Handling Queries: Democratic Responses
Antuley Remarks and the Aftermath
Ram Puniyani
The tragic terror attack on the city of Mumbai (Nov.2008) has shaken not only the people of city but also the whole nation. It is not the first time that terror attacks have taken place in this city. The first major one was seen in the aftermath of Mumbai carnage of 1992-93. The investigation of this blast showed that the terrorist took advantage of the gross injustices done to Muslim minority and lured a small section of them to execute their dastardly designs. Then in the aftermath of Gujarat carnage again one witnessed the blasts. The tragic happenings of Gujarat had incited this reaction. This time around November 26, 2008, there is no immediate provocation, but the role of Al Qaeda type elements is clear. What is puzzling this time around is that the attack came at a time when the investigation being done by Maharashtra ATS into Malegaon blast was leading to certain impeccable findings of the involvement of Hindutva elements. This was resulting in a hostile reaction to the ATS chief who was doing a thorough professional job. He was being abused and criticized by the people like Advani and Modi for being deshdrohi (anti national). Pune Police had also received a death threat to him from an anonymous caller just couple of days ahead of the terror attack.
After this tragedy many a versions of death of Karkare and his two colleagues came forward. The first one was that he has been killed at Taj, second one saying the death occurred in the lane near Cama hospital and the yet another one saying that he was killed while sitting in the vehicle. In this context many doubts were raised by some social activists and later by the Union minister for minorities Mr. A.R. Antuley. His statement that “superficially they (the terrorists) had no reason to kill Karkare. Whether he (Karkare) was a victim of terrorism or terrorism plus something, I do not know,” implying that a thorough probe in to his death should be undertaken to clear the mist around his death. This does not imply any finger pointing but a mere doubt, which is lurking in the minds of many.
This statement followed a vicious attack on him by many, especially by the Hindu right wing and a section of media. While many felt that the idea was to ensure that Truth comes out, the others felt that he should not only be sacked from his post but a case of treason be launched against him. While few voices like those of Digvijay Singh came to support Antuley statement and Maharashtra Assembly speaker Baba Saheb Kupekar said that since Maharashtra Government is setting up a probe into the allegations of negligence of the top level Police officers, that committee can very well probe the death of Hemant Karkare as well.
The degree of hostile reaction to some doubt raised and need for unearthing truth in a democratic society should be taken seriously. Why and who is afraid of truth coming out? Strangely we seem to have various types of reactions which have lot of political tinge than elements of reason. One of this is to ignore some events and facts which go against the social common sense and the interests of dominant political streams. One such example is the blasts which took place in Nanded in the house of RSS worker in which two Bajrang Dal workers died while making bombs (April 2006). While some channels can work overtime to put out the visuals of events with potential of sensationalism, this particular incident was literally blocked by large section of media. No doubt few papers and channels carried it but it remained a marginal story. Then the events of blasts in front of Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad were also attributed to the usual Jehadi elements, many of them arrested/tortured to the extreme. The blast and the tragedy was news. Later when they got released for the lack of any evidence, that was neither news nor a time to introspect as to why the wrong people are being caught, or to think if there is a need to review the line of investigation in the cases of blasts? Here the media shapes popular perception and the investigating authorities remained stuck to the old theory, terrorists are Muslims. So by overlooking the crucial news/event, a valuable lead was suppressed, the proper unearthing of which might have led to prevention of some attacks later.
The second form of reaction is from vested political elements and section of media which flows with the tide. Once Maharashtra ATS could lay its hands on the motorcycle used by terrorists in Malegaon blast, the investigation shifted to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Swami Dayanand, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and Retd major Upadhyay. This investigation being conducted with professionalism came for scathing attack from Hindutva elements that went to intimidate the ATS officer to the extent that he went for moral support and counseling to the one of the most forthright police officers, Julio Reibero. Mr. Reibero in his article in Times of India tells us the pressure Karkare was going through while doing his professional duty. Shiv Sena not only organized for legal support for Sadhvi and Company but also its mouth piece Saamana went on to write, “We will declare all names and addresses of policemen on Malegaon case, the people will take action. This is nothing but a ploy to defame Hindutva by people in the ATS who have taken supari (contract) of this. On such officers we spit, we spit.”
In this context all those trying to strive for truth are also being labeled with choicest abuses. Any raising of question about the investigation, the narration of incidents comes to be branded as being pro Pakistan and anti India. One is not arguing against India or for Pakistan, one is trying to see that the real picture of things will strengthen India. Can a hollow shell full of falsity be the base of the Democratic Indian state? More we try to smoothen the knots more are we will be trying to ensure that Indian society becomes better. In this jingoism, war again Pakistan is the rash demand, quenching the instant anger generated due to terror attack. One has to see such oppressive outburst like the one’s we have seen from Advani and company which are not in sync with the building of a harmonious atmosphere and justice to all. All the legal provisions at our command need to be marshaled to see that the work initiated by the likes of Karkare is not allowed to be stifled.
What does one make of the ignoring crucial leads in the first place and then reacting angrily, with such passion to the innocuous demands of a probe? This burst of pseudo nationalism needs to be understood. It is the one which wants to intimidate the voice of reason and is primarily trying to stifle the democratic space. In Antuley’s case he is also being hurled abuses by the same section, labeling him as Pakistan supporter and what not. Its time our columnists remember that in democracy the people have full right to express their opinions and doubts. As a matter of fact those hysterically browbeating those raising doubts are the one’s who are undermining the nation’s constitution. Definitely the most befitting tribute to the officers who have laid down their lives while protecting the society from the insane acts of terror, is to ensure that the truth of their death comes out and that Malegaon probe goes on properly.
--
Issues in Secular Politics
December 2008 III
For publication/circulation
www.pluralindia.com
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
uniting in the face of terror
Uniting in the face of terror
Ram Puniyani
The 26th November (2008) terror attack on Mumbai has been one of the severest and damaging attack on the social fabric of Mumbai. The loss of lives is beyond words, equally worse has been the loss of people’s faith in the political leadership. While the faith in police and military agency stood redeemed to some extent the whole ire of people fell on the political leadership for the tragedy of monumental proportions. No doubt we do not have the best of leadership, but it is also true that people do need a scapegoat to vent their anger, frustration and helplessness. In the face of earlier attacks of terror there have been different targets of public ire.
Part of the problem regarding whom to blame for the terror attacks is due to the fact that many a non state terror groups survive in Pakistan, these were the groups which came in the wake of Russian occupation of Afghanistan and setting up the Madrassas for indoctrinating Muslim youth by the US through CIA, ISI etc. Once the Russian armies were defeated in Afghanistan, the left over of these fanatic terrorists groups survive on the soil of Pakistan. Here the identification is that these groups are due to the inspiration and promoting by Pakistan. It was a case for quite some time, but mostly it no longer is the case. The biggest manifestation of changed equations in this direction was the attack by military on Lal Masjid, one of the places for indoctrination, during Musharff regime. Similarly the formulation putting Islam as synonymous with violence and Muslims being the terrorists was created by the US propaganda in the wake of 9/11 and the media taking it forward, large section of Indian media picked it up. Today one must rethink the role of Pakistan Government and the terrorists originating from the soil of Pakistan. Interestingly some of these trained groups have also been targeting various sites within Pakistan itself.
