The day Rowley bowed
By NALINEE SEELAL Friday, January 27 2012 (reproduced from NEWSDAY)
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s gesture of bowing and touching the feet of India’s President Pratibha Devisingh during a recent 14-day State visit to India, has generated much discussion in local society.
Leading the loudest howl of condemnation for the act, which is a common gesture of respect and humility in the Hindu religion, of which Persad-Bissessar is a follower, is Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) leader Dr Keith Rowley.
At a PNM public meeting days after the Prime Minister returned home, Rowley castigated Persad-Bissessar by saying, “I am a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and I take umbrage at my Prime Minister going to anybody’s country and ‘kissing’ any office-holder’s foot! Nobody sent the Prime Minister abroad to represent her religion or her race.”
Persad-Bissessar countered by saying she had nothing to apologise for as her gesture was one of showing respect to her elder as is the norm in the Hindu religion and that if Rowley is serious in his aspiration to become Prime Minister, he ought to show respect to all races and religions.
By NALINEE SEELAL Friday, January 27 2012 (reproduced from NEWSDAY)
PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s gesture of bowing and touching the feet of India’s President Pratibha Devisingh during a recent 14-day State visit to India, has generated much discussion in local society.
Leading the loudest howl of condemnation for the act, which is a common gesture of respect and humility in the Hindu religion, of which Persad-Bissessar is a follower, is Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) leader Dr Keith Rowley.
At a PNM public meeting days after the Prime Minister returned home, Rowley castigated Persad-Bissessar by saying, “I am a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and I take umbrage at my Prime Minister going to anybody’s country and ‘kissing’ any office-holder’s foot! Nobody sent the Prime Minister abroad to represent her religion or her race.”
Persad-Bissessar countered by saying she had nothing to apologise for as her gesture was one of showing respect to her elder as is the norm in the Hindu religion and that if Rowley is serious in his aspiration to become Prime Minister, he ought to show respect to all races and religions.
However, this photo, taken at a mosque at Victoria Village in San Fernando during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations last year, Dr Rowley himself is seen bowing during prayers as is the norm in Islam. No one, not the Prime Minister nor any other person, castigated Rowley — who is not a Muslim follower — for bowing during that Eid celebration.
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