Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email This is a damaging statement to HINDRAF. They better clarify this remarks from Ms Vickneswary, wife of one of the 5 HINDRAF ISA detainees, Vasantha Kumar.
I am both disappointed and saddened as I have been left in the lurch
and receive no help or moral support from my husband’s Hindraf
counterparts
She claims that her most of husband’s Hindraf friends have abandoned her and her two daughters. According to her, other than Ganabathirau’s brother V. Raidu, none of the people currently
front-lining Hindraf had called or visited her. She finds it difficult to travel to Kamunting every weekend on her own, with two kids on tow.
According to Vickneswary, her husband was also disappointed
when she told him that only one or two of his Hindraf friends’ had
bothered to find out how she and their two children were doing.Vickneswary
also said she was not receiving any financial aid from Hindraf and
added that she sometimes felt that her husband’s efforts and sacrifices
were in vain.
Vasantha Kumar’s house also went under auction recently.
I await their reply.
HINDRAF had clarified recently that they are not collecting any funds.
If we can remember, Vasantha was the one who was pressured by the police to admit to collecting money to fund terrorist activities. But Vasantha lodged a police report saying he was pressured to do so..
just to share a writeup from someone….. i’m touched by the spirit of MS !
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A Letter about Mrs. Vasanthakumar’s recent statement in the Star
Sat, 05/07/2008 – 19:42 — naragan
by G. Kanchana
I would like to refer to Mrs. Vasantha Kumar’s statement in the STAR (02/07/08)
The wife of ISA detainee and Hindu Rights Action Force coordinator K. Vasantha Kumar seems oblivious to the fact that all the Hindraf wives and families are very much in the same shoes as her, some even worse with their elderly parents seriously ill and others having to close down their legal firms.
Mrs. Vickneswary doesn’t seem to understand that all the families were left in a lurch and suffering just like her. This applies to the Hindraf 6 and all ISA detainees. This is the cruelty of ISA. Every wife travels the six hundred kilometers on their own, to their husbands. I wouldn’t at all like to sound childish and attack her on what support she has given to the other families. After all Uthaya did suffer serious medical issues in detention and Waytha’s daughter underwent surgery, did Vickneswary help or morally support any of these families let alone visit them.
What is this attitude of some of the wives waiting for those in the front-line of Hindraf to visit them and keep them informed. There is a lack of communication between some of the wives and Hindraf, however it must be remembered the circumstances and events that contributed to this division. Was it Mr. Vasantha Kumar’s false police report or some of these wives preference to make their own and secret dealings with Government officials and politicians for the release of their husbands. Why was Hindraf or its coordinators never informed or what was was the purpose of the so called “secret” meetings and appeals. Many thought this as betrayal as it involved persons that Hindraf accused as the reasons behind the downfall of the Indians.
Despite this Hindraf made no comments and preferred to be of the opinion that it was the individuals right to pursue the matter in which ever manner they chose. However ties were severed.
Hindraf has and is still openly fighting for the release of ALL the ISA detainees.
Further, Hindraf as it had before Nov 25th is still continuously fighting for the rights of the Indians. Day after day its chairman Waythamoorthy the coordinators and supporters are constantly fighting for the Indians. Everyone knows, it is Hindraf that brought about the changes in this country today. You only have to flip through the papers and the internet to see the amount of works still being done. What may I ask is Mrs. Vickneswari’s contribution or infact some of the other ISA wives participation in this continuous struggle for the Indians. Infact there is a particular wife who has come into a lot more power since the General Election 2008 but has yet to bring out any issues concerning the Indians that would complement her husband’s struggle…
As to the lack of financial assistance all the wives individually received some sort of financial aid directly from the persons/individuals/groups giving it. Although the money’s were given to the individual wives it was given in spirit because of Hindraf. So whatever money you received was from Hindraf. Please don not expect a cheque signed by Waythamoorthy at your door step, the HIndraf struggle is a struggle from the heart it has no monetary value. We know of all the financial assistance you received, right up from the Al-Jazeera collection, the donations from temples and well wishers up to K.P. Samy’s contribution. It would be totally unappreciative for you to now say you did not receive any. Totally ungrateful ! Ask Mr. Raidu he would have more knowledge in this matter.
