Guest guest Posted June 8, 2005 Report Share Posted June 8, 2005 http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200506090301.htm? headline=UK~Hindus~asked~to~boycott~French~goods vediculture, "vrnparker" <vrnparker> wrote: > UK Hindus asked to boycott French goods > > "France has a history of religious intolerance. Even though Hinduism > predates Christianity by 5000 years, France has refused to accord the > status of a bona fide religion to Hindu temples in the country, thus > denying them legitimate tax benefits enjoyed by other religions. > > London, June 9. (PTI): Indignant at a French manufacturer's refusal > to remove a deity from its designer shoes Hindu organisations in the > UK, asked all devotees worldwide on Wednesday to boycott all French- > made goods and participate en-masse in a protest rally outside the > French embassy here on June 12. > > The move came after the French manufacturer Minelli refused to > respond to requests for withdrawal of the sale of designer shoes with > images of Lord Rama. > > The Forum has also demanded that Indian Government should stop buying > Mirage planes from the French Government, write to the international > Olympic committee that selecting Paris as a venue for 2012 Olympics > will not be in keeping with the ethos of human rights and religious > freedom and stop flying with Air France. > > "This is the last straw," commented Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary > General of the Hindu Forum of Britain. > > "Hinduism is a very tolerant religion and we have no problems if our > images are used in a respectful manner. But to use the image of Lord > Rama on a shoe, when we don't even wear shoes inside our temples, is > disrespectful and disgraceful. It has hurt the sentiments of over one > billion Hindus in the world and yet Minelli have not agreed to > withdraw the sale." > > But Kallidai claimed that this is not the only issue. > > "France has a history of religious intolerance. Even though Hinduism > predates Christianity by 5000 years, France has refused to accord the > status of a bona fide religion to Hindu temples in the country, thus > denying them legitimate tax benefits enjoyed by other religions. > > "Hindu women and men cannot put bindis, tilaks and other forehead > markings in school and other places for fear of religious > persecution," he said. > > He urged all Hindus in the UK to participate in the protest rally to > mark religious intolerance in France. > > "We are fortunate that Britain has such an excellent model of > religious tolerance and community cohesion. Many countries in Europe > should learn from our model of co-existence actively promoted by the > British Government." > > Over 1,000 Hindus are expected to converge at the protest which will > include slogans, banners, speeches, and singing of devotional songs > to the accompaniment of religious instruments like Mridunga, drums > and Kartala cymbals. > > Protesters will also be blowing on scores of conch-shell bugles, the > sound of which has traditionally been used in India as a war cry. > > Sikh community in Britain also lent its support to the campaign. > > "...the French people need to realize that this is the 21st century > and that the world is multi-cultural and multi-faith. For many people > religious identity is as important as national identity. We urge > people of all faiths to boycott all French goods and services," > Principal advisor to the Sikhs in England group, Harmander Singh > said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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