(foil-l) Saffronites now target Dr. Jack Preger of Calcutta

[Partha Banerjee]

>Calcutta wants Marxists to halt saffron designs against
> Dr Preger
>
> Arun Chanda in Calcutta
>
> Dr Jack Preger is neither a Christian missionary nor
> has he ever converted anyone to Christianity.
>
> But this 68-year-old British doctor has been given
>marching orders
> by the Foreigner's Registration Office in Calcutta and
>asked to leave
> the country.
>
> The FRO's explanation: There are 'adverse reports' about
>Dr Preger
> who has been serving the poor of Calcutta for the last 20
>years.
>
> What is the real reason?
>
> A majority of the beneficiaries of his projects in
>Calcutta are poor
> Muslims and the order came from the Union home ministry in
> Delhi.
>
> "Yes. It is a fact that a majority of the poor people who
>come to our
> clinics and the children to our schools are Muslims," says
>Dr Preger.
> "But I do not care about religion. I do not believe in
>organised
> religion and do not go to churches. I believe in god but
>do not
> believe about the son of god".
>
> Being a former Marxist, Dr Preger is appalled at the stand
>taken by
> the Marxist government of West Bengal. The FRO in Calcutta
>is
> headed by a deputy commissioner of police who reports to
>the state
> government and is yet to offer an 'explanation' for not
>granting him
> a return visa.
>
> Each year Dr Preger goes to Europe to attend meetings of
>the
> support groups for Calcutta Rescue, a charitable
>organisation which
> he founded 20 years ago. This year too he purchased an air
>ticket on
> February 22 to attend a meeting in the United Kingdom.
>
> "The meetings are usually held in May each year. Usually I
>apply
> for a return visa. But this year, before I applied for the
>return visa,
> on February 23 I was asked to quit the country within
>seven days,"
> said Dr Preger.
>
> On February 25, he wrote to the FRO explaining the reasons
>for his
> trip and that he was needed back in Calcutta. But the FRO
>did not
> relent.
>
> On March 1, he moved the Calcutta high court which not
>only
> stayed the FRO order asking him to leave the country but
>sought an
> explanation from the authorities concerned by March 16.
>
> But the FRO authorities seem to be adamant. One of the
>officials
> said, "It is plain and simple. He is a foreigner and his
>visa has
> expired. He has no business to stay here. We have adverse
>reports
> about his activities. Earlier, he was thrown out of
>Bangladesh and
> this time we will ensure that he leaves India. Will an
>Indian be
> allowed to stay for an indefinite period in England?"
>
>

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