Maha Sabha: Kamla 'downplaying' attacks on Hindu places of worship

THE Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) has accused Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar of downplaying the seriousness of recent attacks at Hindu places of worship in south and central Trinidad.

Persad-Bissessar, in an earlier statement, had adopted the position that the recent acts of vandalism committed at Hindu places of worship should not be viewed as religious intolerance or an attack on the Hindu community.

General Secretary of the SDMS Vijay Maharaj also dismissed her opinion that there was not an iota of supporting evidence to indicate religious intolerance.

“It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to deduce that the vandalism of an effigy of Rawan at Tarouba Recreation Ground or the intentional destruction of Hindu Murtis as evidence of a religious attack on the Hindu faith,” he countered.

Last weekend an effigy of Rawan was burnt at the Tarouba Grounds, San Fernando. A day later, at a temple in Freeport, stones were thrown at the vehicles of devotees while they prayed inside.

Recalling similar acts of vandalism at mosques, temples and places other denominations worship, .Persad-Bissessar said it is for these reasons such crimes must not be viewed in isolation or as an attack on the Hindu community.

In many of these instances she said the perpetrators were drug addicts, mentally disturbed persons, mischief makers or petty thieves.

She also ventured that some acts of vandalism turned out to be fuelled by disputes within the congregation or community, land disputes, noise complaints, bad parking issues, and even petty family quarrel.

She warned against unsubstantiated “intellectually lazy allegations of hate crimes and religious tolerance,” which could pose a danger to society’s peace and civil stability, when placed in the public domain.

Maharaj said her statement was “bizarre, confused and, insulting.”

He said while no one was suggesting that acts of violence were only limited to places of Hindu worship, he quoted, president of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) and Independent Senator Deoroop Teemul who suggested that deliberately taking alcohol and meat into a temple, to desecrate that temple, calls for a high level of organisation and thinking from vagrants and mentally disturbed people.

“We should not continue to be dismissive of it.”

Maharaj said while those who condemned the acts were accused by Persad-Bissessar of being “intellectually lazy, she appeared to be unaware that one of her own Senators Tim Gopeesingh not only condemned these acts on Hindu temples but also chastised the entire PNM as well as a PNM Senator for not doing the same, because she is also a Hindu.

“Yet, today, instead of joining in this national condemnation of these acts of desecration, Kamla Persad-Bissessar is condemning those who have condemned these heinous acts.

“It is truly a disgusting slap in the face of all Hindus across TT.”

“Persad-Bissessar’s despicable statement today is reminiscent of the attack on a Hindu pundit at a UNC meeting, for which she is still to condemn.

“It is clear Persad-Bissessar is only interested in getting Hindu votes but has little concern for the right of Hindus to practice their religion with safety and dignity.”

Maharaj again condemned all attacks on all places of worship.