may 2023
Letter Urging President Biden to Rescind Prime Minister Modi State Dinner Invitation
Letter Urging President Biden to Rescind Prime Minister Modi State Dinner Invitation
The IRF Community and Indian American Muslim Council circulated a letter calling on President Biden to rescind Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to a state dinner at the White House, citing India’s significant democratic backsliding and human rights violations under Modi’s administration. It highlights Modi's promotion of Hindutva, a radical ideology aiming to transform India into a Hindu ethno-state, and outlines systemic oppression of minorities, including Muslims and Christians, through anti-minority laws, mob violence, and suppression of dissent. The letter references international reports, including those from the U.S. Department of State, Freedom House, and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which document widespread violations such as mob lynchings, anti-Muslim legislation, arbitrary arrests, and the targeting of journalists. It also notes India’s plummeting rankings in global indices on press freedom and democracy, alongside warnings from genocide monitoring organizations. The letter accuses Modi of enabling mob violence, citing the 2002 Gujarat riots and inflammatory rhetoric by BJP leaders. It argues that hosting Modi at the White House would signal U.S. support for his anti-democratic agenda and urges the Biden administration to condemn his actions and revoke the invitation.