Centre not doing enough: Karat
HYDERABAD: CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat has criticised the Centre for not doing enough to contain the violence against Christians in Orissa and urged it to take strong action against the Bajrang Dal. He wanted it to issue directives to the Naveen Patnaik government under Article 355 of the Constitution.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said the situation in Kandhamal district continued to be serious. There had been similar attacks in Karnataka also. “There is enough evidence that the Bajrang Dal is participating in these violent attacks on Christian minorities. Our demand has been that the Central government should initiate strong action against the Bajrang Dal.”
He said the ‘Unlawful Activities Act’ should be applied to all extremist groups that indulge in violence, whether they belonged to the minority community or the majority community.
It was not enough to issue advisory letters to the Orissa government. Under Article 355, the Centre could issue directives to State governments for the arrest of all culprits, ensuring that cases were filed and telling them how serious crimes like the rape of a nun and killing of people should be probed.
“We have, of course, demanded that the CBI should be handed over the investigation of such cases.”
Replying to a question on invoking Article 356, he said the CPI(M) was against its use in general, except when there was a serious threat to national unity and the country’s secular fabric. In the present situation in Orissa, he wanted the Centre to issue directives under Article 355.
He also accused the BJP of fomenting communal trouble all over the country, with an eye on the coming elections. Citing the incidents in Assam and Dhule in Maharashtra, he said the RSS and its outfits were fomenting communal tension and creating communal polarisations. This was “condemnable.”
He faulted the Securities and Exchange Board of India for removing restrictions pertaining to Participatory Notes and said that it was trying to bring back speculative finances which had left India.
“We are trying to import the financial crisis in America into our country,” he said. He demanded that the RBI and SEBI tighten the regulations and prevent speculative financial flows.
Asked about the clean chit given to Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh by the Parliamentary Committee set up to go into the cash-for-votes scam, he said one must wait for the final report.
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Continue taking stern action: Sister Nirmala
APPEAL FOR PEACE: Sister Nirmala, Superior-General of the Missionaries of Charity, meets Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. She stressed the need for strong action in Kandhamal district to restore peace.
BHUBANESWAR: The situation in riot-hit Kandhamal district was bad and the Orissa government should continue taking strong measures to bring the situation under control, Sister Nirmala, Superior-General of the Missionaries of Charity, said here on Tuesday.
Talking to journalists after she met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Sister Nirmala said she was happy that the government had started taking strong measures to restore peace in Kandhamal.
“I am happy now that the State government has started taking strong measures. They should continue their efforts so that peace may return and violence-affected families could return to their homes,” she said.
The people who had been affected by the communal violence in Kandhamal were unsafe and reluctant to return to their villages out of fear, she said.
Sister Nirmala had written to Mr. Patnaik on August 28 urging him to restore peace in Kandhamal when Christian families and their houses were being attacked in the wake of the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda. In her letter, she had also referred to the rape of the Catholic nun at K. Nuagaon.
The Crime Branch of the State police have arrested the main accused in the nun rape case taking the number of arrests in the case to five. More arrests were expected soon, according to Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj.Bid to reach nun
Mr. Praharaj also appealed to the nun to participate in the legal proceedings in the case. A police team was camping in New Delhi to reach to the nun.
Mr. Patnaik reviewed the situation in Kandhamal and directed the authorities to keep a close watch on the situation to restore normality in the district. He also emphasised the need for rehabilitating thousands of riot-affected people who had taken shelter in relief camps.
In another development, as many as 40 riot-affected people from Kandhamal led by Opposition Leader J.B. Patnaik met Governor M. C. Bhandare and demanded that the CBI should be asked to probe all cases pertaining to the communal violence in the district.
The violence-affected people countered the government’s claim that those taking shelter in relief camps had started returning to their villages.
Those living in the camps were leaving for distant places as there was no safety in their villages, they said.
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
BHUBANESWAR: The situation in riot-hit Kandhamal district was bad and the Orissa government should continue taking strong measures to bring the situation under control, Sister Nirmala, Superior-General of the Missionaries of Charity, said here on Tuesday.
Talking to journalists after she met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Sister Nirmala said she was happy that the government had started taking strong measures to restore peace in Kandhamal.
“I am happy now that the State government has started taking strong measures. They should continue their efforts so that peace may return and violence-affected families could return to their homes,” she said.
The people who had been affected by the communal violence in Kandhamal were unsafe and reluctant to return to their villages out of fear, she said.
Sister Nirmala had written to Mr. Patnaik on August 28 urging him to restore peace in Kandhamal when Christian families and their houses were being attacked in the wake of the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda. In her letter, she had also referred to the rape of the Catholic nun at K. Nuagaon.
The Crime Branch of the State police have arrested the main accused in the nun rape case taking the number of arrests in the case to five. More arrests were expected soon, according to Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj.Bid to reach nun
Mr. Praharaj also appealed to the nun to participate in the legal proceedings in the case. A police team was camping in New Delhi to reach to the nun.
Mr. Patnaik reviewed the situation in Kandhamal and directed the authorities to keep a close watch on the situation to restore normality in the district. He also emphasised the need for rehabilitating thousands of riot-affected people who had taken shelter in relief camps.
In another development, as many as 40 riot-affected people from Kandhamal led by Opposition Leader J.B. Patnaik met Governor M. C. Bhandare and demanded that the CBI should be asked to probe all cases pertaining to the communal violence in the district.
The violence-affected people countered the government’s claim that those taking shelter in relief camps had started returning to their villages.
Those living in the camps were leaving for distant places as there was no safety in their villages, they said.
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Monday, October 6, 2008
prayer request
Dear Saints in the LordWe request you all to pray for the following on urgent basis.also requesting to forward to your mailing list.
1. Karnataka ( India) Government is planning to bring ANTI-CONVERSION LAW as earlier as possible in this state. Please pray that our Lord will intervene and stop these kind of devil's plan which is well planned against Christianity.2. The Central Minister for Health in India, Dr.Anbumani, is trying to legalise the Homesexual and lesbian in INDIA. Pls pray that these kind of devil's plan will be vanished by the Lord's intervention
1. Karnataka ( India) Government is planning to bring ANTI-CONVERSION LAW as earlier as possible in this state. Please pray that our Lord will intervene and stop these kind of devil's plan which is well planned against Christianity.2. The Central Minister for Health in India, Dr.Anbumani, is trying to legalise the Homesexual and lesbian in INDIA. Pls pray that these kind of devil's plan will be vanished by the Lord's intervention
BHUBANESWAR: A three-member Orissa police team led by B. Radhika, Inspector-General (Training), on Monday left for New Delhi to bring to the State the nun who was raped at K. Nuagaon village in Kandhamal district on August 25.
“We want the nun to be in Orissa to help us in the investigation and the judicial proceedings pertaining to the case,” Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj told The Hindu. She would be provided adequate security wherever she lived in the State, he said.
The nun, along with a priest, was beaten up by a mob of about 40 men, one of whom later raped her. The incident took place even as violence was spreading in Kandhamal after the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda.
Meanwhile, Sister Nirmala, Superior-General of the Missionaries of Charity, has reached the city. She is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday. 900 cases booked
Mr. Praharaj said more than 900 cases were registered in connection with the communal violence in Kandhamal district and at least 465 people arrested. More arrests were likely in connection with the riots.
The cases registered in different police stations in the strife-torn district pertained to killings, rape, rioting and burning down of houses, churches and other prayer houses.
Mr. Praharaj said that in each police station a police official would accept complaints from the affected people.
Besides, cases were being registered on complaints received by post.
