Pulwama attack: US Indians hold protests at Pakistani, Chinese consulates

It is to be mentioned that a delegation had went to the consulate to handover a memorandum demanding "credible and visible" action against the perpetrators of the Pulwama carnage that was claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that claimed 163 lives.

Saima Siddiqui
Published on: 23 Feb 2019 7:54 AM GMT
Pulwama attack: US Indians hold protests at Pakistani, Chinese consulates
X
Pulwama attack: US Indians hold protests at Pakistani, Chinese consulates

New York: Members of the Indian community staged a peaceful protest for over two hours outside the Pakistani and Chinese consulates in New York and Chicago, condemning the February 14 Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF troopers.

The Indian-Americans constrained the Consulate in Chicago that Beijing should “stop sheltering and supporting hard line extremist terrorists” at the United Nations.

In New York, however, nearly 400 protesters were stopped by the police from approaching the consulate building and were cordoned to Central Park, across the avenue.

The protesters were shouting "Vande Mataram" and "God Bless America" along with slogans denouncing Pakistan's support for terrorism.

It is to be mentioned that a delegation had went to the consulate to handover a memorandum demanding "credible and visible" action against the perpetrators of the Pulwama carnage that was claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that claimed 163 lives.

Overseas Friends of BJP-USA (OFBJP) President Krishna Reddy Anugula said that the diplomats at the consulate refused to accept the memorandum, which also asked for freedom for Kulbhushan Jadav, who has been sentenced by a Pakistani military court as a spy, and for handing over JeM chief Masood Azhar and Dawood Ibrahim, who carried out 1993 terrorist bombings in Mumbai, to India.

On Thursday, community members also held a demonstration at the Chinese consulate in Chicago against Beijing's policy of protecting JAzhar from UN sanctions through its veto powers.

Jagdish Sewhani, the president of the American India Public Affairs Committee, and one of the organisers of the New York protest, said that his group was organising a nation-wide outreach campaign to members of Congress to sponsor legislation against Pakistan's support for terrorism.

Members of his group and other Indians have been asked to call on their legislators or write to them seeking action against Islamabad, he said.

The Federation of Indian Associations organised a candle-light vigil in Woodbridge, Virginia, on Thursday to honour the Pulwama victims. About 600 people, including Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac Councilwoman Nancy Drumm, had attended the vigil.

Across the US, Indian communities have held vigils and prayer services for the victims, including in Atlanta, Georgia; Naperville, Illinois; Sacramento, California' and Houston, Stafford and Woodlands in Texas.

The appalling Pulwama attack has been condemned by around 58 nations with the US mentioning Pakistan's name directly. The 15-membered, United Nations Security Council, on February 21, had termed this suicide bombing that killed 45 CRPF soldiers, the most ‘heinous’ and ‘cowardly’ act.

Saima Siddiqui

Saima Siddiqui

Next Story