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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline AUGUST 13, 2021 | The Indian Eye 22

Supporters of farmers’ issue

protest at Idp new York

Huge crowds, several floats and marching groups, scores of lawmakers and dignitaries and

entertaining performances add to the only parade in New York state

Our BurEau

New York

he India Day Parade was
held on August 8, 2021, at
THicksville in Long Island,
New York. However, before the
parade started, a condition was
imposed on the participating In-
dian Overseas Congress (IOC)
USA group not to raise any is-
sue of the farmer’s agitation in
Delhi in the parade - a develop-
ment which totally disappointed
almost all the over 100 partici-
pants who had already gathered
at a location nearby the starting
point of the parade, according records in India’s recent histo-
to a statement from IOC. ry but perhaps the world - way IdP president condemns failure
“Indian Overseas Congress, more than 600 people had also
USA threw its support behind lost their lives. Both the dem- of law enforcement
the cause of the protesting onstrators and their families party and promised to allocate
farmers in India and objected to back home are not only suffer- Our BurEau space in the parade to join and
the heavy-handed approach of ing both physically and econom- New York celebrate. This event is beyond
the India Day Parade organiz- ically under the Covid-19 pan-
ers in Long Island to stifle dis- demic but also acutely enduring n a statement President party line and beyond any par-
sent,” said President Mohinder the record-breaking severe cold, Deepak Bansal of India ticular cause except to pay hom-
Singh Gilzian. “This celebration floods and burning hot weather IDay Parade, New York, age to our patriotic elders who
condemned the attempt to dis- got us independence. We want
is about freedom, and it is a fun- conditions.” rupt the historic event. “I am to pass the legacy to the next
damental right of people to ex- Chants to the Prime Min- extremely hurt and disappoint- generation,” he added.
press one’s opinion without fear ister to settle the issues of the ed on the behavior or my own Bansal was critical of law
of repercussions.” farmers were loud and inces-
“The Government of India’s sant. Even the heavy downpour brethren especially on a day enforcement agencies of fail-
stonewalling to the concerns of rain could not drown out when we celebrate our Inde- ing to stop the disruption. “To
pendence Day and pay respects my disappointment, the group
of the farmers is not what one their thunderous voices and to the freedom fighters. We and police department both let
expects from a true democ- their strong punches into the air. are 8,000 miles away from our us down. The groups chose to
racy,” said George Abraham, At the same time, solemn
Vice-Chairman of the IOCUSA. allegiance to Mother India motherland and this is the day scream and shout at the parade.
“The current government is only was repeatedly orchestrat- when we all need to hold hands They wanted to speak from the
interested in protecting the in- ed by all with fervent respect and be together. I had been told stage and I had no issues but it
terests of the crony capitalists,” and love. Chairman of Pun- by some friends to expect some was not to vent their grievances
miscreants to create trouble. I and to protest. I wish they had
Abraham added. jab Chapter Satish Sharma, had few meetings with police handled it better and found
Secretary-General Har- President of Punjab Chapter, department and gave them better ways for their voice,” the
bachan Singh pointed out that Gurmit S. Gill, President of heads up. They had promised to IDP chief said.
after almost ten months of a Haryana Chapter Amar Singh
peaceful demonstration by the Gulshan, President of Kera- handle it amicably,” Bansal said “But I am grateful to everyone
farmers in a gathering which la Chapter Ms. Leela Merat, in a statement. in community and my committee
“I also had a call with that to make a historical parade espe-
is said to be so large and pro- and other IOC (USA) leaders group from a leading political cially after pandemic. Jai Hind.”
longed that it broke not only also addressed the gathering.

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