To tell a truth in front of a tyrant ruler is the biggest crusade in the sight of Lord. And perhaps, this saying sounds so true to Mr. S M Mushrif (retired IAS officer – former IGP Maharashtra) when he wrote his book, ‘Who killed Karkare ?’ published a couple of months back.
Ironically, despite all the truth he has managed to jot down in his daring work, he couldn’t get the kind of coverage or response in the Media. The sort of debate or discussion it should spark off in the market sounds missing though, the reasons are obvious, which he himself disclosed in his recent visit to Nagpur on 2nd and 3rd January 2010 in conference organised by Bahujan Sangarsh Samiti Nagpur Chapter.
He said that, despite the 20-25 different journalists from the various big and small Media houses both the print and electronic, which interviewed him on 28th October 2009 at his Pune based residence; nothing really appeared the following day, except in small time Newspapers of the city. His work was totally brought below the carpet; nobody really cared to debate or discusses it in public domain, thanks to the kind of pressure the Saffron brigade has created on the Media industry. So one can imagine the fear in which they dwell these days, to this point Mushrif added a humor saying, “the saffron elements happens to be the real terrorist, but with my book they seems to be terrorized, so in this way I now call myself a more bigger terrorist than them”.
The most interesting speech in the two day program of Bahujan Sangarsh Samiti, was in the symposium on, ‘Hindu Nation and Bahujan society’ (Bahujan Society is the non Brahmin communities, including, Muslims, Christians, Sikh, Dalits, OBC’s etc). Wherein he said that, the real trouble before the anti National elements (saffron groups) were the true Nationalist people like, Karkare, Salaskar, Kamte etc, who managed to find the real culprit behind the series of bomb blasts done in various places including, Malegaon, Nanded and Parbhani, etc. The 2 Laptops recovered by Karkare after Sadhvi Pragya’s arrest disclosed, how the Hindu Terror Network was responsible for the series of bomb blasts carried out and making Muslim innocent youths responsible for the same. The Laptop recovered, had ample of information, about how the Hindu terror group materialized this anti national activities using people and groups of different expertise and resource. These groups of men included some high profile industrialists, politicians, Media professionals, Historians, Academicians and so on.
This new nexus coming into light was well exposed by our real hero, the ATS Chief, Hemant Karkare. This man made a promise to himself that he will leave no stone unturned to let the world know the truth. However, before he could do this, he was knocked out of this mortal world in a very mysterious fashion during the 26/11 Mumbai attack. According to Mushrif, the elimination of Karkare was nothing but an innovative way of getting rid of a person who was likely to expose the anti national elements which is nothing but the saffron brigade. This innovative way is - certainly killing people like Karkare under the shadow of some operation like of 26/11, so it was a good team work between the so called Lashkar men and the saffron elements.
According to Mushrif, the IB was well informed about the Let men hatching a plan to attack the Taj, they had been knowing this fact since 18 th November 2008, but unfortunately, they never passed on this information to the Navy or to the Mumbai police, rather they preferred to give it to the coast guard which has nothing to do with the internal security. So it was nothing but efforts done too little too late, failing thus to avert this attack, the IB despite being informed about the movement of the boat carrying the men with lethal weapons remained tongue tied. Earlier the IB was provided with 35 different suspicious cell no’s by the RAW, the same numbers used during those 72 hours of terror in Mumbai, including many ISD calls and only one call made in Mumbai, just before the death of Karkare. In this way Hemant Karkare was killed by the men as per the directions of the saffron elements, while the message went to the masses was, ‘Let men killed him’.
According to Mushrif, he had found 11 stark contrasting elements in two operations. The Taj-Oberoy-Trident was completely different from the one at Cama and Rangbhavan lanes. How can same people be at two different places at the same time? Also, he came across so many loopholes, in the 26/11 investigation. Sr. IAS officer Rangari told Times of India, Mumbai edition that during the attack at CST, out of 35 CCTV cameras, 16 were shut down at that particular day for no valid reason. The SIM recovered at CST station of the terrorist belonged to a person based at Satara (a city in Maharashtra), the police investigation was intervened in the midst of the due process, and this owner of the SIM was never brought to books.
The lady beside the coastal area identified these men who came from boat, and was the eye witness to massacre perpetrated at Taj in the broad day light, but was soon forced to leave for US. The interesting remark made by Mr. Mushrif at the end of his speech was, that the IB in India is worse than any RSS Shakha, and that if these men who happens to be our custodians of our security and who remain hand in glove with the enemies of our society, then its time to stand up for a new revolution.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
No conclusive evidence on Love Jihad
The Kerala police told the Kerala High Court that no conclusive evidence had been received about existence of 'Love Jihad' movement, where young non-Muslim girls are allegedly trapped into marriage and converted into Islam.
In a statement filed in the court, Director General of Police Jacob Punnose said he could not come to "a definite all conclusive finding" due to divergence in contents of reports from SPs of different districts and subordinate officers on the organised work of the 'Love Jihad' in the state.
The DGP also submitted 18 reports of SPs in a sealed cover to the court, complying with its October 26 directive. The court had expressed dissatisfaction with the DGP's earlier statement, saying some of his answers were 'vague' and statements did not 'reconcile' with each other. It had directed him to produce, by Wednesday, in a sealed cover, the reports based on which he made his statements on the 'Love Jihad'.
The DGP, in a statement on Oct 22, had told the court there were reasons to suspect 'concentrated attempts' to persuade non-Muslim girls to convert to Islam after they fall in love with Muslim boys, but no organisation called 'Love Jihad' had been identified so far in the state. Punnose in his statement today said he had received some information from some units based on "source inputs" which suggested 'clandestine design' of certain groups aimed at religious conversion through "deceitful means".
He said the contents of three reports lacked supportive evidence and were often based on hearsay. No cogent material was available in the three reports to make an unambigious statement on the truth of allegations of forced conversions. The contents of the reports require further enquiries, he stated. The issue of the so called 'Love Jihad' had also been raised in the Karnataka High Court which on October 26 had directed the state and the Kerala police to jointly probe the matter and submit a report by November 13.
In a statement filed in the court, Director General of Police Jacob Punnose said he could not come to "a definite all conclusive finding" due to divergence in contents of reports from SPs of different districts and subordinate officers on the organised work of the 'Love Jihad' in the state.
The DGP also submitted 18 reports of SPs in a sealed cover to the court, complying with its October 26 directive. The court had expressed dissatisfaction with the DGP's earlier statement, saying some of his answers were 'vague' and statements did not 'reconcile' with each other. It had directed him to produce, by Wednesday, in a sealed cover, the reports based on which he made his statements on the 'Love Jihad'.
