M. INDIRA Gandhi is prepared for the worst.

After winning a monumental court battle today, the 41-year-old kindergarten teacher knows it is not over yet.

The courtroom drama maybe over, but winning over her youngest daughter, 10-year-old Prasana Diksa, could be her most challenging battle yet.

Prasana was taken from her by her husband when the girl was 11 months old. Indira has not seen her since.

“It will be difficult for her to rejoin the family. There is a possibility she may not want to return to me.

“I’m emotionally ready for that. It is not going to be easy after being separated for so long. And now to bring her back and tell her I’m her biological mother and introduce her to her brother and sister is not going to be easy.

“I might not even recognise her if she walks past me wearing the hijab now,” Indira told The Malaysian Insight.

The Federal Court today ruled that the unilateral conversion of Indira’s three children to Islam is null and void. Indira has another daughter aged, 21, and a 20-year-old son.

A five-man apex court bench today, comprising Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Richard Malanjum, Zainun Ali, Abu Samah Nordin and Ramly Ali, delivered the landmark judgment.

Today’s unanimous decision stated that the conversion of Indira’s three children to Islam was null and void, requiring the consent of both parents and the constitutional word “parent” was a case of being lost in translation.

Speaking to The Malaysian Insight this evening, Indira said she will respect Prasana’s decision.

“If one day, she wants to come back to the family we will welcome her with open arms. She is constantly on my mind and I’m always thinking about her,” she said.

Indira also said that her other children were overjoyed after hearing the judgment this morning.

“They were so happy they cried (when heard the news). Finally, my children can say that they are Hindus. It was confusing for them when their friends asked about their religion. My daughter had difficulty answering that question but she is now confident (after the judgment),” she said.

Indira also hoped that the police will expedite their efforts to locate her daughter.

“We hope that our new inspector-general of police (IGP) will take action immediately. We are also appealing to the public to give us any information of her whereabouts,” she said.

Earlier, IGP Mohamad Fuzi Harun said police will respect this morning’s decision and track down her daughter.

Daughter must be returned

Indira’s lawyer M. Kulasegaran said the Federal Court had earlier ordered that the father, Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, be held for contempt and the child returned to the mother

“There is no issue for him (not to return the child). The manner which the police are taking their own sweet time in doing it is unfortunate. There is little or no seriousness in this matter.

“I welcome the IGP’s statement today. But what happened in the last nine years, each time there is hype when a court gives a decision these are the expressions made by the police.

“Suddenly it will be very hot, then it becomes snow cold. But, he (IGP) has been ordered (to take action),” he said.

Kulasegaran said the only obstacle he sees is the manner in which the child has been brought up, which is worrying.

“Assuming that she has been brought up in whatever way, I told Indira that the child should be left in that manner.

“We Hindus do not enforce all this arbitration issues on children. Let them learn on their own. No use forcing the faith on them,” he said.

Kulasegaran also said that the husband can file a review on today’s decision.

“Strictly he can, but he must get leave. His lawyer can file to say that the judges had wrongly construed and decided (on the matter).

“But isn’t the government and the legislation to be blamed for what has happened? They are mandated by the people and they have failed the people.” – January 29, 2018.