With 100K Signatures
“Anti-Modi” Petition Demanding Cancellation Of White House Invitation Crossed Threshold - Obama Administration In Spot
Washington (August 12, 2014)
While Obama administration is trying to woo India, a "We the People" petition urging President to condemn PM Modi and ban BJP for perpetrating violence against Muslims, Sikhs and Christians, has surpassed the required 100,000 signatures for an official response.
The petition was launched on July 21, 2014 by a human rights group "Sikh For Justice" (SFJ) after Obama invited Indian PM for a Summit at White House effectively reversing the 2005 ban on Modi's entry and visa to United States imposed by Bush administration.
Obama's invitation was followed by Secretary Kerry's visit to India during which he assured that Indian PM will be granted US visa to attend the upcoming UN general assembly session and White House summit.
Sikh rights group which initiated the Petition used FaceBook to garner gross root support from the Americans and 100,000 threshold was achieved a week before the White House deadline of August 20. The overwhelming response to the petition indicates that strong anti-Modi sentiments exist among the American public who want that White House should cancel invitation to a known human rights violator.
Reasoning why Obama should cancel summit with Modi, the petition cites New York Times April 16, 2014 report stating "mobs of Hindus rampaged, raped, looted and killed in a spasm of violence that raged for more than two months. Mothers were skewered, children set afire and fathers hacked to pieces. About 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed. Some 20,000 Muslim homes and businesses and 360 places of worship are destroyed, and roughly 150,000 people were displaced".
SFJ spokesperson Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who practices human rights law stated that now the petition has crossed the required threshold, Obama administration has to answer the Americans as to why a known human rights violator is being hosted at White House. Obama's invitation to Indian PM is a deliberate violation of US laws which prohibit entry of officials like Modi who have committed gross human rights violations, added Pannun.
SFJ plans to picket White House on September 30 with the help of Muslims and Christian organizations, if Obama administration continued with its plan to host Modi.
While Narendra Modi is infamous for his role in 2002 Gujarat massacre, the ruling party of India, BJP is notorious for participating in the attacks on places of worships belong to the minorities starting with the instigating Army invasion of the Golden Temple in 1984, carrying out demolition of Babari Masjid in 1992 and burning of Christian churches in Orissa during 2008.As per the White House Petition portal "the right to petition your government is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution". The portal further states that "we created We The People because we want to hear from you. If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response".
see link: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/cancel-white-house-invitation-pm-modi-organizer-2002-massacre-muslims-ban-bjp-1984-attack-golden/8fdsZrWf