Redressal of the damage done by such a colossal tragedy is a marathon task and one hears from most of the people that to deal with terrorism the people must unite as a single force. Well said. There is no substitute to this ‘core aspect’ of the solution, rallying around Indian nationalism. Unfortunately from last two decades in particular people are being divided along religious lines, by the communal forces. One recalls that with the ascendance of communal politics, spread of myths and stereotypes against the minorities the problem has been worsened. These myths and stereotypes have become part of social common sense and have provided a fertile ground for the rise of communal violence. This in turn has on one hand polarized the society along religious lines and on the other has strengthened the communal politics. This process is also enhancing the process of ghettoisation of minorities, more so in the post violence situations and more so in the BJP ruled states. The insecurity of minorities is on the rise.
When we talk of the core value of fraternity for Indian nation, the major obstacle is the communalization of the social common sense. It is true that people should stand united, what needs to be addressed is that core reason for the divisions which have been created due to politics in the name of religion. The doctored social thinking accompanying the rise of communalism is the major factor which is trying to fracture the well entrenched fraternity of India, fraternity which came to be cemented during the freedom movement.
At political level the two major political parties, Congress and BJP, do talk in separate languages even in the face of such a crisis of marathon proportions. Just to cite the recent events, while BJP leadership with forked tongue, on one hand called for the need for unity, at the same time issued large advertisements asking for votes to be saved from terror attacks. At the same time it went on to criticize the Prime Minister, who had called for unity. Political parties must criticize each others on their policies, while in this case it was a partisan, opportunist action.
The timing of the attack led to many questions in the mind of society. Just prior to this the Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad did succeed in collecting evidence leading to the arrest of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, Lt Col. Prasad, Retd Major Upadhyay and others affiliated with RSS politics. Also the role of Bhonsla Military School came to the surface. More and more investigations led to the role of various RSS affiliates as being part of many blasts which took place in front of mosques or in dargah. RSS combine went hammer and tongs against the ATS and particularly its chief Hemant Karkare, accusing him of deliberately arresting Sadhvi and the likes. This attack on ATS went on to the extent that Karkare went to the legendary police office, Julio Reibero for advice and moral support to stand on the path of truth. Reibero in his piece in Times of India, November 28, Mumbai edition narrates the turmoil created in Karkare’s mind due to the criticism heaped on him by Sangh Parivar. Reibero appreciated this officer for his upright stand and upheld his refusal to buckle under motivated criticism.
Is it a coincidence that attack has deflected the social attention from the black deeds of Sadhvi and Co.? Is it a coincidence that Karkare who was bravely doing his job was killed while doing his duty? Some of the answers to these questions will be permanently mired in the cloud of mystery. What happened after his death and what is known is that immediately after his death the same elements that were after him declared him a hero, a martyr. Politics can never be dirtier and murkier. The saddest part of this came when the self declared champion against terrorism, Modi, landed up in Mumbai to give interviews in front of TV cameras, when the people around were doing the work to control the situation. Not only that he went to the bereaved widow of Karkare and offer her money as relief. Mrs. Karkare with all her dignity and humility turned down the relief from one whose ilk had been criticizing her husband for doing his job honestly. It’s a shame that Modi and Co. has not been condemned for such double standards and opportunism which they are indulging in.
Time alone will tell us, if at all and why we had to loose such a forthright and honest officer, time alone will tell us whether the legal proceeding started by him will go to their logical legal end and guilty of many blasts will be punished as per the law of the land.
--
Issues in Secular Politics
For Circulation/translation etc.
December 2008 I
www.pluralindia.com
Ram Puniyani
The 26th November (2008) terror attack on Mumbai has been one of the severest and damaging attack on the social fabric of Mumbai. The loss of lives is beyond words, equally worse has been the loss of people’s faith in the political leadership. While the faith in police and military agency stood redeemed to some extent the whole ire of people fell on the political leadership for the tragedy of monumental proportions. No doubt we do not have the best of leadership, but it is also true that people do need a scapegoat to vent their anger, frustration and helplessness. In the face of earlier attacks of terror there have been different targets of public ire.
Part of the problem regarding whom to blame for the terror attacks is due to the fact that many a non state terror groups survive in Pakistan, these were the groups which came in the wake of Russian occupation of Afghanistan and setting up the Madrassas for indoctrinating Muslim youth by the US through CIA, ISI etc. Once the Russian armies were defeated in Afghanistan, the left over of these fanatic terrorists groups survive on the soil of Pakistan. Here the identification is that these groups are due to the inspiration and promoting by Pakistan. It was a case for quite some time, but mostly it no longer is the case. The biggest manifestation of changed equations in this direction was the attack by military on Lal Masjid, one of the places for indoctrination, during Musharff regime. Similarly the formulation putting Islam as synonymous with violence and Muslims being the terrorists was created by the US propaganda in the wake of 9/11 and the media taking it forward, large section of Indian media picked it up. Today one must rethink the role of Pakistan Government and the terrorists originating from the soil of Pakistan. Interestingly some of these trained groups have also been targeting various sites within Pakistan itself.
Redressal of the damage done by such a colossal tragedy is a marathon task and one hears from most of the people that to deal with terrorism the people must unite as a single force. Well said. There is no substitute to this ‘core aspect’ of the solution, rallying around Indian nationalism. Unfortunately from last two decades in particular people are being divided along religious lines, by the communal forces. One recalls that with the ascendance of communal politics, spread of myths and stereotypes against the minorities the problem has been worsened. These myths and stereotypes have become part of social common sense and have provided a fertile ground for the rise of communal violence. This in turn has on one hand polarized the society along religious lines and on the other has strengthened the communal politics. This process is also enhancing the process of ghettoisation of minorities, more so in the post violence situations and more so in the BJP ruled states. The insecurity of minorities is on the rise.
When we talk of the core value of fraternity for Indian nation, the major obstacle is the communalization of the social common sense. It is true that people should stand united, what needs to be addressed is that core reason for the divisions which have been created due to politics in the name of religion. The doctored social thinking accompanying the rise of communalism is the major factor which is trying to fracture the well entrenched fraternity of India, fraternity which came to be cemented during the freedom movement.
At political level the two major political parties, Congress and BJP, do talk in separate languages even in the face of such a crisis of marathon proportions. Just to cite the recent events, while BJP leadership with forked tongue, on one hand called for the need for unity, at the same time issued large advertisements asking for votes to be saved from terror attacks. At the same time it went on to criticize the Prime Minister, who had called for unity. Political parties must criticize each others on their policies, while in this case it was a partisan, opportunist action.
The timing of the attack led to many questions in the mind of society. Just prior to this the Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad did succeed in collecting evidence leading to the arrest of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, Lt Col. Prasad, Retd Major Upadhyay and others affiliated with RSS politics. Also the role of Bhonsla Military School came to the surface. More and more investigations led to the role of various RSS affiliates as being part of many blasts which took place in front of mosques or in dargah. RSS combine went hammer and tongs against the ATS and particularly its chief Hemant Karkare, accusing him of deliberately arresting Sadhvi and the likes. This attack on ATS went on to the extent that Karkare went to the legendary police office, Julio Reibero for advice and moral support to stand on the path of truth. Reibero in his piece in Times of India, November 28, Mumbai edition narrates the turmoil created in Karkare’s mind due to the criticism heaped on him by Sangh Parivar. Reibero appreciated this officer for his upright stand and upheld his refusal to buckle under motivated criticism.
