MQM leader Altaf Hussain urges PM Modi to raise Muhajir persecution at global forums
This appeal was made during a live broadcast from London. In his remarks, Hussain commended PM Modi for his public support of the Baloch people, calling it a brave and commendable act.
He further urged PM Modi to also lend his voice in support of the Muhajir community, which he claims has faced decades of systemic discrimination, violence, and state-sponsored oppression in Pakistan.
'Since the Partition of India, the military establishment in Pakistan has never completely recognised the Muhajirs as legitimate citizens,' Hussain said. 'The MQM, which has consistently fought for the rights of marginalised communities, has endured multiple military actions, leading to the deaths of more than 25,000 Muhajirs and the forced disappearance of thousands more,' he added.
He also denounced recent occurrences in the United States, particularly a pro-Pakistan event that took place in Dallas, Texas, on May 23. Hussain mentioned that the Pakistani Consul General in Houston, Aftab Chaudhry, showcased a video at the event depicting Altaf Hussain and the MQM as Indian agents, a claim the MQM leader argues is part of a wider disinformation strategy designed to undermine the Muhajir cause.
Hussain expressed that Muhajirs have been rendered voiceless and powerless in Pakistan. He urged PM Modi to highlight the struggles of the Muhajirs at international platforms and to collaborate with global human rights organisations to ensure their safety, dignity, and fundamental rights.
'The Muhajirs are unarmed and endure dire living conditions. For over 61 years, they have faced repeated cycles of economic hardship and physical destruction. Their plight can no longer be ignored,' he said. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Modi likely to be in US next month for UNGA meet, bilateral talks with Trump
Preparations are underway to schedule a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in the last week of September, The Indian Express has learnt. The ostensible reason is to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but a key objective will be to meet US President Donald Trump, iron out the issues on trade and arrive at a common ground on tariffs. This will also give an opportunity for the two leaders to announce a trade deal. However, for this to fructify, a lot of moving parts have to fall in place. There has to be movement on two fronts — the Russia-Ukraine war and the Indo-US trade deal. Negotiations are underway on both fronts, and the stakes for Delhi are high since it has been slapped with 50 per cent tariffs by the US — 25 per cent for its high tariffs and 25 per cent penalty for buying Russian oil. On the Russia-Ukraine war front, Delhi is closely following the meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 to discuss a resolution to the war in Ukraine. Modi has already spoken to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the last few days. A resolution to the conflict is in India's interest, sources said, and this has been conveyed to both leaders. On the trade deal front, Indian and American negotiators had been close to sealing a deal, but the US President was not happy about the deal that was agreed between the interlocutors. So, the negotiators have to discuss the terms of the deal further, and they have to offer new terms, as red lines have been drawn. But the two sides are focused on the new goal for bilateral trade — 'Mission 500' — aiming to more than double total bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. This was decided during Modi's visit to the White House where he met Trump in February this year. They had also agreed that to realise this ambition, they would require new, fair-trade terms, and they had announced plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall this year. And to conclude a wide-ranging BTA, the US and India had agreed to take an integrated approach to strengthen and deepen bilateral trade across the goods and services sector, and work towards increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and deepening supply chain integration. But that has run into rough weather. And the officials and negotiators have to unlock the issues and negotiate a deal by September last week – the Prime Minister's visit to the US is expected to 'dot the i's and cross the t's', sources said. Now, to schedule the visit, as a first step, the Indian side has reached out to the UN headquarters for a speaking slot for the Prime Minister at the UN General Assembly. As of now, that has been scheduled for September 26 morning. Trump is slated to speak on September 23. At the UNGA, permanent missions to the UN have to indicate the level of representation from each country, and the speaking slot of 15-minutes is granted accordingly. If the PM's visit takes place, it will give an opportunity to speak at the UNGA and hold bilateral meetings with Trump and other world leaders. Zelenskyy also indicated Monday, after his phone call with Modi, that they 'agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly'. Sources said plans are underway since the entire process of accreditation and travel arrangements to the UN needs to be completed in August. Ties between India and the US have been impacted in recent months after Trump claimed to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan — a claim denied by Delhi. He followed it with diatribes against India on tariffs, and imposed 50 per cent tariffs. Sources said that since the two countries are strategic partners, they have to sort out the issues, and the PM's visit will be to smoothen the issues, so that a visit by the US President to India can take place in October for the summit of Quad leaders.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Delhi Confidential: Rhyme For A Reason
Union MoS Ramdas Athawale is never short of couplets on any occasion. At an event on Monday to felicitate him on his re-election as president of RPI (Athawale), the leader used his famous poetic touch to remind his supporters that the Constitution is supreme. 'Waqt aayega to de dunga meri jaan, lekin mere Babasaheb ka nahi badalne dunga samvidhaan,' recited Athawale in his characteristic flourish to the applause from his supporters. Interestingly, the event was held at the Aiwan-e-Ghalib auditorium in central Delhi, named after one of the greatest Urdu poets. There was much enthusiasm about the Constitution Club election in the Capital on Tuesday. While some leaders like former BJP MP and ex-CM of Jharkhand Babulal Marandi, current Jharkhand Governor and BJP leader Santosh Gangwar flew to Delhi just to vote, those attending Parliament proceedings used the breaks in between sessions to cast their vote in the high-profile elections. When former BJP MP from Delhi Ramesh Bidhuri rushed into the club to cast his vote, former Union minister Sanjeev Balyan — who is contesting for the post of Secretary (Administration) against party MP Rajiv Pratap Singh Rudy — reminded him with a smile, 'Paanch minute reh gaye bhai, gadbad ho jaati. Pehle vote daal aa. Phir hum baat karenge (Just five minutes remain, things could have gone wrong. First go and vote, then we will talk).' After a warm embrace, Bidhuri hurried into the room to cast his vote. The result of the election will be declared early Wednesday.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Ahmed Patel's son hails PM for Op Sindoor, says nation 'in safe hands'
Faisal Patel NEW DELHI: In remarks likely to raise eyebrows in the Congress, Faisal Patel -- son of the late party stalwart Ahmed Patel - has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership during Operation Sindoor , the cross-border strike on terror camps in Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. "It can't be better than who's running the show... The armed forces have done a great job, and PM Narendra Modi showed great leadership and brought us out of a huge crisis. I am proud of our armed forces. I have a lot of respect for Jaishankarji. How Modiji picks up bureaucrats, makes them leaders and puts them in ministry roles is a very good thing," Patel told ANI. In an interview to CNN-News18, he called Modi and home minister Amit Shah "great leaders" and declared the country was "in safe hands" - a remark loaded with political irony given Ahmed Patel's long rivalry with Modi during UPA years, when he was Sonia Gandhi's most trusted strategist. Though insisting he remains a Congress member, Patel pointed to internal drift in the party.
