Quick Bytes
- GOPIO Chairman cautions Rutgers University against displaying a Kashmiri flag.
- Dr. Thomas Abraham asserts Kashmir is an integral part of India, with no separate flag.
- Abraham warns that meeting student demands could lead to further campus conflicts.
GOPIO Raises Concerns Over Kashmiri Flag Display at Rutgers
Dr. Thomas Abraham, the Chairman of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), has expressed serious concerns to Rutgers University regarding the potential display of a Kashmiri flag by protesting students. In a letter to the university’s President, Jonathan Holloway, Abraham emphasized that Kashmir is an integral part of India and does not have a separate flag. He highlighted that the true displaced individuals are the Hindu minorities forced to flee due to violence, not the Kashmiri residents.
The demand from Rutgers students to showcase flags representing occupied peoples, including those from Kashmir, Palestine, and Kurdistan, has been met with caution from Abraham. He believes that Rutgers, as a public institution, should refrain from involving itself in international territorial disputes. GOPIO, a non-profit organization advocating for the civil and human rights of the Indian diaspora, has a significant presence in New York and New Jersey, with several active chapters.
Founded in 1989, GOPIO has been a vocal entity in addressing issues faced by people of Indian origin globally. Abraham’s letter to Rutgers University reflects the organization’s commitment to protecting the interests of the Indian community and maintaining the territorial integrity of India.