Although violence spread to the neighbouring Kalahandi district on Monday, the DGP claimed, the number of violent incidents had come down in Kandhamal during the past few days due to strengthening of security in interior areas. Patrolling had been intensified in sensitive areas to prevent blocking of roads by those indulging in violence.
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
“We want the nun to be in Orissa to help us in the investigation and the judicial proceedings pertaining to the case,” Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj told The Hindu. She would be provided adequate security wherever she lived in the State, he said.
The nun, along with a priest, was beaten up by a mob of about 40 men, one of whom later raped her. The incident took place even as violence was spreading in Kandhamal after the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda.
Meanwhile, Sister Nirmala, Superior-General of the Missionaries of Charity, has reached the city. She is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday. 900 cases booked
Mr. Praharaj said more than 900 cases were registered in connection with the communal violence in Kandhamal district and at least 465 people arrested. More arrests were likely in connection with the riots.
The cases registered in different police stations in the strife-torn district pertained to killings, rape, rioting and burning down of houses, churches and other prayer houses.
Mr. Praharaj said that in each police station a police official would accept complaints from the affected people.
Besides, cases were being registered on complaints received by post.
Although violence spread to the neighbouring Kalahandi district on Monday, the DGP claimed, the number of violent incidents had come down in Kandhamal during the past few days due to strengthening of security in interior areas. Patrolling had been intensified in sensitive areas to prevent blocking of roads by those indulging in violence.
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Anti christian
3 held in Lakshmanananda case
Attacks on houses of Christians reported in Kalahandi
BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa police on Monday arrested three people for their alleged involvement in the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda.
Duryodhan Sunamajhi, Munda Badamajhi and Sanatan Badamajhi, arrested from the Tumudibandha area of riot-hit Kandhamal district, were active members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Two guns, masks and black dresses were recovered from them, the new Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj told The Hindu over telephone.
Mr. Praharaj, who did not comment on the religious identity of the three, said more arrests were likely in the case.
Soon after Lakshmanananda was killed, by about 40 armed men at his ashram at Jalespata in Kandhamal on August 23, the then DGP Gopal Chandra Nanda said the crime was committed by suspected Maoists. However, confusion was created after leaders of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal claimed that militant Christians had killed the Swami.
Attacks on the houses of Christians were reported from the neighbouring Kalahandi district. The houses were burnt down in Sukuli village in Kalahandi early in the day.
Printer friendly page
Attacks on houses of Christians reported in Kalahandi
BHUBANESWAR: The Orissa police on Monday arrested three people for their alleged involvement in the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda.
Duryodhan Sunamajhi, Munda Badamajhi and Sanatan Badamajhi, arrested from the Tumudibandha area of riot-hit Kandhamal district, were active members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Two guns, masks and black dresses were recovered from them, the new Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj told The Hindu over telephone.
Mr. Praharaj, who did not comment on the religious identity of the three, said more arrests were likely in the case.
Soon after Lakshmanananda was killed, by about 40 armed men at his ashram at Jalespata in Kandhamal on August 23, the then DGP Gopal Chandra Nanda said the crime was committed by suspected Maoists. However, confusion was created after leaders of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal claimed that militant Christians had killed the Swami.
Attacks on the houses of Christians were reported from the neighbouring Kalahandi district. The houses were burnt down in Sukuli village in Kalahandi early in the day.
Printer friendly page
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Predential rule in India
Orissa’s inaction a violation: Patil
“Demand growing for President’s rule”
NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Saturday hinted that the Centre might have to invoke Article 356 of the Constitution to impose President’s Rule in Orissa if the continued violence in the State was not brought under control.
In an interview to a private television channel, Mr. Patil termed the “inaction” of the Orissa government in controlling the violence a “violation of the Constitution” and said “there is a growing demand for President’s rule if the situation worsens.”
Noting that police forces and helicopters had been provided to control the situation, he said the Centre was unhappy with the Orissa government’s lack of action. Six warnings sent
The Centre had already sent six warnings to the State government and “merely continuing to ask for additional forces after every few days cannot be a solution. The State government has to implement [an] overall strategy for creating [an] environment of security,” he added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party was quick to react. Senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said while violence anywhere was condemnable, the United Progressive Alliance government did nothing when there were violent incidents in Nandigram in West Bengal and an agitation against Hindi-speaking people in Assam led to the cold-blooded murder of some people. Why did not Mr. Patil then think about imposing President’s Rule in those States?
The violence in Orissa began on August 23 following the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist Lakshmanananda, who was aggressively pursuing the VHP’s re-conversion programme, ghar vapasi (homecoming). Since then hundreds of Christian homes have been set on fire and thousands have fled their villages and taken shelter in forests or relief camps.I can identify men who raped me: nun
PTI reports:
While demanding justice, a nun who was raped in Kandhamal district has claimed that she can identify the culprits.
The nun said she was dragged by the hair by men from a Hindu household where she was hiding. “...Two men were holding my hand, one raped me,” she told CNN-IBN from an ‘undisclosed location.’
She demanded justice not only for herself “but for the sake of the people I was working with.” The nun appealed to the State government to ensure protection to the people of Kandhamal and said the situation had been bad for far too long.
Blaming the police for inaction, the nun claimed that when she and others were being taken towards a market, the policemen present there failed to protect them. “... they were sitting like stones. They did not talk or move,” she said.
Speaking to NDTV, the nun said: “I asked the police for help but they just looked on. Those who were mute spectators should also be punished.”
She has left Orissa and is not sure whether she will return to Kandhamal
“Demand growing for President’s rule”
NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Saturday hinted that the Centre might have to invoke Article 356 of the Constitution to impose President’s Rule in Orissa if the continued violence in the State was not brought under control.
In an interview to a private television channel, Mr. Patil termed the “inaction” of the Orissa government in controlling the violence a “violation of the Constitution” and said “there is a growing demand for President’s rule if the situation worsens.”
Noting that police forces and helicopters had been provided to control the situation, he said the Centre was unhappy with the Orissa government’s lack of action. Six warnings sent
The Centre had already sent six warnings to the State government and “merely continuing to ask for additional forces after every few days cannot be a solution. The State government has to implement [an] overall strategy for creating [an] environment of security,” he added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party was quick to react. Senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu said while violence anywhere was condemnable, the United Progressive Alliance government did nothing when there were violent incidents in Nandigram in West Bengal and an agitation against Hindi-speaking people in Assam led to the cold-blooded murder of some people. Why did not Mr. Patil then think about imposing President’s Rule in those States?
The violence in Orissa began on August 23 following the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist Lakshmanananda, who was aggressively pursuing the VHP’s re-conversion programme, ghar vapasi (homecoming). Since then hundreds of Christian homes have been set on fire and thousands have fled their villages and taken shelter in forests or relief camps.I can identify men who raped me: nun
PTI reports:
While demanding justice, a nun who was raped in Kandhamal district has claimed that she can identify the culprits.
The nun said she was dragged by the hair by men from a Hindu household where she was hiding. “...Two men were holding my hand, one raped me,” she told CNN-IBN from an ‘undisclosed location.’
She demanded justice not only for herself “but for the sake of the people I was working with.” The nun appealed to the State government to ensure protection to the people of Kandhamal and said the situation had been bad for far too long.
Blaming the police for inaction, the nun claimed that when she and others were being taken towards a market, the policemen present there failed to protect them. “... they were sitting like stones. They did not talk or move,” she said.
Speaking to NDTV, the nun said: “I asked the police for help but they just looked on. Those who were mute spectators should also be punished.”
