Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Howdy, Modi” rally in Houston in the USA on September 22, which is expected to be a mega show with the US President Donald Trump also likely to attend, protests are being planned by some minority communities. Earlier, OpIndia had reported how the bus routes for the protesters to get to this protest rally were limited to 16 mosques in Houston and 1 Gurudwara that has Khalistani links.
This is the list of the religious institution from where protesters can take buses to the venue.
- Masjid Abu Bakr
- Maryam Islamic Center
- Masjid At-Taqwa
- Masjid Hamza (Mission Bend Islamic Center)
- Bear Creek Islamic Center/Masjid Al-Mustafa
- The Woodlands Mosque
- Islamic Center of Baytown
- MAS Katy Center
- Madrasah Islamiah
- Al-Noor Society of Houston
- Islamic Education Center
- Pearland Islamic Center
- Masjid al-Salam
- Sikh National Center
- Mishkah Center
- Cypress Masjid
- Bilal Masjid North
Few of these mosques are identified as promoting radical Islam by the Clarion Project, like the Islamic Education Center and Masjid At-Taqwa.
The Sikh organisers of the protest talked to Houston Chronicle, and from their comments, it is apparent that they are linked with the Khalistani movement. Jagdeep Singh, one of the Sikh organisers of the protest, is working towards the 2020 Punjab referendum, a Khalistani separatist campaign seeking to organise a referendum in Punjab in 2020 for forming an independent Khalistan. Hardam Singh Azad, chairman of the Sikh National Center, said “it’s a protest rally for freedom”, clearly indicating that the protest is being organised by separatists.
To follow the link more closely, OpIndia had its contact register for the event to see where the trail takes him.
The initial email after registration that our source got was to inform him that
The email that starts with ‘Asaalaamu Aalaykum’ says that some ‘generous donors’ have arranged for luxury buses to and from the protest venue, which is the NSG stadium. The rest of the email asks the participants to be on time and that the buses will function on first come first serve basis. In fact, it even says that there will be a regular shuttle that would leave every 10 minutes and that no registration for it is required. The email, as one can see, is dated 20th September 2019.
However, till 17th September at least, there were several posts on social media that asked participants to carry water etc to the venue and there was no indication that any luxury arrangements had been done.
The initial flyer of bus routes that were floated had no indication of any donors arranging for luxury buses or even any ‘event partners’, so to speak.
The new flyer, however, that was floated along with the email had a completely revamped look and included several other details.
The new flyer had the information of free shuttle facility, free park and ride and also, the timings of the shuttles.
However, there was other additional information that was rather intriguing. The new flyer had names of a host of “Coalition partners” of the event.
It only stands to reason that perhaps, it is these ‘coalition partners’ who are ‘sponsoring’ the luxury buses to the event that is now being touted to ensure more people gather at the anti-Modi protest in Houston.
It thus becomes imperative to examine, one by one, who these purported ‘donors’ are.
The purported donors of ‘Howdy Modi’ protests with connections to Pakistan, including PTI
Following are the donors that have a distinctive connection with Pakistan, including, the ruling party of Pakistan, PTI.
1. HKSCA
The full form of the HKSCA acronym sheepishly mentioned in the new flyer is ‘Houston-Karachi Sister City Association’.
The stated goal of HKSCA is to increase cultural and educational exchange to improve understanding and promote interaction between the people of Houston and Karachi.
2. PAGH
The full form of PAGH is Pakistan Association of Greater Houston. The Pakistan Association of Greater Houston is a non-profit social organization created to sponsor and host charitable, social, and religious events for Pakistani Americans living in the greater Houston area. It also helps give a voice to the Pakistani community in civic matters, although we are not associated with any political parties.
While PAGH says it is not associated with any political party, it is deeply associated with Pakistan and hence, the deep-seated hatred for India is a natural product of their existence.
Following is the Facebook page of PAGH.
3. PTI USA LLC
And now, the clincher. Another purported donor of the anti-Modi protest ahead of Howdy Modi event in Houston is PTI USA LLC.
PTI is, of course, the ruling party of Pakistan and the party from which the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran ‘Taliban’ Khan hails from.
The purported donors of ‘Howdy Modi’ protests with links to Muslims and Radical Islam
1. Sound Vision
While the name sounds fairly generic, Sound Vision is rooted in Islam and is an organisation for Muslims. Sound Vision aims to produce content that helps build bridges of understanding among Muslims and their neighbours, with emphasis on youth.
One of the projects of Sound Vision is ‘freekashmir.org‘.
The website, of course, peddled absolute lies and fabrications with hardly any proof to back its assertions. It is evident, that an organisation that works solely with Muslims and Islam, identifies with Pakistan’s cause for Kashmir owing to global Ummah. Pakistan has itself been talking about Islam and Muslims constantly while speaking about Kashmir.
2. EMGAGE
EMGAGE, on its website, says, “We are Emgage. We focus on programs based on community organizing and building strong relationships in order to drive voter registration and participation for the Muslim community in the United States. We seek to educate, empower, and engage Muslim Americans through educational events, voter initiatives, and leadership development in order to create a community of equitable, knowledgeable, and motivated citizens”.
While EMGAGE works exclusively for Muslims and Islam, it harbours a strong hatred for India and has peddled atrocious lies against India in the past.
With a combined population of over 221 million Muslims, India and China’s Muslims are being targeted and human rights violations are occuring.
