Hindus in Singapore enjoy privileged position, says Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs K. Shanmugam

By Newsgram Staff Writer

Hindus in Singapore are not only discriminated against, they in fact enjoy a "privileged" position, said Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs K. Shanmugam.

The minister was cited saying all this on Facebook. He posted this as a response to many questions asked related to the long-standing bans on religious foot processions as well as the playing of music during religious processions. The ban on religious foot processions has been there since the riots of 1964.

Shanmugam said Hindus are the only ones given an exemption for three processions by foot: namely Thaipusam, Panguni Uthiram and Thimithi.

"When other non-Hindu religious groups apply to hold foot processions, they are usually rejected," he wrote.

"On rare occasions when exemption is given, stringent conditions are imposed which including much shorter routes, unlike Thaipusam which lasts the whole day and goes through major roads."

Earlier, Singapore's second Minister of Home Affairs S. Iswaran had explained that the country's ban on playing music at processions was implemented because of the fights between rival groups