The DGP, in a statement on Oct 22, had told the court there were reasons to suspect 'concentrated attempts' to persuade non-Muslim girls to convert to Islam after they fall in love with Muslim boys, but no organisation called 'Love Jihad' had been identified so far in the state. Punnose in his statement today said he had received some information from some units based on "source inputs" which suggested 'clandestine design' of certain groups aimed at religious conversion through "deceitful means".
He said the contents of three reports lacked supportive evidence and were often based on hearsay. No cogent material was available in the three reports to make an unambigious statement on the truth of allegations of forced conversions. The contents of the reports require further enquiries, he stated. The issue of the so called 'Love Jihad' had also been raised in the Karnataka High Court which on October 26 had directed the state and the Kerala police to jointly probe the matter and submit a report by November 13.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Hindu Intellectuals Talk on Terrorism
R K Dwivedi, a Reader in Delhi University, rejects allegations that only Muslims are involved in every blast and terrorist attack in the country.
"As far as the recent blasts or the terror attack on the Parliament are concerned, tell me, has there been any impartial enquiry," Dwivedi asks and himself answers in negative.
"Then how can one say that a particular community is involved when none of them have been proved guilty in a court of law except in certain cases on the basis of confessions in the police custody?" he questions adding that it very difficult for us to believe police claims.
Bangalore-based Journalist Shiva Sunder demands thorough probe of all blasts in the country and terrorist attacks starting from the attack on the Parliament.
"All the blasts and attacks right from the attack on the Indian Parliament need to be thoroughly investigated. What is very problematic is that there hasn't been any judicial enquiry into these blasts, nor has there been any conviction in these cases" Sunder says.
He demands that the Judiciary and Executive should expose the real culprits behind these blasts through impartial investigation but doubts whether the government will ever conduct such enquiries.
Principal of a college in Patna (who wanted to remain anonymous, given his position) says: "As far as the investigation of the recent blasts is concerned what is happening is that the suspicion is being given the status of evidence both by the investigative agencies and the media." Instead of hard evidence and proofs cases are built on mere suspicion which is more a prejudice and is the result of demonization of a particular community, he says.
Terrorism
Dwivedi is critical of all kinds of terrorism either by religious fanatics or others. He says what Hindutva extremists are doing is a clear case of terrorism and blames them and the media for helping Muslim extremists in legitimizing their share of acts of terror in the name of Islam.
"Whose terrorism are we talking about? One by the Hindutva goons who don't have anything to do with the Sanatana Dharma that Hinduism is? By RSS, Shiv Sena and their affiliates like VHP and Bajrang Dal who have terrorized all the minorities across the country in the name of Hinduism which ironically is tolerant to the differences and allows diversity of viewpoints?" he asks.
"Or the terrorism by a few people who try to gain legitimacy in the name of Islam as M. J. Akbar talks about in his article "Fasadi, not Jihadi". And the irony is that it is not the Indian Muslims but the media and the Hindu right wing which provide them legitimacy and recognition by terming it as "Islamic Terrorism," he argued.
"Terrorism takes birth from injustice and socio-economic oppression to the point when you don't leave any peaceful means of expressing for any group or individual to express their views, he says.
"But by saying this I am not at all implying that Muslim community is behind these blasts. My precise point is that why there are two rules of law, one for the minority and another for the majority," he points out.
On the purpose of Hindutva terrorism, he said: "They have their own political interests which they achieve by terrorizing and causing killings of innocent and marginalized minorities as they did in Indore this May or as they have been doing in Karnataka and Orissa for two months. "
Bangalore-based journalist Shiv Sunar says terrorism is a media generated political term which doesn't have a generic meaning.
"If it means to terrorise then various Hindutva organizations should also be termed as terrorist organizations, " he says.
"But the point is that it has been put to its selective use only to demonise a particular community. There is a politics in its selective use which is guided by Hindutva interests in the national context," he argues.
The Patna principal sees deprivation and oppression at the root of terrorism.
"Terrorism breeds when an individual or a group is driven to the point of death and desperation, when s/he is denied their constitutional rights and when one wants to hit back against the socio-economic and sectarian oppression of any group or community by some people. This oppression can be from the majority community, the state or from others," he says.
"As far as the recent blasts or the terror attack on the Parliament are concerned, tell me, has there been any impartial enquiry," Dwivedi asks and himself answers in negative.
"Then how can one say that a particular community is involved when none of them have been proved guilty in a court of law except in certain cases on the basis of confessions in the police custody?" he questions adding that it very difficult for us to believe police claims.
Bangalore-based Journalist Shiva Sunder demands thorough probe of all blasts in the country and terrorist attacks starting from the attack on the Parliament.
"All the blasts and attacks right from the attack on the Indian Parliament need to be thoroughly investigated. What is very problematic is that there hasn't been any judicial enquiry into these blasts, nor has there been any conviction in these cases" Sunder says.
He demands that the Judiciary and Executive should expose the real culprits behind these blasts through impartial investigation but doubts whether the government will ever conduct such enquiries.
Principal of a college in Patna (who wanted to remain anonymous, given his position) says: "As far as the investigation of the recent blasts is concerned what is happening is that the suspicion is being given the status of evidence both by the investigative agencies and the media." Instead of hard evidence and proofs cases are built on mere suspicion which is more a prejudice and is the result of demonization of a particular community, he says.
Terrorism
Dwivedi is critical of all kinds of terrorism either by religious fanatics or others. He says what Hindutva extremists are doing is a clear case of terrorism and blames them and the media for helping Muslim extremists in legitimizing their share of acts of terror in the name of Islam.
"Whose terrorism are we talking about? One by the Hindutva goons who don't have anything to do with the Sanatana Dharma that Hinduism is? By RSS, Shiv Sena and their affiliates like VHP and Bajrang Dal who have terrorized all the minorities across the country in the name of Hinduism which ironically is tolerant to the differences and allows diversity of viewpoints?" he asks.
"Or the terrorism by a few people who try to gain legitimacy in the name of Islam as M. J. Akbar talks about in his article "Fasadi, not Jihadi". And the irony is that it is not the Indian Muslims but the media and the Hindu right wing which provide them legitimacy and recognition by terming it as "Islamic Terrorism," he argued.
"Terrorism takes birth from injustice and socio-economic oppression to the point when you don't leave any peaceful means of expressing for any group or individual to express their views, he says.
"But by saying this I am not at all implying that Muslim community is behind these blasts. My precise point is that why there are two rules of law, one for the minority and another for the majority," he points out.
