Indian Prime Minister Modi confronted by angry protests in London

[MenInG]

LONDON (Reuters) - Hundreds of noisy protesters greeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he arrived in London on Wednesday, demonstrating over a rising tide of sexual violence at home including two particularly brutal rapes.

Holding placards reading “Modi go home” and “we stand against Modi’s agenda of hate and greed,” they gathered outside Downing Street and parliament as Modi arrived for talks with Prime Minister Theresa May.

Sexual violence against women is a highly charged political issue in India, where protests regularly erupt about entrenched violence against women and the failure to protect them.

“The Indian government are doing nothing, and you feel sorry for the families because of the total injustice of it all,” said Navindra Singh, an Indian-born lawyer who lives in Britain.

“He has been in power for four years now and there has been no policy change to help protect women and children.”

Protests have erupted across India after the latest rape cases were reported. Police officers and a politician are under investigation in two of the unrelated cases.

In a crime that shocked India, an 8-year-old Muslim girl in the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir was kidnapped, drugged and held for several days while she was raped repeatedly and then murdered.

In the other case, a state lawmaker from Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party stands accused of raping a teenager. No action was taken against the politician until the girl threatened to set herself on fire earlier this month. Her father died soon afterwards from injuries he sustained while in police custody.

Modi addressed the outrage over the rapes last week by promising justice regardless of whoever the guilty were.

Nearly 40 percent of India’s rape victims are children and the 40,000 reported rapes in 2016 marked a 60 percent increase over the level in 2012. But women’s rights groups say the figures are still gross underestimates.

Modi, a Hindu nationalist, is a divisive figure in India and his second trip to Britain as prime minister represents a remarkable turnaround for a man who was once banned from the UK over his alleged role, as chief minister of Gujarat, in riots that killed about 1,000 people in 2002.

Britain ended a boycott of Modi in 2012 after he emerged from being a provincial politician to the likely leader of the world’s largest democracy. He has denied wrongdoing and was exonerated by an inquiry ordered by India’s Supreme Court.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...ted-by-angry-protests-in-london-idUSKBN1HP1QK

 

[MenInG]

At several points, the Indian flag was torn by hand and shredded underfoot, and protesters on both sides traded slogans and insults.
An anti-India protest outside the Indian High Commission on Republic Day, a day on which groups have held protests annually, took a new form on Friday as scuffles took place between anti-India and pro-India groups, and police were forced to intervene. At several points, the Indian flag was torn by hand and shredded underfoot, and protesters on both sides shouted slogans and insults at each other.

The anti-India ‘Black Day’ protest was organised by Lord Nazir Ahmed, a non-affiliated Member of the House of Lords, a day after he launched a new campaign, which includes five vans with billboards championing separatist movements, including “Free Kashmir,” “Free Khalistan,” “Free Assam,” “Free Nagaland” and “Free Manipur,” and will drive across central London.

‘Khalistan Azaadi’ among slogans
In the early afternoon, the vans gathered outside the High Commission, with the two camps — the anti India camp and the counter-protesters initially separated by police — gathering opposite each other leading to heated exchanges. “Khalistan Azaadi” and “RSS terrorists” were some of the slogans of the anti-India protesters while the others shouted “Vande Mataram” and “Modi! Modi!”

“We are celebrating India’s democracy,” said Jayu Shah of Friends of India Society International, one of the organisers of the counter-protest group, who said the group had learnt the significance of counter-protests during the November 2016 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when two separate groups congregated outside Downing Street. “From now on, we have to be vocal.”

Hindutva mention
At the protest, Lord Ahmed told The Hindu, the vans would travel to other areas with a large Indian diaspora, including Birmingham, and Manchester, and would continue until Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Britain in April. “We want to tell people that this so-called democracy that they are celebrating are actually an expansion of Hindutva,” he said, drawing a parallel between the treatment of minorities in India and under Adolf Hitler’s Germany.

