By Counterview Desk 

In a letter, a coalition of human rights and interfaith organizations sent to New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams urging them to condemn and oppose the inclusion of what it has called “an anti-Muslim float at the India Day Parade scheduled for August 18, 2024”, has said that the float “celebrates the destruction of the historic Babri Mosque, which was demolished on December 6, 1992, by a mob of over 150,000 right-wing Hindu militants.”

Letter co-signers include: Indian American Muslim Council, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Council on American-Islamic Relations-New York, Hindus for Human Rights, the Federation of Indian American Churches of North America (FIACONA), Muslim Public Affairs Council, New York State Council of Churches, Genocide Watch, Center for Pluralism, India’s Civil Watch International, American Muslim Institution, and Association of Indian Muslims in America.

The letter expresses its concern about the Indian consulate’s partnership with far-right groups to display the float, which features imagery of India’s Ram Temple. “This temple stands on the ruins of the Babri Mosque, whose demolition led to widespread riots and the deaths of thousands, predominantly Muslims. The inauguration of the Ram Temple in January 2024 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has further fueled religious tensions, resulting in violence and attacks on other places of worship”, it says.

According to the letter, “The event’s organizers, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) and Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), have histories of spreading hate speech and exploiting laborers. Allowing the float at the parade would embolden anti-Muslim actors and undermine New York City’s commitment to diversity and peaceful coexistence.”

Text: 

We human rights organizations write to bring to your immediate attention a deeply concerning inclusion of an anti-Muslim float at India Day Parade scheduled for August 18, 2024, in the heart of New York City.

This event, organized by the far-right Hindu group Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), in collaboration with the Indian consulate, alongside Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) and the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), poses a grave threat to the values of inclusivity and tolerance that New York City and the state of New York proudly uphold.

This story was originally published in counterview.net. Read the full story here.