An American Organisation, “Hindus for Human Rights, has created a controversial toolkit which is intended to spread negative information about PM Narendra Modi, who is on a state visit to the US.
This toolkit is easily available on the organisation’s website as a campaign against PM Modi and is titled “Modi Protest Toolkit.” The document has been proudly proliferated by the organisation, and it is basically propaganda material.
The document accuses PM Modi of consolidating power for himself and encourages the people to engage in protests while ensuring their own safety. The document reads, “With the potential protests in DC and New York City, it is important exercising our amendments rights and do so safely. Here is a protest toolkit for all your protest needs.”
The toolkit emphasised the importance of the protestors being well-informed about the cause or issue to be protested for and being prepared accordingly. This may be attributed to the observation that in many protests, the individuals who have little or no knowledge about the cause and aim of the protests end up being prominently featured in media coverage.
However, the organisation along with other similar groups lack support on the ground and lack substantive evidence. The document has provided guidelines that suggest disabling biometric features on devices as a means to safeguard privacy. It is also advised to share and identify information with fellow protestors.
The actual content of the toolkit followed the introductory guidelines and provided free draft tweets formats trying to target PM Modi and President Joe Biden. Examples include:
1) Dear POTUS, as you meet with PM Modi, we urge you to prioritise issues such as democracy and human rights. Stand up for the people of India and ensure accountability for any authoritarian actions.
2) As President Biden meets PM Modi, we must not forget the importance of holding leaders accountable. Democracy is under threat, and it is the right time to speak up. We demand transparency and justice, and respect for Human Rights.
3) The erosion of democracy is alarming. It is time to speak up against authoritarianism in India. We stand on the restrictions on free speech, press freedom and minority rights.
4) As citizens, we have the right to question those who are in power We demand transparency, accountability and respect for Human Rights in India. Let us unite to protect our democratic values.
The document also showed a list of hashtags to be used in tweets directed at President Biden, including #Bideen Hold Modi Accountable, #Human Rights Matter, # Accountability Now, #india visit, # Defend Democracy #Biden Speak up,
The hashtags for Modi are: #Defend Democracy, #Modi Authoritarianism, #India against Authoritarianism, # Stand Against Modi, and #India deserves better.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi went to the United States for a ten-day visit. He gave speeches at prominent values such as National Press Club and Stanford University. He also engaged in discussions with various think tanks regarding the relationship between India and the US. These images were shared on Twitter that show Rahul Gandhi engaged in deep conversations with these think tanks.
He met Sunita Vishwanath, the founder of Hindus for Human Rights. She was next to him during an event at the Hudson Institute. The organisation is actively participating and is preparing to oppose PM Modi’s visit for some time. In a tweet on June 5, 2023, they expressed disappointment with Senators Schumer and McCarthy inviting PM Modi to a joint meeting of Congress.
They stated-“Extremely disappointed to see Sen Schumer and Speaker Mc Carthy invite Modi to a joint meeting of Congress. The special friendship between the US and India has long been bound and shared values of secular democracy and freedom. In India, those values are gradually dissolving before our very eyes.”
According to an Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Disinfo Lab, after its investigation, it revealed that the Hindus For Human Rights had been promoting a narrative of Hindu vs Hindutva. This organisation has endorsed the Dismantling Global Hindutva event.
This organisation was formed and raised in 2019 by two Islamic groups, namely, Indian American Muslim Council and Organisation For Minorities in India. They trilaterally formed another group called Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA)
The Alliance for Justice and Accountability led the demonstrations against PM Modi’s visit to Houston on September 22, 2019. Sunita Vishwanath is also associated with an organisation called Women For Afghan Women which receives funding from the Open Soros Society Foundation.
She is well known for creating an alert and panic situation among Indian Muslims regarding the National Register for Citizens (NRC). She stated, “We are especially appalled by the most recent nightmare of the Kashmiri people and the situation of 1.9 million people who are rendered stateless due to the imposition of the travesty called NRC.”
It is important to note that even during Rahul Gandhi’s trip to the USA, he endorsed dangerous falsehoods and propaganda against the Citizenship Amendment Act, which led to Hindu-Muslim riots in 2020. He met with people at the events arranged by the coordinators with Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami and Muslim Brotherhood-linked fronts.
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