Indira's rally: Crowd disperses after Kula promises meeting with IGP

Following assurances from a deputy minister, a group of protesters backing M Indira Gandhi’s efforts to reunite with her youngest child decided to leave Bukit Aman after waiting there for four hours for the arrival of the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail.

Indira Gandhi Action Team (Ingat) chairperson Arun Dorasamy said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran assured that he would help schedule a meeting with Khalid in the next few weeks.

“Earlier, when the police said that the IGP was not able to schedule a meeting with Indira even sometime in December or January, we eventually decided to call the deputy minister.

“Kulasegaran has said that he will help us arrange a meeting with the IGP within the next two or three weeks, and said that he will also participate in the meeting.

“We welcome that decision, and in the meantime, we will give them space to sort out the due administrative process,” said Arun at a press conference.

Earlier this morning, around 200 people gathered outside the Sogo Shopping Complex to push the authorities to locate Prasana Diksa, who was taken away by Indira’s ex-husband 16 years ago.

The crowd, which started gathering at 10am and was monitored by about 50 police officers, started walking to Bukit Aman at 11.15am, in tow with Prasana’s teddy bear placed on a stroller - which she had planned to deliver to Khalid.

Speaking to the crowd, Indira said this might be her last chance to reunite with her daughter.

Among the prominent names present at the rally were Kulasegaran, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan, and Marina Mahathir.

In her speech, Marina said she was there to support Indira as a mother.

“This is an issue of justice…and where religion is weaponised,” she added.

However, upon reaching near Bukit Aman, the group was informed that Khalid was not going to meet them, despite the group sending correspondence to the IGP since Nov 1.

“The problem is… did you read my letters? Do you have a copy? In my letters, I have detailed what we have planned for today… no memorandum.

“As a symbolic gesture, we want to hand over Prasana Diksa’s teddy bear personally to the IGP, and she (Indira) wants to talk to the IGP directly,” a frustrated Arun said, vowing to stay at the location until Khalid arrives.

‘Sixteen-year journey’

A teary Indira reminded the police that her journey did not start today, but 16 years ago.

“I’m waiting for the police to take action… for 16 years. And you can't even spend 10 minutes seeing me. We’re not asking for something difficult,” she said.

Arun further said that what happened today was wrong and an insult to the judiciary.

“What happened today is a huge insult. It is not only insulting to a mother, but also to the courts. So, we want to remind the IGP again of his obligations under the Police Act and Malaysia’s laws.

“But if the IGP thinks this is the only march and that things will go away, then he’s wrong.

“Until we meet IGP, then we will continue to pressure them,” he stressed.

The crowd began to leave the area around 4pm.

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