NZ: Western Media’s Propaganda About Minorities’ Persecution In India Is Baseless, Say Leaders Of Indian Minority Communities

Endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s developmental policies and schemes, leaders of Indian minority communities in New Zealand, speaking at the launch ceremony of the New Zealand chapter of the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF), renounced Western media’s false propaganda about minorities’ persecution in India.

While all minority communities were represented at the event, they also condemned the false narrative being spread about the safety and security of minorities in India. They validated the fact that they are safe and secure in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

“Minority communities have been made equal partners in India’s development under PM Modi’s leadership,” stated IMF convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu. The leaders of these communities reject Western media’s anti-India lies about minorities being persecuted in India. Rather, under PM Modi’s leadership, these communities have thrived.”

“Ever since PM Modi took over India’s governance, he has proven himself as an incredibly popular politician through the work and leadership he has been providing the nation, as well as the inspiration to New Zealand and other countries around the world,” said Simon David O’Connor, Member of Parliament New Zealand. While the international media has levelled several criticisms at him, he is a very secular leader who engages with people from all communities and believes in equality.”

He went on to say that New Zealand is very interested in developing more and deeper relationships with the people of India, as well as interacting with the Indian community in New Zealand and engaging better with India in friendship and trade.

The IMF opened its second international chapter in New Zealand during an event held at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland, which received a big response from the country’s minority communities, who showed up in large numbers.

The purpose of the launch of this chapter is to give a common platform for Indian minority populations living in the country to discuss their issues and serve as a bridge between them and the Indian government.

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This news comes only days after the IMF established its first international chapter in Australia.

Neeta Bhushan, India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, was the event’s chief guest. IMF convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu and IMF co-founder Prof Himani Sood were in attendance.

Taznim, Secretary of the Burhani Women’s Association in Auckland; Father Joseph from the Serbian Orthodox Church; Shabbir Rajkotwala, a representative of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community; Nivzer Dadabhoy and Bonifa Irani, representatives of the Parsi and Zoroastrian Communities, among others, were also present.

Members of the New Zealand parliament, members of other communities, religious leaders, professors, academicians, and researchers also attended the IMF New Zealand chapter’s launch event.

Meanwhile,

The Indian Muslim women who attended the event thanked Prime Minister Modi for abolishing triple talaq and stated that Muslim women now feel safe in India.

The Centre passed the triple talaq law in 2019. Taznim, a Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community representative and Secretary of the Burhani Women’s Association in Auckland stated, “PM Modi has taken several landmark decisions for the empowerment of Muslim women in the country, such as introducing ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ to encourage the pursuit of higher education and abolition of the ‘Triple Talaq’ to ensure for them the dignity they deserve.”

Endorsing the fact that after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, he changed the way India is looked at global level, Father Joseph from the Serbian Orthodox Church said that ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come into power, he has been working to take India on the path of development and lifting the global image of the country.

“While several false narratives are being set up about Minorities being unsafe in India, the truth is that every community in the country enjoys freedom, security, and equal opportunities under the leadership of PM Modi. He is a secular Prime Minister and has been focusing on the welfare and progress of each community and connecting them to achieve harmony in the country,” he said.

Shabbir Rajkotwala, a representative of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community in New Zealand, said, “During his tenure of 9 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has focused on connecting with the people belonging to different communities in India and ensured equality among all, owing to which Dawoodi Bohra Muslim Community now feels safe and recognized in the country.

The entire community condemns the false narrative developed by the Western media that claims Muslims are unsafe in India. PM Modi has taken several big initiatives for the betterment of the Community, mainly in terms of business by opening the e-commerce channels that have resulted in the economic upliftment of the community.”

A representative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in New Zealand said,

“It is an honour to be part of the launch of the Indian Minorities Foundation in Auckland and to learn about India’s growth as a nation under PM Modi’s leadership. Every section of society in India is progressing, and Muslim Community is equally participating in its development. In the political era of PM Modi, Minorities feel safe in the country and enjoy equal opportunities.”

Nivzer Dadabhoy and Bonifa Irani, representatives of the Parsi and Zoroastrian Communities in New Zealand said, “The false narrative about Minorities being unsafe in India has been built by Western powers and vested interests to malign the nation and create a communal divide. This propaganda can be dispelled by witnessing the results of India reaching the global landscape and creating an image that is looked at by the entire world.”

Hemant Vohra, a representative of the Jain Community in New Zealand, said,

“PM Modi has been working for the upliftment of Minorities in India without any discrimination and focused on the social and economic welfare of all the communities. As a result, the socio-economic structure of all Minority communities is improving at a great pace and contributing to the nation’s growth at large.” Malvika Shah and Madraj Chandra of the Jain Community also appreciated the work done by PM Modi to improve each community and nation-building.

Nilesh Doshi, a representative of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple Avondale, said, “I feel honoured to get the opportunity to attend the launch of IMF on behalf of the entire BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha along with the people of the Indian Community in Auckland. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has understood the aspirations of each community and worked on taking them all together on the path of India’s progress.”