On the purpose of Hindutva terrorism, he said: "They have their own political interests which they achieve by terrorizing and causing killings of innocent and marginalized minorities as they did in Indore this May or as they have been doing in Karnataka and Orissa for two months. "
Bangalore-based journalist Shiv Sunar says terrorism is a media generated political term which doesn't have a generic meaning.
"If it means to terrorise then various Hindutva organizations should also be termed as terrorist organizations, " he says.
"But the point is that it has been put to its selective use only to demonise a particular community. There is a politics in its selective use which is guided by Hindutva interests in the national context," he argues.
The Patna principal sees deprivation and oppression at the root of terrorism.
"Terrorism breeds when an individual or a group is driven to the point of death and desperation, when s/he is denied their constitutional rights and when one wants to hit back against the socio-economic and sectarian oppression of any group or community by some people. This oppression can be from the majority community, the state or from others," he says.
Faltering judicial system
"Justice delivery percentage in the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts is more than 95% but it is just 2% when it comes to the 1992-93 Bombay riots," says Delhi University Reader Dwivedi.
"Why is it that more than 90% culprits have been punished in the Godhra train carnage but when it comes to the subsequent Gujarat pogrom in which the whole state was complicit, it is not punishment that the state government talks about but the guilty Police officers have been promoted? And the justice delivery system is as low as below 5%," argues Dwivedi.
He also blasted Nanavati Commission report as there was reportedly corruption involved in the process.
Sunder wonders "why Afzal Guru was ordered to be "hanged" by the Supreme Court even when there was not a proper trial. And this judgment was given in "order to satisfy the collective conscience of the society..."
"Are we living in the period of mob justice where it is not the principles of Truth and Justice which rule the judicial system but the collective conscience of society?" he asks.
Political use of terrorism
Dwivedi says: "I don't see any benefit that the Muslim community will reap out of it (serial bombings) but the political parties who want to create panic and thereby want to polarize the votes of the communities across the nation to reap the electoral gains." One has to see this in the backdrop of the coming General Election and Assembly elections in many states.
To support his argument he quotes Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and says when an incident happens don't see who has done that but see who will be benefited by that episode and then you will get a clue to the people who may be behind that incident.
Dwivedi says: "I don't see any positive sign and the future is going to be of those political Right wing forces who want to rule the country by destroying the communal harmony which is civilization heritage of the Modern India."
A poster at Mohammad Ali, Mumbai
The Patna principal says: "The political leadership uses the idea of terrorism to panic people across the country and then to make them vote for it out of desperation and sense of insecurity. And the Right wing uses terrorism to demonize a particular community and polarize the communities across the nation for its electoral benefits."
Media getting biased
The principal of a college in Patna comes down heavily on the media.
"In the whole affairs the role of media, particularly the electronic media is very destructive. Instead of questioning the version of police it presents them as the gospel truth demonizing the people who have been arrested without substantial proofs."
He sees Australian media's role as model in the case of Indian doctor Md. Haneef who was accused in Glasgow bombing case.
"It was the Australian media which, instead of accepting the version of the prejudiced Australian police as the Indian media does, investigated the case and exposed the loopholes in the case. And then the entire case collapsed.
He says: "The Indian media has a lot to learn from the Australian media on how to approach the sensitive cases of terrorism. In India Tehelka magazine is doing a great job which again is an exception and holds out many lessons to the media fraternity."
Delhi University Reader Dwivedi says Muslims initially were not forthcoming in condemning terrorism but even when the entire community and its leaders have come to street to condemn terrorism, the media still gives an impression that the whole community supports terrorism and is behind the blasts.
Sundar says the role of media in combating terrorism is important but the way it is portraying the issue is not correct. The electronic media does its own trial before any judicial trial can take place.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Terrorism: Islamic or un-Islamic?
Ram Puniyani
In current times the popular perceptions in the major parts of the World including India, Islam and Muslims have become synonymous with terrorism. There is an act of blast, and the finger of suspicion points to some descript or non-descript Muslim named group. Many of these groups are so 'helpful' to the investigating authorities that they leave their dairies, and identification mark for making the investigation for police an easy job. Accordingly the job of investigating authorities now is cool, as they know that it does not matter who has done it, so far as they can nab some youth with Muslim identity, half of whom under the torture anyway will feel that it is better to 'accept' the crime not done rather than to suffer the third-forth degree torture and unspeakable acts done under the cover of dealing with terrorists.
The matters have gone to the extent that even if Bajrang Dal (RSS affiliate) workers die while making bomb( Nanded 2006) or one of them says that that they had planned to blast the mosques, the link need not be pursued in that direction. To beat it all the forces in Khaki or greens can go to the extent of faking the recovery of RDX before the meeting of none other than Sonia Gandhi, canceling her meeting without any real threat (Bhaderwah, Kashmir 25th Feb 2008) and get away with it. Even the 'sincere' social workers/thinkers have come to believe that there is some thing in Islam which promotes violence.
Many a scholars of Islam and social scientists have produced remarkable literature explaining the nature of Islam, showing the difference between religion as moral values, religion as an institution, religion as part culture, and abuse of religious identity for political goals by social layers or global super powers today. But of course these remain in the world of academia and libraries where not many people read them; some review of these books is carried out in an odd journal here and there, while the popular perceptions against Islam and Muslims are deepening by the day.
This propaganda abuses the religious identity at one level hides the political goals of social layers and the World super power at another level. The global media of all types is dominated by this perception. The worst victims of this are Muslims all over. At one level it has intimidated them and fear psychology has gripped a large section of society. They are profiled at places and Muslim identity is pasted on their forehead. One friend of mine, a thorough atheist, progressive, realized that she is a Muslim only when her son a lovely bright creative teen was questioned at random in the context of terrorist act, by the police just because his name happened to be a Muslim.
Another writer researcher of repute 'realized' that he is a Muslim when while driving he was stopped by a cop and after seeing his name in the driving license, passed abusive remarks. Another senior journalist, who happened to be a Muslim, realized the same when caught for breaking the speed limit on the highway, was stopped by the traffic police, who on seeing his license remarked that he surely must be carrying a bomb, and that's the reason for his driving at high speed.
As such, the worst victims of the current perception and acts of terrorism are Muslims themselves. Due to this demonization the progressive trends in the community at large are on the back foot and hold of conservatism is on the rise. At times groups of Muslims also staged protests against acts of terror, but that also has not been cutting much ice as far as popular perceptions go. What can be done to fight this image of Muslims which has come into being due to various circumstances? There is also a criticism against Muslims as a whole that they are not doing much to counter this image.