Is it a coincidence that attack has deflected the social attention from the black deeds of Sadhvi and Co.? Is it a coincidence that Karkare who was bravely doing his job was killed while doing his duty? Some of the answers to these questions will be permanently mired in the cloud of mystery. What happened after his death and what is known is that immediately after his death the same elements that were after him declared him a hero, a martyr. Politics can never be dirtier and murkier. The saddest part of this came when the self declared champion against terrorism, Modi, landed up in Mumbai to give interviews in front of TV cameras, when the people around were doing the work to control the situation. Not only that he went to the bereaved widow of Karkare and offer her money as relief. Mrs. Karkare with all her dignity and humility turned down the relief from one whose ilk had been criticizing her husband for doing his job honestly. It’s a shame that Modi and Co. has not been condemned for such double standards and opportunism which they are indulging in.
Time alone will tell us, if at all and why we had to loose such a forthright and honest officer, time alone will tell us whether the legal proceeding started by him will go to their logical legal end and guilty of many blasts will be punished as per the law of the land.
--
Issues in Secular Politics
For Circulation/translation etc.
December 2008 I
www.pluralindia.com
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tolerating Terrorism
Tolerating Terrorism
Ram Puniyani
Things have been changing by the day on the issue of terrorism investigation since the proof of Sadhvi Prgya Singh Thakur’s involvement in the Malegaon blast has come to the surface. So far the word Islamic terrorism has been in the air in the post 9/11 phase when the US administration ensured that media takes up this new word and propagates it. The social common sense that ‘all terrorists are Muslims’ went to such a pass that many a lawyers taking up the cases of terror suspects were not only beaten up but also some of the Bar Associations passed the resolutions, contrary to their own professional ethics, that they will not take up the cases of the terror suspects. The basic adage that one is innocent till proved guilty was turned upside down. The legal aid to many of these suspects was meager if at all.
Matters change with Sadhvi being arrested by the Maharashtra ATS. The RSS associates, VHP, Shiv Sena rushed to put together the team of lawyers to stand for the terror accused. The Shiv Sena is calling a bandh in support of Pragya and Co. We are hearing strange arguments; Hindus can’t be terrorists as it is not in their genes. This statement also subtly hinted that terrorism is in the genes of ‘some’ other community. But lets be clear terrorism is not a genetic problem, it is due to social, political and economic reasons.
It was stated that Maharashtra Government is doing all this at the behest of the Government, reducing all investigations to being merely politically motivated one. Not that these things don’t happen but one has also to see that in the prevailing situation where the social mind set accepts the formulation that ‘all terrorists are Muslims’, to suspect a non Muslim will require more than a mere grain of truth to venture and touch any non Muslim and that too one with divine robe adorning on one’s body or the one wearing the green fatigues of army with its holy cow image. Logically no officer in the right frame of mind can even dare think of such a move unless impeccable evidence is there.
In pre-Sadhvi period of terrorism RSS affiliates accused the Congress of being soft on terrorism, in turn encouraging terrorism. They came up with the formulation that they will provide a Government with Zero tolerance for terrorism, meaning a total high handed ness in case of terror accused. Now the matters stand turned upside down and no question of zero tolerance for terror accused, special efforts are being made to ensure that popular pressure is built up to save the likes of Sadhvi, Acharya or Lt Col. Not only that, the issue is being communalized and many right wing political parties are offering the accused the tickets for the forthcoming elections. At the same time propaganda is launched that the holy person like sadhvi is being targeted for political reasons or that the noble institution of army is being sullied by the Congress Government. Both these are baseless as the investigation seems to be proceeding with extreme caution and the leads provided by Sadhvi’s motor cycle, used in Malegaon blasts is being pursued meticulously.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and the Lt Col. Prasad Purohit have alleged that they were tortured in the police custody. A major morning newspaper reports that the training camp conducted by Abhinav Bharat, instructed the trainees that in order to deflect the investigation, all should be done to implicate the investigation authorities themselves. So one does not know whether they were tortured or they have been tutored to say so. One waits with baited breath for the real truth to come out. It goes without saying that torture of accused in police custody is not a matter of surprise, it must be condemned and there is no place for compromising with the human rights of accused, who so ever one is. One will condemn the authorities if the torture of Sadhvi and company has taken place.
So far no one from RSS affiliates talked of human rights of accused. Now this section is talking that the terror accused are being tortured and that their human rights are being violated. One must ensure the truth behind this. While police is capable of using its usual arms twisting methods to extort confession, one will doubt if the police can dare touch a saffron robed sadhvi or green uniformed Lt Col. Let the inquiry decide, whether it is a genuine complaint or a ploy to deflect the investigation.
One interesting aside to the investigation of acts of terror is that so far during last few years, the Muslim youth were caught hold of after every terror attack, for a couple of days the media was abuzz with the same news and then once they were produced in the court for the lack of evidence many of them were quietly let off. This part was generally not in the news. While a wrong person is accused, that person does suffer all the humiliation etc, the additional point is that because of this the real culprit merrily keeps planning the further things. And that seems to be the case. As despite the leads provided by Nanded blasts, where two Bajrang Dal workers were killed while making bomb. Despite this the other acts of terror were not investigated on this line, so one after the other the tragedy kept happening. Hopefully with this the further blasts will be arrested in the tracks.
Overall the logic of the events as unfolding makes it clear that the RSS affiliates have been caught with their pants down. How so ever much they deny the ideological and organizational difference, it seems that there is lot of proof to point the finger towards the Abhinav Bharat and ex workers of ABVP as a part of the plot of Malegaon blasts, Ajmer blasts and Samjhauta express blasts. The proximity of the accused to many a top brass of the organizations is being reported day in and day out.
To deflect from the issue a campaign has been started to defame the ATS, the Mahrashtra Government and even the Sonia Gandhi. Rumors are being spread that these are the one’s who are framing and torturing the accused. One is amazed at the double standards of those saying this. Till yesterday when the police was blindly apprehending the Muslim youth for all these crimes, especially police was being cheered for the investigation. In the aftermath of Ahmedabad blasts and the series of bombs found in Surat, hanging on trees and all that, Modi took the credit for showing the way to deal with terrorism. Now with his own ideological associates accused in the acts of terror, another type of offensive has been launched to wriggle out of the situation. One hopes that truth alone will prevail and guilty, irrespective of their religion, holiness, and military uniform are given punishment for the suffering they have inflicted on the nation.
--
Ram Puniyani
Things have been changing by the day on the issue of terrorism investigation since the proof of Sadhvi Prgya Singh Thakur’s involvement in the Malegaon blast has come to the surface. So far the word Islamic terrorism has been in the air in the post 9/11 phase when the US administration ensured that media takes up this new word and propagates it. The social common sense that ‘all terrorists are Muslims’ went to such a pass that many a lawyers taking up the cases of terror suspects were not only beaten up but also some of the Bar Associations passed the resolutions, contrary to their own professional ethics, that they will not take up the cases of the terror suspects. The basic adage that one is innocent till proved guilty was turned upside down. The legal aid to many of these suspects was meager if at all.
Matters change with Sadhvi being arrested by the Maharashtra ATS. The RSS associates, VHP, Shiv Sena rushed to put together the team of lawyers to stand for the terror accused. The Shiv Sena is calling a bandh in support of Pragya and Co. We are hearing strange arguments; Hindus can’t be terrorists as it is not in their genes. This statement also subtly hinted that terrorism is in the genes of ‘some’ other community. But lets be clear terrorism is not a genetic problem, it is due to social, political and economic reasons.
It was stated that Maharashtra Government is doing all this at the behest of the Government, reducing all investigations to being merely politically motivated one. Not that these things don’t happen but one has also to see that in the prevailing situation where the social mind set accepts the formulation that ‘all terrorists are Muslims’, to suspect a non Muslim will require more than a mere grain of truth to venture and touch any non Muslim and that too one with divine robe adorning on one’s body or the one wearing the green fatigues of army with its holy cow image. Logically no officer in the right frame of mind can even dare think of such a move unless impeccable evidence is there.
