Author: M. K. Jos, For
AGCCSJA Executive Committee,
Publication: Renovacao
Date: August 1-15, 2000
11 July, 2000
An open letter to
Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee
Hon'ble Prime Minster
of India
New Delhi.
Dear Mr. Prime Minster,
Sub: Violence against
Christians escalating visibly under your government role of Sangh Parivar
posing serious threat to communal harmony and peace all over the country.
Photograph of your one-to-one
meeting with Pope John Paul II published by newspapers and the accompanying
report quoting you made us anxious, restive and nearly sick because the
ground reality is vastly different from what you reportedly conveyed to
the Pontiff.
2. We beg to remind you
that your meeting with the Pontiff was not in your capacity as a private
individual, but as Prime Minister of India, the Chief Executive of SOVEREIGN
SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF INDIA of one billion plus citizens
of this country of great heritage, a country hitherto highly respected
for her traditions of religious tolerance and liberty of which India's
distinguished son and Sanyasi Swami Vivekananda preached to the world,
this rich country where poor people live and struggle, this country of
extraordinary diversities and contradictions and yet surviving tinder a
democratic Constitution and polity, though the poor appears to grow poorer,
and the rich richer, despite five decades of democratic governance repeatedly
promising poor people deliverance from privation and poverty, but successive
Financial budgets failing to reach succour to millions living below poverty
line steeped in illiteracy, struggling to keep body and soul together,
remembered by politicians only when they need votes, a luxurious constitutional
prescription guaranteed on par to the poor and the rich alike, hollow in
the hands of the poor so far and fully exploited by the powerful corrupt
politicians to win seats at the time of elections.
3. Mr. Prime Minister,
Sir, you were meeting the Pontiff in the aftermath of the brutal killing
of Brother George at Nevada, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh State on 7 June 2000,
and the bombing of Churches in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa on 8 June
2000, in circumstances of growing concern and anxiety over the wanton oppression
of Christians through wilful escalation of violence against Christians
after commencement of your third tenure in Office as Prime Minister of
India, growing tyranny driving to despair Christians, a minuscule minority
of around 2% of the billion plus population, nevertheless contributing
in an extraordinary way towards amelioration of the quality of life of
poor and oppressed people, the nature and size of contribution from such
a small number of Christians in the midst of overwhelming majority of Hindus,
perhaps unparalleled in the World so far, but ignored, despised and attacked
by Sangh Parivar and their mercenaries unmindful of what their own guru
- and ours as much - Swami Vivekananda preached and spoke at the World's
Parliament of Religions at Chicago on 11 September 1893. Swami Vivekananda
spoke then:
"As the different streams
having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the
sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies,
various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lend to Thee. "
On the other hand what
we witness today is "PERVERSION" and "ADULTERATION" of HINDUISM, the oldest
and finest among Mother Religions of the world, to terrorise, oppress,
victimise, rape and kill Christians who preach love, charity, good neighbourliness,
Christians who whole-heartedly involve with commitment in programmes for
upgradation of literacy, hygiene and health among the poor citizens regardless
of religion, community, caste and colour, to give a better life to them,
and to make them better citizens of this country, their own country.
5. Four months ago, the
newly appointed RSS SARSANGCHALAK (CHIEF) MR. K. S. SUDARSHAN WARNED of
"an epic war between Hindus and anti-Hindus". But either the undeniable
fact that Christians are not "anti-Hindus" is ignored due to ignorance
of Sangh Parivar activists, or they are brainwashed to believe otherwise.
For example, out of the 720 students, enrolled at the Shantiniketan High
School run by the Jesuit priests of the Loyola Education Trust, at Zankhav
village of Mangrol taluka, Surat District, in Gujarat State, 152 are Christians
and the rest 568 belong to other religions. But the school was broken into,
stoned, and a tractor was driven into the premises and the playground for
children was ploughed on 16 July 1998.
6. Referring to the news
of the BAJRANG DAL, conducting a weapons training camp at Ayodhya, Attorney
General of India, highly respected international jurist Mr. Soli Sorabjee
suggested that such elements should be "locked up in jail or in a lunatic
asylum." Since then he has come under strong criticism by VHP and BAJRANG
DAL leaders.