She has left Orissa and is not sure whether she will return to Kandhamal
Friday, October 3, 2008
useless steps
Manmohan directs Patil to submit report on Orissa, Karnataka
New Delhi (PTI): Taking note of the continuing violence in Orissa and Karnataka, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday sought a detailed report from Home Minister Shivraj Patil on the situation in these States.
"The Cabinet took note of the latest situation prevailing in Orissa and Karnataka and the Home Minister was asked by the Prime Minister to apprise the Cabinet of the situation in its next meeting," Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters.
He said serious concern was expressed on Orissa, particularly Kandhamal where "some organisations" were actively taking part in the violence and the Home Ministry has been asked to give an appraisal report at the earliest.
"The situation is very grave. The government is quite concerned," he said.
Pointing out that 7,500 para-military personnel had been rushed to Kandhamal, with 100 jawans posted at every village, he said the Centre strongly felt that the "Orissa government has to do more, which they are not doing".
Asked whether imposition of President's rule in the State was discussed, he replied in the negative saying matters pertaining to the Constitution were not discussed arbitrarily.
New Delhi (PTI): Taking note of the continuing violence in Orissa and Karnataka, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday sought a detailed report from Home Minister Shivraj Patil on the situation in these States.
"The Cabinet took note of the latest situation prevailing in Orissa and Karnataka and the Home Minister was asked by the Prime Minister to apprise the Cabinet of the situation in its next meeting," Information and Broadcasting Minister P R Dasmunsi told reporters.
He said serious concern was expressed on Orissa, particularly Kandhamal where "some organisations" were actively taking part in the violence and the Home Ministry has been asked to give an appraisal report at the earliest.
"The situation is very grave. The government is quite concerned," he said.
Pointing out that 7,500 para-military personnel had been rushed to Kandhamal, with 100 jawans posted at every village, he said the Centre strongly felt that the "Orissa government has to do more, which they are not doing".
Asked whether imposition of President's rule in the State was discussed, he replied in the negative saying matters pertaining to the Constitution were not discussed arbitrarily.
International opinion
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who faced tough questions over violence against Christians in Orissa and Karnataka during his visit to France, told his Cabinet colleagues on Friday that the incidents in these States had affected the image of the country.
At a Cabinet meeting here, the Prime Minister mentioned how he faced embarrassing questions over the incidents during his meetings with the leaders of the U.S. and European Union, official sources said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is the current head of the 27-nation European, raised the issue of attacks on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka during his meeting with Dr. Singh in Marseilles earlier this week. He described these incidents as “massacre” against Christians.
Facing such embarrassment, Dr. Singh termed these violent incidents as a “national shame.” — PTI
At a Cabinet meeting here, the Prime Minister mentioned how he faced embarrassing questions over the incidents during his meetings with the leaders of the U.S. and European Union, official sources said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is the current head of the 27-nation European, raised the issue of attacks on Christians in Orissa and Karnataka during his meeting with Dr. Singh in Marseilles earlier this week. He described these incidents as “massacre” against Christians.
Facing such embarrassment, Dr. Singh termed these violent incidents as a “national shame.” — PTI
stop
Stop the violence against Christians
The continuing large-scale violence targeting Christians in Orissa’s Kandhamal district is indicative of a constitutional breakdown in the area. More than a month after organised violence broke out in the wake of the August 23 murder of an anti-conversion Hindutva activist, Swami Lakshmanananda, by suspected Maoist elements, the district continues to be out of bounds for the secular Constitution and the rule of law. Numerous atrocities have been committed — inc luding murder, rape, arson, assaults on Christians, their churches, and service institutions, the intimidation of Dalits to make them give up the Christian faith, and the conversion of large numbers of people into refugees. This reign of terror, which has been reported in depth and with fresh detail in the columns of The Hindu, calls for the strongest action by the State government. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik professes modernity and secularism but his Biju Janata Dal is locked in a political alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In consequence, the coalition’s response to the crisis has been worse than inept. If it is to regain credibility, the State government must act urgently to stop the semi-fascist attacks carried out by extremist saffron organisations. It must protect the people and places targeted, restore public order in Kandhamal district, ensure the safe return of the internally displaced, and enforce the rule of law. At another level, the situation calls for effective intervention by the Central government. Up to this point, it has done precious little to stop the mischief, with its Article 355 advisories failing to have any effect on the ground. As many as 77 companies of Central paramilitary forces are available to the State government but it has avoided their effective deployment to act against the thugs and protect their target. Now, after enormous damage has been done, the Central Cabinet has bestirred itself over the “very grave situation” and Home Minister Shivraj Patil has issued a stern warning to the Patnaik government.
What is evident from the published accounts of the victims, clerical and lay, is that in several instances the police have watched the atrocities in silence. They have refused to register cases — even when the crime was murder — on the basis of complaints made by the affected families. Such extreme indifference suggests complicity of a dangerous political kind. So bad was the situation that the Orissa High Court had to direct the Superintendent of Police of Kandhamal to take stringent action against policemen found sympathising with the rioters. The rape of a 28-year-old nun and the brutal assault of a priest on August 25 at K. Nuagaon took place in front of a police outpost. It was only after the media began to focus on this shocking case that it was handed over to the State police’s Crime Branch, four persons were arrested, and the inspector in charge of the Baliguda police station was placed under suspension. Unfortunately, under the circumstances, there will be little confidence that any arm of the State police can uphold the law, free from political interference. In the interest of an objective and speedy investigation, pressure must be brought on the State government to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation; if this fails, the higher judiciary can be approached through a petition seeking the transfer of the case, by court order, to the CBI. Equally important, tough disciplinary action must be taken against senior police officers guilty of dereliction of duty. This will send out a salutary signal and help turn the situation around.
The continuing large-scale violence targeting Christians in Orissa’s Kandhamal district is indicative of a constitutional breakdown in the area. More than a month after organised violence broke out in the wake of the August 23 murder of an anti-conversion Hindutva activist, Swami Lakshmanananda, by suspected Maoist elements, the district continues to be out of bounds for the secular Constitution and the rule of law. Numerous atrocities have been committed — inc luding murder, rape, arson, assaults on Christians, their churches, and service institutions, the intimidation of Dalits to make them give up the Christian faith, and the conversion of large numbers of people into refugees. This reign of terror, which has been reported in depth and with fresh detail in the columns of The Hindu, calls for the strongest action by the State government. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik professes modernity and secularism but his Biju Janata Dal is locked in a political alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. In consequence, the coalition’s response to the crisis has been worse than inept. If it is to regain credibility, the State government must act urgently to stop the semi-fascist attacks carried out by extremist saffron organisations. It must protect the people and places targeted, restore public order in Kandhamal district, ensure the safe return of the internally displaced, and enforce the rule of law. At another level, the situation calls for effective intervention by the Central government. Up to this point, it has done precious little to stop the mischief, with its Article 355 advisories failing to have any effect on the ground. As many as 77 companies of Central paramilitary forces are available to the State government but it has avoided their effective deployment to act against the thugs and protect their target. Now, after enormous damage has been done, the Central Cabinet has bestirred itself over the “very grave situation” and Home Minister Shivraj Patil has issued a stern warning to the Patnaik government.
