KUALA LUMPUR: A reunion of five key masterminds behind Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) who were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) is in the making.The move has been undertaken by an Indian NGO, Malaysian Indian-Voice (MI-Voice).
Its chairman, V Raidu, said the reunion was scheduled to take place on April 30 at Dewan Hamzah, Klang, and was expected to draw 10,000 people.
The five masterminds are V Ganabatirao, K Vasantha Kumar, R Kenghadharan, M Manoharan and P Uthayakumar. They were largely responsible for mobilising more than 60,000 Indians under the Hindraf banner for a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur in 2007 to highlight the plight of the Indian poor.
In a police crackdown on the protest all five were detained under ISA. During the detention, there was a fallout between Uthayakumar and Vasantha Kumar.
Shortly after their release, Manoharan was elected DAP Kota Alam Shah assemblyman in the 2008 general election and Uthayakumar went on to form the Human Rights Party.Vasantha Kumar joined PKR while Kenghadharan and Ganabatirao are MI-Voice advisers.
Said Raidu: “I am hoping all five would join hands for the sake of the Indian community.”
Added Ganabatirao: “This will be the last attempt for a reunion.”
Ganabatirao, who is a DAP member, confirmed that DAP secretary-general, Lim Guan Eng, would be attending the function.
Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat are also expected to be present.
