News RSSAnti-Conversion Laws
UN Investigator Upholds Civil Rights for Dalits of All Faiths
Joint press statement by DFN partner, aicc, and CSW originally posted here. DFN International President, Joseph D’souza, also serves as president of the aicc.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and the All India Christian Council (aicc) are welcoming the newly-released report of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ms Asma Jahangir, on her mission to India in 2008.
The report notes “the religious diversity of India and the positive impact of secularism” but warns that a “system of impunity emboldens forces of intolerance” and that extremist groups advocating religious hatred “have unleashed an all-pervasive fear of mob violence”.
Ms Jahangir visited India from 3-20 March 2008. She held numerous meetings with civil society, including one in Orissa state after the anti-Christian violence of December 2007, which was organised by CSW partner, the aicc.
The Special Rapporteur’s report further articulates concern over state-level anti-conversion laws “used to vilify Christians and Muslims”, and recommends that they be “reconsidered since they raise serious human rights concerns”. It also calls for an end to religious discrimination in the eligibility of Dalits for the affirmative action system of reservations in public sector education and employment. Its other areas of concern include the socio-economic status of Muslims, shortcomings in the recognition of the Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religions, religious freedom in Jammu and Kashmir, and religion-based personal laws.
Dr Joseph D’souza, aicc President, said: “The Special Rapporteur painted a balanced and authentic picture of the state of religious freedom in India, and she accurately represented many of the concerns of Indian civil society. The increasing violence against religious minorities by religious fundamentalists urgently warrants this level of attention. We appreciate her incisive analysis of the key issues of concern, especially the damage of anti-conversion laws on a rich tradition of religious tolerance, and the unequal treatment of Dalits from different faiths. We call upon the government of India to take this report and its recommendations seriously.”
Alexa Papadouris, CSW Advocacy Director, said: “We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s detailed engagement with many of the most critical issues affecting religious freedom in India. The widespread impunity which has followed several large-scale outbreaks of violence against religious minorities, most recently against Christians in Orissa but previously against Muslims and Sikhs, has been a particularly visible challenge to religious freedom.
“This report echoes the calls from within India for these and other concerns to be addressed properly and comprehensively. Together with the Special Rapporteur, we recognise the immense challenges of governing as large and diverse a nation as India. However, we urge the government to engage fully with all the recommendations in this report, as a demonstration of their commitment to India being a land of freedom and opportunity for all her diverse citizens, regardless of their religious identity.”
For further information or to arrange interviews with CSW or the aicc, contact Theresa Malinowska, Press Officer at Christian Solidarity Worldwide or visit http://www.csw.org.uk/.
CSW is a human rights organisation which specialises in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.
The aicc (www.christiancouncil.in), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The report of the Special Rapporteur is accessible via the UN website. It is scheduled to be presented at the tenth session of the UN Human Rights Council in March 2009.
2. Following the Special Rapporteur’s visit, Orissa saw the worst outbreak of communal violence against Christians in the history of post-Independence India, which included forcible conversions to Hinduism. The violence was sparked by the assassination by unknown assailants of Swami Lakhmananda Saraswati, local figurehead of the extremist Hindu nationalist group, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), on 23 August 2008, and resulted in the deaths of at least 70, with more than 50 still unaccounted for. At least 50,000 were forced to flee their homes, amidst widespread destruction of property and churches.
3. The last visit to India by a UN Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance was in December 1996.
ENDS
Posted on: February 10, 2009
Hindu Threat to Christians: Convert or Flee
From the NY Times by SOMINI SENGUPTA
BOREPANGA, India — The family of Solomon Digal was summoned by neighbors to what serves as a public square in front of the village tea shop.
They were ordered to get on their knees and bow before the portrait of a Hindu preacher. They were told to turn over their Bibles, hymnals and the two brightly colored calendar images of Christ that hung on their wall. Then, Mr. Digal, 45, a Christian since childhood, was forced to watch his Hindu neighbors set the items on fire.
“Embrace Hinduism, and your house will not be demolished,” Mr. Digal recalled being told on that Wednesday afternoon in September. “Otherwise, you will be killed, or you will be thrown out of the village.”
India, the world’s most populous democracy and officially a secular nation, is today haunted by a stark assault on one of its fundamental freedoms. Here in eastern Orissa State, riven by six weeks of religious clashes, Christian families like the Digals say they are being forced to abandon their faith in exchange for their safety.
The forced conversions come amid widening attacks on Christians here and in at least five other states across the country, as India prepares for national elections next spring.