It is in this backdrop that the fatwa issued after the Anti terrorism conference held at Darul Uloom comes forth as a serious effort to present the correct picture of Islam as religion and Muslims as people. Recently (Feb 25, 2006) this seminary organized a meeting of over 4000 delegates from madrassas and representatives of Islamic schools like Nadwatul Ulema and Sufi orders like Chistis of Ajmer Sharif and senior scholars of the seminary itself. After debating the issue of terrorism, actions of jihadi groups and role of such violence in teachings of Islam the conference issued this statement. This in way is a response to the way the activities of groups like Jiash, HUJI, SIMI, the fall outs of Taliban, Al Qaeda etc. are being linked to teachings in Madrassas and to Islam itself. The overall consensus was that terrorism is un-Islamic and that mischief rioting and murder are sins as per this religion. They did point out the role of US-Zionism in projecting this nexus of Islam-Madassas and terrorism while appealing to them to desist from falling to the temptation of associating with groups indulging in acts of terror in the name of Islam.
One recalls that Islam was linked to terrorism when US wanted to fight its battle with Russia by putting the gun on the shoulders of Muslims in the name of Islam. It promoted the madrassas in Pakistan, Lal Masjid being one of them where the distorted version of Islam was used for indoctrinating Muslim youth to lure them to join the war against Russian armies occupying Afghanistan. In these madrassas communists were dubbed as kafirs, killing kafirs equivalent to jihad and that was projected as a sacrifice in the path of Allah.
The very word Islamic terrorism is a creation of US media, faithfully followed by media all over the world. And taking cue from that the communal forces have been regularly shouting that Madrassas are the breeding ground of terrorism. Despite many a useful studies on Madrassas this picture is deepened while undertaking the social auditing of Madrassas to dispel these notions should be an easy enough job for people.
The use of violence has been done in the history by people of all religions. Islam does talk of taking recourse to violence as the last resort to protect oneself against the aggressor. It also ordains that killing of even a single innocent person tantamount to killing the whole humanity. Islam the religion of Peace is projected as the religion which preaches violence, is the biggest 'success' of US propaganda machinery in the direction of manufacturing consent for its imperialist goals.
It is in this direction that US ideologue Prof Samuel Huntington talked of Clash of Civilizations. As per him, and as per the unsaid US policy doctrine, the advanced western civilization, to which US belongs, is facing the threat from backward Islamic civilization. This bogus thesis has been well answered by the UN committee which went and examined the Alliance of civilizations. This UN report, which went unnoticed by the 'mainstream' attention points out that civilizations have been cooperating and allying with each other and that's how global civilizations have been evolving and getting enriched from each other. Same phenomenon can be seen from two opposite angels, clash or alliance!
This opinion of this Conference is very significant and crucial. It not only has hit the nail on the head by pointing out that terrorism is due to political forces, that theologically and morally Islam does not permit terrorism and that those dejected Muslims facing grave injustices in the hands of system which regards Islam and Muslims as synonyms, should not get tempted to associate with the terror outfits operating in the name of Islam. One has to complement this valuable initiative of this seminary and hope that society will register this message seriously, and look beyond this projections to understand the real cause of terrorism, which lies in the social, economic and political injustices.
The matters have gone to the extent that even if Bajrang Dal (RSS affiliate) workers die while making bomb( Nanded 2006) or one of them says that that they had planned to blast the mosques, the link need not be pursued in that direction. To beat it all the forces in Khaki or greens can go to the extent of faking the recovery of RDX before the meeting of none other than Sonia Gandhi, canceling her meeting without any real threat (Bhaderwah, Kashmir 25th Feb 2008) and get away with it. Even the 'sincere' social workers/thinkers have come to believe that there is some thing in Islam which promotes violence.
Many a scholars of Islam and social scientists have produced remarkable literature explaining the nature of Islam, showing the difference between religion as moral values, religion as an institution, religion as part culture, and abuse of religious identity for political goals by social layers or global super powers today. But of course these remain in the world of academia and libraries where not many people read them; some review of these books is carried out in an odd journal here and there, while the popular perceptions against Islam and Muslims are deepening by the day.
This propaganda abuses the religious identity at one level hides the political goals of social layers and the World super power at another level. The global media of all types is dominated by this perception. The worst victims of this are Muslims all over. At one level it has intimidated them and fear psychology has gripped a large section of society. They are profiled at places and Muslim identity is pasted on their forehead. One friend of mine, a thorough atheist, progressive, realized that she is a Muslim only when her son a lovely bright creative teen was questioned at random in the context of terrorist act, by the police just because his name happened to be a Muslim.
Another writer researcher of repute 'realized' that he is a Muslim when while driving he was stopped by a cop and after seeing his name in the driving license, passed abusive remarks. Another senior journalist, who happened to be a Muslim, realized the same when caught for breaking the speed limit on the highway, was stopped by the traffic police, who on seeing his license remarked that he surely must be carrying a bomb, and that's the reason for his driving at high speed.
As such, the worst victims of the current perception and acts of terrorism are Muslims themselves. Due to this demonization the progressive trends in the community at large are on the back foot and hold of conservatism is on the rise. At times groups of Muslims also staged protests against acts of terror, but that also has not been cutting much ice as far as popular perceptions go. What can be done to fight this image of Muslims which has come into being due to various circumstances? There is also a criticism against Muslims as a whole that they are not doing much to counter this image.
It is in this backdrop that the fatwa issued after the Anti terrorism conference held at Darul Uloom comes forth as a serious effort to present the correct picture of Islam as religion and Muslims as people. Recently (Feb 25, 2006) this seminary organized a meeting of over 4000 delegates from madrassas and representatives of Islamic schools like Nadwatul Ulema and Sufi orders like Chistis of Ajmer Sharif and senior scholars of the seminary itself. After debating the issue of terrorism, actions of jihadi groups and role of such violence in teachings of Islam the conference issued this statement. This in way is a response to the way the activities of groups like Jiash, HUJI, SIMI, the fall outs of Taliban, Al Qaeda etc. are being linked to teachings in Madrassas and to Islam itself. The overall consensus was that terrorism is un-Islamic and that mischief rioting and murder are sins as per this religion. They did point out the role of US-Zionism in projecting this nexus of Islam-Madassas and terrorism while appealing to them to desist from falling to the temptation of associating with groups indulging in acts of terror in the name of Islam.
One recalls that Islam was linked to terrorism when US wanted to fight its battle with Russia by putting the gun on the shoulders of Muslims in the name of Islam. It promoted the madrassas in Pakistan, Lal Masjid being one of them where the distorted version of Islam was used for indoctrinating Muslim youth to lure them to join the war against Russian armies occupying Afghanistan. In these madrassas communists were dubbed as kafirs, killing kafirs equivalent to jihad and that was projected as a sacrifice in the path of Allah.
