அரசியலில் இந்துமதத்தை உபயோகப்படுத்துவதற்கு வாசுதேவ பாண்டியர் எதிர்ப்பு

டிரினிடாட் அரசியல் தலைவர் வாசுதேவ பாண்டியர் (பாசுதேவ் பாண்டே) இந்து மத தலைவர்கள் எதிர்கட்சி பிரச்சாரத்துக்கு உபயோகப்படுத்தப்படுவதை கண்டித்துள்ளார்.

Panday attacks Hindu pundits, Maha Sabha
By Clint Chan Tack Wednesday, October 31 2007

click on pic to zoom inUNC POLITICAL Leader Basdeo Panday stunned a huge crowd of UNC Alliance (UNCA) supporters assembled in Penal Junction into silence on Monday night when he launched a full-scale attack against the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) for allegedly using Hindu pundits to threaten teachers employed at Maha Sabha schools to support the Congress of the People (COP) in next Monday’s General Election. However SDMS General Secretary Sat Maharaj yesterday rejected Panday’s charges, countering that Hindu pundits and teachers in the Maha Sabha’s schools were free to vote for whoever they wished in the election.

Panday told the huge crowd of UNC A supporters, clad in their trademark orange jerseys, in Penal Junction that he was becoming increasingly disturbed about reports that certain top Maha Sabha officials were allegedly “using certain pundits and threatening their teachers at the Maha Sabha schools to support the Corpse (COP).” His statement came 24 hours after he told UNCA supporters in Bonne Aventure Junction, Gasparillo that the COP and not the ruling PNM was “the real enemy” in the election.

Saying that Hindus have never allowed their religion to interfere with politics, Panday punched the air with his right fist and declared: “All I have to say is pundits, you are the leaders of the Hindu community. I appeal to you do not betray your trust. Do not continue to live in fear. If you do not respect yourselves how can you expect the people to respect you.

The Hindu community has much to thank you for. Do not deceive your people. Hindus have never been used. That’s all I ask. Stand up to whoever is trying to force you! Put your hand in the air and say I stand tall!” His cry evoked wild cheers, flag waving and tassa drumming amongst the UNC A’s “Orange Revolution” followers.

Panday then told teachers working in Maha Sabha schools “not to demean yourself” by allowing anyone to persuade them how they should vote next Monday. “God comes first and guru comes after. You are the people who you come second to their God. Live up to the honour that your religion has bestowed on you. I say to all teachers in the Hindu schools, stand tall!” Panday declared, evoking more cheers from UNC A supporters. The UNC leader claimed the political support which the COP was receiving from the Maha Sabha reminded him of the opposition he faced from the religious group when he unsuccessfully contested the 1995 General Election. “I went to Couva North (in the 1976 General Election) because Simboonath Capildeo, the secretary of the Maha Sabha was fighting Couva North and the fellas tell me no safe seat for you Panday. Go and fight the big man himself. I beat him in 1976!” Panday quipped.

He condemned Maharaj for breaking the Workers and Farmers Party’s boycott of the 1971 General Election, called because of the use of voting machines in the 1995 General Election, and helping the PNM to win that election when he failed to win the Oropouche seat. Panday claimed that history was repeating itself in this election. “Sat went up for elections and got his tail cut. Now he hiding behind the Duck (COP Political Leader Winston Dookeran) but he will still get his tail cut,” Panday declared.

Maharaj yesterday confirmed that he unsuccessfully contested the 1966 election but said Panday’s comments on this subject were totally irrelevant to the politics of today.

Panday was furious that COP Political Leader Winston Dookeran participated in Divali celebrations which were organised by the COP at Parvati Girls Hindu College in Debe on Sunday.“All I want to say to Winston is do not disrespect my religion!” the UNC leader thundered and he was cheered again by the UNC A faithful.

Maharaj told Newsday that the Maha Sabha will not be intimidated by Panday into commanding Hindu pundits and the teachers in Maha Sabha schools to vote for any single political party in the election.

“We are not running a regiment here (in the Maha Sabha). They (pundits and teachers) are free to vote for whoever they choose,” Maharaj said.

Maharaj said the only thing he agreed with Panday on was that Opposition votes should not be split, adding that “the votes should go to the COP.”

He countered Panday’s charges by saying the UNC leader’s utterances were indicative of the “old immorality of politics” and it was time for Panday to leave politics for good. “We (Maha Sabha) for the first time in 30 years are taking a stand. Hindus have shifted away from him (Panday),” Maharaj declared. Maharaj wondered how could Panday possibly believe members of the Hindu community could support the UNC A in good conscience with Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj back in the fold and knowing that the former attorney-general was the one who brought down the UNC government in 2001. The SDMS general secretary said Panday and UNC A chairman Jack Warner’s report about their trip to South Africa last Thursday is a further indictment against the UNCA with six days to go before election day.

Maharaj revealed that Pundit Jaggernath Siewram Maharaj who spoke on the UNCA’s platform in Bonne Aventure Junction on Sunday was “a part-time pundit” and not an executive member of the SDMS.

He explained that Siewram Maharaj claimed that pundits were supporting UNC A “by the hundreds” because his immediate boss at State oil company Petrotrin is incumbent Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath who returned last week from Canada after undergoing heart surgery. Maharaj said the Maha Sabha has no intention of disciplining Siewram Maharaj for his utterances because while a few pundits support the PNM and UNC A, “the majority” are backing the COP.

He reminded the UNC A that only the Teaching Service Commission has the power by law to hire or fire any teacher in this country. Asked whether it was wise for the Maha Sabha to become so heavily involved in national politics at this time, Maharaj said: “The secular and the sacred are inseparable.”