"if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen
the side of the oppressor." - Desmond Tutu.

World Press Freedom Day Rally held outside Indian visa office in Canada Featured

 

A Metro Vancouver-based online magazine organized a demonstration to draw global attention to the ongoing suppression of press freedom in the world’s so-called largest democracy, in Surrey on Wednesday, May 3.  

Radical Desi had given the call for a protest rally outside the Indian Visa and Passport Application Center on World Press Freedom Day.  

The event was started with homage to the slain Indian journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was allegedly assassinated in 2017 by supporters of the ruling right wing Hindu nationalist BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.  

A prominent progressive Punjabi writer, Amrit Diwana, recited a poem dedicated to her. Slogans asking for justice to Lankesh were also raised on the occasion.  

Attacks on religious minorities and political critics, including journalists and activists, have grown under the BJP rule since 2014.  

The speakers unanimously held that the constant assaults on independent media in India cannot be delinked from the broader issue of human rights which are being trampled with impunity. They agreed that the space for free expression continues to shrink under Modi, which should alarm the international community.  

Among those who addressed the gathering were BC Federation of Labour Secretary Treasurer Hermender Singh Kailley, prominent Sikh activists Barjinder Singh and Kesar Singh Baghi, Dalit activist Rashpal Bhardawaj, renowned media personality Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal and Radical Desi cofounder Gurpreet Singh.   

The participants included another BC Federation of Labour member, Kassandra Felicia Martinez Cordero, Sikh activist Kuljinder Singh Gill and Ambedkarite activist Joginder Banger.   

 

Rate this item
(0 votes)
Super User

Gurpreet Singh

Cofounder and Director of Radical Desi

https://twitter.com/desi_radical?lang=en

Leave a comment

Make sure you enter all the required information, indicated by an asterisk (*). HTML code is not allowed.

Latest Tweets

RT @Subscriptions: You asked (loudly), we listened. We’ve reduced the signup flow for creators from 27 steps to just 4. It’s never been e…
Say goodbye to prying eyes and hello to secure conversations. We're giving early access to Encrypted Direct Message… https://t.co/diSzwN83WV
WORLDWIDE! Creators across the globe can now sign up and earn a living on Twitter. Tap on “Monetization” in settin… https://t.co/V32aqisAT4
Creators can now sign up and earn a living directly on Twitter in the EU, UK, and EEA. Tap on “Monetization” in se… https://t.co/krlyUXDU89
Follow Twitter on Twitter

Post Gallery

The Black Prince brings out last Sikh emperor's resistance to British occupation

Indigenous activist Cecilia Point and former Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Niki Sharma honoured at annual anti racism event in Surrey

Chuck Puchmayr honoured for bringing a motion against CAA

Historical heroes and robot dinosaurs: New games on our radar in April

TG G6 will have dual 13-megapixel cameras on the back

Here's how to make Kevin's famous fish cutlet from 'The Office'

Asia's best restaurant has a frustratingly confusing menu of only 17 emojis

KJerry's will sell food cream that tastes like your favorite video

Hynopedia helps female travelers find health care in Maldivs