(Image source from: Chicago Tribune)
An Indian American politician Ameya Pawar, who serves as an alderman for the 47th Ward of the City of Chicago hit out at the World Hindu Congress (WHC) being held in the city.
Pawar, who was re-elected in 2015 with 82 percent of votes, hit out claiming that "'bigoted' RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) had no place in a discussion about Hinduism" and criticized violence against protesters.
He wrote on Twitter on September 7: "I'm a proud Hindu and the first Indian American elected to Chicago City Council. I'm extremely disappointed and ashamed the @WHCongress would invite speakers and organizations that promote discrimination, Islamaphobia, and Hindu nationalism. This is not who we are. I'm disgusted that peaceful protesters at the @WHCongress were pushed, kicked, and spat on. The behavior of some attendees confirms that Hindu Nationalists and the bigoted RSS have no place in a discussion about Hinduism. We are better than this."
I’m a proud Hindu and the first Indian American elected to Chicago City Council. I’m extremely disappointed and ashamed the @WHCongress would invite speakers and organizations that promote discrimination, Islamaphobia, and Hindu nationalism. This is not who we are.
— Ameya Pawar (@Ameya_Pawar_IL) September 7, 2018
Dear RSS/Hindu Nationalists at the @WHCongress: you admire @realDonaldTrump and his bigoted nationalism and try to align your politics with his. But know this: Trump and his people will always judge you based on your skin color. You are being used to further white supremacy. https://t.co/ksGRpkgUoh
— Ameya Pawar (@Ameya_Pawar_IL) September 8, 2018
I’m disgusted that peaceful protestors at the @WHCongress were pushed, kicked, and spat on. The behavior of some attendees confirms that Hindu Nationalists and the bigoted RSS have no place in a discussion about Hinduism. We are better than this. https://t.co/Ihy8U0DSfy
— Ameya Pawar (@Ameya_Pawar_IL) September 8, 2018
A group of protesters briefly disrupted the proceedings of the WHO in Chicago when they started raising slogans demanding the religious leaders at the meet to oppose the government of India's alleged "actions against religious minorities".
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Two of the women protesters were arrested Friday evening and local police charged them with disorderly conduct and trespassing. They were released later in the night.
Representing the Chicago South Asians for Justice, the two women speaking on condition of anonymity told PTI that they protested during the World Hindu Congress to urge the leaders attending it to oppose the "current actions of the government against religious minorities".
According to event organizer's allegation, the protesters sneaked into the venue through a "fake identity card". The issue has been reported to the police and is being investigated.
The second World Hindu Congress is being held in Chicago, in order to mark the memorialization of the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historical speech in 1893 at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago.
By Sowmya Sangam
