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Again about Kandhamal
Kandhamal: the Real Challenges
By RL Francis
The vice chairman of National Commission for Minorities (NCM) Dr HT
Sangliana giving a clean chit to Orissa government on Kandhamal violence
by praising the steps taken by the state government for bringing
normalcy in Phulbani district has given a blow to the Christian
organisations allegations against the state government. These
organisations had alleged that several thousands of the victims are yet
to be rehabilitated in the effected areas of Kandhamal. After making a
visit to the violence hit areas, Sangliana said that the victims have
returned home and those who have not returned to Kandhamal are actually
working in the neighbouring states. This statement of NCM vice chairman
discounts all the allegations of the Church against the Naveen Patnaik
government of not taking care of Kandhamal victims. NCM vice-chairman’s
visit to Kandhamal came in the wake of more than 50 NGOs related to
Church organised a public hearing titled “National Tribunal on Kandhmal”
from 22 to 24 th August 2010 at New Delhi.The sponsors of this event
included Catholic Archbishop of Cuttack Bhuvneshwar Rev. Cheenath, John
Dayal of All Indian Christian Council & All India Cathoic union and
Sahmat, a Comminist Party of India front organization headed by Mala
Hashmi. In this public hearing, film producer Mahesh Bhatt, member of
National Advisory Council Harsh Mandar, Syed Hamid, Ruth Manorama,Milan
Kothari,Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat and few other leading personalities have
participated. Retired Chief Justice of High Court A.P Shah chaired the
Tribunal hearing. On the other hand, away from the glare of media some
non-christian and tribals were present at Jantar Mantar to express their
grief. However, it will be a distant hope that their voices will reach
to the masses as that of ‘National Tribunal on Kandhmal’. Church has
always alleged to indulge in conversion of the poor scheduled castes and
tribals. Some Hindu fanatics had burnt alive foreign missionary Graham
Stains and his two sons in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa for indulging
in the conversion. After a decade, there were riots in Kandhmal. After
the killing of Swami Laxmananand on 23 August, 2008, the rift between
local Christians and non-christians was getting wider. In these riots
more than 40 people had been killed and thousands of homes had been
torched and hundreds of places of worships had been burnt. Thousands of
people had to take shelter in relief camps and many of these people are
still living in those camps due to fear. As always happens politics
started after Kandhmal riots and this is still continued. After killing
of Swami Laxmananda and flare up of communal riots, attempts should have
been made to restore peace and normalcy in the violence hit area. That
was never started. On the contrary, attempts have been made to
internationalise the issue by the Church organisations. Western world
became serious Kandhmal when Pope Benedict-XIV accused Indian government
for its failure to protect the Christians. Before this statement, Pope
had called Indian ambassador in Vatican about attempt of implementing
the possible anti-conversion laws in some of the states in India.
Italian government also expressed displeasure about Kandhmal riots. US
based USCIRF demanded to probe the matter independently. However, Indian
government had not grant permission till date. It is ill fate of Indian
Christians that missionaries try to take mileage on incidents of attacks
on Muslims. They do not participate in talks and continue their
activities due to the support of European countries. Even Mahatma Gandhi
had criticised conversion and many nationalists had supported him as
main aim of conversion was to produce British supported people. Even
today, Churches are thriving on foreign donations. They are accountable
to US and European organisations. The impact and penetration of Church
in these European countries can be gauged from the fact that last year
an European Union delegation had visited Kandhmal to know the situation.
The union when came to India received unprecedented welcome. On the
other hand, central government had constituted a delegation led by
Sharad Pawar but it did not receive a welcome. Even after independence,
missionaries have not become self-dependent. Church officials are
accountable to catholic pope. Bishop is the main link between pope and
Vatican. Bishops are appointerd by ther Pope. In fact, Protestants are
dependent on European Union for grants. This is why for every problem
they look towards Europe. They are skeptical about Indian laws and legal
system. This attitude has alienated them from the national mainstream.
However, there are many facilities in India which they avail here is not
even available in European countries, for example special rights to run
school and getting government grants etc. In the current scenario, the
larger question is what should be the approach of Church and Christians?
