INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s track record of being a human rights violator is not leaving him alone as the affected communities and supporters and sympathizers of their plight and cause greet him with condemnation wherever he goes to represent his country. Latest example is the popular protest demonstrations held in South African cities to condemn the unabated oppression of Kashmiri people and persecution of minorities by the Hindutva forces as Modi arrived to attend the BRICS summit.
The demonstrations actively participated by human rights activists and media-persons portrayed anti-Modi placards and Kashmir flags and raised slogans berating Modi’s fascism. The protesters held banners inscribed with slogans like “Free Kashmir”, “Release Yasin Malik” and “Modi the Butcher of Gujarat”. The participants forcefully demanded implementation of the relevant UN resolutions envisaging right of self-determination for Kashmiris, calling upon the international community to pressurize Modi to stop brutalities against minorities pointing out that from Kashmir to Palestine occupation is a crime and that Modi was a killer of humanity. It may be pointed out that such demonstration, condemnation and labelling has become the fate of Modi because of the consistent trampling of rights of minorities throughout his rule. The plight of Muslims and other minorities under BJP rule can be judged by the fact that they are clearly being told by the majority either to convert to Hinduism or leave India. It is because of this that Modi is greeted with protests during his visits to occupied Kashmir, minority dominated cities and regions of India and also capitals of the world. India is trying to improve its image as a regional and world power through its participation in mega events across the globe and also ventures like moon-landing but the overall image remains highly tainted because of reputation of Narendra Modi as butcher of Muslims and other minorities which also formed the basis for a ban on his US entry before his assumption of power in New Delhi.
