OPINION by Ibrahim Vawda

While Narendra Modi’s visit to our shores may be generally welcomed, the Media Review Network does have serious reservations about the visit. We remind our Government that the Indian Prime Minister has a checkered history which raises many unanswered questions.

Narendra Modi, is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsivak Sangh (RSS). The RSS was formed in 1927, inspired by rampant Fascism in Europe. Adolf Hitler was a hero to the members of this organisation.
In 2002, Modi was Chief Minister of the State of Gujrat, when 2000 Muslims were raped, killed and burnt alive openly in the streets of Gujrat. Over 100 000 people were driven from their homes. The people committing these crimes were helped by the police. As Chief Minister, allegations against the role played by Modi imply his direct culpability in these atrocities.

In the forefront of the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961, were India under Nehru and Egypt under Nasser. Fast forward to the modern era, both these countries have deserted the ideals of the NAM and are firmly entrenched in the US/Israel/EU axis. The Indian Army is armed and trained by Israel.
India is the second largest purchaser of Zionist military hardware.

The militarisation of Indian-occupied Kashmir is no different to the militarisation of occupied Palestine. The ethnic cleansing of the indigenous population in both occupied territories continues on a daily basis. Last but not least, the human rights violations perpetrated by both armies go unpunished.

South Africa’s 400 year struggle against racial discrimination which ended in 1994, should be a beacon of hope for the people of Kashmir and Palestine. The Media Review Network urges the SA Government to put pressure on his Indian Counterpart to find a speedy resolution to the Kashmir question. The first Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, offered to hold a plebiscite to enable the Kashmiris to decide on their future. Narendra Modi should honour that undertaking.

Ibrahim Vawda is a senior Researcher at the Media Review Network.