Ahead of the launch of Lord Ahmed’s campaign, sources in London said India had expressed its concerns through a note verbale to the British Foreign Office, around the use of government and public property by anti-India groups and had been given assurances that forums such as London taxis or buses or billboards on public property could not be used to promote such messages. However, the use of private billboard vans is not something that has been taken up.

Trend of such protests
India has regularly used its channels here to express concerns about anti-India activity, particularly that perceived to incite violence or hatred. Earlier this year, the Birmingham Council withdrew permission for a rally due to take place on the death anniversary of Burhan Wani, after India raised its concerns about the event and the eulogisation of the Kashmir militant.

Lord Ahmed, a Life Peer who was born in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and grew up in England, was suspended from the Labour Party in 2012, and then resigned from the party, after reports that he had offered a £10 million “bounty” for the capture of former U.S. President Barack Obama, which he denies.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...high-commission-in-london/article22530831.ece

 

[MenInG]

 

[PakLFC]

I bet very few of these protesters were Pakistanis marching to support Indian Muslims as there community here seems to think. Pak doesn't need to do anything at all. Our priority is sorting our corrupt leaders out. Good for India if they want a terrorist as PM!

 

[R3verse Swing]

Red carpet treatment indeed! The same happened when Modi visited UK after his ban was lifted.

 

[troodon]

Everywhere Modi goes he gets greeted by cheering crowds as well as angry protesters.

 

[cricketjoshila]

The second post is about 3 months old. Not about Modi but a Pakistan origin Nazir Ahmed organising protests.

 

[USHK]

Canada has even better welcoming for Genocidal Modi thanks to the growing Khalistani Canadians.

 

[Mian]

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I bet very few of these protesters were Pakistanis marching to support Indian Muslims as there community here seems to think. Pak doesn't need to do anything at all. Our priority is sorting our corrupt leaders out. Good for India if they want a terrorist as PM!

It would be mostly Indian protesters I would think, most Pakistanis wouldn't even be aware he was here.

 

[Madplayer]

It would be mostly Indian protesters I would think, most Pakistanis wouldn't even be aware he was here.

I see the national flag of occupied J&K in one of the pics.

 

[ManFan]

So Indians actually went out and protested Modi? Well done.

Do the Pakistani community do this in the UK?

 

[Mian]

I see the national flag of occupied J&K in one of the pics.

Thats the flag of AJK too.

AJK PM Raja Farooq Haider is in London for anti-India rally right now. Prime Minister Farooq Haider had been invited by the member of House of Lords Lord Nazir Ahmed to lead the protest during his visit to AJK last week.

https://arynews.tv/en/ajk-pm-raja-farooq-haider-in-london-for-anti-india-rally/

 

[CricketCartoons]

Modi still gets more respect than Nehru got. Nehru visited once as PM, only as a fawning slave to attend his ruler's coronation, but Modi has visited twice, as the proud representative of billion indians. Also has rock star personality compared to the church mouse persona of Nehru.

 

[ManFan]

Modi still gets more respect than Nehru got. Nehru visited once as PM, only as a fawning slave to attend his ruler's coronation, but Modi has visited twice, as the proud representative of billion indians. Also has rock star personality compared to the church mouse persona of Nehru.

That was a different time.

Everyone in movie, television, entertainment, politics, appears to be stiff and serious as compared to now.

Nehru was far more charismatic than Modi.

Lady Mountbatten attests to that statement.

 

[Mian]

Modi still gets more respect than Nehru got. Nehru visited once as PM, only as a fawning slave to attend his ruler's coronation, but Modi has visited twice, as the proud representative of billion indians. Also has rock star personality compared to the church mouse persona of Nehru.

Lady Mountbatten says NO!

 

[CricketCartoons]

Lady Mountbatten says NO!

Oh he definitely was a charmer, but didn't have the stature that Modi enjoys on world stage. He was never the alpha with world leaders, while Modi gives masculine bear hugs to the leaders world is afraid of.

