Kerala Government, Learn from ABN Amro

ABN Amro a Dutch bank decided to withdraw the controversial credit card issued by them showcasing the art of M.F.Hussein.

The withdrawal decision is taken as a gesture to show their willingness to correct their mistake that wound Millions of Hindus world wide. Various Hindu organizations and staunch Hindus had earlier protested against this attempt to hurt the Indian sentiments.

We sincerely hope that Kerala Govt. will also take a hint from the wise decision of this Multi National Bank and reconsider their blind Muslim appeasement trick to hurt the Hindus and withdraw the Raja Ravi Varma award to that pervert.

 Instead of crying and ordering CBI enquiry to the protest email received to M. A. Baby, The Govt. should retract from their stand and learn to show respect to Hindus.Press releases like police traced the email sender who protested against Kerala Govt. ‘s decision is not capable  to mute the Million voices of Hindus world wide.

Following is the Correspondence between  a Devoted Hindu and  ABN Amro

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To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] , [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Dear ABN Management,

Hi.  Good day to you.  I just wish to draw your kind attention to using paintings of M.F.Hussain, an Indian artiste to promote your credit card.  We appreciate the excellence in service of your famous Bank and the positive influence it gave to Indian Banking system.  We feel you should become a role model for decades to come.  However, as an Indian, I am saddened that you chose a person better known to his perverted depiction of our Holiest of Religious Icons and objects of Daily worship and Prayers in a very basal manner. This is totally unprovoked display of hatred against Hinduism by the person concerned. As an example,  in Islamic equivalent of the same act, the person concerned would have immediately been  sent into hiding for the raw hatred he managed to pack against a certain religion of India in some of his paintings.  You may opine that he is some sort of a Piccasso, we don’t argue, but we wish you too respect the Indian public sentiments in general and withdraw such a card, if issued, immediately. It would do good for  your long term relationships with the Indian public wishing to maintain business relations with you.  I am sure that this is not an intentional act on the part of such a great Multi National Bank and we would appreciate any gesture aimed at correcting  a small lapse of judgement on the part of the concerned.

Kind Regards

Proud Hindu

Chennai,

South India.

Dear Sir / Madam

I am writing with reference to your correspondence dated May 9^th expressing concern over our use of a painting by M F Hussain for a commercial activity in Singapore.  

Whilst we understand some of Mr Hussain’s previous work has attracted criticism,  our intended use of his work was limited to a newly commissioned painting, of non-controversial subject matter, and was by no means connected with or an endorsement of his previous work.

As a policy, we take particular care to choose commercial imagery that does not cause offence to any gender, ethnicity or religious group and whilst the particular Hussain image we were intending to use in Singapore could in no way be construed as such, we recognise the distress that some of his previous works may have caused.

Taking into account the concerns that you and others have raised we have decided that:

• the card will not be launched in any other country;


• all marketing promotions have been stopped;


• a new card is being developed and will be issued with an image from another prominent Indian artist as part of our ongoing “Indian Artist” series. This will take some time but we will endeavor to have the new card ready within 90 days.

As an organization, ABN AMRO values diversity in all forms and appreciates the rights of all to express their views and opinions and I would like to thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

Yours faithfully,

Anna Langford | Regional Head of PR
Communication, Asia | ABN AMRO
Tel +852 2700 5251 | Fax: +852 2700 5874
38/F, Cheung Kong Centre, 2 Queens Road Central, HK
[email protected]
www.abnamro.com

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