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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                               AUGUST 07, 2026      |  The Indian Eye 30

              IOC, USA Launches Nationwide Solidarity Campaign, Leads

             Landmark Times Square Demonstration for India’s Students

            OUR BUREAU
            New York, NY
                  he Indian Overseas Congress USA (IOC
                  USA) organized a peaceful demonstration
            Tat Times Square, New York City, expressing
            solidarity with students in India and reaffirming its
            commitment to democracy, constitutional values,
            educational transparency, and the right to peaceful
            protest.
                The gathering highlighted concerns related to
            the NEET examination controversy and reported
            police action against students, peaceful protesters,
            and Congress leaders, including Shri Rahul Gandhi
            and Smt. Priyanka Gandhi. Participants carrying the
            Indian Tricolor and the American flag raised their
            voices through banners, placards, and speeches
            calling for justice, accountability, equal opportunity,
            and protection of democratic freedoms.
                The nationwide demonstration was led by Mo-
            hinder Singh Gilzian, President, IOC USA; George
            Abraham, Vice Chairman; John Joseph, Secretary
            General; and Baldev Singh Randhawa, Vice President.
            The New York Times Square event was coordinated
            by Sophia Sharma, National General Secretary, and
            Imran Pasha, President, IOC USA New York Chapter.
                Mohinder Singh Gilzian, President of the Indi-
            an Overseas Congress USA, stated that, as empha-
            sized by Shri Rahul Gandhi, accountability should
            extend beyond resignations. He called for the res-
            ignations of Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan
            and Amit Shah, a public apology from Prime Min-  the diaspora’s dedication to democracy, peaceful   chapters organized peaceful solidarity demon-
            ister Narendra Modi, the withdrawal of FIRs filed   civic engagement, and the belief that dialogue and   strations across several major U.S. cities. In Los
            against protesting students, and action against those   constitutional values are essential to a healthy de-  Angeles, the event was led by Sabb Bhullar, Work-
            responsible for the use of force on students. He also   mocracy.                           ing President, IOC USA West Coast, and Onker
            urged the implementation of comprehensive ex-    Imran Pasha, President of the IOC USA New   Singh,  Youth  President,  who  reaffirmed  that  the
            amination reforms to prevent paper leaks and de- York Chapter, thanked community members for   right to peaceful protest is fundamental to democ-
            manded transparency regarding who authorized the   their strong participation, stating that the impres-  racy. In San Francisco, National General Secretary
            police action, as well as clarification on the role of   sive  turnout  reflected  the  Indian  diaspora’s  unity   Sandeep Vangala and Gurinder Singh gathered in
            individuals in plain clothes who were seen alongside   and continued commitment to democracy, con-  solidarity with students under the coordination of
            the police during the incident.               stitutional values, and peaceful civic engagement.  Madhav Nemali. The Chicago demonstration was
                George Abraham praised the students for   Minhaj Khan, National Secretary of IOC USA,  led by Satheesan Nair, President of the IOC USA
            standing  firmly  for  justice  and  democratic  values,  expressed solidarity with all students affected by   Kerala Chapter, and George Panicker, President
            stating that their movement highlighted the impor-  the protests and called for the release of every de-  of the IOC USA Chicago Chapter. In Detroit, the
            tance of youth voices in shaping public discourse.  tained student, irrespective of religion, emphasiz-  IOC Michigan Chapter organized a gathering under
            John Joseph emphasized the need for a transparent,  ing that protecting the rights, dignity, and future   the leadership of its President, Sridhar Patel. The
            merit-based, and accountable education system that   of India’s youth must remain a national priority.  Indiana Chapter, led by Rupinder Sahoke, held a
            ensures equal opportunities for all students. Baldev                                       peaceful meeting  in Greenwood, Indiana, calling
            Singh Randhawa reaffirmed the Indian-American   Nationwide Solidarity Across the United States  for fairness, transparency, and justice in the educa-
            community’s commitment to justice, accountability,   The Times Square demonstration was part of a   tion system. In Dallas, the demonstration was led by
            and constitutional principles.                nationwide series of peaceful solidarity events orga-  Gurdev Singh Hayer, Working President of the IOC
                Baldev Singh Randhawa, Vice President, Indi-  nized by IOC USA under the leadership of National   USA  Southwest  Chapter  and  Ajay  Goud  -  chair-
            an Overseas Congress USA, added: “When dem-   President Mohinder Singh Gilzian. The coordinat-  man of membership committee, while members in
            ocratic values  are  challenged  anywhere,  people   ed demonstrations were held across eight major   Washington, DC, gathered at the Gandhi Statue
            of conscience everywhere have a responsibility to   U.S. cities—New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, San   under the leadership of Johnson Myalil, Prakash
            stand together. Our unity today reflects our shared   Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Indiana, and Washing-  Singh, Vikas Chaudhary, Vipin Raj and Vijay Naru-
            commitment to justice, accountability, and demo-  ton, DC—reflecting the Indian diaspora’s collective   la. Together, these coordinated events reflected the
            cratic principles.”                           commitment to democracy, justice, educational   Indian diaspora’s shared commitment to democrat-
                Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Sophia   transparency, and peaceful civic engagement.   ic values, educational integrity, and peaceful civic
            Sharma said the Times Square gathering reflected   As part of the nationwide campaign, IOC USA   engagement.

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