 

[ManFan]

Oh he definitely was a charmer, but didn't have the stature that Modi enjoys on world stage. He was never the alpha with world leaders, while Modi gives masculine bear hugs to the leaders world is afraid of.

I can't speak for other countries but nobody here in the U.S. on a domestic level really knows any SC politician.

 

[R3verse Swing]

So Indians actually went out and protested Modi? Well done.

Do the Pakistani community do this in the UK?

To be fair the Pakistani community do not need to, despite Nawaz Sharif's faults, he doesn't hold a candle to Modi. Sharif was never banned from entering the UK/USA for example.

 

[ManFan]

To be fair the Pakistani community do not need to, despite Nawaz Sharif's faults, he doesn't hold a candle to Modi. Sharif was never banned from entering the UK/USA for example.

I remember seeing a video of a guy heckling Nawaz and all he could muster up was... "go way, go way".

Not so much a "lion" outside his beloved Pakistan.

That's the only instance that comes to mind.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Thats the flag of AJK too.

AJK PM Raja Farooq Haider is in London for anti-India rally right now. Prime Minister Farooq Haider had been invited by the member of House of Lords Lord Nazir Ahmed to lead the protest during his visit to AJK last week.

https://arynews.tv/en/ajk-pm-raja-farooq-haider-in-london-for-anti-india-rally/

And Pakistanis are not involved in protests. The desperation.

 

[R3verse Swing]

I remember seeing a video of a guy heckling Nawaz and all he could muster up was... "go way, go way".

Not so much a "lion" outside his beloved Pakistan.

That's the only instance that comes to mind.

Yeah, but no so much hated outside his country as Modi is.

*Go away* is akin to the daily demonstrations seen at Westminster. It's below throwing tomatoes!

 

[Mian]

And Pakistanis are not involved in protests. The desperation.

So you admit AJK is Pakistan?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Everywhere Modi goes he gets greeted by cheering crowds as well as angry protesters.

He gets greeted by cheering Indians who like his party's Hindu nationalism, he gets protests from those who don't like the communal and religious turmoil those policies are creating.

 

[cricketjoshila]

So you admit AJK is Pakistan?

Thats why we call it PoK.

 

[Lonewarrior]

 

[Lonewarrior]

 

[cricketjoshila]

 

[ManFan]

View attachment 80864
View attachment 80865
View attachment 80866

Bro, even I can pull up photos of the current PAK PM shaking hands with the world leaders of today. It does not prove anything.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Bro, even I can pull up photos of the current PAK PM shaking hands with the world leaders of today. It does not prove anything.

Pull out how many CW nation heads actually held a one to one summit meet with May and Queen this time.

What does posting articles about Pakistanis and some sikhs in UK protesting prove?

 

[R3verse Swing]

Oh dear!

UK apologises for torn India flag in anti-Modi protests

The UK has apologised after the Indian flag in London's Parliament Square was torn down amid protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

Hundreds of people gathered on Wednesday outside Downing Street where Mr Modi met his British counterpart Theresa May.

The protests seem to have been sparked by two recent incidents of rape in India that outraged the country.

Mr Modi later said that the rapes had brought "shame" on India.

He is in London for bilateral talks and to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

"While people have the right to hold peaceful protests, we are disappointed with the action taken by a small minority in Parliament Square," the UK's Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said that they expect "legal action" to be taken against those who brought down the flag, which was officially hoisted along with the flags of all 53 Commonwealth countries.

"We are deeply anguished over the incident involving our national flag," spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a press conference. He added that UK officials had "immediately replaced" the torn flag with a new one.

According to Reuters, nearly 500 protesters descended upon Parliament Square. Many held up placards that read "Modi go home" while others condemned the incidents of rape.

An eight-year-old Muslim girl from Kathua district in Indian-administered Kashmir was gang raped and murdered - outrage grew after two ministers from Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attended a rally in support of the accused men, who are Hindu.

