
Omari Hutchinson equalized for relegation-fighting Forest, which was holding out for a crucial point until Cherki fired through a crowded box for the winner.
Guardiola looks like a man who believes his team is ready to regain the title it surrendered to Liverpool last season. He joined in the celebrations with the traveling fans after the final whistle — acting conductor as they celebrated wildly after another win.
