Modi supporters, pro-Kashmir secession backers face off

More than 300 supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned up across the UN complex here Saturday to cheer him as he spoke to the General Assembly.

Separated from them by New York Police with steel barriers, a group of about 100 people held a counter demonstration in support of Kashmir's secession. At one point, they heckled Modi supporters who responded with slogans of their own.

Police screened the people coming to the Dag Hammarksjold Plaza where several protests were going on simultaneously, separating them and sending them to the two demonstrations. There was also a protest against Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who spoke after Modi.

Other protests included demonstrations against Cuba and China.

Jasmine Jaywant, who lives in Princeton and works as a counsellor at New York University, said she saw "profound irony" in the way Modi was denied a visa for so many years but is now welcomed.

She gave her reason for coming to the demonstration: "We want to show our support for the way he is working in appropriate ways for India."

Modi's supporters came from across the US for the show of support organised by several organisations, including Global Indians for Bharat Vikas, Overseas Volunteers for Better India, Overseas Bharatiya Janata Party and Jersey City senior citizens' association.

Many of the supporters had also been earlier at the 9/11 Memorial when Modi went there to honour the more than 3,000 victims of the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre.

The pro-Modi supporters gave several reasons for coming there. Kunal Duddalwar, a Columbia University student in New York, said he came to the pro-Modi demonstration because "I support his slogan on 'Make in India, Work in India' and his efforts to bring investments to India".

Usha Vora from Long Island, New York, said she wanted to back Modi's plans to "see India grow". Prashant Patel, who came from Dallas, Texas, said he was there to "show solidarity for a greater India and the betterment of India."

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in)