In another case, a 16-year-old girl attempted suicide outside a BJP lawmaker's house after alleging that he raped her.

The protests in London also drew many minorities, including separatists who support a Sikh independence movement, called the "Khalistan movement". It seeks to create an independent homeland for the community in the Sikh-dominated northern Indian state of Punjab.

Supporters of Jagtar Singh Johal, a Scottish man detained in India on suspicion of murder, were also at the protest. They demanded his release, alleging that Mr Johal has been held without charge and has been tortured by Indian authorities.

Some protesters held banners that said "stop Indian terrorism" to condemn discrimination against religious minorities in India.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-43833903

 

[Pakpak]

UK apologises for torn India flag in anti-Modi protests

The UK has apologised after the Indian flag in London's Parliament Square was torn down amid protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.

Hundreds of people gathered on Wednesday outside Downing Street where Mr Modi met his British counterpart Theresa May.

The protests seem to have been sparked by two recent incidents of rape in India that outraged the country.

Mr Modi later said that the rapes had brought "shame" on India.

He is in London for bilateral talks and to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

"While people have the right to hold peaceful protests, we are disappointed with the action taken by a small minority in Parliament Square," the UK's Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said that they expect "legal action" to be taken against those who brought down the flag, which was officially hoisted along with the flags of all 53 Commonwealth countries.

"We are deeply anguished over the incident involving our national flag," spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a press conference. He added that UK officials had "immediately replaced" the torn flag with a new one.

Why India's rape crisis shows no signs of abating
Explaining India's new anti-rape laws
According to Reuters, nearly 500 protesters descended upon Parliament Square. Many held up placards that read "Modi go home" while others condemned the incidents of rape.

An eight-year-old Muslim girl from Kathua district in Indian-administered Kashmir was gang raped and murdered - outrage grew after two ministers from Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attended a rally in support of the accused men, who are Hindu.

In another case, a 16-year-old girl attempted suicide outside a BJP lawmaker's house after alleging that he raped her.

Why some Patels will protest against Modi in US
Detained Sikh activist's family speak out
The protests in London also drew many minorities, including separatists who support a Sikh independence movement, called the "Khalistan movement". It seeks to create an independent homeland for the community in the Sikh-dominated northern Indian state of Punjab.

Supporters of Jagtar Singh Johal, a Scottish man detained in India on suspicion of murder, were also at the protest. They demanded his release, alleging that Mr Johal has been held without charge and has been tortured by Indian authorities.

Some protesters held banners that said "stop Indian terrorism" to condemn discrimination against religious minorities in India.

According to local reports, many supporters of Mr Modi were also present near the protest - and they held banners welcoming him. Among them were a group of sari-clad Indian women who reportedly performed a flash dance.

"We want to welcome the Indian prime minister to the UK and show him the diaspora support he enjoys," one of the women told national newspaper Hindustan Times.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-43833903

 

[cricketjoshila]

Lol. Living in UK and want to create a separate country in India. Jokers.

 

[R3verse Swing]

Modi is doing the world a favour. The more he visits places outside of India, the more he does damage to India. It starts before he even opens his mouth being *single* without a spouse. His persona looks awkward from the get go.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Modi came to power on the promise of revolutionising India through the economy. But as that bluster starts to look like hot air, he's starting to become more associated with the communal strife he and his party were previously associated with. When you get BJP minsisters claiming India invented plastic surgery and the internet, you do wonder how seriously you can take their monetary expertise.

 

[mankuTimma]

Modi came to power on the promise of revolutionising India through the economy. But as that bluster starts to look like hot air, he's starting to become more associated with the communal strife he and his party were previously associated with. When you get BJP minsisters claiming India invented plastic surgery and the internet, you do wonder how seriously you can take their monetary expertise.