7. 'THE BAJRANG DAL ACTIVISTS
collected at Karsevakpuram in Ayodhya were up at 4 a.m. and put through
a rigorous physical routine punctuated by religious discourses and ultra-nationalistic
rhetoric. As a result emotionally charged Chandra Prakash Rastogi, one
of the participants, said "LTTE chief Prabhakaran is my ideal. I am gearing
up to finish off anti-Hindu forces in my country."
Slogans at the camp were
tailor-made to arouse Hindu passions.
"We're not three but
three thousand/we will destroy every Muslim Shrine" and added "where is
the question of giving up Kashmir/we will win back Lahore and Karachi".
Mr. Omkar Bhaway, VHP
Leader and ashibhavak (Patron) of the Bajrang Dal, said: "We don't believe
in Gandhi's theory of Ahimsa, which is about dependence on others. We are
prepared for any eventuality. First we'll try to convince them but if they
do not understand we'll punish them."
Asked who are they, he
said: "Anti-nationals - Fear is the only answer to anti-national forces.
Nobody dares to mess around with a pehelwan. The Sangh has the power and
that's why it is criticised."
A VHP BOOKLET about Bajrang
Dal notes "For the Hindus, Bajrang Dal has become synonymous with security
and for anti-Hindus it's become a terror". As an example, the same booklet
further boosts that police cases were registered against 26 Dal activists
when they effectively vandalised painter M.F. Husain's Studio in Ahmedabad."
(Paras 5, 6 and 7 are
excerpts from OUTLOOK report 10 July 2000; THE RISE OF THE BAJRANG DAL,
and interview with Omkar Bhaway, VHP leader and patron of the Bajrang Dal
from OUTLOOK 10 July 2000 reproduced on Page No.5)
What is being done about
all these? What have you done, Mr. Prime Minister?
8. Mr. Prime Minister,
Sir, newspapers quoted you as having said to Pope John Paul II:
"The government is deeply
concerned about the attacks which have taken place on Christians and their
institutions.
'The government was determined
to deal with the perpetrators of violence against Christians and their
institutions and that exemplary punishment would be awarded to them.
"We are firm in our determination
to deal with the perpetrators of violence and are taking all necessary
measures to ensure an atmosphere of communal harmony."
9. Your statements and
actions while in India have never been so warm, encouraging and committed.
Have you not tailored your statements to the Pontiff to suit the needs
of the Vatican environment to save yourself from embarrassment, and annoyance
in the comity of Western Nations which you can ill-afford?
10. WHILE YOU MADE THOSE
LOADED STATEMENTS TO THE PONTIFF, YOUR FAVOURATE SENIOR PARTY LEADERS AND
SOME OF THOSE OCCUPYING RESPONSIBLE POSITION IN YOUR GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN
MAKING STATEMENTS IN A VULGAR MANNER TO DEFEND SANGH PARIVAR AND TO PROVIDE
THEM ALIBIS.
We have the following
examples which conclusively prove that you and your associates have perfected
a strategy
to work on the hidden
agenda of the SANGH PARIVAR, disclosed by MR. OMKAR BHAWAY, PATRON OF BAJRANG
DAL without any reservation or hesitation, to keep you going in the chair
of the Prime Minister, hoodwinking your alliance partners who have also
exhibited their selfishness and temperament of opportunism to remain in
power. In simple words, you made statements abroad criticising Sangh Parivar
and condemning the atrocities against Christians, but YOUR CLOSE ASSOCIATES
M/s. ADVANI, GEORGE FERNANDES, PRAMOD MAHAJAN, ARUN SHOURIE AND YOUR PARTY
STALWARTS M/s. KUSHABHAU THAKRE, GOVINDCHARYA, VENKAIAH NAIDU AND OTHERS
MADE STATEMENTS AT HOME LEADING SUPPORT TO THE STRATEGY ADOPTED BY VHP,
BAJRANG DAL AND RSS.
On 28th January 1999
after returning from the site of the barbarous killing of Australian missionary
Graham Stewart Staines and his two minor sons, Mr. George Fernandes made
an incredible statement thus:
"...there was a larger
conspiracy to destabilise the ruling coalition at the Centre.
