London: A Britain based secular network of activists, individuals and organisations - Awaaz Network – has voiced its opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the United Kingdom on November 12.
According to reports, the group had, as a mark of protest, posted a message ''MODI NOT WELCOME” at the Palace of Westminster here on Sunday. Here is all you need to know about Awaaz, which has plans to hold a a mass rally on November 12, a day before PM Modi addresses a crowd of 70,000 people in London’s Wembley stadium.
-Britain-based Awaaz is an organisation of individuals and activists with secular mindsets who claim to be committed to monitor and combat religious hatred in South Asia and the United Kingdom.
-Awaaz, which was set nearly a decade ago, has campaigned against the communal hatred and the intolerance in south Asia - including Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Awaaz has been against Hindu fascism and terrorism in the name of religion. In order to mobilise their ideology, this group of intellectuals have been organising campaigns since 2002, which includes protest rallies, campaigns, seminars.
Awaaz had recently launched a book - Narendra Modi Exposed : Challenging the myths surrounding the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
Soon after the Godhra incident in 2002, the organisation had started a campaign and lead a protest rally in London on August 21, 2002 against Lal Krishna Advani - then Home Minister of India - who was supposed to visit Britain. Its activists protested with placards “LK ADVANI NOT WELCOME HERE”.
-In July 2004, Awaaz held a seminar on religious fundamentalism in Pakistan, gender and religious violence and the Kashmir conflicts, which was widely appreciated by the intellectuals.
-In 2005, Awaaz undertook a campaign to raise funds to help the Tsunami victims in South Asia. Their campaign of raising funds came with a caution of being aware of the communal forces like Sewa International UK and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK.
-Over suspicion of Narendra Modi’s alleged involvement in 2002 Godhra riots, Awaaz feels Indian PM responsible for the riots and the massacre. On March 26, 2005 the association held a public rally in London protesting his arrival at the British land and they succeeded.
-Besides Awaaz, other groups like Dalit Solidarity Network, Indian Muslim Federation, Indian Workers Association, Muslim Parliament, Oxford South Asia Forum, South Asia Solidarity Group, Southall Black Sisters, Voice of Dalit International and Women Against Fundamentalism have also decided to oppose Modi's UK sojourn.
