Patel groups based in USA appeal to brethren to desist from carrying anti-Modi protest

Representatives of two Patel groups based in USA on Thursday appealed to members of the community not to demonstrate during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit there over the issue of ongoing agitation for reservation in Gujarat, saying internal issues are never raised abroad.

An official in Parliamentary Affairs Ministry claimed that the Ministry received the two appeal letters in this regard on Thursday. This has come on a day when a group of activists, organisations and some members of the Patel community launched a campaign in the US against Modi in New York. The campaign in various shapes and forms primarily includes multiple levels of protests in both New York and San Jose where the Prime Minister would be travelling.

The Government, which is apparently concerned with the agitation against the Prime Minister on a foreign soil, cited the two appeals made from two diffrent batches of the Patel community in USA against the protest to drive home the the message that all Patels are not favouring this protest.

While Chandrakant Patel and Manish Patel issued an appeal on behalf of 16 members of the Patel community based in New Jersey and New York, three others from a separate group -- Chandrakant Patel, Vishnubhai Patel and Mafathbhai Patel also issued an identical appeal.

"On the basis of the media reports, we are concerned about the fact that some members of our Patel Community have announced that they will demonstrate in United States of America in support of the agitation for reservation of Patel Community in Gujarat during Prime Minister Modi's visit. The issue of reservation is an internal issue within the country. It has nothing to do with the Prime Minister's visit to the USA. India speaks in one voice before the world. It has been a great tradition that such issues are never raised beyond the boundaries of our country," they said.

Another group also said that taking up such issues during the official foreign visit of the Prime Minister would neither help the community nor the country.

"Known for innovation and entrepreneurship, Patel community has made a name for itself being in the forefront of development in Gujarat, in India and in different parts of the world. Such a community should not do anything that hurts the image of our country outside. In view of this, we fervently appeal to our expatriate Patel brethren to desist from doing anything that will not help the cause of the community," they said.

The appeal letters have been cited by the government here, as the Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA), which claims itself to be a coalition of progressive groups in the US, launched "Modifail" campaign putting up huge billboard on freeways in Milpitas saying "we stand against Modi's regressive agenda."

AJA plans protests outside the SAP Center in San Jose on September 27, where Modi is scheduled to address to some 18,500 Indian-Americans.

New York-based Sikh for Justice has said it will hold similar protests before the United Nations here and also in front of the SAP Center in San Jose on September 27.