In a turn of events, Indian American Muslim group, Indian Muslims of North America, has decided to withdraw their float from New York City's annual India Day Parade due to concerns over the inclusion of a float they believe promotes anti-Muslim bias. The group, led by their president Imtiaz Siamwalla, expressed their disappointment and frustration in a letter sent to the parade organizers on Saturday.

The decision to withdraw their float was made after the group's attempts to convince the organizers to exclude the controversial float were unsuccessful. The controversial float in question depicts a replica of Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, a Hindu temple constructed on the ruins of a 16th-century Babri mosque that was destroyed by Hindu nationalists in 1992, triggering widespread riots resulting in the loss of thousands of lives, according to CNN's previous report.

Siamwalla stated, "We were very much looking forward to participating but learning that there is going to be a float that has a replica of the Ram temple, we think that this is a symbol of bias against Muslims." He emphasized the importance of leaving the politics that occur in India behind when residing in a diverse and inclusive country like the United States.

The inclusion of the controversial temple replica not only sparked concern among Indian American Muslims but also drew criticism from Ajit Sahi, the advocacy director for the Indian American Muslim Council. Sahi expressed his rejection of Hindu fundamentalism and Hindu extremism, stating, "This temple is politics. This temple is not culture, this temple is not faith." He argued that the parade should be a celebration of independence and secularism, not a platform for promoting divisive ideologies.

Originally designed to showcase the accomplishments of Muslims in India, the Indian Muslims of North America float had planned to display photos of prominent Indian Muslim figures in history and carry placards with empowering messages such as "Proud to be Indian, Proud to be Muslim" and "Inclusion, Equality, Unity: Muslims make India stronger."

Siamwalla claimed that the presence of the Ram Mandir float is a political move intended to intimidate Muslims attending the Sunday parade. He stated, "They want to show the minorities - look what we did in our country, we can do it here too, this is all for intimidation."

Despite calls from various groups to remove the float, parade organizers have stood firm, defending its presence as a celebration of the inauguration of a sacred landmark that holds great significance for millions of Hindus. However, critics argue that the inclusion of the float politicizes an event that should solely focus on celebrating Indian people and their culture, rather than being a platform for promoting political agendas.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has participated in previous India Day Parades, will reportedly be sitting out this year's celebration. During an unrelated press conference, he criticized the inclusion of any elements promoting hate or intolerance in the parade.

As tensions rise over the controversial float, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the overall spirit and atmosphere of the India Day Parade, which is meant to be a unifying celebration of Indian culture and heritage.

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