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There
are conflicting signals from the newly elected UPA
government's attitude to issues of vital interest to the
Christian community. The new government, with a clear
majority, no longer needs to make compromises in matters
of justice and fair play.
First, about the anti-conversion laws in some states
which are constantly being misused to harass Christian
religious leaders and to deny them their right to preach
and worship in peace. At the root of the recent attacks
on Christians in Orissa is the false accusation by
opponents that they engaged in forceful conversion of
Hindus. Ever since the anti-conversion laws have been
framed in some states miscreants and anti-social
elements found an alibi for harassing innocent pastors,
church leaders and evangelists. Fanatical elements, with
the help of pliable policemen, have been able to loot,
destroy churches and homes.
Now that the Patnaik government is free from the
stranglehold of the BJP, the chief minister must back
his secular credentials by acting against the communal
elements behind the atrocities that had drawn worldwide
attention.
According to some sources, the Union home ministry is
inclined to repeal bills that had the effect of impeding
religious freedom.
These sources maintain that Home Minister P Chidambaram
will be reviewing and making recommendations on these
controversial bills that seek to restrict fundamental
religious freedom fraudulently termed as "Freedom of
Religion Act.".
Presently, anti-conversion laws are in force in five
states: Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal
Pradesh and Gujarat. In two other states - Arunachal
Pradesh and Rajasthan, the laws have been passed but
their implementation is awaiting approval from the
Centre.
However, it is unlikely that Rajasthan will enact the
bill after Congress wrested power from the BJP. The
Centre is set to invalidate the bill with the consent of
the new Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
In Madhya Pradesh, where the ruling BJP had proposed
amendments to make the existing law stricter, the Centre
has decided to withhold assent.
Former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and senior
politician of the Congress, Digvijay Singh, strongly
opposed the bill that “subjugates religious freedom
enshrined in the Constitution.” He also pointed out that
when he was chief minister for 10 years "there had been
no case of forcible conversion.”
In Himachal Pradesh, the stringent anti-conversion bill
declares that anyone found guilty of forcing an
individual to change religion can be punished with a
two-year jail term, a fine of up to 25,000 rupees
(US$560) or both.
The law, very blatantly, states that a person intending
to change her or his religion should inform the
government 30 days in advance! . Failure to do so is
punishable. The same restrictions are mentioned in the
Gujarat bill as well. There couldn't be a more shameful
inroad into the individual freedom.
It makes a mockery of the fundamental right of freedom
of conscience and freedom to profess, practice and
propagate religion under the Article 25 of the
Constitution.
The bill, which was supposed to curb religious
conversions made by “force”, “fraud” or “allurement",
Christians say, has been repeatedly and continuously
'misused' to arrest and imprison church leaders on
fabricated charges. There have been incidents of
deliberate arrests and well-planned attacks on
allegations of "forced conversions".
While Hindu nationalists are pushing for a national
anti-conversion law, Church leaders have appealed that
the anti-conversion legislation in all states be
overruled and religious freedom retained as per the
provisions of the Constitution.
Another disturbing development that has not received
wide publicity is the government's refusal of visas to
members of the U.S. Commission on International
Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to visit the troubled Orissa
state.
The USCIRF team was to leave for India on June 12, but
the Indian embassy in Washington did not make available
visas in time, the religious commission had pointed out.
However the embassy maintained that the applications had
been forwarded to New Delhi as was usual in such
cases.There was no deliberate move to deny the visas. A
Times of India report dated June 17 said it was
considered not the appropriate time for such a visit by
the team. Further the US team's presence would have
caused misunderstanding in an already volatile
situation.
“Our Commission has visited China, Russia, Saudi Arabia,
and over 20 other countries,” Felice D. Gaer, heading
the commission said in the statement. “India, a close
ally of the United States, has been unique among
democracies in delaying and denying USCIRF's ability to
visit. USCIRF has been requesting visits since 2001.”
The team was planning to meet religious leaders, civil
society activists and others in Kandhamal, where
anti-Christian attacks had taken place in December 2007
and August-September 2008. The team also intended to
discuss conditions in Gujarat, where more than 2,000
people, mostly Muslims, had been killed in a communal
riot in 2002.
The U.S unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, had also
criticized the intended visit of the U.S. Commission,
calling it “incomprehensible.” The largest functioning
democracy in the world with an independent judiciary, a
statutorily constituted Human Rights Commission, an
independent press and other supporting organizations was
quite capable of taking care of the religious freedoms
and human rights of its citizens, it said.
Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, close to Hindu
fundamentalists, had called for refusal of visas to the
USCIRF team. “We will not allow interference in our
internal religious affairs by external bodies,” he said
in a press conference in Mumbai on June 12, according to
the Press Trust of India. “We see USCIRF as an intrusive
mechanism of a foreign government which is interfering
with the internal affairs of India.” The government,
however, has denied having bowed to pressures exerted by
fundamentalists.
Meanwhile Home Minister P. Chidambaram was in Kandhamal
on June 26 to assess the law-and-order situation there.
He had reportedly admitted police failure in controlling
the riots..
“What happened on Aug. 23 and thereafter was regrettable
and condemnable. Moreover, it was the failure of the
police for 30 to 40 days,” he said, according to The
Hindu. “Now the situation is returning to normal but we
cannot lower our guards.”
Chidambaram also said he wanted displaced Christians to
return to their homes. It will be difficult for the
government to claim that normalcy has returned as long
as they remain in relief camps.
“The government will ensure that no one harms you
anymore. It is absolutely safe for you to return to your
villages,” Chidambaram said at a relief camp in Raikia
block, according to The Indian Express. “You have every
right to practice your religion, build and pray in
churches. You please return to your villages. I want to
come back within one month and would like to see you in
your homes in your villages.”
While the Home Minister's assurances are very welcome,
we can not be sure whether the flames of simmering
hatred have been completely extinguished in the area
with the former tormentors having lost their support in
the higher realms of power with the BJP having been
humbled in the poll.
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