Ghadar Centenary Celebrations Committee to protest against Modi during his Canada visit
The members of the Ghadar Centenary Celebrations Committee (GCCC) have resolved to protest against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he comes here on April 16. Modi will be on his first official visit to Canada next week.
The members of the Ghadar Centenary Celebrations Committee (GCCC) have resolved to protest against the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he comes here on April 16. Modi will be on his first official visit to Canada next week.
The GCCC is an umbrella organization of more than dozen progressive and secularist South Asian groups that was formed in commemoration of the 100 years of the Ghadar Party – that was established to resist racism and British occupation of India in 1913. It was a group of radical South Asian activists that believed in secularism and social equality.
Avtar Gill of Taraksheel Sabha, which is a part of the GCCC, told HT that all the bodies have unanimously resolved to hold rallies against Modi for his silence over the continued attacks on religious minorities under his government. “We have decided to demonstrate outside the Ross Street Sikh temple, where he is being given a warm reception.”
Gill pointed out that his own organization which is dedicated to the cause of enlightening people against superstition and communalism is upset with growing demand for removing secularism from the preamble of the Indian constitution and adopting Bhagwad Geeta as a National Book by the supporters of Modi’s Bhartiya Janata Party.
“All this goes against the spirit of diversity and pluralism, the values that were greatly cherished by the Ghadar heroes.”
Earlier, Harbhajan Cheema, the leader of the East Indian Defence Committee which is also a part of the GCCC had announced that they will be organizing a rally in protest against Modi for continued attacks on civil liberties and democratic rights under his administration.
In the meantime, former BC Premier Ujjal Dosanjh – who is a known critic of religious terrorism, has condemned the “lack of political will” on part of Modi to control violence and intimidation by the supporters of Hindutva.
It is pertinent to mention that the activists from the minority communities, including Sikhs, Muslims and Christians besides, the members of the queer community are also gearing up for protests against the visiting leader.