NEW YORK, Oct 6 (APP) : An umbrella Indian organization took out a full page advertisement in Saturday’s New York Times questioning the credentials of Congress President Sonia Gandhi to address the U.N. General Assembly on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary which the world body had declared International Day of Non-Violence.
The Forum for Saving Gandhi’s heritage had also held a protest demonstration outside the United Nations on Oct 2, the day Sonia Gandhi addressed the 192-member Assembly.
The forum consists of Mahatma Gandhi International Foundation, Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Hindu Temple, Indo-Caribbean Council, Kashmir Taskforce, Indian Americans Intellectual Forum & Foundation of Nepalis and others.
The advertisement says Sonia Gandhi is not related to Mahatma Gandhi and is “attempting to misappropriate his name for political mileage and international legitimacy.”
“She (Sonia) known to be vindictive and undemocratic,” it said. “Her party has shown religious intolerance towards 900 million Hindus by blowing up Rama Sethu, an ancient Hindu monument. This is similar to Taliban blowing up the Bamyam Bhuddas (in Afghanistan).”
The advertisement also accused her of allowing what it calls “international missionery enterprises” to Christianize India.
It also refers to Bofor scandal in which it alleges Rajiv Gandhi was involved and the UN Oil for Food Scandal in which it says Congress party was involved.
“Her respect for human rights is best explained by her decision to make a prime instigator of anti-Sikh riots (that burnt alive 3000 Sikhs) a key central government minister in India,” it says. But it does not name the minister.
“UN’s declaration of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday on Oct.
2 as International Non-Violence Day is commendable. However, instead of a true Gandhian delivering message of peace and non violence, Sonia Gandhi who is not a representative of Gandhian values is chosen,” it says.
“She (Sonia) was imnvolved in numerous scams, scandals and controversies. Before entering India, she was an au-pair with modest means. Since then, she and her family members amassed millions through questionable means,” the advertisement said, without giving any evidence.