In pre-Sadhvi period of terrorism RSS affiliates accused the Congress of being soft on terrorism, in turn encouraging terrorism. They came up with the formulation that they will provide a Government with Zero tolerance for terrorism, meaning a total high handed ness in case of terror accused. Now the matters stand turned upside down and no question of zero tolerance for terror accused, special efforts are being made to ensure that popular pressure is built up to save the likes of Sadhvi, Acharya or Lt Col. Not only that, the issue is being communalized and many right wing political parties are offering the accused the tickets for the forthcoming elections. At the same time propaganda is launched that the holy person like sadhvi is being targeted for political reasons or that the noble institution of army is being sullied by the Congress Government. Both these are baseless as the investigation seems to be proceeding with extreme caution and the leads provided by Sadhvi’s motor cycle, used in Malegaon blasts is being pursued meticulously.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and the Lt Col. Prasad Purohit have alleged that they were tortured in the police custody. A major morning newspaper reports that the training camp conducted by Abhinav Bharat, instructed the trainees that in order to deflect the investigation, all should be done to implicate the investigation authorities themselves. So one does not know whether they were tortured or they have been tutored to say so. One waits with baited breath for the real truth to come out. It goes without saying that torture of accused in police custody is not a matter of surprise, it must be condemned and there is no place for compromising with the human rights of accused, who so ever one is. One will condemn the authorities if the torture of Sadhvi and company has taken place.
So far no one from RSS affiliates talked of human rights of accused. Now this section is talking that the terror accused are being tortured and that their human rights are being violated. One must ensure the truth behind this. While police is capable of using its usual arms twisting methods to extort confession, one will doubt if the police can dare touch a saffron robed sadhvi or green uniformed Lt Col. Let the inquiry decide, whether it is a genuine complaint or a ploy to deflect the investigation.
One interesting aside to the investigation of acts of terror is that so far during last few years, the Muslim youth were caught hold of after every terror attack, for a couple of days the media was abuzz with the same news and then once they were produced in the court for the lack of evidence many of them were quietly let off. This part was generally not in the news. While a wrong person is accused, that person does suffer all the humiliation etc, the additional point is that because of this the real culprit merrily keeps planning the further things. And that seems to be the case. As despite the leads provided by Nanded blasts, where two Bajrang Dal workers were killed while making bomb. Despite this the other acts of terror were not investigated on this line, so one after the other the tragedy kept happening. Hopefully with this the further blasts will be arrested in the tracks.
Overall the logic of the events as unfolding makes it clear that the RSS affiliates have been caught with their pants down. How so ever much they deny the ideological and organizational difference, it seems that there is lot of proof to point the finger towards the Abhinav Bharat and ex workers of ABVP as a part of the plot of Malegaon blasts, Ajmer blasts and Samjhauta express blasts. The proximity of the accused to many a top brass of the organizations is being reported day in and day out.
To deflect from the issue a campaign has been started to defame the ATS, the Mahrashtra Government and even the Sonia Gandhi. Rumors are being spread that these are the one’s who are framing and torturing the accused. One is amazed at the double standards of those saying this. Till yesterday when the police was blindly apprehending the Muslim youth for all these crimes, especially police was being cheered for the investigation. In the aftermath of Ahmedabad blasts and the series of bombs found in Surat, hanging on trees and all that, Modi took the credit for showing the way to deal with terrorism. Now with his own ideological associates accused in the acts of terror, another type of offensive has been launched to wriggle out of the situation. One hopes that truth alone will prevail and guilty, irrespective of their religion, holiness, and military uniform are given punishment for the suffering they have inflicted on the nation.
--
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Anatomy of Sangh Parivar
Anatomy of Sangh Parivar
Ram Puniyani
The arrest of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in the context of Malegaon blasts of September 29, 2008 has been an important step in the investigation of bomb blasts which have been blowing the social peace and communal amity. Along with her the arrest of army officers, retired and serving, has unfolded the whole new dimension about investigation of acts of terror. The involvement of Bhonsala Military School has also come under the scanner of investigating agencies.
The Sadhvi has been the member of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Durga Vahini, which are the parts of Sangh parivar, before she adorned the saffron robe. Sangh parivar is the word coined by the RSS and its progeny for the whole combine, all of them put together. RSS acts as the central controller and its trained volunteers, swayamsevaks, set up and manage different organizations to pursue the goals of RSS.
Sadhvi’s connections with BJP/RSS top leadership came to the surface and the BJP leadership in particular, distanced itself from her, initially. The ideological and political association was attempted to be played down to a mere acquaintance. Disowning the member of its outfits, after they do the crime is nothing new for Sangh organizations. The first such disowning was done when RSS prachark Nathuram Godse murdered the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Since RSS was not keeping records of its members etc. Nathuram claimed in the court that he had nothing to do with RSS, despite the fact that he was a trained RSS volunteer (swayamsevak). In an interview given to ‘The Times of India’ (25 Jan 98), his brother Gopal Godse, who was also an accomplice in the murder, elaborated the apparent reasons for hiding their affiliation with RSS. “Technically and theoretically he (Nathuram) was a member (of RSS), but he stopped workings for it later. His statement in the court that he had left the RSS was to protect the RSS workers who would be imprisoned following the murder, on the understanding that they (RSS workers) would benefit from his dissociating himself…”
The second major disassociation has been that from Rajendra Pal, alias, Dara Singh who murdered Pastor Graham Steward Stains. His case in the courts was fought by BJP ex Minister Dilip Singh Judeo's brother. Dara Singh himself was an active worker of VHP, Bajrang Dal and other Sangh organizations. All this was denied shamelessly by RSS combine. And now come the one related to the Sadhvi.
After initial quiet on the issue, now the Hindutva parties (BJP, Shiv Sena) are raising the army of lawyers to fight the case for her. Now their plea is that every accused has a right to be defended. So far they have kept quiet when the lawyers of the accused in the acts of terror have been beaten up and many lawyers associations have resolved not to fight the cases of accused in cases of acts of terror.
It was also stated by BJP spokesperson that there is no evidence, proof of involvement of the Sadhvi. The technicalities of this proof in this case apart one will like to know how many times, in how many cases of arrest of ‘alleged Muslim terrorists’ this question is raised. Their being a Muslim is a good enough proof of being a terrorist in this scheme of things propagated by RSS combine, and even the encounters, fake most of them, are welcomed by a section of these.
Then came the argument that since Sadhvi is a follower of ‘cultural nationalism’, she can’t be a terrorist! Here the partisan attitude of those involved in this politics is clear. What they are referring to by cultural nationalism is Hindu nationalism. As such cultural nationalism has been promoted by the practitioners of politics in the name of religion. Be it Muslim terrorists taught in the US promoted Madrassas in Pakistan in yesteryears or the fundamentalists, doing politics in the name of any religion. In case of Hindutva, this cultural nationalism is the opposite of democratic nationalism, where diversity and equality of all is the foundation of the political ethos.
In case of RSS, cultural nationalism, is based on the some religious texts and the culture of elite Hindus, which gives priority to the Brahminical values, the values of caste and gender based inequality. Democratic nationalism has its focus on respecting and approving all cultures and religions, while in RSS scheme of cultural nationalism the Brahminical culture is the base of political nationalism. So what label does one put to the acts of Godse and Dara Singh? Both of them were steeped in the Cultural nationalism propagated by RSS combine. The formula that terrorism done by Muslims is anti national and the acts done by the ilk of Sadhvi are nationalism defies all the logic. Any act of violation of the Indian law is anti national, there can’t be separate set of laws for those indulging in violence and heinous crimes in the name of religion.
