By Suzanne Russell / My Central Jersey
EDISON – Mayor Sam Joshi said symbols of hate and discrimination are not welcome in the township, after a piece of construction equipment, viewed as a symbol of hate by the Muslim community, was featured in the Aug. 14 India Day Parade.
The parade, along Oak Tree Road, from Edison to Woodbridge, marked the 75th anniversary of India’s independence and the division of the South Asian subcontinent into two nations, Hindu-oriented India and Muslim-oriented Pakistan, after years of civil strife.
In a statement Monday, Joshi said Edison is committed to celebrating and working in harmony with people from all cultures.
But an American-Islamic relations group is disappointed Joshi has not gone further in rebuking the parade organizers. The group has also called for parade organizers to apologize.
The parade, organized by the Indian Business Association (IBA), featured a piece of construction equipment with the photos of political leaders in India, who are described as proponents of hate against Muslims and other minorities, according to Azra Baig, chair of the South Brunswick’s Human Relations Commission.
“This bulldozer was included in a parade that was supposed to celebrate the national pride of this country,” Baig said during Monday’s township council work session meeting. “As someone who is Muslim, I find this terrorizing and harassing and so does the Muslim community across New Jersey, across the country and the world.”
In India, Baig explained, homes, businesses and houses of worship are being bulldozed because of people’s faith and when they stand up for their rights.
This story was originally published in mycentraljersey.com . Read the full story here