We noticed soon after the Dec 13th arrest how Mr. Vasantha Kumar’s mindset seemed to have drifted towards money alone. His involvement in Hindraf had only been three months (and under scrutiny as well ) and yet his expectations were very high and very monetary. While Mr. Uthayakumar behind bars is still very much active in HINDRAF and its future plans, Mr. Vasantha Kumar, your husband was busy asking for Hindraf money. And now it you! Utter humiliation.
My serious advice to you would be to stop listening to the ill advices of some who are keen to cause a division in Hindraf. The struggle for the Indians by Hindraf will carry on regardless of those who betray it.
Some Hindraf wives, their children, mothers, siblings, families, friends, coordinators, supporters and many others are still in the front-line of this struggle and continuously doing the job.
Sitting back, depressed, complaining and blaming others is not going to do you any good. Making such remarks and statements to the press is not damaging to Hindraf but rather to yourself and your husband.
You are a HINDRAF 6 wife, be proud of it……. but most of all ACT it !
End of Letter
United we stand.
United we act.
VJ
You and your Makkal Sakthi are a disgrace to the Indian community. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Meenachi Indian
I refer to G. Kanchana’s letter Be proud you’re a Hindraf 5 wife and would like to respond accordingly.
But before doing so, I would like to record my utter disgust with Kanchana as well as self-proclaimed Hindraf leader RS Thanendran in their attempts to mow down a woman who is already down and out.
If Kanchana had done it here in Malaysiakini, Thanendran had made nasty remarks about ISA detainee K. Vasantha Kumar’s wife K. Vickneswary and called her vile names via a Tamil daily recently.
All this because Vickneswary said that she had not received any support – both moral and financial – from Hindraf.
In her letter Kanchana says “the Hindraf wives and families are very much in the same shoes as her, some even worse with their elderly parents seriously ill and others having to close down their legal firms.”
I wonder where Kanchana got her facts from.
None of the ‘Hindraf 5 wives’ are in a situation worse off then Vickneswary as Kanchana claims.
Both M. Manoharan and R. Kengadharan’s firms are still running as they were established lawyers even before Hindraf took root.
Kengadharan’s wife is also a doctor and earns a reasonably good income of her own whilst Manoharan’s wife draws his salary as an elected representative as well as his monthly remuneration from his legal firm.
Ganabathirau’s wife lives as part of an extended family with her in-laws and gets good support from them as well as her own family which takes care of her children.
Where does that leave Vickneswary, whose siblings are all in Johor Bahru and Vasantha Kumar’s only sibling, a sister, has her hands full with their aged mother?
Kanchana must also realize that the other four, being lawyers, also received financial support from the Bar Council as opposed to Vasantha Kumar who was left out because he did not belong to the legal fraternity.
Kanchana also said, “What is this attitude of some of the wives waiting for those from Hindraf to visit them and keep them informed? There is a lack of communication between some of the wives and Hindraf, however, it must be remembered the circumstances and events that contributed to this division.”
Surely, Kanchana must know by now that Hindraf being an unregistered entity does not actually have a ‘face’ to it?
And all the so-called current coordinators came into the picture well after the five were detained under the ISA?
So, wouldn’t it have been apt for the coordinators to have visited the wives to inform them that they were now the ones taking up the struggle left by the women’s husbands?
This could also be the reason, as pointed out by Kanchana, why the wives had made their ‘own deals’ to free their husbands.
They did not know whom to go to in Hindraf!
Kanchana calls the wives of the five detainees to be proud of being a ‘Hindraf 5 wife’, but are the current frontline representatives of Hindraf giving these women the due respect?
I don’t think so going by the abuse and accusations hurled at Vickneswary who is currently going through a hard time in her husband’s absence.
As far as I am concerned Vickneswary’s grouses were justified as Hindraf now only revolved around two persons – P. Waythamoorthy and P.Uthayakumar.
Furthermore Thanendran has no right to judge Vickneswary given that he only stumbled into the Hindraf scene well after the five leaders were hauled to Kamunting under the draconian ISA.
Vasantha Kumar was in the scheme of things well before Thanendran came into the picture and had even left his job to champion the Hindraf cause.
Vickneswary, apparently, was never in the know about the extent of his involvement and thus found herself in a lurch when her husband was detained.
