Indian Americans protest against WIEF for cancelling Narendra Modi8217;s invitation

Most of the protesters who had arrived from New York and New Jersey marched down several blocks to hold a demonstration in front of the WIEF event yesterday,which held its day-long conference on the India8217;s economic development.

Several speakers addressed the protesters gathered across the street from Harrison Auditorium at the University of Pennsylvania,where the conference was held.

8220;Members of the press were denied entrance to the conference,8221; The Daily Pennsylvania reported,putting the number of protesters at 200.

Opposing the decision of WIEF to cancel its invitation to Modi after three University of Pennsylvania professors protested against it,Narain Kataria of the Indian American Intellectuals Forum alleged that WIEF had attacked the 8220;freedom of speech8221; and called it an 8220;inappropriate interference8221; into the Indian political process.

Later in a memorandum submitted to the University of Pennsylvania President Dr Amy Gutmann,the protesters said they were 8220;saddened and outraged to see this great university being bullied by a mere three English and Social Work activist professors8221; of Indic origin.

8220;The principal issues here are freedom of speech and right to dissent. Sadly,both of these have been brutally trampled on at UPenn by this action,8221; the memorandum stated.