What is evident from the published accounts of the victims, clerical and lay, is that in several instances the police have watched the atrocities in silence. They have refused to register cases — even when the crime was murder — on the basis of complaints made by the affected families. Such extreme indifference suggests complicity of a dangerous political kind. So bad was the situation that the Orissa High Court had to direct the Superintendent of Police of Kandhamal to take stringent action against policemen found sympathising with the rioters. The rape of a 28-year-old nun and the brutal assault of a priest on August 25 at K. Nuagaon took place in front of a police outpost. It was only after the media began to focus on this shocking case that it was handed over to the State police’s Crime Branch, four persons were arrested, and the inspector in charge of the Baliguda police station was placed under suspension. Unfortunately, under the circumstances, there will be little confidence that any arm of the State police can uphold the law, free from political interference. In the interest of an objective and speedy investigation, pressure must be brought on the State government to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation; if this fails, the higher judiciary can be approached through a petition seeking the transfer of the case, by court order, to the CBI. Equally important, tough disciplinary action must be taken against senior police officers guilty of dereliction of duty. This will send out a salutary signal and help turn the situation around.
Anti christian
Orissa Crime Branch to probe nun’s rape
Only a CBI investigation can bring the guilty to book: Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
BHUBANESWAR: Bowing to building political and media pressure to take action against those guilty of the rape of a nun in K. Nuagaon village in Kandhamal district on August 25, the Orissa government ordered on Friday an investigation by the Crime Branch into the incident, on which a case was registered under Section 376 and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The government has suspended the Inspector in charge of the Baliguda police station where the nun had filed her complaint. It has also arrested four accused in the case, although the principal accused, the man who raped the nun, is still at large, the Kandhamal district Superintendent of Police, Praveen Kumar, said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told a news channel on Friday that “stringent action” would be taken against the “shameful incident” of the nun’s rape.
For many Christian organisations, whose clergy and followers have been under sustained attack in Kandhamal district since December 2007, and particularly after the murder of the VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswathi by Maoists on August 23, this announcement by the State government is action too little too late. They want the government to hand this case, and other cases of communal atrocities, to the Central Bureau of Investigation for investigation and prosecution.
“If the State government is interested in bringing the guilty to book, why is it not handing over the case to the CBI?” asked Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Raphael Cheenath. Criticising the State government’s handling of the situation, he told The Hindu that the case relating to the murder of Lakshmanananda Saraswathi, the upsurge of communal violence that followed, and the case of the nun’s rape should all be handed over to the CBI. It is a demand that Swarupananda Patra, President of the Orissa Minority Forum, supports. “We cannot expect a fair probe by the Crime Branch,” he told this newspaper.
Dazed and terrified, the victims of the violence and of the attempts at forced conversion (to Hinduism) that these attacks are invariably followed by, stream into the relief camps with nothing but the clothes they wear. According to the State government, there are 14,000 persons living in government relief camps in Kandhamal. This figure is contested by Christian groups. Archbishop Cheenath told The Hindu that the number of displaced people from Kandhamal is actually close to 40,000.
“We had to leave our homes after some 100 people came to our village at night and threatened to kill us if we continued to live as Christians,” Royal Kumar Nayak, a resident of Malikapaudi village who is now in the YMCA relief camp at Bhubaneshwar, told The Hindu. Meanwhile, peace eludes Kandhamal district, with each day bringing reports of fresh cases of violence by Hindutva organisations against Christians.
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Only a CBI investigation can bring the guilty to book: Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
BHUBANESWAR: Bowing to building political and media pressure to take action against those guilty of the rape of a nun in K. Nuagaon village in Kandhamal district on August 25, the Orissa government ordered on Friday an investigation by the Crime Branch into the incident, on which a case was registered under Section 376 and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The government has suspended the Inspector in charge of the Baliguda police station where the nun had filed her complaint. It has also arrested four accused in the case, although the principal accused, the man who raped the nun, is still at large, the Kandhamal district Superintendent of Police, Praveen Kumar, said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told a news channel on Friday that “stringent action” would be taken against the “shameful incident” of the nun’s rape.
For many Christian organisations, whose clergy and followers have been under sustained attack in Kandhamal district since December 2007, and particularly after the murder of the VHP leader Lakshmanananda Saraswathi by Maoists on August 23, this announcement by the State government is action too little too late. They want the government to hand this case, and other cases of communal atrocities, to the Central Bureau of Investigation for investigation and prosecution.
“If the State government is interested in bringing the guilty to book, why is it not handing over the case to the CBI?” asked Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Raphael Cheenath. Criticising the State government’s handling of the situation, he told The Hindu that the case relating to the murder of Lakshmanananda Saraswathi, the upsurge of communal violence that followed, and the case of the nun’s rape should all be handed over to the CBI. It is a demand that Swarupananda Patra, President of the Orissa Minority Forum, supports. “We cannot expect a fair probe by the Crime Branch,” he told this newspaper.
Dazed and terrified, the victims of the violence and of the attempts at forced conversion (to Hinduism) that these attacks are invariably followed by, stream into the relief camps with nothing but the clothes they wear. According to the State government, there are 14,000 persons living in government relief camps in Kandhamal. This figure is contested by Christian groups. Archbishop Cheenath told The Hindu that the number of displaced people from Kandhamal is actually close to 40,000.
“We had to leave our homes after some 100 people came to our village at night and threatened to kill us if we continued to live as Christians,” Royal Kumar Nayak, a resident of Malikapaudi village who is now in the YMCA relief camp at Bhubaneshwar, told The Hindu. Meanwhile, peace eludes Kandhamal district, with each day bringing reports of fresh cases of violence by Hindutva organisations against Christians.
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Government sponsored in Atrocities India (Orissa )
unopened white envelopes, soiled and crumpled, with the acknowledgement due slip affixed, addressed to the officer-in-charge, Baliguda police station, Kandhamal district, with a scribbled noting by the postman that reads: “Address refused. Have returned back.”
In them are two written complaints, the first by Ravindra Pradhan (35) on the killing of his physically challenged brother, Roshanand Pradhan, by a Hindutva mob on the night of August 24, and the second by his niece, Ashwini Pradhan, on the burning of her house by the same mob.
Sent to the OIC of the Baliguda police station by registered post, it was refused by him and returned to them by post. Both letters mention the names of those who committed the crimes. The incident took place at Rupagaon village in the Baliguda sub-division. “When we heard the attackers entering, we ran around 200 metres to the nearby field, but my brother being a cripple could not run. I saw the incident with my own eyes, and mentioned the names of those responsible in my complaint,” Mr. Pradhan told. He is now in a relief camp run by the Young Men’s Christian Association in Bhubaneswar with 12 members of his family. He said his brother told the family to run and not worry about his safety as the attackers, who were from the same village, knew him and would not attack a physically challenged person.
“We brought this to the notice of the Governor when he came to the relief camp, but we have heard nothing further. We have not even been able to go back to the village to perform the last rites for my brother,” said Motilal Pradhan, father of Ashwini and serving army jawan, who has fought in Kargil. All 38 Christian homes in the village were burnt, but not before they were looted of valuables by the mob.
This is one of the four specific incidents of violence in Kandhamal that was brought to the notice of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday by a fact-finding team comprising P.C. Thomas, Member of Parliament, and V. Surendran Pillai, Member of the Kerala Assembly, both of the Kerala Congress (Joseph).
The other incidents that the delegation has asked the Chief Minister to act on with the utmost urgency, Mr. Thomas told , the killing of RSS leader Lakshmanananda Saraswathi on August 23, the rape of a nun and attack on a priest at Nuagaon village on August 25, and the murder of Divyalochan Digan, a pastor, on August 25. In the last case, the attackers came to the house of the pastor after they had killed him, and, after informing his wife Pushpanjali and their 11-year-old daughter, Mona Lisa, of the murder, proceeded to douse them with kerosene to set them alight. On the pleading of the distraught family, they let them off, but burnt the house.
