Indian-Americans vow to safeguard India's Constitution

Washington: The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) celebrated Republic Day by organising events across US cities, in which they pledged to safeguard India's secular and pluralist Constitution from attacks by divisive forces.

IAMC had organized two events during the weekend of January 24th, one each in Minnesota and Florida. Two more events are scheduled to be held next weekend, one each in New Jersey and Chicago. Consul General of India Dr. Ausaf Sayeed will be the keynote speaker at the event in Chicago.

"The Republic Day celebrations remind us yet again, that the foundations of the Indian Republic are based on the ideals of justice, pluralism and democracy. Unfortunately, the Constitution is under threat, by the onslaught of a relentlessly divisive and hateful agenda, espoused by narrow, sectarian interests," said Umar Malick , President of IAMC.

IAMC also wrote a letter to the White House before US President Obama left for New Delhi. The letter sought to bring President Obama's attention to the recent communal incidents that have taken place in India in recent times.

"As signatories to the UN Declaration of Human rights, both India and the US have a shared commitment to religious freedom and human rights. It is in this context we wish to bring to your attention deeply disturbing developments in the world's largest democracy, that are having a profoundly negative impact on millions of religious minorities in India, including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis," the letter stated.