Our last PM (Greatest Economist TM) said India resources belong to Muslims and other minorities so I don’t think talking about plastic surgery or Internet is any worse especially for religious people.I guess there were lot of anti science talk in Islam as well which I don’t think any religious Muslim start opposing.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Modi came to power on the promise of revolutionising India through the economy. But as that bluster starts to look like hot air, he's starting to become more associated with the communal strife he and his party were previously associated with. When you get BJP minsisters claiming India invented plastic surgery and the internet, you do wonder how seriously you can take their monetary expertise.

May be u should check the gdp growth rate. The Stock markets. The Forex reserves etc before you say economy isnt booming.

 

[R3verse Swing]

Modi came to power on the promise of revolutionising India through the economy. But as that bluster starts to look like hot air, he's starting to become more associated with the communal strife he and his party were previously associated with. When you get BJP minsisters claiming India invented plastic surgery and the internet, you do wonder how seriously you can take their monetary expertise.

Well his demonetisation policy backfired, India's GDP per Capita is on par with Pakistan, and Bllomberg even reports India's middle class is a myth.

Expert indeed, more like chai wala exposed.

 

[English August]

May be u should check the gdp growth rate. The Stock markets. The Forex reserves etc before you say economy isnt booming.

All these things apart, it's still clear that Modi has under-delivered on economy (e.g., structural reforms, disinvestment from public sector) and job creation. He has frittered away the historic mandate and allowed the fringe elements in the party to dominate the narrative.

He's an exceptional politician, but his cabinet is full of under-performing ministers.

If he wins in 2019, it will be with a much smaller majoiry.

A great chance to leap-frog has been wasted.

 

[English August]

India's GDP per Capita is on par with Pakistan.

Only in that mythical world where a 33% delta is considered "on par."

 

[mankuTimma]

All these things apart, it's still clear that Modi has under-delivered on economy (e.g., structural reforms, disinvestment from public sector) and job creation. He has frittered away the historic mandate and allowed the fringe elements in the party to dominate the narrative.

He's an exceptional politician, but his cabinet is full of under-performing ministers.

If he wins in 2019, it will be with a much smaller majoiry.

A great chance to leap-frog has been wasted.

Small correction about historical Mandate it’s only in LS in RS only now NDA is getting upper hand and most of the big deals like Land reform/Triple talas etc etc still stuck in RS.we all know how much effort it took to get GST passed.

I guess Modi or anyone in cabinet had any idea about how much NPA they were gifted by UPA.Also include the creaking Railways and Air India which itself are big white elephants.
Add to this no clear cut manufacturing policy or effort by previous government added to the problems..it takes 3 to 5 years to setup large scale manufacturing plants after deal is struck.

One example I can give is 2 major Railways projects (1000 Diesel engines & 900 Electric loco ) are proposed in 2005 but UPA never implemented it,now Modi govt went ahead with deals in 2015 start and manufacturing of these Locos will start this year or early next year in Bihar.

 

[Varun]

Small correction about historical Mandate it’s only in LS in RS only now NDA is getting upper hand and most of the big deals like Land reform/Triple talas etc etc still stuck in RS.we all know how much effort it took to get GST passed.

I guess Modi or anyone in cabinet had any idea about how much NPA they were gifted by UPA.Also include the creaking Railways and Air India which itself are big white elephants.
Add to this no clear cut manufacturing policy or effort by previous government added to the problems..it takes 3 to 5 years to setup large scale manufacturing plants after deal is struck.

One example I can give is 2 major Railways projects (1000 Diesel engines & 900 Electric loco ) are proposed in 2005 but UPA never implemented it,now Modi govt went ahead with deals in 2015 start and manufacturing of these Locos will start this year or early next year in Bihar.

Agree with this. The UPA stalled the economy for 10 years, and UPA 2 especially was a tranwreck from start to finish.

 

[mankuTimma]

Agree with this. The UPA stalled the economy for 10 years, and UPA 2 especially was a tranwreck from start to finish.

Yes there are problems with NDA too but they are far ahead in long term / structural reforms.

