One rope to hang two IndiansBy RICHARDSON DHALAI Sunday, March 25 2007
IN HIS first public appearance after his two-year conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal, UNC interim political leader Basdeo Panday described the upcoming General Elections campaign as a “holy war.” He further claimed two prominent East Indian leaders were almost “hanged” with the same rope by the ruling PNM.
Speaking at a UNC public meeting in Couva on Friday night, Panday described the ruling PNM as a “vicious dictatorship” in the making which could make Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe look like a “high school bully.”
He claimed the Government did not succeed in attempts to convict both him and Chief Justice, Sat Sharma, because of greed.
“The only reason they failed was because they got too greedy. They tried to hang two Indians with the same rope,” he said, adding that his retrial would not only be swift but “nasty, brutish and short.”
Panday reminded supporters that he had not been charged for corruption or “receiving a bribe or of thiefing sand, gravel and cement from the Scarborough Hospital Project,” but for having his name on a bank account to ensure his children’s educational future in case “anything happened to Oma.”
Referring to ongoing unity discussions between the UNC and several smaller opposition parties, Panday urged his supporters to “put aside your differences and divisions and factionalism.” “Look upon this as a holy war, a battle to ensure that all our peoples shall live in peace and harmony,” he said.
“Let us all join together and make 2007 the year of the Lion, the year of victory.”
He described Winston Doo-keran’s Congress of the People (COP)s a “political carcass” which continued to “litter the political landscape.”
On the issue of his re-entrance to Parliament, Panday said neither House Speaker, Barry Sinanan, nor the ruling party could have him removed from the chambers. He said only the people of Couva North could decide his political life.
“I have always said that it is you, the people of Couva North, this blessed constituency of blessed people who gave birth to my parliamentary life 30 years ago and who have sustained me with your blood, your sweat and your tears, it is you and only you alone who will take that from me,” he said.
Earlier in the meeting, activist Amanda Baptiste, mo-ved a motion which urged Panday to resubmit his nomination papers to the Couva North constituency and to remain as their parliamentary representative. The large crowd carried the motion unanimously.
Also addressing the meeting was former UNC deputy political leader, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, who said Panday was legally entitled to return to the Parliament as the duly elected member of Couva North.
