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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Delhi: Boy stabbed to death over 'controversial' social media comments, 2 juveniles held
New Delhi (PTI): A 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death at Ramleela ground in northwest Delhi for allegedly making social media comments that police described as "controversial", an official said on Wednesday.
According to the police, the assailants, also minors, attacked him with a knife, inflicting multiple stab wounds.
"A PCR call was received in the Shalimar Bagh Police Station regarding an injured boy lying in Ramleela ground. The police team reached the spot and found him with multiple stab wounds," a police officer said.
He was working as a labourer in a banquet hall for the last two days, the officer said. An FIR was registered and the police apprehended two juveniles in the case.
Preliminary investigation reveals that the deceased was stabbed due to an ongoing enmity, the officer said.
During questioning, the accused told the police that the victim had made "controversial comments" against them on social media. Following which, they intercepted him at Ramleela ground and stabbed him. He died on the spot, officer said.
"We have recovered a dagger and the victim's mobile phone. Further investigation in the case is underway," he added.
