Amidst a grand celebration of International Yoga Day led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the headquarters of United Nations, protests emerged in New York with people holding placards demanding "peace in Manipur".
PM Modi concluded the yoga event on Wednesday which witnessed the presence of an overwhelming number of people of Indian origin mixed with yoga enthusiasts of other nationalities as well. Notably, the event created a Guinness World Record for the participation of people of most nationalities at a yoga session.
On the other hand, protestors gathered nearby with placards stating "We want peace in Manipur", "Why PM Modi silent", "Real Hindus don't lynch", "Save Manipur" and "Stop violence in Manipur", among others.
A video also showed a van displaying a message "Hey Joe Biden, ask Modi why India is under a genocide watch today!"
PM's official maiden visit to the US comes at a time when more than 100 people have lost their lives in the violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur that broke out over a month ago.
Ten opposition parties of Manipur led by the Congress had on Saturday questioned the "silence" of Prime Minister Modi, urging him to meet them and make an appeal for peace.
The Congress further said that it has been 50 days since Manipur is burning and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "totally and completely failed" in his duty by choosing to deliberately ignore the violence-hit state in the time of crisis.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also accused the BJP-led government of "maximum silence, minimum governance" in Manipur.
"Let us remind ourselves amidst all the news of the Prime Minister's visit to the USA that today is the 50th consecutive day of Manipur's pain, distress and agony," he tweeted.
Earlier today, the Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi in a video message, issued an appeal for peace in Manipur and said the unprecedented violence that has devastated the lives of people of the state has left a deep wound on the nation's conscience.
Ahead of the PM's visit, a group of American lawmakers on Tuesday wrote to US President Joe Biden, asking him to raise directly with Narendra Modi "areas of concern" and discuss with him the full range of issues important to a successful, strong, and long-term relationship between the two countries.
The letter mentioned reports about "the shrinking of political space, the rise of religious intolerance, the targeting of civil society organizations and journalists, and growing restrictions on press freedoms and internet access" in India and also referred to the State Department's 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in India.
