Democrats are boycotting Indian prime minister's address to Congress

Democrat New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez encourages fellow progressives to join her in boycotting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to Congress taking place Thursday.

"I will be boycotting Prime Minister Modi's address to Congress tomorrow, and I encourage my colleagues who stand for pluralism, tolerance, and freedom of the press to join me in doing the same," she wrote in a statement on Twitter.

She added in the statement that Modi has a history of religious freedom violations and going after journalists unfairly. 

Other Democrats boycotting include Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mi) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN).

"Prime Minister Modi has a shameful history of committing human rights abuses, undermining democracy, and targeting journalists," Bush wrote on Twitter. "In solidarity with the communities that have been harmed by Modi and his policies, I will be boycotting his joint address to Congress."

This is Modi's second address to the joint session of Congress and his first official state visit to the U.S., The Hill reports.