Denial of permission to hold World Disability Day criticised

New Delhi, Dec 2 (UNI) The National Disability Network, an organisation working for welfare of the disabled in India, have criticised the denial of permission by the Home Ministry to these people to celebrate the World Disability Day at India gate, here tomorrow.

In a statement issued to the press, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People said, ''traditionally, for the last 11 years, the disabled have celebrated this day with great warmth and colour at India gate, but for some unthinkable eason, suddenly, out of the blue, the Ministry of Home Affairs has denied us the permission.'' They also said, this is bound to cause inconvenience to the 4000 to 5000 disabled people, who would be turning up at India Gate tomorrow, to celebrate the event.

Alleging that ''There is definitely more to it (the denial) than meets the eye'', the centre added ,''our application was with the Delhi police and the Home Ministry since October. If there was a genuine reason, they could have easily rejected our application and then we would have either called off the celebrations or looked for an alternate venue.

However, they kept us waiting till November 28 and then suddenly send a regret letter totally out of the blue.'' The centre said they had even sent a letter to the Home Minister last evening but of no avail.

UNI