Romanian proposal to rename 'Roma' as 'Gypsy' denounced

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Correspondent

03 February, 2011

Notable Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that this proposal appeared simply as an attempt to belittle the already stigmatised community in Romania and Europe.

HINDUS HAVE strongly objected to reported Romanian proposal of officially changing the term “Roma”, currently used for its largest minority group, to “Gypsy.”

Notable Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that this proposal appeared simply as an attempt to belittle the already stigmatised community in Romania and Europe.

Zed, who is the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that “Gypsy” was seen as disparaging and insulting by Roma communities. Before making such a change, Romania should consult Romanian Roma communities and European Roma organizations."

According to reports, two Romania parliamentary committees have voted to officially change the ethnic group’s name from “Roma” to “Gypsy”. Their population in Romania is estimated at between 1.8 and 2.5 million, reports suggest.

Roma community has been subjected to apartheid like conditions across many countries in Europe and they face social ostracism in major cities, where they are forced to stay in slum like camps. They face poverty, malnutrition, lack of educational facilities and social support from the state leading to increasing marginalisation.