Patel protests to welcome Modi on US soil

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second visit to the US in his one year in office may just be a rude shock as a bevy of protests await him. The NRI Patel community is planning to welcome him with hoardings and posters, expressing solidarity with the Patel agitation in India.

According to The Indian Express, members of the Patel community will stage the protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York on 25 September, when the Prime Minister will attend the UN general assembly annual meet.

Another protest has been planned outside the SAP center in San Jose, where the Indo-Amercian Community of West Coast USA is planning a Madison-like reception for the Prime Minister.

The Indian Express reports that Alpesh Patel, coordinator of the Sardar Patel Group USA-Canada has obtained permission from the New York police to stage a protest outside the UN headquarters.

In fact, leaders in the community are seeking a meeting with Modi. Apart from the SPG, other influential personalities from the Patel community are also supporting the agitation in India. Prominent among them are Deepak Pandya, father of US astronaut Sunita Williams and Keval Patel, great grandnephew of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.