Hindus find repeated pushing of black commuter off a Paris metro train on February 17 highly shocking and appalling.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was disturbing to note that racism was still alive and being allowed to continue in 21st century.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that it was abhorrent to watch the group chanting “we’re racist” at a metro station at the heart of French capital and abusing a person just because of the color of his skin. Moreover, reportedly no intervention by the present transport officials raised more questions.
Rajan Zed further said that France needed to wake-up and resolutely with strong political will, combat discrimination and hate speech which was reportedly on the rise in France. Lasting solutions needed to be urgently found.
Moreover, Roma reportedly continued to face apartheid conditions, forced evictions and severe maltreatment in France, Zed added.
Have the world made any progress since peace icon Mahatma Gandhi was pushed out of a train in South Africa in 1893 in similar circumstances? Rajan Zed asked.
Europe, which boasted of its human rights record, should be ashamed of this Paris metro incident and France President Francois Hollande should offer formal national apology for it, Zed indicated.
