Hindus Want End To Walls Separating Roma In Slovakia

Hindus have strongly criticized the reported erection of a wall in Kosice in eastern Slovakia to keep out Roma or Gypsies. Calling it a blatant sign of apartheid, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement, said that it clearly showed the attitude of European Union towards its most maltreated community of Roma. There were reportedly 14 such walls in Slovakia.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted that it was really shocking to see 21st century Europe reportedly spending public funds to erect wall to segregate communities; instead of improving the conditions of Roma who lived next door reportedly in medieval squalor in mud houses without running water, gas and sewage. Was this a part of the vision of post-Berlin Wall European Union to keep Roma away from their more affluent non-Roma neighbors, Zed asked.

Zed pointed out that it was appalling to see how inhumanely Europe was treating its about 15 million Roma brothers-sisters. It was clearly reprehensible, hazardous and immoral and a brazen failure of Europe to meet its international obligations. When it came to Roma, Europe frequently failed to implement its own laws distinctly mentioned in its own books.

The alarming condition of Roma people was a blot on Europe and the rest of the world as they reportedly regularly faced social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, language barriers, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, racist slogans on Internet, etc.

Zed stated that “Tatra Tiger” Slovakia should not continue staying apathetic and silent spectator ignoring Roma apartheid. It was moral obligation of Slovakia to take care of its most disadvantaged Roma population and stop human rights violations reportedly suffered by them. Ivan Gasparovic is President and Robert Fico is Prime Minister of Slovakia. References to Roma people in Europe, who are believed to have their roots in the Indian subcontinent, reportedly went as far back as ninth century CE.