After initial hesitation, it started being said that she was pained by the terrorism committed by Muslims, so this revenge terrorism was meant to protect the Hindu society, and so subtle justification and approval for this variety of crime as being the answer to the terrorism done by Muslims. Some commentators are openly glorifying this and some others are quietly going by this logic. One can say that the Bajrang Dal and Sadhvi’s ilk is not into terrorism because of so called Islamic terrorism, it is in this more due to the indoctrination which they have received through RSS indoctrination module. This indoctrination reduces all the political-social issues to the religious ones.
RSS indoctrination is carried out through its Shakha Baudhiks (Branch intellectual sessions) and camps. It says that this is nation belongs to Hindus alone. Here, the Muslims and Christians are foreigners, the secular people are trying to say that this country belongs to all the people, which is wrong. We need to ensure that these threats to Hindu nation are dealt with properly.
RSS type indoctrination has also created the myth that all terrorists are Muslim, deliberately overlooking that terrorists come from all the religious communities, but not due to religious reasons. The reasons behind terrorism are social, economic and political. Be it LTTE, Khalistanis, ULFA, Irish Republican army all have indulged in terrorism, the reasons being anything but religious. In RSS scheme of things all the acts of terror have been projected to be due to Islam and Muslims. So the two modules merge and create the mind set of Sadhvi or Bajrang Dal members who have died while making bombs in Nanded and Kanpur or members of Hindu Jagran Samiti who planted bombs in Thane near Mumbai.
The current involvement of army officers, Bhonsla Military School and the members of different wings of Sangh privar should not be a surprise if one sees the structure and functioning of RSS. RSS founded to oppose democracy and to work for Hindu nation has been working, indoctrinating and creating more and more organizations to fulfill it objective of Hindu nation, which in essence means to restore the feudal hierarchical values of caste and gender in Indian context, to work for status quo around the modern version of Brahminical system. Its trained swayamsevaks, have been on one hand directly entering the political formations, Bhatiay Janata Party, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarhti Parishad, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrma, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Munnani, Bajrang Dal, Samajik Samrasta Manch on one hand, creating subordinate organizations amongst women, Rashtra Seviak Samiti, Durga Vahini etc on the other hand. Vast layers of Saints, the likes Asaram Bapu or Sri Sri Ravishakar, or Narnedra Maharaj are ideologically on same wave length as RSS and through their work they lay the ground for the politics of RSS to flourish in different sections of society.
Its second strategy has been that of infiltration in the different wings of state machinery, police, bureaucracy, Judiciary. On yet another layer its recruits have been working in the field of education and media by the mechanism of infiltration. Its hold and vicious grip on society cannot just be assessed by the electoral strength of BJP. That’s why Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister, in Staten Island could assert that first he is the swayam sevak of RSS and then the prime minister. That’s why in 1977, when the Bharatiya Jansangh, previous avatar of BJP, who were part of Janata Party, were told to severe their links with RSS, they preferred to break the Janata party rather then severing their affiliation with RSS. Its strength comes from the earlier silent, by now violent, infiltration in all spheres of social and political activities. Its wing amongst retired military officers ensures that people like Retired army Officer Upadhyay is probably the part of the Malegaon and other such blasts.
Bhonsala military school has been managed by RSS in more ways than one, so not only it may be a place for hatching the conspiracies for blasts, but also for turning out recruits who can aid and assist this Sangh combine while serving in the army. Surprise is not that Bhonsla military school’s connection with this politics is coming to surface, surprise is not that Upadhyay and Purohits’ links are coming to surface so late; surprise is that how they hid it so long and so well?
Various components of RSS family sometimes have some differences also, but these are sorted out by the patriarch RSS, through subtle control and ideological mechanisms so that their cohesion with the goal to destroy democracy, through all the means, including using democratic platforms for the same, remains intact. Sadhvi is involved in the blasts or not, army officers or involved in these acts or not should hopefully come out despite their ideological plants scattered all over. What it has brought to our notice is the dangers of this multi headed hydra, which is working in the democratic system with a goal to abolish democracy itself and bring in Hindu nation, another name of fascist formation, abusing the Hindu religion, the religion of Kabir and Gandhi!
In RSS scheme of things the organizational affiliation comes second, the primary thing which they instill is the ideological subordination. Most of those involved in these acts will not have any remorse for what they did, as like the Al Qaeda variety, they are indoctrinated to believe that it is nationalism (Hindu in this case, in Al Qaeda variety it is Islamic nation of course) so what you are doing while instigating anti minority violence or while planting the bombs is for the service of your religion!
While superficially at loggerheads the ideological wavelength of RSS indoctrination is similar to the one used in Pakistani Madrassas for training Al Qaeda. Here the religion is different paradigms are same. To deal with such ideologies leading to acts of terror, what is also needed is to combat their ideological foundations.
Ram Puniyani
The arrest of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in the context of Malegaon blasts of September 29, 2008 has been an important step in the investigation of bomb blasts which have been blowing the social peace and communal amity. Along with her the arrest of army officers, retired and serving, has unfolded the whole new dimension about investigation of acts of terror. The involvement of Bhonsala Military School has also come under the scanner of investigating agencies.
The Sadhvi has been the member of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Durga Vahini, which are the parts of Sangh parivar, before she adorned the saffron robe. Sangh parivar is the word coined by the RSS and its progeny for the whole combine, all of them put together. RSS acts as the central controller and its trained volunteers, swayamsevaks, set up and manage different organizations to pursue the goals of RSS.
Sadhvi’s connections with BJP/RSS top leadership came to the surface and the BJP leadership in particular, distanced itself from her, initially. The ideological and political association was attempted to be played down to a mere acquaintance. Disowning the member of its outfits, after they do the crime is nothing new for Sangh organizations. The first such disowning was done when RSS prachark Nathuram Godse murdered the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Since RSS was not keeping records of its members etc. Nathuram claimed in the court that he had nothing to do with RSS, despite the fact that he was a trained RSS volunteer (swayamsevak). In an interview given to ‘The Times of India’ (25 Jan 98), his brother Gopal Godse, who was also an accomplice in the murder, elaborated the apparent reasons for hiding their affiliation with RSS. “Technically and theoretically he (Nathuram) was a member (of RSS), but he stopped workings for it later. His statement in the court that he had left the RSS was to protect the RSS workers who would be imprisoned following the murder, on the understanding that they (RSS workers) would benefit from his dissociating himself…”
The second major disassociation has been that from Rajendra Pal, alias, Dara Singh who murdered Pastor Graham Steward Stains. His case in the courts was fought by BJP ex Minister Dilip Singh Judeo's brother. Dara Singh himself was an active worker of VHP, Bajrang Dal and other Sangh organizations. All this was denied shamelessly by RSS combine. And now come the one related to the Sadhvi.
After initial quiet on the issue, now the Hindutva parties (BJP, Shiv Sena) are raising the army of lawyers to fight the case for her. Now their plea is that every accused has a right to be defended. So far they have kept quiet when the lawyers of the accused in the acts of terror have been beaten up and many lawyers associations have resolved not to fight the cases of accused in cases of acts of terror.
It was also stated by BJP spokesperson that there is no evidence, proof of involvement of the Sadhvi. The technicalities of this proof in this case apart one will like to know how many times, in how many cases of arrest of ‘alleged Muslim terrorists’ this question is raised. Their being a Muslim is a good enough proof of being a terrorist in this scheme of things propagated by RSS combine, and even the encounters, fake most of them, are welcomed by a section of these.
