Sudheendra Kulkarni in The Sunday Express:
“The developments in Malaysia—the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh is far worse—pose an important question before India’s political and intellectual class: should India care for ethnic Indians in other countries? Or should our government simply sit quiet on the plea that this is an internal matter of a foreign country, in which it cannot interfere?
“Since the issue concerns primarily the Hindus, our ‘secularists’ will most likely advise the UPA government to ‘lay off’, which is exactly what Malaysian authorities have told our government leaders. The advice must not be heeded. India has a moral duty to act whenever ethnic Indians anywhere in the world suffer racial or religious persecution.”
Read the full column: Should India care for ethnic Indians in other countries?
The counter view: Malaysian Indians are Malaysians
The Tamils in malaysia have a strong Hindu and Indian identity apart from their linguistic tamil identity. Even their organization has a Hindu name. But the dravida tamil movement is Anti Hindu and also to a some extent anti india. The malay tamils are victims of this game of mistaken and confused identities. Thats one reason why the malaysian tamils rejected karunanidhi when he gave them support a few weeks ago. We indians are so caught up in ethinc, linguistic and religious identities that any support from the indian government would not be strong and can be easily diluted.
Malaysian Indians are Malaysians. I dont see why India should get involved. Do we tolerate if another country makes a comment on ethnic-?
I think it’s important that India raises its voice when people of Indian origin are being persecuted anywhere in the world. Persecution based on race or ethnic origin should be opposed everywhere. The last time a government pursued it as a policy(South Africa), the country was isolated by the international community. As it is people of Indian origin in this case, India should lobby in the UN to bring pressure on the Malaysian government.
As the malaysian minister said “LAY OFF”. We don’t have any rites to interfere in their internal affairs. Will the indian govt accept any interference from saudi for this godra riots????
well said dhansi…
malaysian govt knows about pseudo human rights activists…so they do not tolerate any such non sense…
you may also recall that malaysia is one such country where they have officially banned communism…so no naxalism as well!
Rhe media keeps saying ;INDIANS’ The Govt says Malaysian Indians. Why are they afraid of saying Hindus? Is this also something to do with appeasement?
In this world might is right. A weak country like ours is not expected to talk/act like US/UK. We have to bear with when a minister of a small (in population) country says ” … Off” and shut our mouth for good.
kongas in malaysia are just kongas. not malaysian, not indian, not hindu. EnO egraaDakke hOdaru… unnaskoMDru.. eevaaga.. suddenly they become indians and hindus because it suits their convenience. india has no business in meddling in anybody else’s affairs and malaysians are not indians.
Tamils will care for Ethnic tamils, Kannadigas will care for Ethnic Kannadigas if there are any!