What is common in three of the four incidents is that there are eyewitnesses ready to give evidence on the precise identity of the killers. “The Chief Minister told us that a few persons have been arrested in connection with Lakshmanananda Saraswathi’s murder. A whole community is in the dock for his murder, and it is imperative that the killers be apprehended if the violence is to stop,” Mr. Thomas said.
“We also told him that the middle level leaders who are giving leadership to the atrocities in Kandhamal must be arrested,” he said.
The team was not able to go to Kandhamal because the district was now curfew-bound. “The Chief Minister promised that he would take immediate action on all four cases. If nothing is done, then I will raise it in the next session of the Lok Sabha,” Mr. Thomas said. He said his party had already demanded of the Prime Minister that a Central Bureau of Investigation probe be ordered into the Kandhamal violence. He has also formally asked the Speaker to constitute a parliamentary delegation to visit Kandhamal. Police assurance
State Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj told that anyone who left his home on being affected by the communal violence and was living elsewhere could send his complaint by post to the Kandhamal Superintendent of Police.
The Kandhamal police would verify the matter and if a case was made out a formal case would be registered in the police station concerned, Mr. Praharaj said.
If it was found that a case had already been registered on the basis of a complaint filed by any of the relatives of the persons sending their complaints by post, they would be informed of it by the Kandhamal police, the DGP added.
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
In them are two written complaints, the first by Ravindra Pradhan (35) on the killing of his physically challenged brother, Roshanand Pradhan, by a Hindutva mob on the night of August 24, and the second by his niece, Ashwini Pradhan, on the burning of her house by the same mob.
Sent to the OIC of the Baliguda police station by registered post, it was refused by him and returned to them by post. Both letters mention the names of those who committed the crimes. The incident took place at Rupagaon village in the Baliguda sub-division. “When we heard the attackers entering, we ran around 200 metres to the nearby field, but my brother being a cripple could not run. I saw the incident with my own eyes, and mentioned the names of those responsible in my complaint,” Mr. Pradhan told. He is now in a relief camp run by the Young Men’s Christian Association in Bhubaneswar with 12 members of his family. He said his brother told the family to run and not worry about his safety as the attackers, who were from the same village, knew him and would not attack a physically challenged person.
“We brought this to the notice of the Governor when he came to the relief camp, but we have heard nothing further. We have not even been able to go back to the village to perform the last rites for my brother,” said Motilal Pradhan, father of Ashwini and serving army jawan, who has fought in Kargil. All 38 Christian homes in the village were burnt, but not before they were looted of valuables by the mob.
This is one of the four specific incidents of violence in Kandhamal that was brought to the notice of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday by a fact-finding team comprising P.C. Thomas, Member of Parliament, and V. Surendran Pillai, Member of the Kerala Assembly, both of the Kerala Congress (Joseph).
The other incidents that the delegation has asked the Chief Minister to act on with the utmost urgency, Mr. Thomas told , the killing of RSS leader Lakshmanananda Saraswathi on August 23, the rape of a nun and attack on a priest at Nuagaon village on August 25, and the murder of Divyalochan Digan, a pastor, on August 25. In the last case, the attackers came to the house of the pastor after they had killed him, and, after informing his wife Pushpanjali and their 11-year-old daughter, Mona Lisa, of the murder, proceeded to douse them with kerosene to set them alight. On the pleading of the distraught family, they let them off, but burnt the house.
What is common in three of the four incidents is that there are eyewitnesses ready to give evidence on the precise identity of the killers. “The Chief Minister told us that a few persons have been arrested in connection with Lakshmanananda Saraswathi’s murder. A whole community is in the dock for his murder, and it is imperative that the killers be apprehended if the violence is to stop,” Mr. Thomas said.
“We also told him that the middle level leaders who are giving leadership to the atrocities in Kandhamal must be arrested,” he said.
The team was not able to go to Kandhamal because the district was now curfew-bound. “The Chief Minister promised that he would take immediate action on all four cases. If nothing is done, then I will raise it in the next session of the Lok Sabha,” Mr. Thomas said. He said his party had already demanded of the Prime Minister that a Central Bureau of Investigation probe be ordered into the Kandhamal violence. He has also formally asked the Speaker to constitute a parliamentary delegation to visit Kandhamal. Police assurance
State Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj told that anyone who left his home on being affected by the communal violence and was living elsewhere could send his complaint by post to the Kandhamal Superintendent of Police.
The Kandhamal police would verify the matter and if a case was made out a formal case would be registered in the police station concerned, Mr. Praharaj said.
If it was found that a case had already been registered on the basis of a complaint filed by any of the relatives of the persons sending their complaints by post, they would be informed of it by the Kandhamal police, the DGP added.
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Stop anti- Christian violence
Amnesty: stop anti-Christian violence
LONDON: Amnesty International has urged the Indian Government to “match its words with action” and ensure that violence against Christians in Orissa stops.
In a statement here on Thursday, it said that despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that what was happening in Orissa was a “national shame” and that his Government had taken firm action to halt it, Christians in the state continued to face attacks.
“The last two days have witnessed renewed attacks by supporters of Hindu nationalist organizations, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, against the Christian minorities and their places of worship in Kandhamal district in Orissa, leaving three people dead, more than 15 people injured, including some policemen, and hundreds homeless,” it said adding that Amnesty volunteers had spoken to people who confirmed that an atmosphere of insecurity prevailed.
Amnesty also called for adequate security for relief camps and an impartial inquiry into the attacks.
LONDON: Amnesty International has urged the Indian Government to “match its words with action” and ensure that violence against Christians in Orissa stops.
In a statement here on Thursday, it said that despite Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that what was happening in Orissa was a “national shame” and that his Government had taken firm action to halt it, Christians in the state continued to face attacks.
“The last two days have witnessed renewed attacks by supporters of Hindu nationalist organizations, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, against the Christian minorities and their places of worship in Kandhamal district in Orissa, leaving three people dead, more than 15 people injured, including some policemen, and hundreds homeless,” it said adding that Amnesty volunteers had spoken to people who confirmed that an atmosphere of insecurity prevailed.
Amnesty also called for adequate security for relief camps and an impartial inquiry into the attacks.
100houses burnt
Although no incident was reported from Kandhamal district of Orissa on Thursday, more than 100 houses were burnt down in the neighbouring Boudh district.
Police, however, claimed that the attacks in Kandhamal block of Boudh during the early hours of the day was not communal in nature, but ethnic in which Kondh tribals attacked houses of Dalit Panas.
Director General of Police (DGP) Manmohan Praharaj said security forces were being sent to Kandhamal.
The administration was expecting a backlash in Kandhamal following the arrest of 45 persons, including some leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Kui Samaj, on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, there was no protest till Thursday evening. Meanwhile, the DGP visited several riot-hit areas of Kandhamal, including G. Udayagiri and Raikia blocks, to assess the situation.
In another development, curfew was relaxed in nine towns of Kandhamal district from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The district administration, however, cancelled a district level peace rally which was to be held at Phulbani, the district headquarters town of Kandhamal.
Printer friendly page
Police, however, claimed that the attacks in Kandhamal block of Boudh during the early hours of the day was not communal in nature, but ethnic in which Kondh tribals attacked houses of Dalit Panas.
Director General of Police (DGP) Manmohan Praharaj said security forces were being sent to Kandhamal.
The administration was expecting a backlash in Kandhamal following the arrest of 45 persons, including some leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Kui Samaj, on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, there was no protest till Thursday evening. Meanwhile, the DGP visited several riot-hit areas of Kandhamal, including G. Udayagiri and Raikia blocks, to assess the situation.