"...Someone had decided
at some point of time that the man had to be killed in order to paint everyone
as communal to crucify the Government.
...... I can see not
just a political party, but a whole lot of forces which would like this
Government to go. It is clear that Orissa was chosen for committing the
crime by those who are concerned in damning the Government."
Surely Mr. Fernandes
was "Fishing" to protect Sangh Parivar, and in turn BJP-led government
in which he is Defence Minister. He totally ruled out the role of Sangh
Parivar in the heinous killing of Staines and his two minor sons.
But after the statements
by Dara Singh in jail (the king-pin in the gruesome murder of Staines and
his minor sons at Manoharpur) justifying the killing of Staines alleging
his involvement in 'conversion'. George has not opened his loud mouth!
11. On 30 December 1998
while you said:
"I want to completely
dissociate myself from the statements made by the VHP president" and went
on to disown VHP,
On the same day, MR.
PRAMOD MAHAJAN SPEAKING FROM NAGPUR 'STRONGLY DEFENDED THE VHP CAMPAIGN
AGAINST CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES AND TERMED THE REPORTS COVERING GUJARAT
VIOLENCE AS AN 'EXAGGERATION'.
12. There was ONLY ONE
BJP LEADER CONSCIENCE-STRICKEN after the barbarous killing of Australian
missionary Staines. MR. MADANLAL KHURANA WHO WROTE TO MR. KHUSHABHAU THAKRE,
PRESIDENT OF BJP SEEKING PERMISSION TO "ATONE" FOR THE RECENT ATTACKS ON
CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES IN "ORISSA AND GUJARAT..." BUT MR. KHURANA WAS EXPELLED
FROM THE, PARTY THEREAFTER FOR HIS "ANTI-PARTY ACTIVITIES" WHICH OBVIOUSLY
INCLUDED HIS DESIRE TO "ATONE" FOR THE VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIAN, EMBARRASING
BJP LEADERS AMONG WHOM THERE ARE SOME WHO SECRETLY ADORE THE VIOLENCE AND
VANDALISM AGAINST CHRISTIANS BY BAJRANG DAL, VHP AND RSS.
13. Speaking on a private
member's Bill tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Kamala Sinha of Janata Dal calling
for concern on the rising cases of attrocities against minorities particularly
Christians, BJP Member of Rajya Sabha and Journalist Arun Shourie accused
istian missionaries of organised and sustained campaign of conversions
in India and said it was the root cause of growing tension between the
minority community and Hindus."
Intervening Vyalar Ravi
of Congress said Shourie was trying to "justify attrocities on Christians"
(Indian Express 6 March 1999).
14. While on 26 June
2000 newspaper reports claimed:
"Vajpayee meets Pope,
assures protection to Christians"
On 29 June 2000,
newspapers published Mr. Advani's statement:
"Foreign elements behind
attack on Christians"
"These incidents do not
appear to be emanating from any tension between the two communities as
the sequence of these incidents indicate. The possibility of anti-India
elements trying to create disaffection in society and give the country
a bad name cannot be ruled out."
15. In the aftermath
of the ghastly black deeds of gang-rape of 4 nuns by 15 to 20 men at Navapara
in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on 23 September 1998, Senior Leader
of VHP and former East Delhi MP Baikunth Lal Sharma alias "Prem" JUSTIFIED
THE RAPE OF NUNS. Advani rebuked him through VHP Chief Ashok Singhal, but
what followed was open war by VHP telling missionaries to Quit India:
Sept.30 (PTI) "Foreign
missionaries should be told to quit India; VHP"
Oct.01 - The Times of
India News Service: "VHP demands foreign missionaries to quit India"
Oct.01 - EXPRESS NEWS
SERVICE: "Quit India, VHP tells missionaries"
16. It is evident that
VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS have worked to a master plan. During 13 months
of your rule (March 1998 to April 1999), VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS have
moved fast in Gujarat, U.P. Karnataka, Bihar, Orissa and Maharashtra, and
in relative slow motion in States of M.P Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Punjab and Haryana.
