Indians in SA call for revival of Gandhi founded Indian Congress

She said the NIC, which was established by Mahatma Gandhi in 1894, had played an important role in the liberation struggle and therefore it could play the same role now in mobilising the people of Indian origin in the new South Africa. NIC had later allied itself with African National Congress.

Meer was critical of the ruling ANC, which after forcing the NIC to disband in 1994, had 8220;got into bed8221; with former apartheid stooges and opportunists within the people of Indian origin.

Now scores of former activists have joined the call and supporting moves to revive the NIC.

A senior former official of the NIC, Paul Devadas David said that one of the main reasons for disenchantment among activists was that the ANC had sacrificed its principles to invite former apartheid Indian stooges into its fold.

8220;This was a major mistake8221;, he said. 8220;We sacrificed our lives and fought against these stooges during the dark days of apartheid but yet the organisation we fought for got into bed with these opportunists.8221;