The clash of faiths has cut a wide swath of panic and destruction through these once quiet hamlets fed by paddy fields and jackfruit trees. Here in Kandhamal, the district that has seen the greatest violence, more than 30 people have been killed, 3,000 homes burned and over 130 churches destroyed, including the tin-roofed Baptist prayer hall where the Digals worshiped. Today it is a heap of rubble on an empty field, where cows blithely graze.
Across this ghastly terrain lie the singed remains of mud-and-thatch homes. Christian-owned businesses have been systematically attacked. Orange flags (orange is the sacred color of Hinduism) flutter triumphantly above the rooftops of houses and storefronts.
India is no stranger to religious violence between Christians, who make up about 2 percent of the population, and India’s Hindu-majority of 1.1 billion people. But this most recent spasm is the most intense in years.
It was set off, people here say, by the killing on Aug. 23 of a charismatic Hindu preacher known as Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, who for 40 years had rallied the area’s people to choose Hinduism over Christianity.
The police have blamed Maoist guerrillas for the swami’s killing. But Hindu radicals continue to hold Christians responsible.
In recent weeks, they have plastered these villages with gruesome posters of the swami’s hacked corpse. “Who killed him?” the posters ask. “What is the solution?”
Behind the clashes are long-simmering tensions between equally impoverished groups: the Panas and Kandhas. Both original inhabitants of the land, the two groups for ages worshiped the same gods. Over the past several decades, the Panas for the most part became Christian, as Roman Catholic and Baptist missionaries arrived here more than 60 years ago, followed more recently by Pentecostals, who have proselytized more aggressively.
Meanwhile, the Kandhas, in part through the teachings of Swami Laxmanananda, embraced Hinduism. The men tied the sacred Hindu white thread around their torsos; their wives daubed their foreheads with bright red vermilion. Temples sprouted.
Hate has been fed by economic tensions as well, as the government has categorized each group differently and given them different privileges.
The Kandhas accused the Panas of cheating to obtain coveted quotas for government jobs. The Christian Panas, in turn, say their neighbors have become resentful as they have educated themselves and prospered.
Their grievances have erupted in sporadic clashes over the past 15 years, but they have exploded with a fury since the killing of Swami Laxmanananda.
Two nights after his death, a Hindu mob in the village of Nuagaon dragged a Catholic priest and a nun from their residence, tore off much of their clothing and paraded them through the streets.
The nun told the police that she had been raped by four men, a charge the police say was borne out by a medical examination. Yet no one was arrested in the case until five weeks later, after a storm of media coverage. Today, five men are under arrest in connection with inciting the riots. The police say they are trying to find the nun and bring her back here to identify her attackers.
Given a chance to explain the recent violence, Subash Chauhan, the state’s highest-ranking leader of Bajrang Dal, a Hindu radical group, described much of it as “a spontaneous reaction.”
He said in an interview that the nun had not been raped but had had regular consensual sex.
On Sunday evening, as much of Kandhamal remained under curfew, Mr. Chauhan sat in the hall of a Hindu school in the state capital, Bhubaneshwar, beneath a huge portrait of the swami. A state police officer was assigned to protect him round the clock. He cupped a trilling Blackberry in his hand.
Mr. Chauhan denied that his group was responsible for forced conversions and in turn accused Christian missionaries of luring villagers with incentives of schools and social services.
He was asked repeatedly whether Christians in Orissa should be left free to worship the god of their choice. “Why not?” he finally said, but he warned that it was unrealistic to expect the Kandhas to politely let their Pana enemies live among them as followers of Jesus.
“Who am I to give assurance?” he snapped. “Those who have exploited the Kandhas say they want to live together?”
Besides, he said, “they are Hindus by birth.”
Hindu extremists have held ceremonies in the country’s indigenous belt for the past several years intended to purge tribal communities of Christian influence.
It is impossible to know how many have been reconverted here, in the wake of the latest violence, though a three-day journey through the villages of Kandhamal turned up plenty of anecdotal evidence.
A few steps from where the nun had been attacked in Nuagaon, five men, their heads freshly shorn, emerged from a soggy tent in a relief camp for Christians fleeing their homes.
The men had also been summoned to a village meeting in late August, where hundreds of their neighbors stood with machetes in hand and issued a firm order: Get your heads shaved and bow down before our gods, or leave this place.
Trembling with fear, Daud Nayak, 56, submitted to a shaving, a Hindu sign of sacrifice. He drank, as instructed, a tumbler of diluted cow dung, considered to be purifying.
In the eyes of his neighbors, he reckoned, he became a Hindu.
In his heart, he said, he could not bear it.
All five men said they fled the next day with their families. They refuse to return.
