SP hails decision to boycott function at Harvard

“Misbehaviour by US officials had been done in the past with former President APJ Kalam and actor Shah Rukh Khan. It is all due to the weak foreign policy of our country. We are becoming a weak nation in the eyes of the world. Even our neighbours like Bangladesh,Maldives,Nepal and Srilanka are browbeating us,” he stated.

Chaudhary also mentioned that “due to the failure of India’s foreign policy China has encroached upon our land and Pakistan is promoting terrorism in Kashmir”.

“It should be told to US in clear terms that India is a sovereign country. Insult to its citizens and dignitaries will not be tolerated. The racial discrimination on the basis of colour in the name of checking should be stopped by US. They are playing the dirty game of division on religious basis by singling out Muslims. People of India will not tolerate it,” Chaudhary stated.

SP lauded the role of Akhilesh mentioning that socialist ideologue Dr Ram Manohar Lohia too had opposed apartheid in US and was jailed. “The boycott decision reflects political maturity,” he stated.

Earlier,the Harvard India Student Group in Harvard University has invited Akhilesh and Khan for a panel discussion with Harvard students on April 26. The conversation was to cover topics such as vision of the state,leadership,governance and major initiatives being run,Kumbh festival,urbanisation challenges and how Harvard students can engage with state government to contribute to the Indian society.

Akhilesh,along with Khan and other senior officials,left for US on April 24 and was due to return on April 29. The visit was highlighted as an achievement by the Akhilesh government. Upon reaching Logan International Airport at Boston,Khan was allegedly detained for further questioning. Khan took strong exception and raised his voice against the treatment. Later,his office at Lucknow issued a statement late on Thursday night mentioning that Khan was insulted,humiliated and harassed by the officials despite holding a diplomatic passport. It was also mentioned that authorities behaved with him in this manner because he is a Muslim.

SP members stalled proceedings in both the houses of parliament over the issue on Friday.