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Several Hindu leaders in UK, on Tuesday, sought an "unconditional clarification" from Earl of Mar and Kellie about his remarks that it was "not lies" to say "Hindus were lost and spiritually blind and that Hinduism was a false religion" as claimed by Christian Medical Fellowship's Pastor Juge Ram.
While seeking clarifications, they welcomed the Earl's admission that he does not hold views of the Christian Medical Fellowship.
"However, in a letter written to Anil Bhanot, a Hindu leader, on June 18, this admission is contradicted where the Earl says, "The quoted views of Juge Ram are unfriendly to Hinduism, but are not lies which would cause people to form a distorted view of Hinduism", they pointed out.
"We believe that the statements made by Juge Ram were pastoral opinions that were meant to form a distorted view of Hinduism. It is dangerous to classify such opinions as 'not lies' (meaning they could well be the 'truth').
It is in this context that the Hindu community reacted on June 10 to the Earl's statements. We fail to understand what the Earl means when he says our reaction was based on a 'false report' since his comments are clearly documented in the Hansard of the House of Lords.
According to a press statement issued by the Hindu leaders, the Earl reportedly stated, "They (the Christian Medical Fellowship) were not actually telling any lies about the Hindu religion in the sense that they were not actually putting out any false remarks which were possibly going to distort people or mis-educate them".
Signatories to the statement seeking clarification included Ramanbhai Barber, President, Shree Sanatan Mandir, Leicester, Dr Giridhari Bhan, President Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK, Mahesh Bhatt, President, Federation of Brahmin Associations of Europe, Ratilal Chohan, General Secretary, Hindu Council of the North among others.
Controversy erupted over the release
of a report by the House of Lords select committee on religious offences
on June 10. The committee was headed by Earl of Mar and Kellie.
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