In another village, Birachakka, a man named Balkrishna Digal and his son, Saroj, said they had been summoned to a similar meeting and told by Hindu leaders who came from nearby villages that they, too, would have to convert. In their case, the ceremony was deferred because of rumors of Christian-Hindu clashes nearby.
For the time being, the family had placed an orange flag on their mud home. Their Hindu neighbors promised to protect them.
Here in Borepanga, the family of Solomon Digal was not so lucky. Shortly after they recounted their Sept. 10 Hindu conversion story to a reporter in the dark of night, the Digals were again summoned by their neighbors. They were scolded and fined 501 rupees, or about $12, a pinching sum here.
The next morning, calmly clearing his cauliflower field, Lisura Paricha, one of the Hindu men who had summoned the Digals, confirmed that they had been penalized. Their crime, he said, was to talk to outsiders.
Posted on: October 13, 2008
Indian Justice Party Workers Arrested from a Protest Rally against Supreme Court's Stay Order on OBC
Press Release from the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations
New Delhi, July 31, 2007
Today, a large number of workers of Indian Justice Party, All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations, Yadav Mahasabha and other organizations attended a Dharna at JNU City Center , Near Mandi House, New Delhi and proceeded to Gherao Supreme Court. Party workers and supporters of the rally were arrested.
The President of Indian Justice Party, Dr. Udit Raj, spoke that higher judiciary has been hindering the cause of social justice. The Central Govt. made 93rd Constitutional Amendment to provide reservation to OBCs in higher education and to strengthen it further, a bill was mooted in Parliament, which was unanimously passed except two Members of Parliament. After that the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation In Admission) Act, 2006 was enacted so that OBC could get admission in higher education. Dr. Udit Raj said that unfortunately, the Supreme Court stepped into and stalled its implementations. In any democratic setup, it is voice of people which is supreme and Parliament is precisely representation of citizens of the nation.
The regional secretary of All India Christian Council, Mr. Madhu Chandra, stated that the Rangnath Misra Commission has recommended the reservation for dalit Christians, because of biasness on the part of Supreme Court, Dalit Christians and Muslims are being deprived of their rights. He said that Dalits are dalits whether they adhere to Hinduism, Christianity or any other faiths.
Dr. Udit Raj said that Supreme Court deviated from its own stand, “No work, no Pay” in the case of striking doctors of AIIMS. Last year, the AIIMS doctors went on strike for a long time and as per higher judiciary earlier judgment like “No work, no Pay”, it could have maintained the same yardstick but in the case of AIIMS, the doctors were allowed to get the salary without work. This is the double speak of higher judiciary. It is the higher judiciary, which is protecting anti-reservationist director of AIIMS, Dr. Venugopal.
Since the judiciary is practicing castism, therefore, there is urgent call to bring it back to its original position. The original position in the Constitution is that it is the executive which has got primacy in appointing the judges but the Supreme Court by its own judgments have usurped the power. Dr. Udit Raj said that the functioning of the democratic form of the government is rational and proper only when judiciary is appointed by political wing as in case of developed nations like USA or there should be a National Judicial Commission, which should appoint the judges. He urged all political parties to bring a Bill in coming Parliament session to make National Judicial Commission. At present four posts of Supreme Court are lying vacant, we urge the government to fill them up from dalits, OBCs, Muslims and dalit Christians.
HRD Ministry has already done full exercise to implement OBC reservation in higher education. It is the Supreme Court which has stayed its implementation, said Dr. Udit Raj. The Supreme Court must vacate the stay order today so that plank of social justice is not thwarted.
Posted on: July 31, 2007
All India Christian Council (aicc) disappointed at the delay in granting equal rights to Dalits.
From the All India Christian Council (aicc)
NEW DELHI , JULY 24, 2007
Christian leaders have expressed dismay at another eight-week delay to the resolution of the case in the Supreme Court pleading to grant equal rights to the Dalits irrespective of the religion they profess. Dalits who embrace Christianity or Islam surrender their status as ‘Scheduled Castes’, and are thereby excluded from the Scheduled Caste net of the government for ‘reservation’.
In the previous hearing in April 2007, the Government’s delegation told the Court that they were waiting for the report of the Justice Ranganath Misra Commission before they decided on extending ‘reservations’ to Christians of Dalit background. On 19 July 2007, Mr. Shanti Bushan, the counsel for the Petitioner Organization “Center For Public Interest Litigation”, along with Mr. Ram Jethmalini contended before the bench that the UPA government was deliberately delaying the decision on the recommendations of Justice Rangnath Misra Commission submitted to the government in May 2007. The bench comprised Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices R V Raveendran and Dalveer Bhandari.
