UK Hindus asked to boycott French goods

London,: 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.