Close X
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
ADVT 
International

Indian-Americans Urge US Congressman Ro Khanna To Leave Pakistan Caucus

Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Sep, 2019 10:59 PM

    A record number of 230 Indian-American organisations in the United States have urged Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna to withdraw from the Congressional Caucus on Pakistan, saying it was contrary to both American principles and India's geo-strategic interests.


    Mr Khanna, 42, became the first Indian-American to have joined the Congressional Pakistan Caucus last month. He is also the member Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, which is the largest country-specific caucus in the House of Representatives.


    In a letter submitted to the Indian-American lawmaker on Monday, Indian-American organisations, professional associations and community leaders urged Mr Khanna to withdraw from the Congressional Pakistan Caucus.


    A copy of the letter was released by the Hindu American Foundation (HAF).


    "As a leading member of the House India Caucus, Foreign Affairs Committee, and a champion of human rights, we are deeply troubled that you joined the Congressional Pakistan Caucus," the letter stated.


    The letter alleged that Pakistan continues to utilise terror to attack US interests in Afghanistan and wage a proxy war against India.


    Pakistan has shown a complete and utter disregard for human rights and religious freedom and was recently labelled as a Country of Particular Concern by the US State Department for its "systematic, ongoing, [and] egregious violations of religious freedom" against Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Shia and Ahmadiyya Muslims, they said.


    "We believe that your membership in this Caucus is contrary to both American principles and our geo-strategic interests in the Indian Subcontinent and the broader South Asian region," the letter said.


    "Accordingly, we urge you to withdraw from the Congressional Pakistan Caucus. We further urge you to write directly to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and meet with (Pakistan) Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan to address Pakistan's ongoing use of terrorism to destabilise the region and its rampant and severe human rights violations," it said.


    The community members also urged Mr Khanna to make a formal statement for the Congressional record, highlighting the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits, who were driven out from their homes by Pakistan-sponsored terror campaign three decades ago.


    The members said that they looked forward to Mr Khanna following through on the assurances he made on Sunday about working to address the suffering of both Indian and Pakistani religious minorities at the hands of the Pakistan government.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Trump Signalling He Considers PM Modi Ally: Ex Pak Envoy On Texas Event

    Donald Trump said he will join PM Modi for the mega Indian community event "Howdy, Modi!" in Houston. This would be the 3rd meeting between Trump and PM Modi this year. The previous 2 were on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Japan in June and on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France in July.  

    Trump Signalling He Considers PM Modi Ally: Ex Pak Envoy On Texas Event

    Lahore Man Chops Off Wife's Nose, Hair After A Heated Argument

    A man in Lahore on Tuesday cut off his wife's nose and hair during a fight following which the woman was rushed to a hospital, the police said.

    Lahore Man Chops Off Wife's Nose, Hair After A Heated Argument

    Pakistani Teen Beaten To Death Over Arcade Game

    Pakistani Teen Beaten To Death Over Arcade Game
    A Pakistani teen has been beaten to death by his friend over a token to be used to play a game at an arcade in the country's Punjab province, according to a media report.

    Pakistani Teen Beaten To Death Over Arcade Game

    Brad Pitt Phones NASA Astronaut, Asks 'Did You Spot India's Chandrayaan 2 Vikram Moon Lander'?

    The fate of India's Chandrayaan 2 Vikram lander found a surprise mention during Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt's question-answer session with a NASA astronaut.

    Brad Pitt Phones NASA Astronaut, Asks 'Did You Spot India's Chandrayaan 2 Vikram Moon Lander'?

    Pak Hindu Medical Student Nimrita Kumari Found Hanging From The Ceiling Fan In Her College's Hostel Room

    While the university authorities have expressed the suspicion that it could be a case of suicide, the student's family members have alleged foul play.

    Pak Hindu Medical Student Nimrita Kumari Found Hanging From The Ceiling Fan In Her College's Hostel Room

    Trump: Hispanic adviser 'looks more like WASP than I do'

    Trump: Hispanic adviser 'looks more like WASP than I do'
    US President Donald Trump returned to New Mexico for a wide-ranging campaign rally, courting Hispanic voters in a state he lost in 2016, and said that his Hispanic Advisory Council member Steve Cortes looked "more like a WASP than I do".    

    Trump: Hispanic adviser 'looks more like WASP than I do'

    PrevNext