70,000 attend anti-terror, pro-Israel rally in India

Tens of thousands in Calcutta expressed support for Israel at one of the largest-ever rallies against Islamic terror, organized by the Hindu Samhati movement.

By: Adina Katz, World Israel News

An estimated 70,000 people attended one of the largest-ever anti-Islamic terror, pro-Israel rallies on Wednesday in Calcutta, India.

The event was organized by the Hindu Samhati, who have a long history of supporting strong India-Israel relations.

Vijeta Uniyal, an Indian journalist based in Europe, addressed the rally, praising Zionism as the national liberation movement of the Jewish people.

At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise in Europe and Islamic terrorism threatens Jews and Israelis, hundreds of millions of Indians stand with Israel, he declared.

As anti-Semitism is on the rise in Europe and radical Islam attacks Jews and Israelis, hundreds of millions of Indians are standing with Israel, Uniyal stated.

In a video address after the rally, Michael Dickson, executive director of StandWithUs in Jerusalem, expressed appreciation to the tens of thousands who attended the rally.

“Our historical friendship goes back far in history,” he said, citing the common values of modernity, democracy, human rights, women’s rights, “and we are pioneering technologies together that will hopefully make the world a better place.”

The rally marked the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Hindu Samhati nationalist movement. Banners stating support for Israel included, “Jerusalem: Eternal Capital of Israel.”