In another development, curfew was relaxed in nine towns of Kandhamal district from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The district administration, however, cancelled a district level peace rally which was to be held at Phulbani, the district headquarters town of Kandhamal.
Printer friendly page
Rape of nun confirmed
Rape of nun confirmed
Medical examination done at Baliguda government hospital
BHUBANESWAR: medical examination conducted on the 28-year-old Catholic nun, who was sexually assaulted at K. Nuagaon in Kandhamal district on August 25, has confirmed she was raped.
“The medical examination report suggests that the nun was raped,” District Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar told The Hindu over phone from Phulbani on Thursday.
The nun, along with a Catholic priest, was publicly beaten up by a mob and she was raped in a nearby building when anti-Christian violence was at its peak in Kandhamal in the wake of the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda on August 23.
The medical examination was done at the Sub-Divisional government hospital at Baliguda.
The rape case, registered under 376 and other Sections of the IPC, is being investigated under the supervision of a Deputy Superintendent of Police. Senior police officials are also monitoring the progress of the investigation, Mr. Kumar said.
The Kandhamal police are also making efforts to contact the nun, who left the district along with the priest, Father Thomas Chellan, after filing her complaint with the Baliguda police.
No one has been arrested in the rape case so far. “The Baliguda police are trying to ascertain the identity of the accused persons,” Mr. Kumar said.
In her complaint, the nun said she was ill-treated by a group of 30 to 40 persons and one from among them raped her. “We are trying our best to solve the case,” he said.
Sister Nirmala, Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, who is here, on being informed of the result of the medical examination, told The Hindu: “I am satisfied that they have established this and hope the investigation will proceed.”
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Medical examination done at Baliguda government hospital
BHUBANESWAR: medical examination conducted on the 28-year-old Catholic nun, who was sexually assaulted at K. Nuagaon in Kandhamal district on August 25, has confirmed she was raped.
“The medical examination report suggests that the nun was raped,” District Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar told The Hindu over phone from Phulbani on Thursday.
The nun, along with a Catholic priest, was publicly beaten up by a mob and she was raped in a nearby building when anti-Christian violence was at its peak in Kandhamal in the wake of the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda on August 23.
The medical examination was done at the Sub-Divisional government hospital at Baliguda.
The rape case, registered under 376 and other Sections of the IPC, is being investigated under the supervision of a Deputy Superintendent of Police. Senior police officials are also monitoring the progress of the investigation, Mr. Kumar said.
The Kandhamal police are also making efforts to contact the nun, who left the district along with the priest, Father Thomas Chellan, after filing her complaint with the Baliguda police.
No one has been arrested in the rape case so far. “The Baliguda police are trying to ascertain the identity of the accused persons,” Mr. Kumar said.
In her complaint, the nun said she was ill-treated by a group of 30 to 40 persons and one from among them raped her. “We are trying our best to solve the case,” he said.
Sister Nirmala, Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, who is here, on being informed of the result of the medical examination, told The Hindu: “I am satisfied that they have established this and hope the investigation will proceed.”
Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
BJPGovernment sponsored attacks on christians in India (Orissa)
Curfew
Refugee camp
Police console on christian victimsGovernment sponsored atrocitiesin orissa India
ANTI CHRIATIAN
Communal violence continued in the interior areas of Orissa’s Kandhamal district on Saturday even as Chief Minister visited Phulbani, the district headquarters town to take stock of the situation.
One church was burnt at Kupaguda village under G. Udaygiri block of the district during the morning hours. Also many houses were burnt down in Kiramal village under G. Udaygiri area and Lamangia village under Raikia block.
Reports indicated that around 50 houses were burnt down in Rajenpanga village under Daringbadi police station limits on Friday night. The areas witnessing more violence include Raikia, G. Udaygiri and Tikabali blocks.
Although the main road linking Phulbani with Berhampur remained open for traffic, miscreants blocked many interior roads making it difficult for the police to reach the places of violence.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said three persons were missing in Sankarakhol area since Thursday evening. It was being apprehended that they had been killed.
During his visit to Phulbani, the Chief Minister attended a meeting to assess the law and order situation. He returned to Bhubaneswar after announcing a development package for the riot-hit district. He did not visit any of the villages where violence took place in the past five days. “Peace and harmony must be maintained at all costs. There should be no leniency towards perpetrators of violence,” Mr. Patnaik said.
The government has termed the violence a conflict between the Kondh tribals and Dalit Panas, as there is long-standing animosity between the Kondhs and Panas in Kandhamal.
One church was burnt at Kupaguda village under G. Udaygiri block of the district during the morning hours. Also many houses were burnt down in Kiramal village under G. Udaygiri area and Lamangia village under Raikia block.
Reports indicated that around 50 houses were burnt down in Rajenpanga village under Daringbadi police station limits on Friday night. The areas witnessing more violence include Raikia, G. Udaygiri and Tikabali blocks.
Although the main road linking Phulbani with Berhampur remained open for traffic, miscreants blocked many interior roads making it difficult for the police to reach the places of violence.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said three persons were missing in Sankarakhol area since Thursday evening. It was being apprehended that they had been killed.
During his visit to Phulbani, the Chief Minister attended a meeting to assess the law and order situation. He returned to Bhubaneswar after announcing a development package for the riot-hit district. He did not visit any of the villages where violence took place in the past five days. “Peace and harmony must be maintained at all costs. There should be no leniency towards perpetrators of violence,” Mr. Patnaik said.
The government has termed the violence a conflict between the Kondh tribals and Dalit Panas, as there is long-standing animosity between the Kondhs and Panas in Kandhamal.
ANTICHRISIAN
Bhubaneswar: “Simply out of control,” is how Raphael Cheenath, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, described the situation in Kandhamal, the district in central Orissa that has seen sustained violence against Christians by Sangh Parivar groups since December 2007.
“I see an attempt to appease the majority, because of the coming elections, in the statement given by the Chief Minister, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, when he went to Phulbani [the district headquarters of Kandhamal] yesterday [on Saturday],” he told The Hindu in an interview in Bhubaneswar at the Archbishop’s House. “There was not one word in his statement about the 40,000 persons displaced and in relief camps, not one word about the 4,200 homes destroyed, and not one word about the 45 persons — including a pastor who was cut to pieces just a few days ago in front of his wife — who have been murdered. Why did he go?”
A tired and anguished Archbishop severely indicted the State and Central governments of insensitivity and inaction in respect of the violence and injustice perpetrated against the Dalit Christians of Kandhamal.
“My impression is that the State government is trying its best to cover up the violence by giving the impression that the normalcy has been restored, and that there is no need for further action.” The Supreme Court, he said, in response to a petition filed before it on September 8 seeking protection from the relentless violence against Christians, had given the State government four weeks to respond. The Archbishop said the Sangh Parivar had used this period to “systematically destroy one village after another.” “Excuse unacceptable”
The excuse of the State government that marauding mobs often outnumbered the police force present at the spot, he said, was unacceptable. “Why did they allow the numbers to swell in the first place?” “We know that in cases of attack and even rape the police just stood by and took no action. What is left to destroy now?”
The Archbishop said he had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh three times, President Pratibha Patel twice, Home Minister Shivraj Patil twice and Congress president Sonia Gandhi once over the situation in Kandhamal. The Prime Minister, he said, called it a “national shame” and promised help, but there had not been any real change in the situation as Dalits continue to live in relief camps and were too frightened to return to their villages.
