Indian Overseas Congress, USA, an advocacy organization that promotes democracy and freedom in India, held a protest in New York against the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Loka Sabha following his conviction in a defamation case. The supporters held placards that said ‘save democracy, save India’, ‘Modi-Adani Bhai Bhai’, ‘Adani & 20,000 Crores Rs’, and ‘Rahul Gandhi Zindabad’ and shouted the slogans.
The protests were staged at an event organized by IOCUSA in Long Island, New York, where delegates from ten states were present—over one-hundred-chapter delegates of IOCUSA who were highly incensed by the conviction of Rahul Gandhi strongly expressed their disappointment and anger. The maximum penalty had been imposed for a non-lethal and drummed-up offense with extra-ordinary severity, which was totally out of the norm, character, and scope, which shows how far the Modi Government went to unjustly overreact with intent to remove Rahul Gandhi from the public square.
In the keynote address, Mr. Sam Pitroda, Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, challenged the audience and rhetorically asked what kind of India we all want. He went on to say, “In today’s India, there is an ongoing disinformation campaign against the opposition: they used to call Rahul Gandhi Pappu and then filed court cases. However, after the successful Bharat Jodo Yatra, they have even ratcheted up the pressure. When Rahul went to London and had a series of private and public meetings, and said Indian democracy is a larger public good and added that Indian democracy is in danger, but that is our problem. However, in the media in India, on almost every channel, his talk was twisted and turned into a campaign against him. Every minister showed up on Indian T.V. and said Rahul was asking to interfere in Indian democracy. It is obvious that the ruling party has captured the media along with all other institutions, such as Judiciary, E.D., and Income tax. Even Civil society is not allowed to function as a watchdog. It is wrong. But nobody seemed to listen. There can be no meaningful conversation, and the sanctity of the scientific, logical, and rational mindset appears lost. It isn’t easy to operate”.
“We are in a situation where the 2024 election becomes very important for the country. It is the idea of India we are fighting. It is not a fight between Modi and Rahul Gandhi or Modi and XYZ, nor is it a fight between BJP and Congress. It is a fight about the idea of how we build a nation. We want to build a nation with peace and harmony where everybody can work comfortably, or should we be in a nation where everybody is fighting each other, affecting our growth and prosperity? We cannot ignore 200 million Muslims in India. They are very much a part of my life. I grew up with their music and culture, and they have become an integral part of India. Then you begin to separate Muslims and Christians, and whatever, you begin to attack the very fabric of India. That is what is going on, and that bothers many of us.”
“2024 is ahead of us, and how do we convince people that we have to fight for the idea of India? Some people feel that the fight will be on social media, and others feel that it will be over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). There are all kinds of ideas, and everyone has a view of what is wrong. There is so much interest in what is going on in India. These are the issues we are fighting for. Indian Overseas Congress has been here for a while. Today we are in 32 countries. We are successful only because of people like you who are present here. You make it happen. We don’t see the results if we don’t make things happen. Some seniors may feel that if BJP wins in 2024, they must write off India. However, I cannot afford to write off India. I want India to be the way it was when we were kids. Lots of good things have happened. When I came to America, I had never seen a telephone, television, or refrigerator in my life because we were that poor. Today, we have everything. India is what it is today because we planted the right seeds at the right time in education, Industry, technology, and science. Today’s India needs to forge ahead; we cannot have prosperity without having the core of it. And the core of it is being attacked. You may build high-speed trains, but there is no soul in them. We need to get the soul back. In the long run, there will be no prosperity if there is no peace. Peace only comes by respecting each other. I very strongly believe in it. Therefore, let us work together and take this message to our families and friends across India to make a difference starting today”. Mr. Pitroda exhorted.
In his presidential address, Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian asserted that we are at a critical time for India, particularly for democracy and freedom of expression in our motherland. As NRIs, we have a responsibility to see that a democratic and secular India survives and prospers. The last three years have been challenging. Covid has stopped us from achieving many of the goals we have set out to accomplish. However, the time is ripe now for us to become active and be counted. Sam ji has proposed a reorganization of IOCUSA to be more responsive to the ongoing challenges. That will include appointing five working Presidents to work in their respective zones. This way, we hope to reach the maximum possible NRIs and convince them to join us to help preserve democracy and the rule of law in India. What happened to Rahul Gandhi should never have occurred in a democratic country. We have seen the weaponization of the law enforcement system against the opposition.
In summary, we are joining a fight against tyranny and dictatorship. In 90 days, we will have chapters reorganized or newly created in every state where there is a substantial number of Indian Americans. The 2024 National elections are just a year away, and we need volunteers to help our party to defeat communalism and preserve freedom. I know that for many, America has become the new home. They see India only in a rearview mirror. Many others are concerned but unwilling to get involved. Are we saying that we have no obligation to the country that has given us birth, education, and freedom to immigrate to this great country? We owe it to our brothers and sisters who are left behind the same freedom we enjoy here in the U.S. In the coming days, the newly appointed working Presidents will assemble a team in their own zones. New York is in the Northeast Zone, which includes several nearby states. He concluded by urging the gathering to come forward and enlist and make their talents and skillset available so we can work together and rally behind the cause of freedom and democracy.
George Abraham, Vice-Chairman, in his speech, thanked Mr. Pitroda for his spirited defense of freedom everywhere in the last couple of weeks. He added, “only a few years ago, four Justices of the Supreme Court held unprecedented news conferences in which they asserted that democracy was in danger in India. That prediction is steadily becoming a reality. A mere expression of words in jest can put you in jail. This is not the India we left behind. This is not the India Nehru and Ambedkar envisaged. Today, institutions are undermined, media is muzzled, a parliament is no longer a debating body, diets are regulated, and freedom of expression is curtailed. With the recently enacted changes to OCI, NRIs are also gagged, and it is all part of silencing any dissent. We want you to use words in support of this cause that means speaking out,” Mr. Abraham added.
After Krishna SreeGandham and Sharath Chandra Vemuganti sang the Indian National Anthem, Secretary Secretary-General Harbachan Singh, Master of Ceremony, declared the event open with a welcome speech and thanked everyone who came from far and near. He also gave a rousing welcome to the Chief Guest and Global Chairman, Dr. Sam Pitroda. All those who spoke at the event include Minhaj Khan, Gurmit Singh Gill, Pradeep Samala, John Joseph, RajendarDichpally, Balinder Singh Kundu, Dr. Dayan Naik, Sabu Sakaria, Pavan Darsi, Gurinderpal Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Amel Singh, Gulshan Singh Ghotra, Sharath Chandra, Gourishankar Ranganagoudra, Dr.Jayesh Patel, Devindarpal Bhullar, Kulraj Grewal, Srivatsa Ramanathan, Sharod Chandra, Johnson Myalil, SukhyDho, VerghesePothanikadu, Zinda Singh and Pappy Badosh.
In the end, Dr. Sam Pitroda proudly bestowed “The Chairman’s” award upon Secretary General Harbachan Singh Esq., which stated in part, “your untiring efforts and outstanding performances have earned our highest esteem.”