The very word Islamic terrorism is a creation of US media, faithfully followed by media all over the world. And taking cue from that the communal forces have been regularly shouting that Madrassas are the breeding ground of terrorism. Despite many a useful studies on Madrassas this picture is deepened while undertaking the social auditing of Madrassas to dispel these notions should be an easy enough job for people.
The use of violence has been done in the history by people of all religions. Islam does talk of taking recourse to violence as the last resort to protect oneself against the aggressor. It also ordains that killing of even a single innocent person tantamount to killing the whole humanity. Islam the religion of Peace is projected as the religion which preaches violence, is the biggest 'success' of US propaganda machinery in the direction of manufacturing consent for its imperialist goals.
It is in this direction that US ideologue Prof Samuel Huntington talked of Clash of Civilizations. As per him, and as per the unsaid US policy doctrine, the advanced western civilization, to which US belongs, is facing the threat from backward Islamic civilization. This bogus thesis has been well answered by the UN committee which went and examined the Alliance of civilizations. This UN report, which went unnoticed by the 'mainstream' attention points out that civilizations have been cooperating and allying with each other and that's how global civilizations have been evolving and getting enriched from each other. Same phenomenon can be seen from two opposite angels, clash or alliance!
This opinion of this Conference is very significant and crucial. It not only has hit the nail on the head by pointing out that terrorism is due to political forces, that theologically and morally Islam does not permit terrorism and that those dejected Muslims facing grave injustices in the hands of system which regards Islam and Muslims as synonyms, should not get tempted to associate with the terror outfits operating in the name of Islam. One has to complement this valuable initiative of this seminary and hope that society will register this message seriously, and look beyond this projections to understand the real cause of terrorism, which lies in the social, economic and political injustices.
Then they came for Christians
Ram Puniyani
Orissa is witnessing unprecedented violence against the tiny Christian minority. On August 23, 2008, Swami Laxmananand along with his four followers was killed, probably by a group of Maoists. Immediately, anti-Christian violence began on big scale. The way it began it seemed as if preparations for it were well afoot. It was systematic and widespread. It sounded as if preparation was already there, just the pretext was being waited for. So far many innocent Christians have been killed, wounded and rendered homeless apart from many Churches having been torched. The RSS combine, VHP-Adivasi Kalyan Ashram-Bajarang Dal, allege that Swami was killed by Christians, or there is collusion between Maoists and Christians. It is unlikely that there is any such alliance between the two. Any way, what is important is that the crime of murder of Swami must be properly investigated and guilty must be punished as per the law of the land.
Just to recall anti Christian tirade was also launched in December 2007, around Christmas time. That time also the pretext was that Christians have beaten up Swami and so this 'revenge'. For RSS combine launching such bouts of violence by now is becoming a child's play. Search for a pretext, launch your well oiled machinery for the communal agenda, communalize the society along religious lines and strengthen your political base seems to be its trajectory. The similar phenomenon was observed in Gujarat, after the burning of Sabarmati coach S 6 at Godhra. Modi announced that it has been done by local Muslims. There was no need to wait for the proper investigation, no need to follow the norm of railway board that every such event must be investigated, and tirade was launched with full vigor, and split in the society along religious lines was brought in ensuring BJP coming back to power. This victory of BJP was despite the decline of popularity of BJP. Anti incumbency was nullified and Modi returned to power to further his agenda. Power of polarizing the society by communal violence was at display at its worst.
This, by now is the standard technique, spread canards, myths, biases against minorities, look for pretext and go for the kill under the tolerating eyes of communalized state apparatus. If BJP is in power or is an ally in the seat of power, the job is easier. Anti Christian violence went on higher gear in the same year in which BJP came to power in the Center in 1996. The pretext was that Christian missionaries are converting the gullible Adivasis by force, fraud and allurement. This incitement was skillfully utilized by Adivasis Kalyan Ashram, VHP and Bajrang dal, and the violence started going up in intensity over the years. The most ghastly of this was seen in the burning alive of Pastor Graham Stains along with his two innocent sons, aged 11 and 7 years. This was immediately followed by the murder of Fr. Arul Das. Also Sheikh Rahman was killed on the charges of trading in cows for slaughter. Anti Christian atmosphere was built up and as this was more in the remote places where Adivasis do not have easy access to law, police etc, anyway there efficacy in helping minorities from the onslaught of RSS combine is also doubtful by now, the process has been going on and on. The violence kept on simmering and kept taking intense forms around the Christmas times. In a way a new Christmas ritual of burning churches and beating up Christians around Christmas time became a sort of annual event. It is immaterial that the number of Christians is miniscule in Indian society, it is immaterial that Christian missionaries are working in India from first century A.D. itself, it is immaterial that the despite the allegations from RSS combine, the population of Christians as per the census figures has been declining constantly. In the face of these facts the argument proffered was that since the converts to Christianity don't want to loose their privileges that don't declare their true religion and are crypto Christians. The simple point is that Adivasis, where the missionary work is maximum, don't loose such privileges after conversion. Gobbles must be turning in his grave with his followers surpassing him many times over!