The Government’s delegation informed the court that the Justice Ranganath Misra Commission report will be referred to the National Commission of Scheduled Castes for their concurrence and will come back to report to the Supreme Court within eight weeks. “We trust that actions will follow the assurances given to the Court,” said Dr. Sam Paul, National Secretary, All India Christian Council.
Dr. John Dayal, Secretary General of All India Christian Council led a delegation to meet with Dr. Buta Singh the Chairman of the National Commission of Scheduled Castes, who assured the delegation that the matter of reservations to Dalit Christians will be looked at compassionately.
“On behalf of thousands of Christian leaders, and 1.6 Crore Dalit Christians, we appeal to the National Commission of Scheduled Castes to honor the findings of Justice Ranganath Misra Commission which did a thorough job of studying this issue,” said Dr. Joseph D’ Souza, President All India Christian Council. The Justice Misra Commission said:, “…..we recommend that para 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950 – which originally restricted the Scheduled Caste net to the Hindus and later opened it to Sikhs and Buddhists, thus still excluding from its purview the Muslims, Christians, Jains and Parsis, etc. – should be wholly deleted by appropriate action so as to completely de-link the Scheduled Caste status from religion and make the Scheduled Castes net fully religion-neutral like that of the Scheduled Tribes.”
Posted on: July 24, 2007
Consider Dalit Muslims as SCs'
By PARUL CHANDRA
New Delhi, July 18: In what could be a political hot potato for the Centre, the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (NCRLM) has recommended that both dalit Muslims and dalit Christians should be considered as belonging to the scheduled castes (SC) category. At present, neither are considered part of the scheduled castes unlike their SC counterparts who are either Sikhs or Buddhists.
The five-member commission, headed by former Chief Justice Ranganath Misra, had submitted its report to the government in May. The report, however, is yet to be made public, with the government saying it will do so only after it has been tabled in Parliament.
Significantly, the report isn’t unanimous with the commission’s member secretary, bureaucrat Asha Das (Retd), having given a dissent note.
The report has also suggested a slew of measures which it says are “legislative actions” required “in the interest of the welfare of minorities” or to implement the commission’s recommendations. Among them are the enactment of a detailed law to enforce Article 30 of the Constitution which grants minorities the right to establish and administer their educational institutions.
The commission would also like to see amendments to the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993, and a “review of the laws and rules, processes and procedures, relating to selection of OBCs at the Central and state level.
It also wants a a “to clothe with statutory status and judicial enforceability the Prime Minister’s 15-point programme for minorities, 1983”. The commission was constituted in 2005 to suggest measures for the welfare of the socially and economically backward among religious and linguistic minorities. The issue of whether dalit Muslims and Christians should be considered among the scheduled castes referred to it later as an additional term of reference.
In view of this, the commission has suggested that para 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes Order, 1950) which originally included only scheduled castes Hindus and later included Sikhs and Buddhists “should be wholly deleted by appropriate action so as to completely delink the scheduled caste status from religion and make the scheduled castes net fully religion neutral like that of the scheduled tribes”.
As the commission notes, “once a person has been included in a scheduled castes list, a willful change of religion on his part should not adversely affect his or her scheduled castes status, as that would in our opinion conflict with the basic constitutional provisions relating to equality, justice and non-discrimination on religious grounds as also with the spirit of the old and time-tested Caste Disabilities Removal Act of 1850.”
Also, as the report says, “any religion-based discrimination in selecting particular castes for affirmative action will conflict with the letter and the spirit of the constitutional provisions.”
Posted on: July 20, 2007
Will Dalit Christians Get Justice?
by M. Madhu Chandra
16 July, 2007
1. Introduction
After constitutional denial of Scheduled Caste origins converted to Christianity and Muslims after the Presidential Order 1950, a million dollar question remains in the minds of Indian Dalit Christians “Will the Judicial system of India give justice to Indian Dalit Christians now after 57 years of injustice done to them?”
After much prolong delay, Commission for Minority Religion and Linguistic Minority known as Misra Commission has finally submitted its report to United Progressive Alliance Government with recommendation that Dalit Christians and Muslims suffer socio-economic and educational backwardness, who should be given back the Scheduled Caste status and its beneficiaries to them. Upon its report and recommendation, Supreme Court of India is to give its judgment on July 19, 2007.
India’s 75% Christians belong to Scheduled Caste communities, whose statutory and benefits available in Constitutional were denied after 1950 Presidential Order.
The debate on Dalit Christian reservation has been ongoing for many decades in spite of repeated assurance given to Dalit Christian communities to be included in Constitution Scheduled Caste Order 1950.