Then came the argument that since Sadhvi is a follower of ‘cultural nationalism’, she can’t be a terrorist! Here the partisan attitude of those involved in this politics is clear. What they are referring to by cultural nationalism is Hindu nationalism. As such cultural nationalism has been promoted by the practitioners of politics in the name of religion. Be it Muslim terrorists taught in the US promoted Madrassas in Pakistan in yesteryears or the fundamentalists, doing politics in the name of any religion. In case of Hindutva, this cultural nationalism is the opposite of democratic nationalism, where diversity and equality of all is the foundation of the political ethos.
In case of RSS, cultural nationalism, is based on the some religious texts and the culture of elite Hindus, which gives priority to the Brahminical values, the values of caste and gender based inequality. Democratic nationalism has its focus on respecting and approving all cultures and religions, while in RSS scheme of cultural nationalism the Brahminical culture is the base of political nationalism. So what label does one put to the acts of Godse and Dara Singh? Both of them were steeped in the Cultural nationalism propagated by RSS combine. The formula that terrorism done by Muslims is anti national and the acts done by the ilk of Sadhvi are nationalism defies all the logic. Any act of violation of the Indian law is anti national, there can’t be separate set of laws for those indulging in violence and heinous crimes in the name of religion.
After initial hesitation, it started being said that she was pained by the terrorism committed by Muslims, so this revenge terrorism was meant to protect the Hindu society, and so subtle justification and approval for this variety of crime as being the answer to the terrorism done by Muslims. Some commentators are openly glorifying this and some others are quietly going by this logic. One can say that the Bajrang Dal and Sadhvi’s ilk is not into terrorism because of so called Islamic terrorism, it is in this more due to the indoctrination which they have received through RSS indoctrination module. This indoctrination reduces all the political-social issues to the religious ones.
RSS indoctrination is carried out through its Shakha Baudhiks (Branch intellectual sessions) and camps. It says that this is nation belongs to Hindus alone. Here, the Muslims and Christians are foreigners, the secular people are trying to say that this country belongs to all the people, which is wrong. We need to ensure that these threats to Hindu nation are dealt with properly.
RSS type indoctrination has also created the myth that all terrorists are Muslim, deliberately overlooking that terrorists come from all the religious communities, but not due to religious reasons. The reasons behind terrorism are social, economic and political. Be it LTTE, Khalistanis, ULFA, Irish Republican army all have indulged in terrorism, the reasons being anything but religious. In RSS scheme of things all the acts of terror have been projected to be due to Islam and Muslims. So the two modules merge and create the mind set of Sadhvi or Bajrang Dal members who have died while making bombs in Nanded and Kanpur or members of Hindu Jagran Samiti who planted bombs in Thane near Mumbai.
The current involvement of army officers, Bhonsla Military School and the members of different wings of Sangh privar should not be a surprise if one sees the structure and functioning of RSS. RSS founded to oppose democracy and to work for Hindu nation has been working, indoctrinating and creating more and more organizations to fulfill it objective of Hindu nation, which in essence means to restore the feudal hierarchical values of caste and gender in Indian context, to work for status quo around the modern version of Brahminical system. Its trained swayamsevaks, have been on one hand directly entering the political formations, Bhatiay Janata Party, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarhti Parishad, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrma, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Munnani, Bajrang Dal, Samajik Samrasta Manch on one hand, creating subordinate organizations amongst women, Rashtra Seviak Samiti, Durga Vahini etc on the other hand. Vast layers of Saints, the likes Asaram Bapu or Sri Sri Ravishakar, or Narnedra Maharaj are ideologically on same wave length as RSS and through their work they lay the ground for the politics of RSS to flourish in different sections of society.
Its second strategy has been that of infiltration in the different wings of state machinery, police, bureaucracy, Judiciary. On yet another layer its recruits have been working in the field of education and media by the mechanism of infiltration. Its hold and vicious grip on society cannot just be assessed by the electoral strength of BJP. That’s why Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister, in Staten Island could assert that first he is the swayam sevak of RSS and then the prime minister. That’s why in 1977, when the Bharatiya Jansangh, previous avatar of BJP, who were part of Janata Party, were told to severe their links with RSS, they preferred to break the Janata party rather then severing their affiliation with RSS. Its strength comes from the earlier silent, by now violent, infiltration in all spheres of social and political activities. Its wing amongst retired military officers ensures that people like Retired army Officer Upadhyay is probably the part of the Malegaon and other such blasts.
Bhonsala military school has been managed by RSS in more ways than one, so not only it may be a place for hatching the conspiracies for blasts, but also for turning out recruits who can aid and assist this Sangh combine while serving in the army. Surprise is not that Bhonsla military school’s connection with this politics is coming to surface, surprise is not that Upadhyay and Purohits’ links are coming to surface so late; surprise is that how they hid it so long and so well?
Various components of RSS family sometimes have some differences also, but these are sorted out by the patriarch RSS, through subtle control and ideological mechanisms so that their cohesion with the goal to destroy democracy, through all the means, including using democratic platforms for the same, remains intact. Sadhvi is involved in the blasts or not, army officers or involved in these acts or not should hopefully come out despite their ideological plants scattered all over. What it has brought to our notice is the dangers of this multi headed hydra, which is working in the democratic system with a goal to abolish democracy itself and bring in Hindu nation, another name of fascist formation, abusing the Hindu religion, the religion of Kabir and Gandhi!
In RSS scheme of things the organizational affiliation comes second, the primary thing which they instill is the ideological subordination. Most of those involved in these acts will not have any remorse for what they did, as like the Al Qaeda variety, they are indoctrinated to believe that it is nationalism (Hindu in this case, in Al Qaeda variety it is Islamic nation of course) so what you are doing while instigating anti minority violence or while planting the bombs is for the service of your religion!
While superficially at loggerheads the ideological wavelength of RSS indoctrination is similar to the one used in Pakistani Madrassas for training Al Qaeda. Here the religion is different paradigms are same. To deal with such ideologies leading to acts of terror, what is also needed is to combat their ideological foundations.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Nano in Gujarat- Modi's image
Nano in Gujarat- Make Believe Stature of Modi
Ram Puniyani
Shifting of Nano to Gujarat has been projected as a feather in Modi’s cap. With this his already rising popular rating due to the projections by a section of media and blind apologists of current pattern of development has got a big boost. Some from the world of business/vested interests have started saying that Modi is the future of India and if there are five more Modi’s the country will prosper in the real fast way! The additional point being made is that he has shown the path to deal with ‘terror’; he can control this problem in effective way etc.!
The alternative patterns of development, what are the different components of the process apart, lets see his record and the ‘achievements’ in Gujarat. He is the one who gave the final push to convert Gujarat from being a part of democratic India to ‘Hindu Nation in one state’. His projection of Godhra as the preplanned act by Muslim community and unleashing the carnage against this hapless minority has few parallels in the history of India. He presided over a tirade to convert the minorities into second class citizens in his state. Not only did he refuse to let the refugee camps continue, today over five lakh Muslim minority are staying in the proliferating ghettoes of Gujarat, denied the facilities by state and the civic authorities. Most of the indices of Gujarat development relate to increasing affluence of the sections of middle classes while the condition of average and poorer sections are declining badly.
