Hot Like Pepper - Hindu Council endorses UNC-A - Politics

Politics : Hindu Council endorses UNC-A

2007/11/1 11:40:00

The Hindu Council of the Caribbean (HCC) has endorsed the UNC Alliance for the Nov. 5 general election. It says the UNC government that Basdeo Paanday led for six years did more for Hindus than any other government of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Hindu symbol of NATRAJ, performing a cosmic dance. Shiva is the destroyer of evil in the Hindu trinity.

A news release from the organization calls on Hindus to reject what it calls intimidation and bullying of Hindus and urges them to reject "anyone trying to coerce Hindus into voting for any political party favoured by one or more Hindu organizations, or any hastily-assembled coalition of Hindu organizations in Trinidad and Tobago."

It says Hindus, like every other citizen in the country, have a right to join  any political party and vote for any candidate.

And it says the organization condemns "those who utilize threats, propaganda, caste, class, or self-proclaimed authority, to badger and hound Hindus into forming voting blocs for any political party."

In a strong endorsement of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, who is leading the charge for the UNC Alliance in the Nov. 5 general election, the group said no one has done more for Hindus in this country than Basdeo Panday and the UNC government.

"As a union leader, Basdeo Panday’s monumental achievements resulted in a quantum leap in the standard of living for sugar workers that enabled them to escape the poverty and drudgery of plantation and barrack lifestyle, and catapult themselves into the middle and upper echelons of society," the group said.

It adds that successful Hindus in business, the professional world, and other sectors of our national community "owe a tremendous debt to Basdeo Panday, as union leader, Prime Minister, and Political Leader of the United National Congress."

It urges Hindus to consider "very carefully the dire consequences if their precious vote is wasted, or even worse, if their votes produce an election result that will haunt Hindus for the next five years."

The group's release did not mention any Hindu organization of political party but it was clear that it was referring to the manin Hindu group, the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, and the COngress of the People (COP).

The Maha Sabha is using its media outlet to campaign for the COP and has been accused of trying to intimidate hundreds of teachers at its primary and secondary schools as well as priests at temples across the nation.

One member of the Maha Sabha executive is running as a COP candidate and is the chief executive of the organization's RADIO JAGRITI.