The fundamental, birth and constitutional rights of Christians from Scheduled Caste origins have been denied for last 57 years. Looking at then and now background of Dalit Christians’ demand for Scheduled Caste status, we will able to conclude to say that Justice Misra Commission setup by present UPA government is unnecessary commission because enough commissions before it, have done the necessary research and submitted with recommendation to provide Scheduled Caste status to Dalit Christians.
2. Background of Dalit Christian Reservation Movement
For first time, Indian’s lowest caste known as “Untouchables” or “Depressed Classes” have been identified as Scheduled Castes introduced by Colonial Government of India in 1935.
In the following year Colonial Government of India (Scheduled Castes) Order 1935 specified, “No Indian Christian shall be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste.” Since then any Scheduled Caste origins converted to Christianity lost its Scheduled Caste status, although they remain economically, educationally, socially and politically backward as much as before their conversion.
After India got Independent from Colonial power, while framing Indian Constitution the Presidential Order of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Order 1950, the Scheduled Caste Origins converted to any other faiths or religions different from Hinduism has been left out in Para 3 of Article 341.
Dalit Sikhs protested to be included in Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order 1950 and got after six years’ denial of their birth, fundamental and constitutional rights of being Scheduled Caste origin converted to Sikhism. They were listed in Presidential SC/ST Order 1950 by amending Para 3 of Article 341 in 1956.
Dalit Buddhists remained their birth, fundamental, constitutional rights of scheduled caste status denied for 40 years until the Para 3 of Article 341 was amended in 1990 to include Scheduled Caste origins converted to Buddhism.
Every time Dalit Sikhs and Dalit Buddhist demanded to be included in Constitution (Scheduled Caste) Order 1950, assurances were also given repeatedly to Scheduled Caste origins converted to Christianity. The birth rights of Dalit Christians have been kept suppressed for 57 years that too without any assurance either from legislate nor political heads.
To read more, click here
Posted on: July 17, 2007
Indian low-caste Hindus, nomads convert en masse
Reuters by By Krittivas Mukherjee
About 50,000 Indian low-caste Hindus and nomadic tribespeople converted to Buddhism before a vast crowd on Sunday in the hope of escaping the rigidity of the ancient Hindu caste system and finding a life of dignity.
Monks in orange and saffron robes administered religious vows to the converts as about half a million spectators, mostly Buddhists, cheered the ceremony at a horseracing track in downtown Mumbai.
Some of the converts were low-caste Hindus once considered as “untouchables” by the higher castes, but most were members of India’s numerous nomadic tribes.
Many of the tribespeople had their faces painted and ritually flagellated themselves before being asked by the monks to give up their practices and follow the non-violent path of Buddhism.
“Whatever may have been your religion until now, from today you will take refuge in the teachings of the Lord Buddha,” one told them. Continue reading by clicking here.
Posted on: May 29, 2007
Christians and Dalits Mount Legal Challenge to Himachal Pradesh Anti Conversion Law
Dalit Freedom Network partner All India Christian Council to lead fight against unconstitutional law
For Immediate Release:
Greenwood Village, CO – Christians and Dalits decided to challenge the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2006 in the High Court at a state-wide meeting organized by the All India Christian Council at Shimla on February 22, 2007.
The Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Justice Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje, signed the state law on February 19, 2007. The Bill was passed the state legislature on December 19, 2006. The law is unique as it was generated and passed by the secular Congress party while most other anti-conversion laws have been passed in states ruled by the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Dr. John Dayal, member of National Integration Council and General Secretary of the All India Christian Council, spoke to the media at Shimla, “Fraternal Christian, Dalit and mass movement organizations have decided to take the issue as far as the Supreme Court if we do not get a favorable decision at the state level.”
“The Governor, Chief Minister, as well as the Congress leadership in New Delhi including Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, should rescind the Act which was given Governor’s assent two days ago in a surreptious manner without the matter being discussed at public forum, or even in the state assembly at any length,” continued Dr. Dayal. “It is a matter of shame and concern to Democratic India that a Congress-ruled state such a Himachal Pradesh has enforced this act to target Christians, Buddhists and other religions in the same way law have done in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.”
Dr. Joseph D’souza, President of the All India Christian Council, said, “This law is unacceptable and betrays the promises of the Congress party to address the needs of minority faiths across India. This law severely undercuts the fundamental right to freedom of religion, particularly for exploited Dalits and tribals. The assent of the governor amounts to an endorsement of the discrimination and persecution against religious minorities in Himachal Pradesh state.”
Mr. Rakesh Bahadur, North India Convener of the National Conference of Dalit Organizations, said, “The Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill 2006 is targeted to those Dalits who want to get out of caste oppression by choosing the faith they like. This bill violates the fundamental rights of every Indian citizen provided in article 25 of Indian Constitution as well as article 18 of the UN’s Universal Declaration.”
