Hindraf co-founder Uthayakumar blames his sibling for polls defeat

(The Star) – The rift between Hindraf founders and brothers P. Uthayakumar and Waythamoorthy is set to widen with the elder brother, who lost in his bid to take the Kota Raja parliamentary and Sri Andalas state seats, blaming his sibling for the polls defeat.

Uthayakumar, who is Hindraf co-founder and Human Rights Party pro-tem secretary-general, also accused his brother of betraying the movement by joining hands with Barisan Nasional.

Waythamoorthy, newly appointed as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, had reportedly signed a memorandum with Barisan on April 18 concerning Hindraf’s five-year blueprint to uplift the Indian community.

He had said he turned to the Barisan as he felt the opposition front had not delivered on its promises or endorsed the Hindraf blueprint.

He had previously expressed hope that the sour relationship with his brother would be mended after the elections. They have reportedly not spoken to each other for two years.

“We had a post-election meeting last Saturday and 26 of the 30 people who attended said Waythamoorthy was the reason why we lost,” said Uthayakumar when contacted.

“We may not have won but if it was not for Waythamoorthy, we will not have lost our deposits.”

Uthayakumar said he had been asked if he would be joining the Barisan like his brother.

“Joining Barisan has never been Hindraf’s struggle,” said Uthaya-kumar who also attributed his losses in GE13 to the “change factor” which was strong but did not include Hindraf.

Waythamoorthy said Uthaya-kumar had no right to criticise his appointment as he had left Hindraf to form HRP.

His appointment, he said, was another step towards Hindraf’s vision of uplifting the underprivileged in the community, adding that the movement was not a political party.

“It (Hindraf) is an organisation with the sole purpose of improving the lives of the poor. This appointment enables us to serve that purpose and that only,” he said, adding that it would also enable them to implement the blueprint.

Waythamoorthy’s appointment as deputy minister has created a wave of dissatisfaction among people from both sides of the political divide. However, he is unfazed by his critics and said they will be “eating their words”.

“They (the detractors) have been happily naysaying almost everything that we (Hindraf) have been engaging in, ever since we went into this partnership with Barisan,” he said.