They rely more on the unethical and illegal pressure imposed by European
countries on India to get their problems heard. An Indian ambassador who
happens to be my friend told me an experience about a conference
organised by Indian Christians settled in America and almost all of the
speakers presented scary picture about India to convey that the country
is not a worth-living place for Christians at all. Then, the ambassador
told them there that they should not play such a dirty game thousands of
kilometres away from their home. He told that Indian Christians were
completely safe in India and nobody suspects them on their patriotism.
Governments handing over the sensitive official portfolios to Christian
officials. This incident told by my friend kept haunting my mind for a
long time. What hurts that Church leadership did not try to go to the
roots of Kandhmal riots. A commission constituted by government had
pointed that conversion, fake caste-certificates and land controversies
were the chief reasons behind the riots. Commission was of the view that
after conversion of dalits and tribals, the rift has widened so much so
that situation is difficult to understand sitting from Delhi. Commission
suggested that government should work fast to free lands of Adivasis and
should address on the problem of fake caste-certificates. There is a
need to alert on the conversion. Conversion is not an issue in Kandhmal
only rather it is a national issue. Though, report took holistic view of
the problem but Church rejected this point of view of commission. Church
needs a target to continue the work and it has got this in RSS which has
been very much vocal on the issue of conversion. On many places it has
directly confronted conversion. This clash is sharper in Jharkhand,
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. Church has used its influence
to send the message at international level. The fresh issue is from
Karnataka where a former Christian judge Mr. Saldhana has alleged that
in 500 days there has been 1000 attacks on Christians and has demanded
to sack democratically elected government of Karnataka. However, his
report does not match to a Christian organization report which says that
there are only 72 incidents of attack. Attacks on anybody are
condemnable and should be stopped immediately. However, meesage of love
being given by church on Sunday is fast replaced by tirade of hate.
Church is trying to alienate their followers from the mainstream. We
should move ahead after learning from the incidents of Kandhmal.
However, unfortunately this is not happening. Church is giving so much
arguments justifying its actions but people are not convinced. There are
pockets in Uttar Pradesh which have become silent volcanoes. As per
reports from Tarai region, foreign missionaries with the help of local
church officials have stepped up their activities. What surprises there
are many regions, where there is no Christian population, lands are
being bought. In western UP, ABC church is converting poorer Hindus in
large number. But in government records they are still Hindus. In
Gurgaon at Dhankot a saminary is running in hundreds acres. This is
being run by Protestants and name of saminary is Dayadham. Here poor
people from north India are brought and they attend 3-year-course of
priesthood. This year I had an opportunity to attend at convocation
ceremony. Students were told to work for the propagation of
Christianity. They have been instructed to spread "Message of God". Poor
people for their livelihood accept this job of converting people. These
groups of boys and girls are called 'Salvation Army'. They get monthly
grant of 100 dollars. They are not aware of the fact that they have
become puppets in the hands of foreign missionaries. This has resulted
in increased tensions in certain areas. Last year Punjab had boiled on a
controvertial poster of Jesus Christ. In Kandhmal, NCM vice chairman has
already made a statement that the displaced people are rehabilitated. As
per reports from Kandhmal, the rift between Christians and
Non-Christians are widening in the areas situated near Gunsar forest. In
stead of returning to their vilalges people living in relief camps have
started settling there. Orissa government and church are helping them in
this process. In a way communal division is getting wider. This is a new
kind of polarisation.This can be stopped only through peace process to
be carried by both the communities. Christians should come out of their
ostrich like mentality and should gear to face the real life challenges.
Christians should connect to the democratic process of the country and
seek long term solutions in Indian context. They should be able to
distinguish between religion and social responsibilities. Today, church
has messed up religion and social service. It is alleged that year the
Church carries out social services and relief work only where there
exists probability of covnersion. It is clear from the flods in Punjab
Haryana and Western UP where the church did not carry out any r flood
relief a operations despite wide spread calamity. The ordinary
Christians are also baffled due to political mix up by the Church.
Church should ponder that why people are skeptical even after so much of
social service in the hinterland?
President - Poor Christian Liberation Movement
India
Ph. 9810108046
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