The bill punishes anyone found involved in conversion by any fraudulent means with imprisonment up to two years and/or a fine of twenty five thousand Rupees. If Dalits or minors are involved, five years imprisonment and/or a fifty thousand Rupee fine is the penalty. Any members of religion wishing to change his/her faith is required to give 30 days prior information to district authorities or otherwise face punishment of one month imprisonment and/or a one thousand Rupee fine. However, any member returning back to previous religion is not considered violating this law.
Himachal Pradesh is the eighth state in India to pass an anti-conversion law. However, Tamil Nadu repealed its law in June 2006 and several states have not framed rules that outline the penalties if the bill’s provisions are violated.
The All India Christian Council (http://www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The AICC is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.
The Dalit Freedom Network’s mission is to partner with the Dalits (India’s Untouchables) in their quest for religious freedom, social justice, and human dignity by mobilizing human, informational, and financial resources. Their website is: http://www.dalitnetwork.org
For more information, contact:
Ben Marsh
Washington D.C. Coordinator
Dalit Freedom Network
(703) 974-1243
Posted on: February 24, 2007
Himachal Pradesh Governor Signs Anti-Conversion Legislation. DFN condemns draconian legislation
Press Statement from the Dalit Freedom Network.
For Immediate Release.
Denver, CO – The Governor of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Justice Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje, signed into law on Monday legislation that severely limits the fundamental rights of religious people across the state. The “Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill 2006” was passed by the Himachal Pradesh legislature on December 19, 2006. The law was unique as it was generated and passed by the secular Congress party while most other state-level anti-conversion laws were passed by the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“This law is unacceptable and betrays the promises of the Congress party to address the needs of minority believers across India,” said Dr Joseph D’souza, President of the Dalit Freedom Network and the All India Christian Council. “This law severely undercuts the fundamental right to freedom of religion, particularly for exploited Dalits and tribals. The assent of the governor amounts to an endorsement of the discrimination and persecution against religious minorities in that state.”
Anti-conversion laws have been used in other states to justify vigilante violence against Christians and Muslims. Such laws require fees and legal paperwork for religious conversions but exempt conversions to Hinduism.
The Dalit Freedom Network is working closely with Christian Solidarity Worldwide UK and the All India Christian Council to mount a legal challenge to this and other anti-conversion laws.
The Dalit Freedom Network’s mission is to partner with the Dalits (India’s Untouchables) in their quest for religious freedom, social justice, and human dignity by mobilizing human, informational, and financial resources. Their website is: http://www.dalitnetwork.org
For more information, contact:
Ben Marsh
Washington D.C. Coordinator
Dalit Freedom Network
Posted on: February 22, 2007
Thousands of Christians and Dalits Protested against Chattisgarh Anti Conversion Bill
Raipur, September 9, 2006
Thousands of Christians and Dalits from all over India joined a protest rally today held at Raipur – the capital city of newly formed state – Chattisgarh today under the banner of Chattisgarh Christian Forum.
The Christian communities of the state supported by the Christian communities of the country along with Dalit communities stood side by side to challenge the newly amended Chattisgarh’s anti conversion bill which has passed in state assembly.
All India Christian Council along with All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations in joint statement condemn the Anti Conversion Bill of Chattisgarh. Christian Council and SC/ST Confederation term the bill as violation against the fundamental rights available in Indian Constitution as well as Universal declaration of United Nations.
Mr. Jose M. D. – Social and Justice Coordinator of Christian Council assures, “All India Christian Council – a national body of over 5000 Christian missions and church bodies stands with Christian communities of Chattisgarh in their joy and struggle.”
Sources reaching to All India Christian Council mention that towards the end of the rally a memorandum of signature campaign signed thousands of Christians and Dalits will be submitted to State Governor – Lt. Gen. K. M. Seth not to sign the amended bill passed by state Government.
Mr. Arun Panna Lal – General Secretary of Chattisgarh Christian Forum strongly condemns BJP Government for passing the bill which violates the fundamental rights.
Mr. Angal Edkar – President of Chattisgarh Christian Forum says, “Ever since State Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu political party came to the state political power, the Christians and other minorities have been under attack times and again.”
Mr. Pramendra – Spokes person of SC/ST Confederation assured Christian communities assembled in the rally, “Dalit communities of India stand with Christian communities of India. Dalits are appealed to leave the religion that enslaves them to the casteism and convert to any other religion that does not have caste.”
