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From: ICAN <ican@josephdias.info>
Date: 7 April 2014 5:41:22 pm IST
To: theophonyfm@gmail.com
Subject: CSF's Open Letter to Modi, Rajnath & NDA - Christian Election Agenda
Reply-To: ICAN <divine.cmd@gmail.com>
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The CSF Open Letter to Modi and Rajnath Singh for Reaction to Christian Concerns
The CSF – India's activist community NGO, while calling upon Christians in India to vote for secular parties in the forthcoming general elections released an open letter to the BJP and its allies. The CSF general secretary, Joseph Dias in an open letter to BJP prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi and party president, Rajnath Singh, asked the duo to let the nation know its stand on certain community related issues, on the basis of which, Christians in particular, and minorities in general could decide on voting for the party and the NDA coalition.
The questions on which Joseph Dias sought a clarification are:1. Implementation of the recommendations of the Mishra Commissions, with especially respect to benefits to Dalit & OBC Christians and Muslims, on par with the scheduled castes of Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist faiths. These have been denied to these minority communities since 1950 and decades have lapsed with discrimination continuing.
2. Enactment of a national anti-conversion or blasphemy law, as exists in many BJP ruled states, which curbs freedom of religion, as guaranteed by the Constitution. A number of false cases are foisted on pastors and Christians for forced conversions, which is an oxymoron in itself. Provision of fast-track courts to dispense justice quickly, as these cases continue for years.
3. What attempts would be made to keep extra-constitutional forces like the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, etc. at bay and moral policing satraps, like Muthalik's Ram Sena from enforcing their hidden agenda. There is also eminent danger of saffronization of various sectors, like police, education, bureaucracy, judiciary, armed forces, etc. as has been observed from those joining the BJP in the run-up to the polls.
4. Monitoring and providing for quick relief for victims of the Odisha, especially Kandhamal riots, in which hundreds of Christians were targeted, women raped and no justice or relief provided, in spite of many years. Similar is the case of anti-Sikh riots and anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat, where Hindu victims have received better and quicker compensation.
5. Enactment of the Communal Violence Bill and an Act for the Equal Opportunities Commission, with Amendments to the Foreign Contribution Act and Rules related to allotting Visas to Christian missionaries and providing citizenship those foreign missionaries, who are in the country for decades and wish to die in India, where they serve.
6. Constitution of a Sachar Committee like panel for Christians or a Desk for Christian Affairs, to study and deal with the problems of economic deprivation. Representation to Christians for government employment, especially in civil services, and in allocation of funds and quotas in the Union Minorities Ministry schemes is necessary.
7. Enhance the minimum outlay for the PM's 15 Point Minorities Progammes and other government allocations to be minimum 19 per cent, which is the proportion of minorities to the majority in the country. There is also need to make the village or ward as the unit of planning to ensure development percolates to the lower levels.
The CSF general secretary, Joseph Dias also provided further details of the Institutional and Systemic persecution, which need attention and are as follows:
Systemic & Institutional Persecution
* Presidential Order of 1950 -
The government communalises benefits of employment, education and finance to millions of schedule castes, who have converted to Christianity or Islam over the last 60 years. A rally on 11th December'13 in the national capital by the Catholic Bishops Conference and the National Christian Council of India, supported by a large number of Christian NGOs was targeted by the police. Archbishops, clergy and activists were arrested, beaten and had water canons used against them.
* Anti-conversion Legislation -
Anti-conversion laws exist/ed in at least states like Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which recently repealed it. The BJP is on record saying it will pass a national legislation on the subject. These are used to persecuted Christians on false allegations that conversions are undertaken by force or inducement.
* Foreign Contributions Regulation Act -
A legacy of the Emergency in 1975, it is used extensively to curb dissent and control NGOs working in the area of social empowerment and human rights. In August 2012, over 4139 NGOs had their FCRA registration revoked. The work of a number of Christian NGOs have been affected because of this. During the Kundankulam agitation, where the Catholic Church played an active role, the diocesan trusts had their FCRA licenses withdrawn.
* Toothless and Non-Existent Minorities Commissions -
Almost half of the states do not have State Minorities Commissions (SMCs). Among the 14 states that do not have SMCs are included - Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Odisha, Kerala, Goa and six north-eastern states. Gujarat, has been persistently refusing to set up a SMC, despite repeated prodding by the National Commission for Minorities. In states where SMCs do exist, their effectiveness is open to serious questioning.
* Various Sections of Indian Penal Code -
Blasphemy sections of the law, such as 295 A for hurting religious sentiments and others like 153 for creating enmity between groups are often used to arrest Christians by the majority, with police and political support. On the other hand, hate speech and anti-Christian propaganda in Hindutva publications like the Organiser and the Panchjanya or on television channels, like those of Zakir Naik, go blatantly un-noticed.
* Schedule Tribal Benefits and Forest Act -
Christians are denied government scholarships for education. There are many instances of tribal certificates being denied to Christians under pressure by the majority on local self-government authorities. Tribals who convert are denied rights and even forest / adivasi land on the ground that the church needs to meet their needs.
* Finance and Government Schemes -
There has been a sustained demand from the Christian community, based on government survey estimates for the economic uplift of Christians, as official funds and schemes meant for the community does not reach it. There is over 8 % unemployment among Christian youth - highest among minorities. Tribal Christian girls are among the most uneducated and mal-nourished. The government constituted the Justice Rajender Sachhar Committee for Muslims, but the efficacy of government schemes, scholarships, finances, etc. percolating to Christians will be exposed, if such a study is undertaken. With the addition of the Jain community as a minority, the situation will become worse.
* Bills and Commissions -
There has been talk of a Communal & Targeted Violence Bill to end impunity of authorities, fix command responsibility, work out relief and compensation, etc. But the same is still to see the light of day. Similarly, announcements for an Equal Opportunities Commission have been made, but with no results.
* Land Allotment for Religious Needs -
It is almost impossible to construct a Church or a Christian prayer hall. Not only is there no government provision for land allotment for such purposes, but even to bury the dead. No provisions for burial grounds or cemetries, while other community's are able to grab land. Permission are refused under some pretext stating that there are objections from the majority. There are reports of Christians being prevented even on private land and after permissions being obtained. For example, the Evangelical Church of India brought land in Melamcode, Memom village and applied to both the District Collector and the municipal corporation of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. However, they were unable to build despite approaching the High Court for relief.
* Infringement of Minority Rights for Institutions -
Minority educational institutions are often targeted not just by extra-constitutional and non-state players, but also by government departments. In most states, the Education and Minority Affairs ministers are non-Christian politicians who have attempted to make rules encroaching on the rights of Christians to manage their institutions. A case in point is St. Xavier's College or St. Mary's School in Mumbai, who have had to repeatedly approach the High Court for justice. In view of rampant privatization of sectors like social services, education and medicare, the government auctions land, which Christian institutions or NGOs can ill afford. Thus, depriving the lesser privileged sections of education or medicare, which the Christian community has focused on.
- For more info, contact: Joseph Dias +91 9769555657 csfpost@gmail.com
This email was sent to theophonyfm@gmail.com.
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