For Thanendran and Kanchana to abuse her instead of offering her help is indeed brutal and does not auger well for Hindraf.
Thanendran must also not forget that all the five leaders, except for Waythamoorthy, had denied that they had appointed him to manage Hindraf in their absence.
They said Thanendran should not assume the “self-proclaimed acting leadership of Hindraf” and that the statements he made to the media did not represent the movement.
They also demanded that Thanendran return the funds that had been collected for Hindraf.
And how did Thanendran react to all this?
He responded by alleging that four of the five Hindraf leaders under detention had been bought over by the Barisan Nasional!
In addition to this, the Hindraf leadership should acknowledge Vasantha Kumar’s sacrifices and do what is right for his wife and daughters.
Otherwise, Hindraf would lose the support and respect that it had earned thus far.
And to the likes of Kanchana and Thanendran, back off and stop bullying Vickneswary.
You profess to be working towards the betterment of the Indians in the country but turn around and abuse Vickneswary when you should instead be helping her.
Isn’t she an Indian woman in need?
Hi Meenachi
I read your excellent letter in Malaysiakini. It was highly illuminating and touching. I admire your guts in speaking out on her behalf and the letter itself was well written.
To be honest, I detest the HINDRAF and their struggle but my principles do not differentiate race, religion or political beliefs.
In fact I was deeply saddened to see the news in the Star when it was first published. A group of us wanted to help her but unable to get in touch with her.
However, if you know her whereabout can you please reach me at killer.malaysia@gmail.com ?
However, it is an open secret why these morons of HINDRAF are not helping her and in fact trying to blacken her name. I do pray to god to grant her strength of spirit to cope with difficult days ahead. I also wish to help her in any way I can.
im not in hindraf NGO committe and unsure why they didnt offer help …. but let me think differently …..
you guys know an old Tamil song ?
“…vaalthalum esum , taalthalum esum…”
say if hindraf happen to help all the affected families than i bet ppl w/ mentality like Killer would bang on them claiming they are wasting public money for self benefit .
Now they didnt help and all in a sudden Killer became a ‘msiawood’ Hero and demanding why they are not helping .
All the way Hero Killer want to see MS ‘samadhi’ …… isnt those affected part of MS/Hindraf ??? Something fishy…
Critising any wrongs is Ok Meenachi . One question , many wrote directly to Hindraf.org asking this . Did you do that? Send email to rite party and not to wrong Hero address.
No offence …just my tot…. we are doing our part…..
VJ
Don’t evade, answer why she was not helped. If you guys can rally for Anwar, I can’t see why you shld not help Vickneswary. You guys waste time making police reports and candle light vigil for Bala and march to parliament for Anwar but when it comes to helping Indians, you guys wash hands.
Meenachi is writing to MK is because there is no help from HINDRAF. If HINDRAF had responded to Vickneswary, then there is no need to involve MK rite.
I would also like to ask about all the money collected by HINDRAF. Why there is no record and no accountability ? What had happened ? Why isn’t Thanendran is not disclosing the information ?
BTW Thanendran has a very poor image and record in Penang. Ask those ppl who are familiar with Jalan Baru, Butterworth temple committe. He was accused of swindling a large amount of money.
So no wonder HINDRAF is in such a bad shape because it is led by people like Thanendran and Manickavasagam.
VJ, if you read my letter properly, you would note that it was in response to Kanchana’s letter which whacked Vickneswary.
Furthermore, there are only five families given that Uthaya was single….so, who’s going to compkain if they were all given a helping hand?
Would you?
And I did send the letter to Waythamoorthy and he is yet to respond.
Meenachi
VJ is another apologist for PR and HINDRAF.
Their usual approach is to ignore the problem and attack the victim.
hehehe … and mr.killer’s tactic is let the whole community be ‘mandor’ for rest of their lives….
There is estimated to be around 50,000 protestor’s in hindraf rally,if each one of them give one rinngat every month>>that will be around 50,000 ringgat per month.It will be more than enough to look after the
effected family’s and there is large portion left to aid our indian community in their activties.It seem,we are more willing to protest than to render assistance when people genuinely need’s it.she was crying out for help through the media on her suffering’s,yet she was attacked in such a vicuous manner,by the same hindraf..who was supposed to protect the right’s of our people