The Chattisgarh assembly earlier last month passed the anti-conversion bill amid protests by the opposition. It provides a three-year jail term and a fine of Rs.20000 for those indulging in religious conversion, by force or allurement.
The legislation is an amendment to the Freedom of Religion Act, 1968, that was retained by Chattisgarh when it was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in November 2000.
The amendment, yet to be approved by the governor, requires those wishing to change their religion to seek the permission of the local district magistrate 30 days in advance. There are over 300,000 Christians in Chattisgarh, home to 20.8 million people.
Media Release by
Mr. M. Chandra, Regional Secretary, New Delhi
9868184939
Posted on: September 11, 2006
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi opposes Anti Conversion Bills
Press Statement
- Dr. Joseph D’souza
President: All India Christian Council
Dr. John Dayal
Secretary General: All India Christian Council
Member: National Integration Council: GOI *
The Congress President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, has voiced her party’s strong opposition to the so called Freedom of Religion Bills, or Anti Conversion laws, being enacted by several BJP ruled States.
In a signed letter to Dr John Dayal, who had submitted her a memorandum signed by hundreds of Civil Society and religious leaders of all religions, Mr Gandhi said “The Congress Party’s views on this are well known. These are enactments passed by the State legislatures where the Congress is in Opposition. The Congress Party has opposed this strongly in the assembly and through demonstrations.”
The letter came even as several Christian leaders were on 4th August meeting the National Commission for Minorities to raise this and other issues. They called for a comprehensive White Paper on the social, economic and political situation of the Christian Minorities in India, as also an official statement from every State if there had been any forcible conversions, which was a canard spread by Hindutva and other fascist political groups. While NCM chairman Hamid Ansari and vice Chairman PM Pinto represented the Commission, the community was represented by Delhi Archbishop Vincent Concessao, Church of North India General Secretary Rev Enos Das Pradhan, All India Christian Council secretaries Rev Madhu Chandra, Albert Lael, Mr Sam Paul, Jose MD, Catholic Union president Dr John Dayal, Sr. Mary Scaria, NCCI representative Mr Philip Jhadav, Indian Social Institute director Dr Jimmy Dhabi, Rev Valson Thampu and several others.
The community leaders reminded the Commission “its first and main allegiance was to the Constitution of India and is obliged to monitor the Government of India and its policies and practices, as those of the State governments, to ensure that at no time do religious minorities feel they live in an unjust system, or that Government and its apparatus is deaf to their pain. We demand nothing more, and nothing less, than what is our right as Citizens of a free India.”
The harassment or erosion of rights of even the smallest and most vulnerable group is an erosion of the rights of the entire Minority community guaranteed under the Constitution. The Commission must therefore get through a White paper a comprehensive picture of the social, economic, religious and other problems faced by the Christian community in the country – everything from issues relating to Visas and FCRA, physical violence, and hate campaigns.
NCM Chairman Ansari said the Commission is of the view that the right to profess practice and propagate religion, guaranteed by Article 25 of the Constitution, is an essential ingredient of our country’s multi-religious edifice. It urges the State governments concerned to do nothing to water down this basic provision and resolve misgivings and misunderstandings through dialogue.
The 15-point `Charter of Requests’ to the Government of India through the National Commission for Minorities included
1. Implement Constitutional Provisions (Including freedom to Practice, Profess and Propagate Faith; and provisions of Articles 25 to 30). Reverse discriminatory laws such as the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa, MP, Chhatisgarh and Arunachal Freedom of Religion Acts.
2. Full Civil and Constitutional Rights to Dalit Christians. Take steps to encourage Political and Social uplift by correcting the aberrant policies that today injure the rights of Dalit Christians. This is not an issue of mere reservations in government jobs, but of equal opportunity in all spheres of political and economic activity.
3. Reassure Minorities on the Rule of Law by curbing Communalism, prosecuting hate crimes and those guilty of violence such as the Sangh Parivar and other elements. State and Central Governments, District administrations and Police must take suo motu notice of such hate campaigns, which lead to violence eventually. FIRs must be statutorily registered in cases of anti-Christian violence and harassment.
4. Issue a White paper on the condition of Christians in India, including the matter of so called forced conversions. Set up an economic and quality of life enquiry commission on the pattern of the Justice Rajendra Sachchar Commission for Muslims, to assess the poverty and disempowerment of poor Christians and specially Dalit and OBC MBC Christians.
5. Implement PM’s 15 Point Programme 1983, and Dr Manmohan Singh’s revised programme 2006, in full. Monitor devolution of funds meant for minorities in the budgets of various Ministries so that Christians – particularly OBC MBC get their share.
