Dear Editor, On the day before Diwali when we were preparing to welcome the Divine  Mother Lakshmi into our homes, I was utterly taken aback to read a letter from Charandass Persaud, the APNU/AFC MP from Berbice,  reviling a woman, the Hindu embodiment of Mother Lakshmi,  for “daring” to state her opinion.  (SN, 11-10-15] “East Canje Motorcade was politicised&rdquo In the letter that purported to call for reconciliation between the Hindu leaders who disagreed on whether Diwali falls this year on November 10th or 11th, the “full of himself” MP said,    “Dr Vindhya Persaud so disgusted me that I felt like hauling (her)  off the stage.” And what did Dr Persaud, who is the President of the Guyana Hindu Dharma Sabha, do to be threatened with assault and battery by the AFC Attorney? To simply say that those who agreed with her organisation that Diwali must be celebrated on November 11 should go ahead and do so. Charandass claimed that Dr Persaud, “shouted to the people (at least 50 per cent non-Hindus) to light their diyas on November 11 and keep the children away from school and do not go to work and she will stand up for them. Against what or for what, may I ask?” Well, against teachers at school and bosses at work who may want to sanction the persons who stay away on a day that is not a Public Day, for one. Will the MP ask his colleagues Simona Broomes (Labour) and Rupert Roopnaraine (Education) to declare November 11 as a holiday for those who want to celebrate Diwali on that day? But what was most troubling was that in writing his letter after his presumed “heat of passion” at the Canje Ground should have passed, Charandass is oblivious of his lack of respect for a woman – especially at a time when she is venerated. His behaviour is reminiscent of the power drunk Duryodhana in the Mahabharata who tries to humiliate the outspoken Drupattie by stripping her in public. He would “haul” Dr Vindhya Persaud off the stage!! Claiming to be a Hindu, Charandass should remember the fate of Duryodhana and that the good women are protected by Sri Krishna himself. But the MP’s threat is only the latest misogynic action against women who are in authority. Back in 2013, he ridiculed Dr Vishalya “Artie” Sharma for being “so fat, she could probably not fit in the front seat of her jeep” when he was arguing she could not administer the New Amsterdam Hospital. His party leaders AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan and Moses Nagamootoo, who were present at that Canje outburst, just snickered. However, sustained criticisms by women groups forced him to later apologise. I urge all Guyanese men and women – including the leaders of his party – to condemn the APNU/AFC MP’s misogynic and fascist attack on Dr Vindhya for standing up for her religious belief.

Sincerely, Praem Ramsamooj