According to the Archbishop, the Sangh Parivar has “issued a fatwa” that by September 30, residents must return to their villages to be re-converted to Hinduism. “I am issuing a letter that will be distributed to Christians telling them not to worry and to be firm. No conversion is valid unless it is free. A document signed under duress is not valid under law.”
He is also planning to call a meeting of Bishops and heads of religious groups to organise a rally in Bhubaneswar protesting the grave violence and injustice against Christians in Kandhamal.
“I see an attempt to appease the majority, because of the coming elections, in the statement given by the Chief Minister, Mr. Naveen Patnaik, when he went to Phulbani [the district headquarters of Kandhamal] yesterday [on Saturday],” he told The Hindu in an interview in Bhubaneswar at the Archbishop’s House. “There was not one word in his statement about the 40,000 persons displaced and in relief camps, not one word about the 4,200 homes destroyed, and not one word about the 45 persons — including a pastor who was cut to pieces just a few days ago in front of his wife — who have been murdered. Why did he go?”
A tired and anguished Archbishop severely indicted the State and Central governments of insensitivity and inaction in respect of the violence and injustice perpetrated against the Dalit Christians of Kandhamal.
“My impression is that the State government is trying its best to cover up the violence by giving the impression that the normalcy has been restored, and that there is no need for further action.” The Supreme Court, he said, in response to a petition filed before it on September 8 seeking protection from the relentless violence against Christians, had given the State government four weeks to respond. The Archbishop said the Sangh Parivar had used this period to “systematically destroy one village after another.” “Excuse unacceptable”
The excuse of the State government that marauding mobs often outnumbered the police force present at the spot, he said, was unacceptable. “Why did they allow the numbers to swell in the first place?” “We know that in cases of attack and even rape the police just stood by and took no action. What is left to destroy now?”
The Archbishop said he had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh three times, President Pratibha Patel twice, Home Minister Shivraj Patil twice and Congress president Sonia Gandhi once over the situation in Kandhamal. The Prime Minister, he said, called it a “national shame” and promised help, but there had not been any real change in the situation as Dalits continue to live in relief camps and were too frightened to return to their villages.
According to the Archbishop, the Sangh Parivar has “issued a fatwa” that by September 30, residents must return to their villages to be re-converted to Hinduism. “I am issuing a letter that will be distributed to Christians telling them not to worry and to be firm. No conversion is valid unless it is free. A document signed under duress is not valid under law.”
He is also planning to call a meeting of Bishops and heads of religious groups to organise a rally in Bhubaneswar protesting the grave violence and injustice against Christians in Kandhamal.
AntiChriastian
Hindu Rashtra our aim: Bajrang Dal chief
NEW DELHI: Bajrang Dal chief Prakash Sharma has admitted that Bhupinder Singh, one of the two men who died in an explosion while bombs were assembled in a private hostel in Kanpur on August 24, was a “former activist.” But “he left the Dal several years ago. The Dal cannot be held responsible for his actions,” Mr. Sharma told The Hindu here on Wednesday
When the Bajrang Dal was set up in 1984 as the youth arm of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Mr. Sharma was made its Kanpur unit convener. At that time, it was “active only in a few districts of Uttar Pradesh. Today it has some 13 lakh activists spread across most of the States and our aim is to cover every district of the country,” said Mr. Sharma, who had just returned from a visit to Kanpur.
On August 24, the police found at the site of the bomb explosion at Rajeev Nagar “11 country-made pistols, explosives, seven timers, batteries and gelatin sticks,” according to reports quoting Kanpur Inspector-General S.S. Singh. No further breakthrough has been made.
“Yes, Bhupinder Singh was one of us, but I do not know Rajeev Mishra, who also died in that explosion,” Mr. Sharma said. “Statement a mistake”
The Bajrang Dal chief denied that his organisation was involved in the violence against Christians in Kandhamal district of Orissa or in Mangalore and elsewhere in Karnataka, although the Karnataka unit chief Mahendra Kumar, had issued a statement accepting its role.
Mr. Sharma dismissed that statement as a “mistake.” “How can you say Hindus are involved? How can you be sure Christians are not killing each other? I know of two Christians who set fire to a church in Orissa.”
Senior VHP leader Giriraj Kishore, who was present at the interview, said: “There was bound to be reaction when Lakshmanananda [VHP activist] was murdered. After all, he was working in that area.”
Mr. Sharma said although the BJP was a coalition partner in the Orissa government “the murderers” of Lakshmanananda had not been caught. “The government has done nothing to catch the culprits.”
Mr. Sharma listed the tasks before the Dal as “seva” (service of the people) and “suraksha” (protection). Its volunteers were given tough physical training to help them protect themselves and the people. He insisted that they were not trained in firearms, and were trained only in “aiming with air guns for which we run regular camps.”
The larger aim of the Dal, Mr. Sharma said, was “to establish a Hindu Rashtra.“Stop conversion”
As for the minorities, Mr. Sharma said, “they can live in a Hindu Rashtra. We do not say do not go to mosques or churches. But conversion must be stopped … We have re-converted to Hinduism through the ghar vapasi (home-coming) programme about 10,000-15,000 people since I became Bajrang Dal convener in 2002.”
Printer friendly page
NEW DELHI: Bajrang Dal chief Prakash Sharma has admitted that Bhupinder Singh, one of the two men who died in an explosion while bombs were assembled in a private hostel in Kanpur on August 24, was a “former activist.” But “he left the Dal several years ago. The Dal cannot be held responsible for his actions,” Mr. Sharma told The Hindu here on Wednesday
When the Bajrang Dal was set up in 1984 as the youth arm of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Mr. Sharma was made its Kanpur unit convener. At that time, it was “active only in a few districts of Uttar Pradesh. Today it has some 13 lakh activists spread across most of the States and our aim is to cover every district of the country,” said Mr. Sharma, who had just returned from a visit to Kanpur.
On August 24, the police found at the site of the bomb explosion at Rajeev Nagar “11 country-made pistols, explosives, seven timers, batteries and gelatin sticks,” according to reports quoting Kanpur Inspector-General S.S. Singh. No further breakthrough has been made.
“Yes, Bhupinder Singh was one of us, but I do not know Rajeev Mishra, who also died in that explosion,” Mr. Sharma said. “Statement a mistake”
The Bajrang Dal chief denied that his organisation was involved in the violence against Christians in Kandhamal district of Orissa or in Mangalore and elsewhere in Karnataka, although the Karnataka unit chief Mahendra Kumar, had issued a statement accepting its role.
Mr. Sharma dismissed that statement as a “mistake.” “How can you say Hindus are involved? How can you be sure Christians are not killing each other? I know of two Christians who set fire to a church in Orissa.”
Senior VHP leader Giriraj Kishore, who was present at the interview, said: “There was bound to be reaction when Lakshmanananda [VHP activist] was murdered. After all, he was working in that area.”
Mr. Sharma said although the BJP was a coalition partner in the Orissa government “the murderers” of Lakshmanananda had not been caught. “The government has done nothing to catch the culprits.”
Mr. Sharma listed the tasks before the Dal as “seva” (service of the people) and “suraksha” (protection). Its volunteers were given tough physical training to help them protect themselves and the people. He insisted that they were not trained in firearms, and were trained only in “aiming with air guns for which we run regular camps.”
The larger aim of the Dal, Mr. Sharma said, was “to establish a Hindu Rashtra.“Stop conversion”
As for the minorities, Mr. Sharma said, “they can live in a Hindu Rashtra. We do not say do not go to mosques or churches. But conversion must be stopped … We have re-converted to Hinduism through the ghar vapasi (home-coming) programme about 10,000-15,000 people since I became Bajrang Dal convener in 2002.”