Poverty levels are rising; employment and agriculture are having a bad time. The agricultural production has been declining, e.g. from 65.71 lakh tones in 2003-2004 to 51.53 in 2004-2005. A survey conducted by NSS in 2005 shows that approximately 40% farmers of state said that given the option they would like to shift from away agriculture. Recent studies show that agriculture and labor both have suffered extensively during last one decade. Modi in a reply given in state assembly stated that in one year up to Jan 2007, 148 farmers had committed suicide and the condition is worsening on that score. While on one side the state exports electricity, its villages are having a power deficit. Indian Express 8th April 2007 reported that state is reeling under the shortfall of 900 mega Watt of power, the victims of this are mainly in the villages. One of the indices of poverty, prevalence of anemia is very revealing on this count. The percentage of women suffering from anemia has risen from 46.3% in 1999 to 55.5% in 2004 (Third round of National Family Health survey report 2006) among women. Amongst children it rose from 74.5% to 80.1%. Some of the reports point out the conditions of dalits and women has deteriorated during last decade. For women one of the indices is the declining sex ratio in Gujarat during last decade. The plight of Adivasis is no better.
Gujarat also witnessed the anti Christian violence during Modi regime and Adivasis have been a totally neglected lot in the state, reeling under the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrams Gharvapasi (Conversion into Hinduism) campaigns. Minorities have been reduced to scapegoats and the social partitions are becoming rigid by the day. Some development has taken place in the state, but Gujarat was always amongst the more developed states of the country. It is not that things have started from the scratch.
As far as terrorism is concerned, the acts of terror did take place in the form of attack on Akshardham during his regime. After this Akshardham attack he romped home to electoral victory. A bit later with his bloated chest he started claiming that terrorists dare not enter his state, till of course the bomb blasts in Ahmedabad (2008). After this he propagated that he cannot deal with this phenomenon as he does not have effective laws! This deliberate lie is meant to while wash the fact that terrorism has deeper roots, which cannot be uprooted by brave rhetoric’s which he is adept to dishing out. He has mastered the art of using the opportunity to project him, well assisted by the section of media.
The pattern of things in Gujarat today is clear, it intimidates and brow beat minorities, take up policies which help the affluent and upper middle class, project this and hide the backyard where the poor and minorities stay. No wonder this is what attracts the ilk of Tata, who are very appreciative of Modi, as the backyard of the state, the violation of democratic norms has no meaning for them, the only thing which matters for them is the proliferating coffers of their companies. The considerations of ethical and holistic development don’t matter there. This is no different from the attitude of big industrialists towards Hitler. They backed him to the hilt in his rampage against the democratic norms. It is not for nothing that serious academics like Ashish Nandy describe Modi as the person with classic fascist traits.
The carnage of 2002 and the parallel intimidation of Christian minorities have already paved the way for the religious authoritarianism in the state. Modi is basking in the glory of ‘personally efficient and disciplined’ person. A person should not be judged by a small part of the policies. What is overlooked in this shortsighted evaluation is that whether the said person is committed to democratic values, values of Indian Constitution or not. While the management Gurus and money bags are comfortable with the likes of Hitler/Modi, for the large sections of deprived population such rules are a nightmare. What more can be said about such a person who comes to power through polarizing the society and then rules in a manner where false claims about amity abound. The aura created around him is a sign of ominous dark times for the nation, the times threatening to engulf the values of our plural culture and values of our freedom movement, which emphasized on democracy and equal rights for all.
--
Ram Puniyani
Shifting of Nano to Gujarat has been projected as a feather in Modi’s cap. With this his already rising popular rating due to the projections by a section of media and blind apologists of current pattern of development has got a big boost. Some from the world of business/vested interests have started saying that Modi is the future of India and if there are five more Modi’s the country will prosper in the real fast way! The additional point being made is that he has shown the path to deal with ‘terror’; he can control this problem in effective way etc.!
The alternative patterns of development, what are the different components of the process apart, lets see his record and the ‘achievements’ in Gujarat. He is the one who gave the final push to convert Gujarat from being a part of democratic India to ‘Hindu Nation in one state’. His projection of Godhra as the preplanned act by Muslim community and unleashing the carnage against this hapless minority has few parallels in the history of India. He presided over a tirade to convert the minorities into second class citizens in his state. Not only did he refuse to let the refugee camps continue, today over five lakh Muslim minority are staying in the proliferating ghettoes of Gujarat, denied the facilities by state and the civic authorities. Most of the indices of Gujarat development relate to increasing affluence of the sections of middle classes while the condition of average and poorer sections are declining badly.
Poverty levels are rising; employment and agriculture are having a bad time. The agricultural production has been declining, e.g. from 65.71 lakh tones in 2003-2004 to 51.53 in 2004-2005. A survey conducted by NSS in 2005 shows that approximately 40% farmers of state said that given the option they would like to shift from away agriculture. Recent studies show that agriculture and labor both have suffered extensively during last one decade. Modi in a reply given in state assembly stated that in one year up to Jan 2007, 148 farmers had committed suicide and the condition is worsening on that score. While on one side the state exports electricity, its villages are having a power deficit. Indian Express 8th April 2007 reported that state is reeling under the shortfall of 900 mega Watt of power, the victims of this are mainly in the villages. One of the indices of poverty, prevalence of anemia is very revealing on this count. The percentage of women suffering from anemia has risen from 46.3% in 1999 to 55.5% in 2004 (Third round of National Family Health survey report 2006) among women. Amongst children it rose from 74.5% to 80.1%. Some of the reports point out the conditions of dalits and women has deteriorated during last decade. For women one of the indices is the declining sex ratio in Gujarat during last decade. The plight of Adivasis is no better.
Gujarat also witnessed the anti Christian violence during Modi regime and Adivasis have been a totally neglected lot in the state, reeling under the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashrams Gharvapasi (Conversion into Hinduism) campaigns. Minorities have been reduced to scapegoats and the social partitions are becoming rigid by the day. Some development has taken place in the state, but Gujarat was always amongst the more developed states of the country. It is not that things have started from the scratch.
As far as terrorism is concerned, the acts of terror did take place in the form of attack on Akshardham during his regime. After this Akshardham attack he romped home to electoral victory. A bit later with his bloated chest he started claiming that terrorists dare not enter his state, till of course the bomb blasts in Ahmedabad (2008). After this he propagated that he cannot deal with this phenomenon as he does not have effective laws! This deliberate lie is meant to while wash the fact that terrorism has deeper roots, which cannot be uprooted by brave rhetoric’s which he is adept to dishing out. He has mastered the art of using the opportunity to project him, well assisted by the section of media.
The pattern of things in Gujarat today is clear, it intimidates and brow beat minorities, take up policies which help the affluent and upper middle class, project this and hide the backyard where the poor and minorities stay. No wonder this is what attracts the ilk of Tata, who are very appreciative of Modi, as the backyard of the state, the violation of democratic norms has no meaning for them, the only thing which matters for them is the proliferating coffers of their companies. The considerations of ethical and holistic development don’t matter there. This is no different from the attitude of big industrialists towards Hitler. They backed him to the hilt in his rampage against the democratic norms. It is not for nothing that serious academics like Ashish Nandy describe Modi as the person with classic fascist traits.
The carnage of 2002 and the parallel intimidation of Christian minorities have already paved the way for the religious authoritarianism in the state. Modi is basking in the glory of ‘personally efficient and disciplined’ person. A person should not be judged by a small part of the policies. What is overlooked in this shortsighted evaluation is that whether the said person is committed to democratic values, values of Indian Constitution or not. While the management Gurus and money bags are comfortable with the likes of Hitler/Modi, for the large sections of deprived population such rules are a nightmare. What more can be said about such a person who comes to power through polarizing the society and then rules in a manner where false claims about amity abound. The aura created around him is a sign of ominous dark times for the nation, the times threatening to engulf the values of our plural culture and values of our freedom movement, which emphasized on democracy and equal rights for all.
