Rashida Tlaib boycotts Indian Prime Minister Modi’s speech to Congress

WASHINGTON (AA) – Muslim Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib will boycott of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech to the U.S. Congress.

She said it is shameful that Modi was given a platform in Washington.

She recalled the Indian prime minister’s long history of human rights violations, anti-democratic actions, censorship of journalists, and attacks on Muslims and other religious groups.

“It’s shameful that Modi has been given a platform at our nation’s capital—his long history of human rights abuses, anti-democratic actions targeting Muslims & religious minorities and censoring journalists is unacceptable,” said the Democratic lawmaker on Twitter.

“I will be boycotting Modi’s joint address to Congress,” Tlaib wrote.

More than 70 Democratic members of Congress have called on Biden to raise issues of human rights and democratic values during this conversation with Modi.

Earlier this month, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the U.S., called on congressional leaders to cancel Modi’s speech.

The group said in a statement that Modi’s speech sends the message that the oppression of Christians, Muslims, Dalits, Sikhs, and other religious minorities is not an issue for the U.S. Congress.

“Modi’s anti-democratic policies, such as smothering critical journalism, are also the opposite of what the U.S. Congress should be seen as celebrating. If the Joint Meeting occurs, we plan to urge Members to boycott it,” said the statement.

Modi is in Washington on a state visit.

So far only two other heads of state – French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol – have paid state visits to the U.S. since Biden assumed the presidency.