Hundreds of protesters staged a demonstration outside Downing Street on Thursday (November 12), against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's three-day visit to the UK.
Anti-Modi protesters across London and the UK representing Sikh, Gujarati, Tamil, Kashmiri, and the Nepali community gathered outside Parliament Square shouting for the Indian PM to "go home", as he paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi.
Protesters were angered by David Cameron’s decision to allow Narendra Modi into the UK despite protesters claiming an increase in human atrocities in India.
Protesters cited the 2002 Gujrat riots which reportedly saw hundreds of Muslims being killed, while Narendra Modi was chief minister at the time.
Other protesters raised issues of human rights scandals, protection for women in India and claims of injustice towards religious and ethnic minorities.
Allan Hogarth, the Head of Policy at Amnesty UK, said: “The UK needs to do more than unfurl the red carpet for yet another world leader, Mr Cameron must raise some red flags on human rights concerns too.”
'So much inequality, injustice and discrimination is happening in India'
Banners reading “Modi not welcome” showed images of the Indian Prime Minister covered in blood.
Anjum Malik from Ealing also attended the protest to show support for the oppressed in her neighbouring country.
“As a Pakistani woman I am here today to show my anger towards David Cameron’s decision to allow Modi into the UK when so much inequality, injustice and discrimination is happening in India.”
“A group of us from west London all came out together today to show how appalled we are that David Cameron is only welcoming Modi because he has his own benefits on mind not thinking about all the terrible human rights abuses in India.
“He should be questioning Modi on the crimes he has committed in his country not welcoming him like hero.”
The protest was led by UK-based, Awaaz Network, a group that campaigns for secularism, democracy, and human rights across South Asia.
A number of different organisations joined Awaaz to support the campaign against Mr Modi, including South Asia Solidarity Group, Sikh Federation UK, Southall Black Sisters, Dalit Solidarity Network UK, Indian Muslim Federation, Indian Workers Association, Muslim Parliament, and Voice of Dalit International.
