By Tarique Anwar, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: A few stray incidents were reported today in anti-Christian violence which broke out in Orissa after the killing of five people, including a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader.
As an outcome of the murder of the VHP leader by suspected Maosists, on August 23, 2008, mobs attacked the Christian community across the state of Orissa. A 12 hour strike called by Vishwa Hindu Parisha (VHP) on Monday, resulted in the spread of violence. The violence caused massive loss of properties of Christian community, rape of nuns, and preacher killed in their homes.
Assassinated VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was at the forefront of anti-Christian campaigns and was reported to be behind the widespread destruction of properties during the ‘Black Christmas’ in 2007.
Educational institutions run by Christians remained closed across the state on Friday as a part of nationwide protest against the violence in which Christians were targeted, according to its community leaders.
Talking TwoCircles.net Shambhu Nath Naik, independent legislator of the Orissa state assembly, attacked the state government saying that it is a state sponsored anti-Christian communal violence.
He said that no FIR has been registered so far against the arrested rioters. There is coalition government of Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state and they are providing logistic support to the VHP people to spread violence and create havoc.
When asked what he and opposition parties are doing to get back normalcy he added that we are continuously protesting against the violence arranging dharnas etc. We are not allowed to visit affected areas, he said responding to a question.
He alleged that murder of Swami was a planned conspiracy against Christians there. Swami got a life threat just 26 hours before his murder and despite this threat his PSO, provided him by the government, went on leave and all other police officials deputed for his security, went for dinner just minutes before his killing.
When asked about the official record of death he told that it says 40 lives but more than 100 people have lost their lives in this communal violence.
“No fresh incident has been reported today some minor incident of skirmish from remote area came in light. Situation is coming towards normalcy slowly,” informed the district magistrate of Khandmal, Dr. Krishan Kumar speakig to TwoCircles.net by phone.
A total of 11 lives lost till date in the whole episode of communal of this communal violence in the district. 10 companies of CRPF 2 platoons of para military forces and 35 battalions of Orissa State Police are camping here, he said.
The curfew was relaxed today for 3-6 hours. Tomorrow it will be relaxed for 6-12 hours. He denied any incident when curfew was imposed.
Asked about the relief and rehabilitation initiative taken by the district administration he said that the relief camps are in operation and presently 7,500 people are there. They are being provided food, shelter and security. 1,10,000 more victims will join the camp from tomorrow, he informed.
The district administration is providing all necessary material to those who are in relief camps. Further more camps will be opened he informed.
Meanwhile condemnation of the latest round of violence against Christians of Orissa has been pouring in from all over India and overseas. Indian Muslim Council-USA (IMC-USA), an advocacy group based in the US denounced “in the strongest terms,” the violence and the killing of VHP leader that preceded this violence.
“This is nothing but a repeat of the 2002 Gujarat carnage, only this time the target is the Christian minority” said IMC-USA President Mr. Rasheed Ahmed, commenting on the violence. “If the state government, which is in alliance with the BJP, cannot maintain law and order and save the lives and property of its citizens, the Central government should impose president’s rule and send the armed forces to stop the pogroms.” he further added.
Orchestrated pogroms against religious minorities by Hindu nationalist groups have become a regular feature of Indian politics in recent years. Often these pogroms occur in Hindu nationalist (BJP) ruled states which extend police protection and impunity to the rampaging Hindutva activists perpetrating the violence, said Rasheed.
All India Christian Council (AICC) leaders in Orissa state are keeping the public informed about the latest situation.
“Differences over religion cannot be blamed for these crimes. We are distressed at the defiance of law and order by Hindu fundamentalist leaders and their public comments which are spreading lies and hate. Their unpardonable excuse is that followers are uncontrollably angry about Christian conversions in the region,” said Dr. Joseph D’souza, AICC President. “We are also deeply troubled by the state and central government’s inadequate response. The fact that identical attacks happened in the same area exactly nine months ago is unbelievable. What will convince authorities to protect human rights and enforce constitutional guarantees?”
Although some state authorities claimed there were no new attacks, the situation continues to spiral out of control, especially in rural villages. Yesterday police were given shoot on sight orders in Kandhamal District, the epicenter of the violence, because mobs were violating curfews. Also, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Mr. Prakash Jaiswal, was supposed to visit affected areas. But his trip was canceled due to security concerns. AICC had reliable reports of increased violence in Gajapati District in the southern part of the state.
Yesterday on 28th August Human Rights Watch, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), and Dalit Freedom Network (DFN) sent joint letters to the U.K. Foreign Secretary, U.S. Secretary of State, French Foreign Minister, and European Commissioner for External Relations urging them to issue statements of concern about the anti-Christian attacks in Orissa. CSW and DFN are AICC partners in Britain and the USA, respectively. France currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.
A seven member inter-denominational delegation from the AICC Orissa state chapter met with the governor, Mr. Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, yesterday afternoon. “We apprised him of the situation and requested emergency deployment of the army, compensation for the victims, rebuilding of houses and churches, construction of relief camps, and restoration of the rule of law,” said Rev. P.R. Parichha, AICC Orissa state president. This evening the AICC Secretary General was scheduled to meet Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the ruling Indian National Congress Party in Delhi.
The violence, which at one point spread across 12 of 30 districts in the state, now seems to be contained to Kandhamal District, the epicenter of similar attacks during Christmas 2007.
In protest of the collapse of governance and the rule of law in Orissa, about 10,000 Christians rallied in New Delhi this morning and were joined by Muslims, Buddhists, and progressive Hindus. Protestors tried to march to Orissa Bhavan (the official state government guest house in the capitol), but police issued a localized curfew to stop the rally. Attendees were forced to regroup at the Teen Murti traffic circle, but eventually reached Orissa Bhavan.
“Udit Raj, a major Dalit leader, and other non-Christian human rights activists clearly explained that the violence in Orissa is not because Christians are fraudulently converting people. That allegation is simply lie and hate propaganda.”
Civil society leaders suggested India needs an investigation into why Hindu nationalist organizations – who have converted tribals and Dalits in a major campaign – are not being held accountable under Orissa’s 1967 Freedom of Religion Act. “We must confront the fictional idea of “re-conversions”, created by Hindutva activists, which ignores the fact that these people’s ancestors were animists and not Hindus,” said Rev. Madhu Chandra, AICC Regional Secretary and a member of the rally’s organizing committee.
Also, an estimated 30,000 Christian schools across India closed their doors on Friday. The goal was to make millions of children – and their parents – aware of the evil of communal violence and the damage it is doing to the world’s largest democracy. AICC and major church networks which called for the closure encouraged people to pray for victims as well as perpetrators.
Christian leaders are also calling for a day of prayer and fasting across India on September 7, 2008.