Hindraf will stay out of the Hulu Selangor by-election in line with its pledge to remain apolitical.

Instead, it will stay focused on its mission which is "ending, within the ambit of international law, the institutionalised marginalisation of the Indian community".

Neither is the party backing anyone, whether from a political party or as an independent or any political party.

Any change in this position would be announced by the movement's London-based chair P Waythamoorthy.

This was confirmed by Hindraf information chief S Jayathas in a telephone call to Malaysiakini last night.

He said that he was acting on the instructions of Waythamoorthy who is currently on a mission to several countries in the region.

Jayathas was commenting on an announcement in the mainstream media on Wednesday that one VK Regu, who claimed to be Hindraf "secretary", will run as an independent in the Hulu Selangor polls

Referring to Regu, he said, "As an apolitical movement, we cannot be going against our own principles and priorities and fielding candidates in any election."

He clarified that the movement, being ad hoc, did not have the post of secretary or other posts usually associated with registered organisations.

Barisan National plant suspected

Hindraf, he added had no members, only activists and supporters, and joining the movement is only by invitation.

Regu, according to Jayathas, is the same person who invited then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to a massive Hindu religious fire ceremony ( maha yagam ) in the run-up to the Aug 26, 2008 Permatang Pauh by-elections.

pm abdullah ahmad badawi suspend eurocopter ec725 deal ministry of defense event 281008 02 Abdullah ( left ) reportedly fled the scene within five minutes of turning up when the crowd turned hostile, booing him and hurling insults in Tamil and Malay. The incident was recorded and aired on YouTube, said Jayathas.

He also said that anyone claiming to represent Hindraf in Hulu Selangor is probably a plant by the Barisan Nasional to deny Pakatan Rakyat Indian votes.

He hopes the voters would not fall for the ploy.

"However, we are not rooting for anyone either at the same time," explained Jayathas. "Like everyone else, we want to see a free and fair election in Hulu Selangor."

He pointed out that given the movement's emergence in society as a unifier across the political divide, getting down into the "gutter of dirty politics" would set it on a suicidal path away from its vision.

"It is for this reason as well that we avoid getting into polemics of any kind with any Indian-based political parties and NGOs," said Jayathas.

"Of course, there are any number of Indians who are willing to hit out at us as proxies and stooges for others."

Jayathas denied that Hindraf was engaged in a losing struggle as an apolitical movement or confusing the Indian voters who had voted en bloc for the opposition alliance in the last general election.

He attributed the confusion partly to the Indian underclass and other Indians, a minority, going their separate ways again.

NONE He admitted that Hindraf had given clear directions to the Indian community for the 2008 general elections, "the first and last time that it would commit such a colossal mistake".

"We had expected Pakatan to help end the marginalisation of the Indian community at least in their then five states but they failed," said Jayathas.

"So, it was time for us to come to our senses and go back to our apolitical roots in pursuing our struggle for human rights and equal rights."

Future support in elections, he hinted, may be on a candidate to candidate basis, from election to election, rather than giving a carte blanc to any party or coalition of parties.

Jayathas said. "We would not support any Umno candidate since our fight is with Umno and no one else."

Asked about the stand taken by the Human Rights Party on Hulu Selangor, Jayathas opined that "it would be good if it materialises".

HRP pro-tem secretary-general P Uthayakumar, the elder of the Hindraf brothers, had pledged to support any Pakatan candidate in Hulu Selangor who can deliver land titles to all 98 Tamil schools in the state. He's banking on Pakatan and not BN needing the Indian votes.

"Our connection with HRP is that Uthaya is Hindraf's legal advisor besides being Waytha's elder brother," explained Jayathas.

"But that doesn't make HRP the political wing of Hindraf as the media likes to report despite our numerous reminders."