Printer friendly page
AntiChristian
PHULBANI: Acting on a public interest petition filed by the Utkal Christian Council, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice B.S. Chauhan and Justice B.N. Mohapatra has asked the State government to deploy paramilitary forces at the relief camps where thousands of riot-affected Christian families have taken shelter.
The Court also directed the Kandhamal police to ensure immediate registration of cases at different police stations on the complaints filed by affected families living in relief camps and other places. The Superintendent of Police of Kandhamal was further directed to take stringent action against any policeman found sympathising with the rioters.
In Kandhamal, official sources said daytime curfew was reimposed in the nine towns as the administration apprehended a backlash in the wake of the arrest of local leaders. The towns include Phulbani, G. Udaygiri, Tikabali, Raikia, Tumudibandha, K. Nuagaon, Gochhapada, Phiringia and Baliguda. Night curfew was already in force in these towns since long.
In fact, over 200 people were arrested in the district since communal violence broke out after the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda last month. But arrest of prominent local leaders started only after Tuesday’s attack in G. Udaygiri area.
At least 45 persons were taken into custody from G. Udaygiri, Phulbani and others areas. General secretary of Kandhamal District unit of the BJP Bhagaban Mohanty was among them.
The administration had also asked the licensed gun holders in the district to surrender their weapons.
Life was paralysed in the areas where curfew remained in force during the day. Top district officials advised media persons not to visit interior areas in communally sensitive pockets. “We are apprehending trouble in some areas,” District Collector Krishan Kumar said.
Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj reached Phulbani on Wednesday evening to take stock of the law and order situation.Christians seek refugee status
Special Correspondent writes from New Delhi:
Accusing the Centre of failing to protect the minorities, 100 Christians from the Kandhamal district of Orissa approached the United Nations here on Wednesday seeking refugee status for the community. Led by civil rights activists, a delegation submitted a memorandum to U.N. officials.
Holding placards stating “Government of India has failed to protect its minorities,” the group said the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees should declare “Oriya Christians” as refugees and bring them under the legal framework to protect their human dignity from rights violations and abuse.
“Currently, they along with tens of thousands, are a stateless people as the writ of the Government of India does not run in the State of Orissa. There is no rule of law and ‘mobocracy’ by Hindutva terror outfits like the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal is the political system which is in place. The Prime Minister has not visited Orissa and earlier, even the Home Minister of India could not visit the victims.”
According to the memorandum, these Oriya Christians fulfil the requirements as per U.N. conventions to be ‘Internally Displaced Persons’. Seeking relief from U.N. agencies and the International Red Cross, it said the community would either be killed by “Hindu extremists” or die of malnourishment if no attention was paid immediately.
Stating that the Orissa government had prevented Christian NGOs from working in the affected areas, the memorandum questioned the Centre’s refusal to use its constitutional powers. Also, the delegation urged the international community to mount pressure on India to fulfil its obligations under the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which it ratified in 1948.
The Court also directed the Kandhamal police to ensure immediate registration of cases at different police stations on the complaints filed by affected families living in relief camps and other places. The Superintendent of Police of Kandhamal was further directed to take stringent action against any policeman found sympathising with the rioters.
In Kandhamal, official sources said daytime curfew was reimposed in the nine towns as the administration apprehended a backlash in the wake of the arrest of local leaders. The towns include Phulbani, G. Udaygiri, Tikabali, Raikia, Tumudibandha, K. Nuagaon, Gochhapada, Phiringia and Baliguda. Night curfew was already in force in these towns since long.
In fact, over 200 people were arrested in the district since communal violence broke out after the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Swami Lakshmanananda last month. But arrest of prominent local leaders started only after Tuesday’s attack in G. Udaygiri area.
At least 45 persons were taken into custody from G. Udaygiri, Phulbani and others areas. General secretary of Kandhamal District unit of the BJP Bhagaban Mohanty was among them.
The administration had also asked the licensed gun holders in the district to surrender their weapons.
Life was paralysed in the areas where curfew remained in force during the day. Top district officials advised media persons not to visit interior areas in communally sensitive pockets. “We are apprehending trouble in some areas,” District Collector Krishan Kumar said.
Director-General of Police Manmohan Praharaj reached Phulbani on Wednesday evening to take stock of the law and order situation.Christians seek refugee status
Special Correspondent writes from New Delhi:
Accusing the Centre of failing to protect the minorities, 100 Christians from the Kandhamal district of Orissa approached the United Nations here on Wednesday seeking refugee status for the community. Led by civil rights activists, a delegation submitted a memorandum to U.N. officials.
Holding placards stating “Government of India has failed to protect its minorities,” the group said the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees should declare “Oriya Christians” as refugees and bring them under the legal framework to protect their human dignity from rights violations and abuse.
“Currently, they along with tens of thousands, are a stateless people as the writ of the Government of India does not run in the State of Orissa. There is no rule of law and ‘mobocracy’ by Hindutva terror outfits like the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal is the political system which is in place. The Prime Minister has not visited Orissa and earlier, even the Home Minister of India could not visit the victims.”
According to the memorandum, these Oriya Christians fulfil the requirements as per U.N. conventions to be ‘Internally Displaced Persons’. Seeking relief from U.N. agencies and the International Red Cross, it said the community would either be killed by “Hindu extremists” or die of malnourishment if no attention was paid immediately.
Stating that the Orissa government had prevented Christian NGOs from working in the affected areas, the memorandum questioned the Centre’s refusal to use its constitutional powers. Also, the delegation urged the international community to mount pressure on India to fulfil its obligations under the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which it ratified in 1948.
Antichrist
DRIVEN TO DESPERATION: Christians from Kandhamal hold placards outside the office of the United Nations in New Delhi on Wednesday, protesting the failure of the Centre to protect minorities in Orissa. In a memorandum submitted to the U.N., the delegation said ‘Oriya Christians’ had become stateless people and should be given refugee status.
NEW DELHI: As the fury of communal violence continued to engulf Kandhamal district of Orissa, the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday rushed 10 more companies of Central para-military forces to help the State government.
While six companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were immediately sent, the remaining companies would be leaving in a day or two, according to a Ministry spokesperson here.
As reported by The Hindu earlier, the Orissa government had sought 10 additional companies to tackle the situation in Kandhamal district arising out of incidents of violence against Christians. The Home Ministry said Orissa already had 67 companies, and it would be severely constrained to pull out personnel from other States.
The Ministry asked the State government to deploy Central forces in a “proper” manner and also advised it to utilise the services of 24 companies given for anti-naxalite operations.
However, even the redeployment failed to put down lawlessness in Kandhamal district. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has also decided to send its team to Orissa after October 9 to assess the situation.
In view of the festival season, particularly Eid, Durga Puja and Dussehra and in the wake of the recent blasts in the national capital, the Ministry has given nine companies of Central forces to the Delhi government.
It is sending four companies to Malegaon (Maharashtra), which witnessed a bomb blast in a hotel on September 29. Two persons were killed in the incident.
Prafulla Das reports from Phulbani:
Violence continued in the interior areas of Kandhamal district. Pro-Hinduvta protesters burnt down five houses at Paningia village in Chakapad area in the early hours of the day.
At least 30 houses were torched in two villages in the Rakia block in the afternoon.
Indefinite curfew was imposed from midnight as the police arrested local leaders belonging to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Kui Samaj, an organisation of Kondh tribals.
Earlier, the Orissa High Court directed the Centre to send additional paramilitary forces as sought by the State government.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)