A soldier, seen wearing his medals, participates in an Aam Aadmi Party rally. PHOTO: AFP
DELHI:
Around 75 professors and other academics of Indian origin working at some of Britain’s prestigious institutions on Wednesday issued an open letter sharply attacking Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
Academia from Cambridge and Oxford University as well as the London School of Economics said that the idea of Modi in power ‘fills them with dread’.
Led by Professor Chetan Bhatt and Gautam Appa of the LSE, academics issued the open letter in the UK’s left-leaning Independent newspaper.
“As the people of India vote to elect their next government, we are deeply concerned at the implications of a Modi-led BJP government for democracy, pluralism and human rights in India,” the letter said.
“Modi is embedded in the Hindu nationalist movement with their history of inciting violence against minorities. Some of these groups stand accused in recent terrorist attacks against civilians,” the letter titled ‘The idea of Modi in power fills us with dread’ reads.
The letter followed a similar open letter by Indian-origin author Salman Rushdie and artist Anish Kapoor among others in the Guardian.
The letter in the Independent published on Wednesday reads: “There is widespread agreement about the authoritarian nature of Modi’s rule in Gujarat, further evidenced by the recent sidelining of senior figures within the BJP. This can weaken Indian democracy.”
Pakistan eager to cooperate
Pakistan’s envoy to India Abdul Basit told reporters here that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif hopes to explore new possibilities in Indo-Pak ties.
“Diplomacy and wars have both failed between India and Pakistan. In 67 years, we have added to, and not resolved, our issues. We are looking forward to work with the new government in India,” Basit added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2014.
COMMENTS (11)
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Of all the comments above I like Arijit Sharmas and Vishnu Reddys comments.
Obviously, those who can't do, teach.
What tripe. Undemocratic elitists masquerading as lovers of democratic rights. Anyway advise that reeks of elitist contempt for the democratic views of India’s electorate by those who have forsaken India’s shore for foreign ivory towers, is outright rejected.
I will be voting for the BJP and by extension for Mr. Narender Modi hopefully as Prime Minister. Time to vote out political parties that pander to communalism by pandering to minority religious vote banks under the guise of secularism like the Congress. Time to show ivory tower elitist academics who are contemptuous of the vote of India’s electorate that many Indian's see through the smokescreen of their proclaimed love for democratic rights and do not give a damn about what they have to say.
@Hmm:
Dream on.....
Till now these people haven't got voting rights . These people should be worried about their country and queen . We simply don't care . You are Britons , We are Indians . In few years , we will overtake the queen and her land .
The idea of anyone other than Modi as PM fills me with dread.
For each member of the Indian diaspora opposing Modi, there are many more supporting him. Writing letters to foreign newspapers is quaint, comical and a completely meaningless exercise. Such is the irrelevance of the left wing elites nowadays that they have been reduced to complaining to one another. In any case, regardless of ones leanings, all will have to bow to he verdict of the Indian electorate soon.
LOL! So called british citizen of indian origin lecturing indians who CHOSE to live and toil out an existence in india. Worry about the queen and country and buzz off! What's next? mirpuris complaining about modi?
Migrant "so called" Punjabies from India, who are nothing but lineless scyths just like Pakistanis, now holding the Cabbie wheel in London along with the Pak scythians are filled with dread for their brothas.Narendra Modi , the Son of Bharat Mata, clearly knows the difference.And he is out to trample the scythian menace under his boots.Who is filled with dread?Lol.Dont feel dreaded Scyth, no one bothers about a migrants existence.Back to your petrol pump now.
These 75 British academics of Indian origin have no business interfering in India's internal affairs. It is quite obvious that this is actually a case of covert British interference in India's internal affairs, through its proxies living there. It is also obvious that that these foreign powers have poured in money, and used the contacts in the Indian media, to influence opinion just before the elections. However, the results of the elections will show in next three weeks, if these attempts had any impact on the people of India.