17. According to a report
in The Times of India dated 20 April 1999, Ms Brinda Karat, a Communist
Party of India (Marxist) leader and General Secretary of All India Democratic
Women's Association (AIDWA), quoting figures furnished in the Rajya Sabha,
claimed that there were 626 communal attacks during BJP rule under you
from March 1998 to April 1999, 207 people died and 2065 were injured. Our
own collection of information from media reports established that Gujarat
witnessed 28 attacks on Christians in December 1998 alone (during the Christmas
month), 10 in November, 11 in July 1998. Total for the 13 months of your
rule accounted for 70 or more attacks in Gujarat State. The attacks included
demolition, torching and damaging 30 Churches, 6 instances of burning Holy
Bible, and 3 instances of desecration of Cross and Statues. Sangh Parivar
with the active help of Government of Gujarat, police working in tanden
with the Activities or mercenaries converted Gujarat into a laboratory
for elimination of Christians.
During that period, next
came Karnataka with 10 attacks, U.P. with 8 attacks, Maharashtra 6, Bihar
4, MP 2, and Orissa 5 which included the barbaric killing of Australian
two minor sons by burning them to death in a jeep in which they were fast
asleep.
18. When your government
collapsed and when you began the Care-taker Prime Minister regime of six
months, VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS moved in slow gear in order to facilitate
your success during the following elections, as violence during that period
against Christians would have damaged your interests, the interests of
BJP.
19. But when you began
your current term in October 1999, though Sangh Parivar leaders were upset
with the results that failed to give BJP an absolute majority in Parliament,
nevertheless satisfied as you were able to put together a coalition government.
VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS quickly resumed their vitriolic statements and
vigorous war against Christians.
Thus June 2000 saw widespread
violence including brutal killing in U.P. and bombing of Churches in three
States on the same day.
20. Simultaneously BJP
Government in Gujarat launched aggressive actions by issuing an ORDER permitting
Government servants to take part in RSS activities, terming RSS as a cultural
organisation. That action shocked the whole country. It was done in full
confidence after having converted Gujarat into a laboratory of Sangh Parivar,
and taking your support for granted. You did support, you did make statements
that RSS is a cultural organisation and that there is nothing wrong in
allowing Government servants to become its members and in taking part in
its activities.
21. But concerted action
by a fierce Opposition in Parliament made you to reluctantly ask Gujarat
to withdraw the notorious Order. while BJP government in Gujarat lost on
that issue, Sangh Parivar began widespread violence against Christians
in U.P. State.
22. You appointed a new
Chairman at the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) and you used Christian
Member of the Commission Mr. John Joseph to do dirty job favourable to
Sangh Parivar. Mr. John Joseph worked as an agent of BJP. The result was
there for all to see when NCM gave a clean chit to Sangh Parivar in connection
with violence against Christians in U.P State.
23. Thereafter when bombing
of Churches in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Goa took place, M/s. Advani
and Venkaiah Naidu floated the theory that Pakistani ISI were behind the
bombing. It is an incredible claim, because ISI who has access to RDX going
about bombing Churches with country made bombs and gelatin sticks as reported.
Moreover why ISI should attack Churches in preference to Temples is beyond
comprehension. By floating such a highly improbable story, Advani and Naidu
have insulted the intelligence of people. Let them fabricate lies which
look probable at least.
24. It was clearly the
bit and run tactics of Sangh Parivar to scare Christians into submission.
The hidden agenda is visible to all knowledgeable people who watch the
modus operandi of Sangh Parivar, the way violence against Christians is
orchestrated, organised and executed.
25. After the contentious
issues of BJP Agenda were dropped to put together an Alliance and to present
a Manifesto agreeable to all partners, very little of Hindutva programme
remained and therefore Sangh Parivar had to work under severe constraints
though they had your silent moral support. It is thus reasonable to conclude
that Sangh Parivar changed track and instead of Sangh Parivar Activists
directly taking part in violence against Christians, they began engaging
'mercenaries' of goondas, anti-social elements and even history-sheeters.