Millions are under threat by the forces of bigotry and xenophobia. The world, still, remains quit. https://t.co/583ND7yyh8
— Emgage Action (@EmgageAction) September 13, 2019
EMGAGE, in its infinite dishonesty, compared the plight of Muslims in India to the plight of Uighur Muslims in China. While China has adopted a policy of putting Muslims in concentration camps, banned Azan and Islamic prayers, banned any manifestation of Islamic faith including keeping beard, hijab, burkha and even the Islamic cap worn by men, India has given equal rights to all its minorities. In fact, minorities get special rights via laws like RTI etc that even the majority Hindus don’t have access too.
We are seeing this trend from India to Europe and right here at home. Only through our unanimous rejection of these voices can we defeat them and protect our cherished freedoms and values.” – Emgage CEO @WaelAlzayat
— Emgage Action (@EmgageAction) September 6, 2019
The CEO of EMGAGE, Wa’el N. Alzayat is a Syrian American. He has proudly endorsed hateful Islamists like Linda Sarsour earlier.
Thanks @DeanObeidallah for the great coverage of this historic event. https://t.co/lpCFwYGHZ9
— Wa’el N. Alzayat (@WaelAlzayat) September 5, 2019
One can, of course, recall what Linda Sarsour had said about Ayaan Hirsi Ali who talks about bringing reforms in Islam and shuns radicalism.
3. CAIR
One of the purported donors of the anti-Modi protest in Houston is the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR).
CAIR has a shady past. Elected US Congresswoman by the name of Ilhan Omar referred to 9/11 terror attacks recently as “some people did something.” Incidentally, Ilhan Omar was speaking at an event organized by the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR), which was an un-indicted co-conspirator in a case involving terror funding in Palestine.
Investigativeproject.org says about CAIR (and they do so with proof):
It offers a benign mission statement – “to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.” But a closer look at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) raises a host of troubling questions about its history and purpose.
Born of an effort to scuttle hopes for a negotiated Middle East peace, CAIR was listed among organizations tied to the Muslim Brotherhood’s American network. Its founders emerged from a separate Islamic organization that two courts have found played a supporting role for the terrorist group Hamas.
The Washington, D.C.-based organization purports to be a “leading advocate for justice and mutual understanding” and claims to speak for the majority of American Muslims. However, after a careful review of the history, activities, statements, and causes of and by CAIR, it seems that its primary goals are to silence and de-legitimize its critics and redefine what it means to be a moderate Muslim. And when it comes to U.S. efforts to crack down on terrorists and their financiers, CAIR takes an almost visceral stand in opposition. This has the effect of undermining the legitimate security-related concerns and campaigns of the United States and its allies. These conclusions and the summary immediately below are based upon the evidence and examples that follow in this report; beginning with CAIR’s very founding
The full investigation on the radical Islam and terror links of CAIR can be read here.
The Khalistan link in ‘Howdy Modi’ protests: Sikhs for Justice
In July 2019, the Indian government banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as a terror organisation. SFJ pushes for Sikh Referendum 2020 as part of its separatist agenda. The group’s primary objective is to establish an ‘independent and sovereign country’ in Punjab.
‘Sikhs for Justice’ is a UK based that group that is allegedly supported by ISI, Pakistan’s intelligence agency. The group had organized an event calling for a referendum for the separation Punjab from India at London’s Trafalgar Square last year in August. They had held what is known as the ‘London Declaration’ for the referendum in 2020. The group also had to face a large gathering of Indians who arranged a counter-protest, displaying support for India’s sovereignty.
The government had previously taken several steps to clamp down the Khalistani separatists. In September 2018 Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ’s legal advisor was banned from WhatsApp. The government had also successfully taken steps to limit his Facebook and Twitter reach.
Pannun is notorious for his numerous lawsuits against Sikh political leaders. Following the WhatsApp ban, he had also uploaded a video threatening the Punjab CM Amarinder Singh and insulted the Indian national flag. In 2017, the Punjab Government had filed a sedition case against him for putting up posters of the ‘referendum 2020’ supporting the Khalistan demand.
Pakistan’s close nexus with the Khalistani extremists was evident in December last year. Members of a Canada based Khalistani organisation had honoured Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and their Army Chief, General Bajwa for opening the Kartarpur Corridor.
One of the flyers by Sikhs for Justice regarding the anti-Modi protests names not only SJF but also Pannun rather clearly.
The City Court of Houston has also hilariously ‘summoned’ PM Modi. According to the Houston Chronicle, a local daily, the summons was issued Thursday on a civil complaint filed by two unnamed Kashmiris settled in the US through an organisation called the ‘Kashmir Khalistan Referendum Front’. Intelligence Agencies believe that SJF is behind the lawsuit.
Random groups to make it seem official
One donor mentioned in the flyer is ‘Stop Nazi Modi’. Interestingly, one cannot find much information about this group on the internet at all. All one finds is the event invitation for this anti-Modi protest itself.
There seem to be several such names inserted simply to make it appear as if the protest organised by Khalistanis, Pakistanis and Radical Islamists with links to terror groups like Hamas have wide acceptance among a varied group of individuals.
It is no surprise that terror group linked organisations, Islamists, Pakistanis and Khalistanis would protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has not only taken a strong stand against Radical Islamism but also terror-exporting Pakistan with the surgical strike, Balakot airstrike and an all-out diplomatic offensive against Pakistan.
