In a significant development that could cause considerable embarrassment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his London trip next week, Indian students in UK have written to him asking him to first take action in rape cases. In their letter directed to PM Modi, the National Indian Students and Alumni Union, UK, wrote,
“We the Indian Indian student and alumni community in UK are deeply horrified and demand immediate proceedings against the accused in both cases (Kathu gang-rape and murder and Unnao rape case). We demand that you set a true example and prove that the current Indian government does care about the well-being and dignity of its children.” It went on to add, “When you did address the issues, you assured the nation that justice will be delivered. This is welcome. The question Prime Minister, is, When, and How?” NIASU’s website claims that it is an apolitical and non-religious student organisation. Modi will be in London on 18 April, where he is also scheduled to make a globally televised address.
Demanding justice for the 8-year-old Asifa Bano, who was brutally gang-raped for days before being mercilessly killed in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, theNIASU letter wrote, “”Extraordinary times demand extraordinary measures. When you arrive and address Bharat Ki Baat Sabske Saath, you can tell us what those extraordinary measures that you are putting into place to show that enough is not enough.” The signatories to the letter include NISAU, Oxford India Society, KCL India Society, LSE SU India Society, Warwick India Forum, Warwick Indian Society, Indian Society of Manchester, Salford Indian Society, Bharat Parivar UoB, Indian Society, Imperial College Indian Society, UCL Indian Society, NTSU Indian society, Queen Mary Indian Society, IndiaSoc Soton, Salford Indian Society, Indian Society University of Nottingham, Strathclyde Indian Students’ Association – SISA, Sisa Strath, UAL Indian Cultural Society and SGUL Indian Society.
This comes just a day after a prominent Labour MP and a shadow minister, Kahlid Mahmood told Janta Ka Reporter that Modi will not be ‘treated with respect’ during his next visit to London. Mahmood had said, “People are totally appalled by this very act. I think if Mr Modi comes here, he will not be treated with respect. He shouldn’t be treated with respect because this is abhorrent. It is not good enough for India to do that. If India wants to be an international player, then it must be acting like a democracy.”