Hindus want NHL to cut-off all alliances with "The Love Guru" movie
5 Jul 2008, 1127 Hrs

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Washington, July 5 (ANI): Hindu groups have urged National Hockey League (NHL), headquartered in New York, to immediately cut-off all alliances with the Hollywood movie "The Love Guru", stressing "it ridicules and denigrates Hindus and Hinduism".

Advancing the cause spearheaded by acclaimed Hindu leader Rajan Zed, Bhavna Shinde, representing Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha, in a communiqué to NHL Commissioner Gary Bruce Bettman, said, "All North Americans, including Hindus, are very proud of NHL and its heritage. Founded in 1917, NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the four North American sports leagues alongwith baseball, football and basketball. The Stanley Cup is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America. We do not want NHL to be in any way associated with 'The Love Guru', which lampoons Hinduism, its concepts, its traditions and its followers."

Meanwhile, Rajan Zed, supported by some other organizations, has given a worldwide boycott call for this movie by Hindus and other religious people because it lampoons Hinduism and Hindu concepts and uses Hindu terms frivolously.

Zed, who launched campaign against this movie starting in March, urging other people of faith (besides Hindus) also to boycott the movie, said, "Today, it is Hinduism. Tomorrow Hollywood might attempt to denigrate another religion or denomination."

"This is pure and blatant ridiculing and "The Love Guru" presenter Paramount Pictures and its parent Viacom should immediately issue a general public apology," Zed said.

"Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion followers and a rich philosophical thought. It should not be taken lightly," he added.

A prominent Jewish Rabbi, Elizabeth W. Beyer of Nevada (USA), has also called for boycott of "The Love Guru" because it "lampoons Hinduism, mocks Ashram life and Hindu philosophy".

Meanwhile, signature campaign launched by Hindu groups against "The Love Guru" has crossed the ,600 mark. (ANI)