Mumbai: Members of Raza Academy on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to cancel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Mumbai.
The PM, who arrived in the city on Wednesday evening, will be unveiling a living memorial at Nariman House in Colaba on Thursday.
“Mr. Netanyahu is responsible for the killings of so many people in Palestine. We don’t agree with his welcome here or his visit to India,” said Saeed Noori, general secretary of the academy.
Academy members gathered at Nagpada raising slogans, and flashing placards that said ‘go back Netanyahu’. According to Mr. Noori, children have been orphaned and families have been homeless in Palestine. “What about them? One has to think about them before giving a grand welcome to the PM.”
He claimed that a few years ago, a visit of the then Israeli PM was planned in Mumbai, but cancelled after protests from Raza Academy. “We hope that the CM considers our request this time.”
The Jewish community will gather at Magen David Synagogue in Byculla where a magazine called Namaste Shalom will be launched on Thursday evening to mark the maiden visit of Mr. Netanyahu.
The magazine will cover the essence of the strengthening ties between India and Israel. “It is a great event for us. Therefore, we decided to launch the magazine on the same day,” said Ralphy Jhirad, who is on the editorial board of the magazine.
Mr. Jhirad, who is also the president and managing trustee of Bene Israel Heritage Museum and Genealogical Centre, said that much has been happening between the two countries.
“Fourteen members of a rotary club from Israel’s Ramla will be visiting a synagogue in Alibaug where they will interact with the community and create a garden by planting saplings. Earlier, Indian Jews had on their visit to Israel planted trees in a forest,” Mr. Jhirad said.