When the criminals are caught, if at all they are caught by police, Sangh
Parivar could disown them as they did in the case of notorious Dara Singh-
Reputed magazine OUTLOOK in a report on Bajrang Dal (10 July 2000 issue)
says: "The Dal came into being in 1984 with the mobilisation of the urban
lumpen, giving the Ram Janmabhoomi movement a militant slant. Saffron-headband-wearing,
slogan-shouting youngsters were indoctrinated under the ideological supervision
of the VHP and RSS. According to the VHP, "the credibility of the Dal increased
manifold with the demolition of the Babri structure. Soon, the Dal swelled
to have a presence in 544 districts. In all it has 7082 units countrywide.
Headed by an all-India convenor, overall supervision is in the hands of
one of the Joint General Secretaries of VHP. The Dal's cadres largely comes
from the lower middle class and urban slums. The organization functions
through Shakhas where youths are indoctrinated to fight for Hindutva. The
initiated are asked to take an oath and to dedicate themselves to the cause.
Once they take the plunge, they are given a sharpened TRISHUL. Many such
Bajrangis saw the fulfilment of their dream with the 1992 demolition of
the Babri Masjid."
26. In Gujarat State
which has already come under the total spell of Sangh Parivar, the claim
made is that those who are attacking Christians are people of Gujarat who
do not want missionaries and their activities. The way religious literature,
and pamphlets including prayer books carried by Christians are seized and
burnt in the quiet presence of police proves that Sangh Parivar is in full
control there. The fear among Christians in Gujarat is palpable, particularly
the one lakh Catholics in Gujarat State are under serious threat to their
lives.
27. While writing this
letter, we read the Indian Express (5 July 2000) reporting "Bajrang Dal
men raid Ahmedabad School", adding that" a group of Bajrang Dal activists
barged into St. Xavier's School here on Monday and attempted to drive students
out of the school to participate in the Rath-yatra in Gujarat's Capital."
28. PTI and The Times
of India News Service reported that "A crude bomb went off in the porch
of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Down Chawl area of Hubli in Karnataka
on Saturday, 8 July 2000. The explosion which occurred sometime between
3.45 a.m. and 4.00 a.m. caused splintering of its concrete wall on both
sides of the door and smashed window panels. The flooring of the entrance
was ripped open, forming two craters."
Is it not time to name
Sangh Parivar the ISI of India? Is it not logical to conclude that the
bombing of Churches using 'crude bombs' is the work of Sangh Parivar, particularly
that of Bajrang Dal activists or Dal's mercenaries?
29. Having expressed
our anguish and the causes thereof, here in above, watching with concern
the growing gulf between the majority Hindu community and minorities, particularly
Christians, deliberately caused by VHP and Bajrang Dal backed by RSS through
propaganda of lies and hatred, we seek your undivided personal attention
and honest commitment to start a programme to educate the activists of
all three groups belonging to the Sangh Parivar that for the prestige and
healthy growth of India, all religious communities have to live together
exhibiting genuine cordiality and harmony, respecting the Constitutional
provision of LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship,
and that hatred and dissensions among people will only hurt the country
and invite ridicule from other nations. We appeal to you to strive to make
activists of VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS accept that we have to project India
as one country and one people, people of different religions and faith
living in harmony working in national interest, for the upliftment of the
quality of life of all sections of our people.
30. We hope and pray
that violence, arson, raping, looting, murders and widespread persecution
of Christians will soon end and an environment of harmonious relationship
will develop among all communities in a spirit of togetherness and solidarity
as Indians, with a promise to work for economic growth to eliminate poverty,
illiteracy and suffering.
31. Mr. Prime Minister,
Sir, achieving peace among people in India by putting an end to communal
strife ignited by Sangh Parivar, is a task before you demanding your undivided
attention and vigorous action. This ought to be your agenda, and your priority.
It is also your duty to the people of this Republic which you have wholeheartedly
accepted when you took Oath of Office.
32. Mr. Prime Minister,
Sir, we have great expectations from you. May God bless you in your endeavours,
and may we all work together for the unity, integrity and well-being of
our country and countrymen. In the same spirit in which you shared your
vision with the Pope, may we share our anguish with some of the distinguished
leaders with whom you interacted, in the assurance that they are well wishers
of India.
Yours sincerely,
For AGCCSJA Executive
Committee
Sd/-
M. K. Jos
Member and Spokesman
