|
Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, one of the leading
figures of Hinduism, on Friday, slammed the upcoming
visit of U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) to India.
The Hindu pontiff, addressing an inter-religious meet
between the Catholic and Hindus in Mumbai, warned
against foreign nations interfering in the internal
matters of the country. He was opposed to the tentative
investigation by the Commission on the Kandhamal
violence and Gujarat riots.
The annual report of the U.S. Congressional panel last
month said "the Commission is planning to travel to
India for the first time in June 2009" to closely
examine and record the violations of freedom of
religion.
Jayendra Saraswati, responding to the report, said it
was an "intrusive mechanism of a foreign government to
interfere in the internal affairs of this country.”
“The Commission, assigned to hold meetings and
scrutinize the religious freedom and restrictions in the
country, must not be permitted to enter India," the 69th
Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, said.
He reiterated that the "external interference into the
internal affairs will be protested".
Church leaders, meanwhile, have kept their fingers
crossed on the verdict of the U.S. advisory panel set to
tour India within weeks. They hope the Commission can
bring to light the growing violence on minorities and
also the impunity of the wrongdoers.
Archbishop of Orissa Raphael Cheenath has also expressed
hope on the visit which he said could be pivotal in
restricting violence and ensuring the protection of
minorities.
He wants the U.S. government-funded agency to put
pressure on the Indian government to dutifully maintain
the Rights enshrined in the Constitution
|