We can give some credit to UPA for RTI but it hardly helped in tackling corruption.Thier other schemes like MnREGA/RTE etc have huge holes.RTE especially is pathetic as it doesn’t have uniform claus amongst communities.

 

[cricketjoshila]

All these things apart, it's still clear that Modi has under-delivered on economy (e.g., structural reforms, disinvestment from public sector) and job creation. He has frittered away the historic mandate and allowed the fringe elements in the party to dominate the narrative.

He's an exceptional politician, but his cabinet is full of under-performing ministers.

If he wins in 2019, it will be with a much smaller majoiry.

A great chance to leap-frog has been wasted.

His finance minister is tge worst choice he made. Jaitley is no finance minister.

GST is the biggest structural reform he could do. Its exceptional.

He has had to fight a opposition in RS which has stalled a lot of his reforms.

He needs to win 2019.

 

[English August]

Small correction about historical Mandate it’s only in LS in RS only now NDA is getting upper hand and most of the big deals like Land reform/Triple talas etc etc still stuck in RS.we all know how much effort it took to get GST passed.

I guess Modi or anyone in cabinet had any idea about how much NPA they were gifted by UPA.Also include the creaking Railways and Air India which itself are big white elephants.
Add to this no clear cut manufacturing policy or effort by previous government added to the problems..it takes 3 to 5 years to setup large scale manufacturing plants after deal is struck.

One example I can give is 2 major Railways projects (1000 Diesel engines & 900 Electric loco ) are proposed in 2005 but UPA never implemented it,now Modi govt went ahead with deals in 2015 start and manufacturing of these Locos will start this year or early next year in Bihar.

Not having a majority in RS is bit of a red herring and an excuse for not performing. It slows down deep structural reforms like labor reforms, land reforms and more social / political amendments like triple talaq and scrapping of article 370. So I can understand why these aren't completed. But keep in mind that the Finance Bill is getting passed each year. A lot of reforms can be passed "in stealth" through the Finance Bill. PSU disinvestment is a good example. The FM has set target for himself each year and failed to meet the target. They could have delivered on some big ticket PSU disinvestment, which would have been a huge signal to global investors. Similarly, tax department acting like a tax nazi can be controlled very easily. That doesn't need RS majority. Taking legal action against corrupt people like Robert Vadra doesn't need RS majority. I can list a dozen steps like this.

Private sector needs signal of intent. That is what leads to unleashing of animal spirits. Not everything requires legislation. Signal so far from Modi is that he's the BJP version of Indira Gandhi, which is very disappointing.

 

[Adijazz1706]

Not having a majority in RS is bit of a red herring and an excuse for not performing. It slows down deep structural reforms like labor reforms, land reforms and more social / political amendments like triple talaq and scrapping of article 370. So I can understand why these aren't completed. But keep in mind that the Finance Bill is getting passed each year. A lot of reforms can be passed "in stealth" through the Finance Bill. PSU disinvestment is a good example. The FM has set target for himself each year and failed to meet the target. They could have delivered on some big ticket PSU disinvestment, which would have been a huge signal to global investors. Similarly, tax department acting like a tax nazi can be controlled very easily. That doesn't need RS majority. Taking legal action against corrupt people like Robert Vadra doesn't need RS majority. I can list a dozen steps like this.

Private sector needs signal of intent. That is what leads to unleashing of animal spirits. Not everything requires legislation. Signal so far from Modi is that he's the BJP version of Indira Gandhi, which is very disappointing.

Robert Vadra is small fry, Modi said he'd go after the Gandhis. 4 years om they're all free

 

[moghul]

Modi still gets more respect than Nehru got. Nehru visited once as PM, only as a fawning slave to attend his ruler's coronation, but Modi has visited twice, as the proud representative of billion indians. Also has rock star personality compared to the church mouse persona of Nehru.

He is an elected ruler of India ( direct) and Bangladhesh ( indirect, through Hasina ) .