‘Highly polarising figure’: Indian diaspora objects to invitation to Tejasvi Surya for German conference

Team Udayavani, Oct 6, 2020, 11:28 AM IST

New Delhi: A section of Indian diaspora in Germany has taken objection to the invitation extended to Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejasvi Surya for a start-up conference to be held in Hamburg on October 7.

Terming Surya as a highly polarising figure from Indian Politics, the diaspora, in a letter written to Consulate General of India demanded the removal of the BJP MP from the panel of speakers at the “India Startup conference 2020”.

“With regards “India Startup conference 2020″ event to be conducted on 7th October, the Consulate General of India has invited a highly polarising figure from Indian Politics – Tejaswi Surya to an event that appears to be inclusive in nature for Indians of all faiths,” the letter read.

“It brings into question the spirit with which the event is conducted whether it is for all Indians or only for those who endorse or are fine with the polarising, abhorrent and dehumanising views held by Tejaswi Surya, which goes against the diverse community of Indians in Germany. It is extremely concerning to see an official platform is being given for such a controversial figure which will achieve nothing but further division and right-wing radicalisation on the German soil,” the letter mentions.

The letter also mentioned few of the controversial statements/tweets made by Surya, targeting the minority community during a pro-CAA rally and even following the saffron party’s loss in Jayanagar. Surya had claimed that only those who stand with Modi are with India and that anti-India forces had joined hands to defeat Modi.

“As a progressive voice from the Indian diaspora community from Europe and the world, we request you do not provide a bigoted person like Tejaswi Surya an official platform in Germany. Giving such a platform will jeopardise the secular and democratic ethos of Europe,” they signatories to the letter added.