Khalistani protester arrested for trying to disrupt Modi's US event
A Khalistani protester was arrested by New York law enforcement for attempting to disrupt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's community event at the Nassau Coliseum on Sunday. Another group was also stopped from breaching a designated "Free Speech Zone." The police action followed reports of provocative propaganda near the venue, including banners featuring an image of PM Modi targeted by a sniper rifle scope.
Propaganda materials removed from event vicinity
The Nassau County police officials also cleared propaganda by Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) placed on a road adjacent to the venue. CNN-News18, citing sources, said that the disruptive propaganda was orchestrated by the SFJ and Khalistani groups in opposition to the Indian government. They emphasized that violations of designated zones are taken seriously, particularly during visits by foreign leaders or dignitaries.
SFJ, Khalistani groups behind propaganda: Sources
The sources also told the channel that only a small number of Sikhs are collaborating with Khalistanis, who aim to sway US policy by portraying themselves as a significant voting minority. They further stated that the US government is "serious about India-US ties" and will not tolerate any actions that could potentially embarrass both governments. They confirmed that full security was provided to PM Modi during his visit.
US government committed to India-US ties: Sources
PM Modi arrived in New York after attending the Quad Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware. He also addressed members of the Indian community in New York and held a roundtable conference with top tech leaders and CEOs of the US, including Google's Sundar Pichai, Nvidia's Jensen Huang and Adobe's Shantanu Narayen. On Saturday, he participated in the Quad Summit and held bilateral meetings with Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japan PM Fumio Kishida.
