Ever wondered why some of the world’s most morally and ethically compromised leaders continue to get good press after good press? That’s because people like Prime Minister Narendra Modi know that perceptions count, and they pay top dollar for that.
Modi’s crimes need no introduction. The BJP supremo and head of the ‘world’s largest democracy’ has been invited by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to accept an award for spearheading clean toilets across India. This is the same man under whose watch about 2000 plus Muslims were butchered or driven out of their homes in Gujarat. This is the same man who has kept Kashmir locked up for 41 days and counting, resulting in untold suffering.
One could have thought that a charitable organization like the Gates Foundation could vet their candidates better. But since they did not, and Modi is still invited to the event, some international celebrities are speaking out about them. Pakistani origin celebs such as Riz Ahmed and Jameela Jamil have decided to send a message to the NGO.
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Riz and Jameela Support Kashmir
Earlier, Jameela Jamil was called out for not mentioning how India was responsible for atrocities against Kashmiris.
But actions speak louder than words, and now, Jameela has canceled her appearance at the asme event wher Modi was due to be honored. Joining her is Riz Ahmed, the popular Pakistani-origin actor who has made appearances in Star Wars and Venom.
It seems that international superstars like Riz Ahmed and Jameela Jamil are putting on the pressure for the Gates Foundation to reconsider their star attraction. Plus, even the New Zealand Prime Minister herself Jacinda Adern has excused herself from the whole shindig to honor a mass murderer.
The reason these stars opted to boycott the event at this point is to make the organizers aware that a man responsible for revoking Article 370 for Kashmir is not a humanitarian. The move to revoke Article 370 has turned it into a prison for the whole Kashmiri community, with no means of communication with the outside world.
That’s a lot of high profile stars who have pulled out from the event. Is it enough to make Bill Gates take notice? Only time will tell.
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Riz Ahmed Speaks Out For Jammu and Kashmir
Bill Gates has a lot of stake in the Indian market where Microsoft has substantial investments. It’s not surprising that one of the richest man in the world has no moral compunctions about honouring the ‘butcher of Gujrat , Jammu and Kashmir” with an award as long as it’s good for business.
Recently the UAE also bestowed their highest civilian accolade, the Sheikh Zayed Award to please Modi. The mainstream corporate media has by and large ignored the atrocities of the brutal Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir and paid little attention to the worsening humanitarian crisis due to the siege and communication blackout.
The reason is most of the so-called
free press as well as leaders consider Modi as a pragmatic business prime minister of a country that is perceived as the darling of Western democracy. Thus they conveniently tend to ignore the monster behind the democratic mask and continue to do business with Modi in their vested interests.