California Gujaratis welcome PM Narendra Modi, condemn protests

WASHINGTON: Welcoming the Silicon Valley visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a group of over a dozen Gujarati organisations and 20 eminent Gujaratis today appealed to the members of the agitating Patel community not to use the occasion to hold protests over the developments back home.

"We condemn any attempt to take undue advantage of these unfortunate events to create animosity between NRIs in USA in general and non-resident Gujarati community in specific," said a joint statement issued by these organisations and individuals from the Gujarati community living in California.

"We, the members of the Gujarati community in California, whole-heartedly welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States of America," the statement said.

A section of the Gujarati community in Silicon Valley has planned a peaceful protest outside the SAP Center, where Modi is scheduled to deliver a public address to more than 18,000 Indian-Americans, in support of the demand for reservations to the Patel community in Gujarat.

"Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US is aimed at strengthening bonds between the two countries, increase economic collaboration, bringing investments to India and firming up security ties," the statement said.

Urging members of the Patel community not to protest against Modi, the statement said Modi's visit to Silicon Valley has special significance.

Meanwhile, separatist Sikh for Justice picketed outside the Facebook headquarters, before Modi was to hold a townhall with its founder Mark Zuckerberg.