New Delhi: American civil society organisations has lodged a protest with the New York Governor and Mayor, objecting to the inclusion of an “anti-Muslim” float depicting the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in the upcoming India Day parade.
Last month, the Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-CT-NE announced at a curtain-raiser event that a tableau showcasing the Ayodhya Ram Mandir would be the centrepiece of the August 18 India Day parade, an annual event celebrating Indian Independence Day. The press conference was hosted at the Consulate General of India in New York.
The letter, signed by 22 civil society organisations, was addressed to New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams. Among the prominent groups supporting the letter are the Indian American Muslim Council, several chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Hindus for Human Rights, Federation of Indian American Christian Organisations of North America, New York State Council of Churches, Genocide Watch, Dalit Solidarity Forum, Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus, Sikh Coalition, and Ambedkar King Study Circle.
“The proposed float for the parade is a blatant attempt to glorify the illegal demolition of the historical Babri Mosque and celebrate ongoing violence and terror against 200 million Indian Muslims. This is not merely a cultural display but a vulgar celebration of anti-Muslim hate, bigotry, and religious supremacy,” the organisations wrote.
The letter emphasised that “allowing such a hateful and bigoted celebration in NYC is an affront to American values and to harmony and peaceful coexistence among our diverse communities”.
Additionally, the organisations stated that it “emboldens Hindu extremists to advance their supremacist agenda in the United States and glorifies acts of violence injustice and discrimination against Muslims”.
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