In it not a mere coincidence that maximum violence in Adivasi areas has been seen in the poorest regions. Dangs in Gujarat is the poorest district of Gujarat, and Orissa is amongst the poorest states of the country. The main reason for violence against Christians is to ensure that the welfare, educational services offered by them do not reach the Adivasis and that they remain poor and illiterate, that the status quo in these areas prevails so that the democratic space for these wretched of the society is blocked by the religiosity cultivated through Swamis. We saw two processes of co-option and one political process of intimidation in these regions. Through Swamis, Laxmananad (Orissa), Assemanand (Dangs) and followers of Asaram bapu in Jhabua area, they did the cooption work, Gharvapasi, conversion in to Hinduism. Through mega processes like Shabri Kumbh in Dangs, Hindu Sangams in other Adivasi areas, an intimidating atmosphere has been created to draw them to RSS fold. The other process is the political one. This is the building up of mechanism where by Dara Singh's, and his clones are ready waiting for pretexts to pounce upon the social fabric of unity. The violence is made to look as spontaneous and is a part of a process of revenge. It is neither, it is well planned un-folding of RSS agenda. Even Wadhva Commission, pointed out that there was no conversion activity by Pastor Stains. The civic rights groups have pointed out that the violence has political foundations and has nothing to do with religion or conversion. A Peoples tribunal headed by retired Justice Usha also warned about the preparedness of the communal organizations for violence,
The case of Orissa was specifically investigated by India Peoples Tribunal, led by Justice K.K.Usha (retired) of Kerala High court in 2006 (Communalism in Orissa). This tribunal forewarns about the shape of things to come. " The tribunal assessed the spread of communal organizations in Orissa, which has been accompanied by a series of small and large events and some riots…such violations are utilized to generate the threat and reality of greater violence, and build an infrastructure of fear and intimidation. " It further notes that minorities are being grossly ill treated; there is gross inaction of the state Govt to take action. Outlining the mechanism of the communalization, it points out, "The report also describes in considerable detail how the cadre of majoritarian communal organizations is indoctrinated in hatred and violence against other communities it holds to be inherently inferior. If such communalization is undertaken in Orissa, it is indicative of the future of the nation… the signs are truly ominous for India's democratic future." (p 70)
In all the Adivasis areas, a dangerous situation, and occasionally an apparent calm prevail. While swami Laxmananand' s killers deserve the punishment, Swami's followers are spreading hate in these areas and vitiating the atmosphere. One can also see the communalization of state apparatus and BJP protecting its marauding mobs either by pulling the strings from the seats of power or by spreading the canards against the weaker sections of society. Interestingly as pointed out above, the December 2007 violence was launched on the pretext that Christians have beaten up the Swami! We do need to look back and check the activities of those spreading hate in the name of religion. While the Christian sects are dime a dozen, all are not in the business of proselytization. Few of them must be indulging in wrong practices, but surely law of the land can take care of those not following it. Permitting violence by the state machinery tantamount to violation of the oath taken by those in power, and they should to be suspended form the seats of power. And if they are not able to protect the innocent citizens of their state, why should they continue to rule? The question is which political force is above suspicion and honest enough to abide by the laws of Indian constitution? The question also arises, is the state bureaucracy and police honest enough to protect the minorities? Time to introspect and set the things right at deeper level of governance and politics
Just to recall anti Christian tirade was also launched in December 2007, around Christmas time. That time also the pretext was that Christians have beaten up Swami and so this 'revenge'. For RSS combine launching such bouts of violence by now is becoming a child's play. Search for a pretext, launch your well oiled machinery for the communal agenda, communalize the society along religious lines and strengthen your political base seems to be its trajectory. The similar phenomenon was observed in Gujarat, after the burning of Sabarmati coach S 6 at Godhra. Modi announced that it has been done by local Muslims. There was no need to wait for the proper investigation, no need to follow the norm of railway board that every such event must be investigated, and tirade was launched with full vigor, and split in the society along religious lines was brought in ensuring BJP coming back to power. This victory of BJP was despite the decline of popularity of BJP. Anti incumbency was nullified and Modi returned to power to further his agenda. Power of polarizing the society by communal violence was at display at its worst.
This, by now is the standard technique, spread canards, myths, biases against minorities, look for pretext and go for the kill under the tolerating eyes of communalized state apparatus. If BJP is in power or is an ally in the seat of power, the job is easier. Anti Christian violence went on higher gear in the same year in which BJP came to power in the Center in 1996. The pretext was that Christian missionaries are converting the gullible Adivasis by force, fraud and allurement. This incitement was skillfully utilized by Adivasis Kalyan Ashram, VHP and Bajrang dal, and the violence started going up in intensity over the years. The most ghastly of this was seen in the burning alive of Pastor Graham Stains along with his two innocent sons, aged 11 and 7 years. This was immediately followed by the murder of Fr. Arul Das. Also Sheikh Rahman was killed on the charges of trading in cows for slaughter. Anti Christian atmosphere was built up and as this was more in the remote places where Adivasis do not have easy access to law, police etc, anyway there efficacy in helping minorities from the onslaught of RSS combine is also doubtful by now, the process has been going on and on. The violence kept on simmering and kept taking intense forms around the Christmas times. In a way a new Christmas ritual of burning churches and beating up Christians around Christmas time became a sort of annual event. It is immaterial that the number of Christians is miniscule in Indian society, it is immaterial that Christian missionaries are working in India from first century A.D. itself, it is immaterial that the despite the allegations from RSS combine, the population of Christians as per the census figures has been declining constantly. In the face of these facts the argument proffered was that since the converts to Christianity don't want to loose their privileges that don't declare their true religion and are crypto Christians. The simple point is that Adivasis, where the missionary work is maximum, don't loose such privileges after conversion. Gobbles must be turning in his grave with his followers surpassing him many times over!
In it not a mere coincidence that maximum violence in Adivasi areas has been seen in the poorest regions. Dangs in Gujarat is the poorest district of Gujarat, and Orissa is amongst the poorest states of the country. The main reason for violence against Christians is to ensure that the welfare, educational services offered by them do not reach the Adivasis and that they remain poor and illiterate, that the status quo in these areas prevails so that the democratic space for these wretched of the society is blocked by the religiosity cultivated through Swamis. We saw two processes of co-option and one political process of intimidation in these regions. Through Swamis, Laxmananad (Orissa), Assemanand (Dangs) and followers of Asaram bapu in Jhabua area, they did the cooption work, Gharvapasi, conversion in to Hinduism. Through mega processes like Shabri Kumbh in Dangs, Hindu Sangams in other Adivasi areas, an intimidating atmosphere has been created to draw them to RSS fold. The other process is the political one. This is the building up of mechanism where by Dara Singh's, and his clones are ready waiting for pretexts to pounce upon the social fabric of unity. The violence is made to look as spontaneous and is a part of a process of revenge. It is neither, it is well planned un-folding of RSS agenda. Even Wadhva Commission, pointed out that there was no conversion activity by Pastor Stains. The civic rights groups have pointed out that the violence has political foundations and has nothing to do with religion or conversion. A Peoples tribunal headed by retired Justice Usha also warned about the preparedness of the communal organizations for violence,
