“This is a prejudiced complaint. The bulldozer only represents the demolishing of illegal structures on government land (in India).”
— Chandrakant Patel, Chairman of IBA
New Jersey-based Indian Business Association (IBA), that brought a bulldozer to the Independence Day Rally, has said that it will not apologise “because it had not done anything wrong”.
Chandrakant Patel, Chairman of IBA, speaking to the Middle East Eye pointed out, “This is a prejudiced complaint. The bulldozer only represents the demolishing of illegal structures on government land (in India).”
Incidentally, a Muslim activist, who wished to remain anonymous, according to the Middle East Eye report said, “In the name of an Indian parade, they are parading racist Hindutva ideology through the streets of Edison. And if someone says ‘I don’t know about the bulldozer’, I am sorry but you are a liar.”
It may be pointed out that the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) have been asking for strict action against the IBA for its alleged targeting of Indian minorities.
Loud cries of ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ could be heard. Protestors can be seen carrying placards that read ‘Justice for Dalit Lives’ and ‘Stop Fascism in India’
The Mayor of New Jersey town had also denounced the use of a bulldozer during the recent Indian Independence Day rally. Mayor Samip Joshi said it was “unacceptable” and asked for an apology from the group that organised the parade in Edison, New Jersey.
This was not the only instance of diaspora tensions around India’s Independence Day.
A verbal confrontation occurred in La Palma Park in Anaheim, California, on August 15, between a group celebrating India’s Independence Day and those protesting against caste discrimination and violence against Muslims in India. A video shared by Jeong Park, a journalist covering Asian American communities for the Los Angeles Times, showed the groups engaging in a verbal clash, with some abuses being hurled.
Loud cries of ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ could be heard. Protestors can be seen carrying placards that read ‘Justice for Dalit Lives’ and ‘Stop Fascism in India’.
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