6. Evolve Economic programmes and credit and financial systems to spark entrepreneurial activity in the community, generate self employment
7. Special income generation and housing schemes for minorities in rural areas – farmers, landless peasantry, agriculture labour and traditional craftsmen
8. Expanding and monitoring of National Minorities Development Finance Corporation
9. Honest implementation of Article 30 specially to encourage educational institutions in sunrise areas, such as medical engineering, Information technology and management and engineering colleges. Gujarat and some other States must immediately stop curbing the freedom of Christian schools in appointing Principals, Head-mistresses and Managers in place of retiring Nuns.
10. Ensure adequate and compensatory representation of Christians in particular in Civil, Military, Administrative and Judicial services. The entire state of J&K has just one Gazetted Officer, a Policeman who is transferred all too frequently
11. The harassment in VISA provisions and the bigotry in FCRA and administration must end. Government must ensure that foreign-born wives of Indian religious workers, including protestant Pastors, and their children are allowed entry into the country on spouse visa as is case for other citizens.
12. Check constitutionality of some laws that seem to bar Christians from some areas, such as in Andhra. Also laws that allow religious books of some religions being sold at Rail Stations but bars Bible’s presence on stations.
13. End victimization of certain categories of Converts to Christianity. This includes the Catholics of Kashmir Pundit origin who has been victims both of terrorism and of State apathy and vicissitude. These refugees are not on the horizon of State concern at all.
14. Consult the Christian community in the formulation of the Five Year Plans and the Plans of HRD and other ministries
15. And finally, urgently bring forward laws on Adoption and Christian marriages which have been in cold storage for many years.
Released for Publication in the Media By Mr. Madhu Chandra – 9868184939
Posted on: August 4, 2006
Chhattisgarh passes Anti-Conversion bill
The legislation, which is an amendment to Freedom of Religion Act, 1968 that was retained by Chhattisgarh when it was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in November, 2000, was passed after a heated debate and exchange of allegations between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Congress legislators.
The new law, Chhattisgarh Religion Freedom (Amendment) Act, 2006 requires that those wishing to convert their religion have to seek permission of local district magistrate 30 days in advance. The district magistrate will accept or reject the request after studying the case.
The legislation is widely seen as a move by the BJP government to check the alleged growing influence of Christian missionaries in vast tribal areas in north and south of the state. The BJP governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan too have enacted similar laws.
While Congress legislators alleged the BJP government had a hidden agenda and the legislation was aimed to whip up communal feelings, Home Minister Ramvichar Netam said the new law would have stronger impact on containing forceful conversions, mainly in remote and backward areas where ‘external elements are trying to destroy the country through conversions’.
The new law says that cases of those who converted their religion under force but reverted to their original religion would not be categorised as ‘forceful conversion’ and they would be exempted from punishment.
Posted on: August 3, 2006
Madhya Pradesh Christians Demand Anti-Conversion Law's Roll Back
Bhopal: The Christian community in Madhya Pradesh slammed the State Government on Thursday for its new law against religious conversions and demanded the Governor to scrap it.
The State Assembly had passed a controversial Bill on Tuesday, amending the state’s Freedom of Religion Act, 1968 to curb forced conversions or those under allurement.
Christians said the Bill infringes on the freedom of citizens to choose or profess a religion of his choice. And, they presented a memorandum to the Governor against the Bill.
“The Constitution assures all citizens Freedom of Religion and the freedom to profess whatever religion they choose. We demand that the right of individuals on this account may be hurt if this Bill is applied and so it must be scrapped. This Bill must go so that the people can profess whatever religion they wish without fear and doubt. That is why we had told the Governor to cancel it,” said Father Sam D’Souza Frances, a senior Christian Missionary.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, said the Bill did not make any discrimination against Christians and their apprehensions were unfounded.
“This Bill is applicable to all people from all walks and communities without discrimination or bias. Why does the Christian community feel threatened? Why are these the only people who have any issues about the Bill? To ask that the government be pulled down for this amendment is ridiculous. What is all this fear about, which should plague only those people who ere doing forced conversions? All the government says is that let the administration know in advance and you can continue with whatever are your religious and social welfare activities,” said Uma Shankar Gupta, spokesperson of Madhya Pradesh BJP unit.
The Bill makes it mandatory for any person who wishes to convert to any faith to inform the District Magistrate or any empowered executive magistrate, with a declaration regarding the same at least 30 days in advance, failing which he is liable to be fined.
The Bill also states that the priest of whatever religion, who presides over the conversion, should be held responsible for the conversion, if he has not ensured that the prescribed procedure of intimation to administration has not been followed.
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Posted by Madhu Chandra
Posted on: July 28, 2006
