Hindraf dropped human rights fight for Najib pact
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/227387
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"We had to concede during the negotiations... points relating to human rights," the movement's advisor N Ganesan (right) told Malaysiakini today.However, he said that this was done in the backdrop of guarantees for the greater economic welfare of the Indian Malaysians.
"Our focus now is economic justice," he reasoned, arguing that binding assurances for the uplifting of the Indian poor is a major victory in itself.
Ganesan said the four points contained in the agreement between BN and Hindraf are:
- Economic opportunities, housing, re-skilling and training for displaced estate workers;
- Relief for stateless persons;
- Increased education opportunities from primary to tertiary levels, including scholarships for Indians;
- Giving Indians increased access to employment and business opportunities.
Ganesan reiterated that this new deal is good for Indian community, especially the Indian poor.
Asked why he think there are instant opposition to the deal, he blamed politicking.
"The people that are jumping up and down over this, they don't even know what the contents are. This is all because of politics. Tis' the season of politics.," he sniped.
Ganesan
added that they already gave Pakatan Rakyat the same opportunity to
sign an binding agreement with them, but after 24 meetings and a lot of
wasted time, they received nothing meaningful from the opposition
coalition.In fact, just three days ago he described how Hindraf representatives had went for a meeting with PKR at their Petaling Jaya headquarters.
"They insulted us; there were no one (there at the headquarters) to meet with us," he lamented.
Najib (above), on the other hand, not only gave them what they wanted with the agreement, but also apologised to Indians during the signing ceremony for all the previous lapses of BN, praised Ganesan.
While they are not forgetting the ruling coalition's failures to take care of their welfare in the last 50 years, he said with the new deal, Najib is giving Indians a better promise for the future.
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Uthaya's Hindraf 'sacks' Waythamoorthy
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The
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) faction led by its founding leader P
Uthayakumar has sacked his younger brother and current Hindraf splinter
‘chief’ P Waythamoorthy from the movement.
The decision was made during Hindraf's supreme council meeting on April 25, Uthayakumar told a press conference today in Kuala Lumpur.
Uthayakumar earlier claimed that his brother, who has now pledged support for BN, had hijacked the movement from him.
However, his sacking will have no legal implications as Waythamoorthy’s (left in photo, in orange) faction is the one that had managed to receive official recognition from the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on March 8.
"We feel that Waytha has deviated far away from Hindraf's original 18-point demands. The original Hindraf demands were never about pledging free votes to either BN or Pakatan Rakyat," Uthayakumar told reporters.
"If I joined hands with (BN chairperson) Najib Abdul Razak, I could get the same (registration). I could have chosen the easy way out, but I didn't," he added.
However, he insisted that he would continue using the Hindraf name despite the possibility of being sued by the 'legitimate' Hindraf for the usage of its name.
"I developed this movement and its people. If they want to sue, let the courts decide," he said.
He, however, believed that Waythamoorthy, being his "disciple", would not against his "guru".
Waythamoorthy, his brother further claimed, was never a supreme council member and claimed the latter "ran away" when authorities clamped down on Hindraf after the November 2007 rally.
Uthayakumar (left) added the sacking announcement had to be made as he's spending more time disassociating himself from Waythamoorthy's actions whilst speaking to disgruntled Indians, than on focussing on the real issues such as uplifting the Indian poor.
He is currently campaigning as an Independent for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat in Selangor as well as for the Sri Andalas state seat under it.
Meanwhile, Uthayakumar reiterated his belief that he would be able to garner Chinese votes on top of Indian votes to be able to win the Kota Raja seat.
He said this is based on the evidence that the rental expenditure for his operations centre is being borne by a local Chinese man.
Waytha's camp sharpens claws
In an immediate response, deputy chairperson W Sambulingam (below) of Waythamoorthy’s Hindraf faction decried Uthayakumar’s “unfounded, malicious attack” and called him a "spent force".
He
argued that Uthayakumar had left Hindraf to form the Human Rights Party
(HRP) following the latter’ release from Internal Security Act (ISA)
detention in 2009, and has never attended various major Hindraf events
since.
Purported examples of Uthayakumar’s ‘non participation’ included three national conventions, including one on April 21 where 700 delegates agreed to support BN, Hindraf’s 5th anniversary celebrations Nov 25 last year, and nationwide roadshows last year seeking mandate to approach both BN and Pakatan Rakyat.
Sambulingam claimed that Uthayakumar is attacking Hindraf because he is not getting any support in Kota Raja, where the latter is contesting for the parliamentary seat.
“Hindraf is truly sorry for him. He is a spent force in HRP’s struggle, let him (be). He is a spent force in Hindraf’s struggle.
“Let him try his luck for the last time in this election,” he said in a statement.
The decision was made during Hindraf's supreme council meeting on April 25, Uthayakumar told a press conference today in Kuala Lumpur.
Uthayakumar earlier claimed that his brother, who has now pledged support for BN, had hijacked the movement from him.However, his sacking will have no legal implications as Waythamoorthy’s (left in photo, in orange) faction is the one that had managed to receive official recognition from the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on March 8.
"We feel that Waytha has deviated far away from Hindraf's original 18-point demands. The original Hindraf demands were never about pledging free votes to either BN or Pakatan Rakyat," Uthayakumar told reporters.
Will continue to use the Hindraf name
However, he admitted that Waythamoorthy's Hindraf will continue being recognised as the registered Hindraf organisation."If I joined hands with (BN chairperson) Najib Abdul Razak, I could get the same (registration). I could have chosen the easy way out, but I didn't," he added.
However, he insisted that he would continue using the Hindraf name despite the possibility of being sued by the 'legitimate' Hindraf for the usage of its name.
"I developed this movement and its people. If they want to sue, let the courts decide," he said.
He, however, believed that Waythamoorthy, being his "disciple", would not against his "guru".Waythamoorthy, his brother further claimed, was never a supreme council member and claimed the latter "ran away" when authorities clamped down on Hindraf after the November 2007 rally.
Uthayakumar (left) added the sacking announcement had to be made as he's spending more time disassociating himself from Waythamoorthy's actions whilst speaking to disgruntled Indians, than on focussing on the real issues such as uplifting the Indian poor.
He is currently campaigning as an Independent for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat in Selangor as well as for the Sri Andalas state seat under it.
Meanwhile, Uthayakumar reiterated his belief that he would be able to garner Chinese votes on top of Indian votes to be able to win the Kota Raja seat.
He said this is based on the evidence that the rental expenditure for his operations centre is being borne by a local Chinese man.
Waytha's camp sharpens claws
In an immediate response, deputy chairperson W Sambulingam (below) of Waythamoorthy’s Hindraf faction decried Uthayakumar’s “unfounded, malicious attack” and called him a "spent force".
He
argued that Uthayakumar had left Hindraf to form the Human Rights Party
(HRP) following the latter’ release from Internal Security Act (ISA)
detention in 2009, and has never attended various major Hindraf events
since.Purported examples of Uthayakumar’s ‘non participation’ included three national conventions, including one on April 21 where 700 delegates agreed to support BN, Hindraf’s 5th anniversary celebrations Nov 25 last year, and nationwide roadshows last year seeking mandate to approach both BN and Pakatan Rakyat.
Sambulingam claimed that Uthayakumar is attacking Hindraf because he is not getting any support in Kota Raja, where the latter is contesting for the parliamentary seat.
“Hindraf is truly sorry for him. He is a spent force in HRP’s struggle, let him (be). He is a spent force in Hindraf’s struggle.
“Let him try his luck for the last time in this election,” he said in a statement.
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