The case of Orissa was specifically investigated by India Peoples Tribunal, led by Justice K.K.Usha (retired) of Kerala High court in 2006 (Communalism in Orissa). This tribunal forewarns about the shape of things to come. " The tribunal assessed the spread of communal organizations in Orissa, which has been accompanied by a series of small and large events and some riots…such violations are utilized to generate the threat and reality of greater violence, and build an infrastructure of fear and intimidation. " It further notes that minorities are being grossly ill treated; there is gross inaction of the state Govt to take action. Outlining the mechanism of the communalization, it points out, "The report also describes in considerable detail how the cadre of majoritarian communal organizations is indoctrinated in hatred and violence against other communities it holds to be inherently inferior. If such communalization is undertaken in Orissa, it is indicative of the future of the nation… the signs are truly ominous for India's democratic future." (p 70)
In all the Adivasis areas, a dangerous situation, and occasionally an apparent calm prevail. While swami Laxmananand' s killers deserve the punishment, Swami's followers are spreading hate in these areas and vitiating the atmosphere. One can also see the communalization of state apparatus and BJP protecting its marauding mobs either by pulling the strings from the seats of power or by spreading the canards against the weaker sections of society. Interestingly as pointed out above, the December 2007 violence was launched on the pretext that Christians have beaten up the Swami! We do need to look back and check the activities of those spreading hate in the name of religion. While the Christian sects are dime a dozen, all are not in the business of proselytization. Few of them must be indulging in wrong practices, but surely law of the land can take care of those not following it. Permitting violence by the state machinery tantamount to violation of the oath taken by those in power, and they should to be suspended form the seats of power. And if they are not able to protect the innocent citizens of their state, why should they continue to rule? The question is which political force is above suspicion and honest enough to abide by the laws of Indian constitution? The question also arises, is the state bureaucracy and police honest enough to protect the minorities? Time to introspect and set the things right at deeper level of governance and politics
Nanavati report based on manufactured evidence
" The Tehelka expose showed prominent Vishwa Hindu Parishad - and Bajrang Dal leaders admitting in their conversations with the undercover reporter that Modi sanctioned the killings in the wake of the train burning in Godhra, in which 59 Hindu passengers were killed. "
New Delhi, Sep 27 - The Nanavati commission relied on 'manufactured evidence' to conclude that the Godhra train burning tragedy was pre-planned, according to the Tehelka newsmagazine, which last year carried out an undercover investigation into the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat. Showing the footage of the sting operation, part of the sensational expose in November carried out by an undercover journalist, Tehelka editor Tarun Tajpal said witnesses were caught on camera saying they were bribed by the Gujarat police to make false statements before the investigative commission. We forwarded the footage of the sting to the Nanavati Commission last year, but unfortunately we have not heard anything from them, Tejpal said. The first part of the panel report tabled in the Gujarat legislative assembly Thursday concludes that the train-burning at Godhra town was a premeditated crime and not an accident. Based on our investigation, we appeal to the panel to re-look at all evidence submitted by the Gujarat police as it can have dangerous consequences on society, Tejpal said. The commission said it found that 140 litres of petrol was procured from a petrol pump in Godhra town the day before the burning of a coach of the Sabarmati Express on Feb 27, 2002, but according to the Tehelka sting nobody had bought so much petrol. The commission report rests on the testimonies of two witnesses, petrol pump salesmen Ranjitsinh Patel and Prabhatsinh Patel, who said they had sold 140 litres of petrol to Salim Panwala.
Shockingly, Tehelka caught Ranjitsinh Patel on camera saying chief investigating officer Noel Parmar had paid both of them Rs.50,000 each to change their - statement and identify some Muslims as conspirators, Tejpal said. The other pieces of evidence presented by the police before the commission were manufactured to present the train burning accident as a conspiracy, Tejpal said. The Tehelka expose showed prominent Vishwa Hindu Parishad - and Bajrang Dal leaders admitting in their conversations with the undercover reporter that Modi sanctioned the killings in the wake of the train burning in Godhra, in which 59 Hindu passengers were killed. As many as 1,169 people - majority of them Muslims - were killed in the subsequent communal violence
Forced Conversion In Gujarat
Shabnam Hashmi
Today morning a battery of Forest officers and police descended on the village of Nandapeda near Ahwa in the Dangs, Gujarat. They pulled out the doors and the windows, pulled out the wooden ballis which support the roof; they pulled out wood from the roof of the huts of the villagers. The forest department decided late night that it was illegal wood and they must recover it.
The ATS meanwhile rounded up a few people.
Nandapeda is the only village with majority Muslim population in the Dangs district, considered the poorest district in the whole of India.
The government has been pressurizing the Muslims to convert to the Hindu religion or face eviction from their land.
Some of the residents of this village moved the Gujarat High Court against the government's pressure of converting and changing their religion.
The families have been living in the village for over 100 years.
On June 13th 2008 a senior officer had called a meeting in Ahwa and asked them to change their religion or vacate the land.
After this meeting police and forest officers had been harassing them. Police have been searching old cases registered against any person of the community and asking them to furnish bail papers. The police targeted 33 people against whom some petty crime or a scuffle with the neighbors was registered.
Claiming that repeated representation before authorities for regularization of their land has been in vain, petitioners requested the court to restrain the government from pressurizing them to convert from their religion. Justice Jayant Panchal had in July sought explanation in this regard from the secretary in-charge, district collector and the village sarpanch.
After hearing all parties, Justice Anant Dave admitted the case on September 11, 2008 and ordered to maintain status quo on the disputed land.
On the next day the police captured approximately 80 villagers for transporting cattle into Maharashtra and also apprehended some villagers who were going on motorcycles using the reason of cow slaughter, though there were no cattle in the tempo.
The villagers gathered. There was a clash between the villagers and the police. People were beaten on both the sides. One policeman was also beaten up. Police then opened fire and a number of villagers got bullet injuries. They were taken to Ahwa civil hospitals. The relatives were not allowed to meet them. Police apprehended eight villagers for beating a policeman and though a local lawyer went for their bail, it was not given.
Next day the police came and in the name of combing operation attacked and ransacked the village. Villagers were beaten up brutally including women and children. All men fled to the jungles. The police not only took away all the goods but before going they poured kerosene into the eatable good so that they could not eat anything too.
VHP proposed a rally on 15th.
After a lot of pressure the VHP rally was stopped but they declared a Bandh on 16th.
The VHP gave a deadline to the collector it is heard to get the village vacated.
Today morning as already mentioned the forest department swooped in.
The villagers need urgent help and intervention. I have been personally informing various state politicians and centre about the developments
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ hashmi170908. htm
"I am a living example, representing 2.5 million Manipuris, where my forefathers were forcibly converted to Hinduism in 19th century, which is known as PUYA MEITHABA (burning of Meitei Script) by Hindu missionary"
Who Really Does Conversion?
By Madhu Chandra
17 September, 2008Countercurrents. org
Hindutva fundamentalists have chosen Conversion as a yardstick to kill missionaries, rape nuns, and vandalize churches.
Who actually does fraudulent conversion? Charges are given to Christians and made it as real to whole nation through saffron sponsored media. I am a living example, representing 2.5 million Manipuris, where my forefathers were forcibly converted to Hinduism in 19th century, which is known as PUYA MEITHABA (burning of Meitei Script) by Hindu missionary. Ever since then, every Manipuri (Meitei) has Singh at the end of every name, although many youngsters are abandoning it by returning to indigenous Meitei religion.
