Author: Hilda Raja
Publication: Vijayvaani.com
Date: May 13, 2009
URL: http://www.vijayvaani.com/FrmPublicDisplayArticle.aspx?id=573
The UPA government's unprecedented step of
inviting the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
to visit Gujarat and Orissa is not only disturbing, but also portents greater
harm to the harmony and unity of the country.
It exposes India to international policing
which has ramifications on the integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Today
it can be a Commission; why not later an army for the purpose of protecting
minorities? The basic premise is the same.
Hypothetically, let's imagine that the Commission
faults the government of both States for failure to protect minorities. Should
Naveen Patnaik and Narendra Modi appear before this Commission and plead guilty
- or plead innocent - and with all humility accept the penalty it will impose?
Can there be a greater insult to democracy and to the sovereignty of this
country?
It is invasion - be it territorial, social
or religious. No matter which area, invasiveness of any kind cannot be accepted.
What is the role of the Congress-led UPA government? Does it not stand indicted
for impotency to curb violence? It cannot abdicate responsibility and obligation
to protect minorities and rein in State governments. If this is logically
followed, the accused is the Congress-Manmohan Singh - proof of his political
weakness. Which country would tolerate such invasion and interference in its
internal affairs? Are we bonded to the USA? No patriotic Indian, irrespective
of religion, would accept the policing of this nation by outside agencies.
Can the Catholic Bishops Conference of India
(CBCI) and the INDIAN Churches which objected to such invasiveness nine years
ago now make a U-turn? In the course of five years, what is the persecution
witnessed in India. Brahmin Pundits killed in hundreds and chased away from
J&K under ethnic cleansing has not raised international concerns. The
furore caused by wrongful reporting of the rape of five nuns in Jhabua was
set right when the nuns themselves gave interviews stating it had nothing
to do with religion. Indeed, the culprits were converted tribals.
In Orissa, the massacre of Swami Laxmanananda
and his disciples led to clashes in which Christians and Hindus were equally
victims. The infamous Gujarat riots are being investigated by the Special
Investigation Team, but earlier versions and gory stories of brutality, rape
and massacres narrated by activist Teesta Setalvad were found faked, cooked
up, witnesses and statements doctored; hence the Supreme Court rejected the
bundle of lies.
Against this backdrop, Congress allowing USCIRF
to enquire into violence against minorities is political in intent and has
everything to do with further dividing the people on religious grounds. Will
USCIRF be allowed to enter Pakistan or any Islamic country where there is
discrimination against minorities?
Congress and Christian churches seem to conspire
against Hindus. This is evident when one looks at the pre-election scenario.
In April, the Catholic Bishops Conference of India issued a 'Ten Commandments'
type of list of dos and don'ts for Catholics. Sure, it did not specify which
party to vote for. But this was followed by a number of churches scripting
prayers for the 'flock,' couched in appeals to God to bring in a party which
will allow religious freedom and uphold the same guaranteed in the Constitution.
Across India, the entire Christian community was galvanized by such covert
campaigning. In Karnataka, a priest had the audacity to openly tell the 'flock'
not to vote for the BJP. Joining hands with Muslim leaders, Catholic leaders
also issued a fatwa, overtly and covertly compelling the 'flock' to vote for
Congress.
The Election Commission is unmindful of this
religio-political mix; this blatant communalism. When Advani appeals to Hindu
religious leaders, the EC becomes alert and people like John Dayal condemn
it. It is only when Hindu organizations and BJP politicians appeal to people
that the ire of the EC is provoked. Then the media comes out with secular
advocacy and condemns the communalism of BJP and its allies.
Church double-speak has exposed its ulterior
motive - nine years ago (Sept 2000) CBCI described as "unwarranted"
the proposed hearing on religious freedom in India by USCIRF, and distanced
itself from John Dayal, saying he was attending it in his individual capacity.
It is relevant to recall what Christian MPs felt then. They acknowledged the
need to curb the influence of fundamentalists over the community and the Church.
By deposing before the US panel, Dayal has given Hindu extremist groups valid
reason to doubt the integrity of the community and 'we could just be inviting
Hindu extremist backlash' rued Patty Ripple Kyndiah, who added that the antics
of John Dayal is against national interest. Former Speaker P.A. Sangma endorsed
Kyndiah, 'This is our internal problem. We are capable of solving it'.
What has changed in nine years? The number
of churches built has increased more than hundred fold. Christian institutions
are given all financial assistance, Christians have occupied hundreds and
hundreds of acres of promboke land on which they quickly erect a shack and
a cross - for further constructing pucca buildings, both commercial and religious.
Thus occupying the land, they acquire assets, evade tax, and even electricity
charges.
It is in the national interest to survey the
status of Churches property-wise and cash-wise. When in so-called Christian
countries churches are closing down, here in India churches are annually increasing
in number. Even in Italy, churches are empty but here churches are full every
Sunday and the pulpit is used even against the government, but goes unchallenged.
From a poor country like ours, money flows
to Rome, from congregations working for the poor and destitute in India, money
flows to Vatican. Are these signs of a persecuted church? The flow of money
to churches and church-allied 'development organizations' has trebled in the
last five years, on Government of India records. Is this a sign of a church
under duress?
Why should money from here go to Rome/Vatican?
The Cross is not a sign to camouflage lies and cover truth. The church by
its anti-national stand is crucifying Truth. Jesus was faithful to his Jewish
traditions and to insult that he was crucified naked on the cross (no loin
cloth), so the Bible states. Why should a people who proclaim that they stand
for His values become anti-national and betray their own country and countrymen?
One is first an Indian - for one cannot change
one's nationality but can change one's religion. The CBCI and laity leaders
cannot do greater harm to the community than participate in the USCIRF sittings.
In fact, they should have protested against this unprecedented move of the
Congress under Ms. Sonia Gandhi.
The Christian community cannot be mortgaged
for her ulterior political motives. Religion is an emotive issue and once
people are permanently divided, national unity will be a thing of the past;
at the drop of a hat the country can erupt into civil war. Every communal
riot if objectively analyzed was a backlash, and the poor, irrespective of
religion, were the victims. The power games of the powerful have torn nations
apart by war followed by famines leading to total destruction and subjugation
of people.
Interference in our internal affairs must
be seen in wider perspective. Invasiveness of any kind in the affairs of a
sovereign country means two things - the supervisory role of the invasive
country/organization and the subjective, subservient level of the interfered
country.
We have a democracy and a Constitution which
has stood us well. Except for some aberrations brought by vest interests,
the people have always been able to overcome this and to set the tone and
tenure for harmonious unity.
India is the only country in the world which
has opened its arms to all religions and all people and thus become the cradle
of world religions. Fringe Christian churches have been misusing Freedom of
Religion for proselytizing, poaching on other churches as well, and creating
social tensions. One is not judged by one's religion, but will be judged by
the measure of love one has lived with and the Truth one has upheld.
PS: Would the Church permit USCIRF to visit
the convents which have reported rapes, sexual violations, murders and oppression
of women (nuns).
- The author is a retired Professor from Stella
Maris College, Chennai, and lives in Vadodara
