PIOs, NRIs should support our cause: HINDRAF

The Malaysia-based Hindus Rights Force, struggling for rights and equality for ethnic Indian minorities in that country, has urged Persons of Indian Origin and NRIs to extend support towards their cause.

The Malaysia-based Hindus Rights Force (HINDRAF), struggling for rights and equality for ethnic Indian minorities in that country, has urged Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and NRIs to extend support towards their cause.

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HINDRAF chairman P Waytha Moorthy told PTI that the PIOs should use their clout with India and appeal to the government to severe trade relations with that country, as well as stop all investments in that country.

"They should urge the government of India to terminate various infrastructure-related projects awarded to Malaysian companies in India and also urge it to stop importing Palm Oil from Malaysia," he said.

However, depite its founders being Tamils and a majority of the ethnic minority which the organisation seeks to represent in Malaysia is Tamil-speaking population, HINDRAF seems to have found little support for its cause in India, especially in Tamil Nadu.

Calling for trade sanctions on Malaysia by India till a solution was found, Moorthy also urged the PIOs to take up the issue with the governments of the respective countries they were residing in.

He said they should also stop all trade activities with Malaysia.

HINDRAF had spearheaded a massive rally of the ethnic minority members in 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, demanding equality and rights but had to face a police crackdown.

Four founders of HINDRAF had also been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) of that country. Moorthy alleged that they were ill-treated and that they were not even provided proper food.