Hindus want Romania President to apologize for 'racist' Roma remarks

Nevada (US), Nov 6 (ANI): Hindus have expressed disappointment at recent comments of Romania President Traian Basescu about Roma (Gypsies), which they say are disparaging to these communities.

According to reports, Basescu, during his recent Slovenia visit, blamed Roma for making a living on stealing and not willing to work.

Eminent Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Basescu was stigmatizing the entire Roma community with his remarks and it was not acceptable. It seemed like an attempt to demonize the already most prejudiced against community in Europe and eternalizing negative stereotyping of them.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that Basescu should offer unconditional apology for his reportedly 'racist' comments and show strong political will to integrate Roma in Romania.

In its annual "Human Rights Report" about Romania issued in the recent past, US Department of State said: "Roma faced persistent poverty and had poor access to government services, few employment opportunities, high rates of school attrition, inadequate health care, and pervasive discrimination."

Europe's most persecuted and discriminated community, Roma were reportedly encountering apartheid conditions in Europe. Roma reportedly regularly faced social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, etc., Rajan Zed pointed out.

Romania's Roma community is said to be the biggest in Europe and according to reports, between 1.8 and 2.5 million Roma live in Romania and about 75 per cent live in poverty. (ANI)