The casteism and untouchability emerged after migration of Hinduism to the Manipur society where caste or creed never existed earlier.
The saffronisation of Hindutva, which is purely the proselytizing movement, does not end with my people there. The ongoing conversion of tribal communities to Hinduism is still in full swing in different parts tribal dominated areas.
We have witnessed the saffronising of Dang district of Gujarat during Sabri Kumbha Mela in 2006. The tribal of Jhabua in MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhan, Assam, Arunachal etc are the example of saffronising propaganda of Hindutva forces.
In the land where anti conversion law is forcefully implemented, the tribal Christians in Kandhamal district of Orissa are in night mire at the hands of Hindutva forces. To be alive in the village, become Hindu otherwise get out or get kill is the threatening almost every now and then to the tribal Christians in Kandhamal. The law making machinery calls it freedom of religion.
Christians in MP, Orissa and other states where anti conversion laws exist are accused for their involvement in forced conversion when they themselves are the victim of forced conversion at the hands of Hindutva forces.
The Christian population in last twenty years has declined in India. Then how and where comes the question of more people being converted to Christianity in India?
The allegations of conversion is lie and hate campaign of Hindutva forces to license themselves to rape, kill, burn and vandalize the Christian churches. While all religions as per as the constitutions of India, welcomes everyone to their religions. The force, fraud and fraudulent conversion carried out is none other than Hindutva forces, that too totally against the will and wishes of the individuals so as it was done to my forefathers in Manipur and its consequences still suffer by the presently community.
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ chandra170908. htm
Today morning a battery of Forest officers and police descended on the village of Nandapeda near Ahwa in the Dangs, Gujarat. They pulled out the doors and the windows, pulled out the wooden ballis which support the roof; they pulled out wood from the roof of the huts of the villagers. The forest department decided late night that it was illegal wood and they must recover it.
The ATS meanwhile rounded up a few people.
Nandapeda is the only village with majority Muslim population in the Dangs district, considered the poorest district in the whole of India.
The government has been pressurizing the Muslims to convert to the Hindu religion or face eviction from their land.
Some of the residents of this village moved the Gujarat High Court against the government's pressure of converting and changing their religion.
The families have been living in the village for over 100 years.
On June 13th 2008 a senior officer had called a meeting in Ahwa and asked them to change their religion or vacate the land.
After this meeting police and forest officers had been harassing them. Police have been searching old cases registered against any person of the community and asking them to furnish bail papers. The police targeted 33 people against whom some petty crime or a scuffle with the neighbors was registered.
Claiming that repeated representation before authorities for regularization of their land has been in vain, petitioners requested the court to restrain the government from pressurizing them to convert from their religion. Justice Jayant Panchal had in July sought explanation in this regard from the secretary in-charge, district collector and the village sarpanch.
After hearing all parties, Justice Anant Dave admitted the case on September 11, 2008 and ordered to maintain status quo on the disputed land.
On the next day the police captured approximately 80 villagers for transporting cattle into Maharashtra and also apprehended some villagers who were going on motorcycles using the reason of cow slaughter, though there were no cattle in the tempo.
The villagers gathered. There was a clash between the villagers and the police. People were beaten on both the sides. One policeman was also beaten up. Police then opened fire and a number of villagers got bullet injuries. They were taken to Ahwa civil hospitals. The relatives were not allowed to meet them. Police apprehended eight villagers for beating a policeman and though a local lawyer went for their bail, it was not given.
Next day the police came and in the name of combing operation attacked and ransacked the village. Villagers were beaten up brutally including women and children. All men fled to the jungles. The police not only took away all the goods but before going they poured kerosene into the eatable good so that they could not eat anything too.
VHP proposed a rally on 15th.
After a lot of pressure the VHP rally was stopped but they declared a Bandh on 16th.
The VHP gave a deadline to the collector it is heard to get the village vacated.
Today morning as already mentioned the forest department swooped in.
The villagers need urgent help and intervention. I have been personally informing various state politicians and centre about the developments
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ hashmi170908. htm
"I am a living example, representing 2.5 million Manipuris, where my forefathers were forcibly converted to Hinduism in 19th century, which is known as PUYA MEITHABA (burning of Meitei Script) by Hindu missionary"
Who Really Does Conversion?
By Madhu Chandra
17 September, 2008Countercurrents. org
Hindutva fundamentalists have chosen Conversion as a yardstick to kill missionaries, rape nuns, and vandalize churches.
Who actually does fraudulent conversion? Charges are given to Christians and made it as real to whole nation through saffron sponsored media. I am a living example, representing 2.5 million Manipuris, where my forefathers were forcibly converted to Hinduism in 19th century, which is known as PUYA MEITHABA (burning of Meitei Script) by Hindu missionary. Ever since then, every Manipuri (Meitei) has Singh at the end of every name, although many youngsters are abandoning it by returning to indigenous Meitei religion.
The casteism and untouchability emerged after migration of Hinduism to the Manipur society where caste or creed never existed earlier.
The saffronisation of Hindutva, which is purely the proselytizing movement, does not end with my people there. The ongoing conversion of tribal communities to Hinduism is still in full swing in different parts tribal dominated areas.
We have witnessed the saffronising of Dang district of Gujarat during Sabri Kumbha Mela in 2006. The tribal of Jhabua in MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhan, Assam, Arunachal etc are the example of saffronising propaganda of Hindutva forces.
In the land where anti conversion law is forcefully implemented, the tribal Christians in Kandhamal district of Orissa are in night mire at the hands of Hindutva forces. To be alive in the village, become Hindu otherwise get out or get kill is the threatening almost every now and then to the tribal Christians in Kandhamal. The law making machinery calls it freedom of religion.
Christians in MP, Orissa and other states where anti conversion laws exist are accused for their involvement in forced conversion when they themselves are the victim of forced conversion at the hands of Hindutva forces.
The Christian population in last twenty years has declined in India. Then how and where comes the question of more people being converted to Christianity in India?
The allegations of conversion is lie and hate campaign of Hindutva forces to license themselves to rape, kill, burn and vandalize the Christian churches. While all religions as per as the constitutions of India, welcomes everyone to their religions. The force, fraud and fraudulent conversion carried out is none other than Hindutva forces, that too totally against the will and wishes of the individuals so as it was done to my forefathers in Manipur and its consequences still suffer by the presently community.
http://www.counterc urrents.org/ chandra170908. htm
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