MIC information chief M Saravanan today slammed the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for allegedly being a used by opposition parties to garner support.

Saravanan said DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang's appearance during a impromptu gathering of Hindraf supporters yesterday in Shah Alam was proof of his claim.

"It is evident that with the presence of Lim with Hindraf supporters yesterday, the Hindraf gathering (tomorrow) is planned by the stooges of DAP and to a certain extent, PKR," said Saravanan (right ) in a statement.

"Hindraf is not fighting for the Indian community as it claimed, but actually trying to garner votes for the opposition.

"Hindraf leaders are trying to stir up the people's emotions to be sympathetic of the opposition in the coming general election," he added.

Hindraf plans to gather 10,000 Indians at the British High Commission tomorrow to submit a petition to the British Queen seeking her support for a class-action suit filed by Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy.

'Poisoning minds'

In the suit, Waythamoorthy ( left ) named the British government for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for 150 years.

The quantum being sought is US$4 trillion (RM14 trillion) - or US$1 million for every Indian currently residing in Malaysia.

In urging Indians to stay away from the rally, Savaranan said the Indian community would continue to respect the rule of law and continue to have faith in MIC and the Barisan Nasional government.

"Hindraf is only poisoning the young minds and making use of them for their own political agenda. The silent majority will not be silent anymore if Hindraf continue to stir up racial sentiments," he warned.

He urged Hindraf supporters not to attend the rally because it was illegal and not sanctioned by the British government.

Full support from DAP

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng pledged his party's full support for the Hindraf event "due to government neglect, miginalisation, discrimination and victimisation of the Indian community".

He said in a statement today that the decision came after the arrest of three Hindraf leaders under the Sedition Act yesterday.

Lim said the arrests were purely an attempt to intimidate the trio as the alleged acts of sedition, as stated in the charge sheet, were 'committed' on Nov 16 this year.

"Why were they charged after they refused to call off the rally and not earlier?" he asked.

Lim alleged that the Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail's decision to charge the trio was meant to prevent them from submitting the petition.

"Those who are able to attend should do so as a sign of protest against such selective persecution by the AG and the BN government," he added.