--
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Whither Indian Democracy?
Whither India: Qualitative change in Polity
Ram Puniyani
Last six months have been most disturbing on the Indian political scene. As far as the values of integration are concerned they are being attacked very severely by terrorist-communal forces. First, we saw the series of bomb blasts, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Malegaon. It was projected by the authorities that all these acts are due to Jehadi Muslim groups that police have succeeded in cracking the network. One outcome of this was the Batla house encounter in which police, bravely killed the terrorists. It put out a version that now the terror ring has been busted and kingpins have been arrested. It is another matter that later the relevant-uncomfortable questions were raised and satisfactory answers to these were not forthcoming. On the top of this the claim that Malegaon blasts were done by SIMI proved to be false as the investigation showed the possibility of ABVP/Bajrang Dal being involved in same.
During the same time two Bajrang dal Activists got killed while making bomb in Kanpur, two activists of Hindu Jagran Samiti were involved in placing the bombs in Thane due to which seven people got injured. During this time again in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, the bombs went off near RSS office and as usual the cry of wolf was made, but the wolf here had different shades than what RSS wanted to propagate, as most of those planting the bombs turned out to be Hindus, with affiliation, which are not difficult to guess.
During the same time the anti Christian violence was orchestrated and launched in Orissa to begin with, later on spilling to Karnataka. The pretext first was that Christians have beaten Swami Laxmananand (December 2007) and later that Christians have killed the swami. Interestingly a Maoist group claimed to have killed him but the RSS combine stated that they don't believe in the claim of Maoists, meaning there by that they have the right to decide who the culprit is!
The third tragedy related to the Hindu Muslim violence in Burhanpur, Dhulia and few other places on the slightest pretext of tearing a banner or some such. What is disturbing is the way things are shaping in the country. The anti Muslim hate propaganda, which has been sustained on various myths have gradually been taking he shape of deep rooted perceptions. Earlier lot of planning and bigger pretext was needed to unleash the violence, now even a small pretext suffices to initiate the mayhem. Some of the properties are well marked in advance for destroying. The loss of lives of minorities is many times more than their presence in population.
The stereotyping of Muslim community through reporting of acts of terror has boosted the negative perception of the community in a serious way. At the same time the there is a realization that there are two set of laws, that they will not get justice and that their feeling of insecurity in the society is going up by leaps and bounds. One does not know whether this disturbs the ruling coalition or not. For Muslim minorities to keep faith in the Governemnt in such circumstances is not difficult, it is impossible.
Christian minority was not the target till quite late. As the hate propaganda based on make believe forcible conversions, allurement, insult of our gods, foreign money keep percolating in the society, and a silent sanction for attacking them started building up. Now even a slightest pretext is sufficient to undertake the despicable violence against the community.
This is a clear case as to how already a social mind set has been created, through word of mouth propaganda and media where by the minorities have been demonized and now the violence against them has become the order of the day. Even the global phenomenon of terrorism and local phenomenon has added on to the same and in this case Islamic terrorism, and 'all terrorists are Muslims' has been made the fodder of social thinking. As such, starting from Golwalkar, RSS's formulation that Muslims and Christians are threats to Hindu nation, to the present day, there is a consistent worsening of the level of demonization of minorities.
These entire social phenomenons are raising a deeper question related to our democracy. Democracy not only ensures that are citizens are treated equally it also stands for giving affirmative action for weaker sections of society. As such the litmus test of democracy is the welfare and security of minorities. Here we see that as to how the marginal stream which came up during freedom movement and kept aloof from it, the Hindutva vehicle, RSS, has been successfully working, using the democratic space to abolish, precisely the democratic values which gave it a space to stand. While totally defamed after Gandhi murder by one of its followers, its acceptability began with Jayapraksh Narayan letting it run the movement, which led to emergency and later formation of Janata Party. RSS began by spreading hate against Muslims and Christians, formulated by its founders and penned by its ideologue, M.S. Golwalkar. Golwalkar instructed that Muslims, Christians and Communists are the threat to Hindu nation. The RSS shakhhas kept spreading this ceaselessly and it became a part of social common sense over a period of time.
RSS also planted its swayamsevaks in different walks of social and political life, education, media, police, bureaucracy etc. Once its political child, Jana Sangh became part of Janata party, it ensured that large number of swaymsevaks become part of media establishment. And later during NDA regime, this game of theirs' had a field day. Capping these efforts through Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, social engineering got intensified in Adivasi areas. With US administration coining the word 'Islamic terrorism' and that propaganda that Madrassas are the dens of training terrorists; RSS completed its indoctrination module.
The deadly poison it spread against minorities first spread hate and created divides in the communities, leading to 'hate other', which in turn forms the base of communal violence. Communal violence in Indian context gets assistance from the communalized state apparatus, sections of police in particular leading to polarization of communities and rise to political power of the communal party. The conveyer belt begins from demonizing other and leads to the RSS's political child becoming politically strong. That's how a political party which managed two seats in parliament in1984 elections has become formidable electoral force today, knocking the democratic values and imposing the religion based nationalism.
Though not in power in center, its machinations are polarizing the society all over, creating divisions in the society, rampaging the rule of law and paving the way for creeping fascism. What is happening today is reminder of how things happened in Germany, with Hitler leading the carnage. Beginning with hate Jews and then Christian minorities, then Communists and trade unionists paved the way for the stifling atmosphere of fascism, authoritarian state with social base. Today we seem to be helplessly watching a similar situation. While RSS combine is behaving like a rampaging bull, Bajrang Dal planting bombs, its workers carrying arms openly, distributing trishuls en masse, the state ruled by so called secular combine, UPA alliance seems to be a helpless observer, as the whole machinery itself seems to be affected by the communal virus.
Where do we go from here? Opposition to this fascist politics, fighting it tooth and nail cannot be postponed by a single minute. The time has come that all those believing in democracy and welfare of all need to come together and put and end to the politics of hate. Popular front at social and political level is the need of the day. The power seeker political formations may not look beyond their personal gains but the social movements need to put the pressure in the right direction for these political people to hang together before we are hanged separately. It is not just a question of opposition to one political formation. The question is can we let the RSS version of Hindusim destroy the Kabir and Gandhi version of Hinduism and religion? The question is can we let the innocent minorities be the scapegoats for the fascist politics to keep on going? Should we let the democratic space be usurped by those wanting to bring in a nation state in the name of religion?
Whether India will nurture the values of freedom movement and strive for human rights of all depends on us, as in no time in past the very concept of democracy has been stifled as much as we are witnessing today.
--
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Nanavati Mehta Report: Godhra Train Burning
Nanavati Report on Godhra Tragedy: Erasing the obvious truths
Ram Puniyani
Recently Justice Nanavati-Mehta (N-M) submitted their report to Govt. What it has done must be very close to the desire of the ruling establishment which reaped a rich harvest due to the Godhra train burning and the anti Muslim pogrom in the aftermath of the same.
The report submitted in month of September 2008, after the investigation for six long years is just the first part, while legally it is tangible that the investigating judge can present the report in parts, the logic behind this for investigation is not clear. The allegations that it has been done with the forthcoming Lok sabha elections in mind are very close to the truth. In a way the outcome of the report should have been well predicted as just some months after being appointed Nanvati and (then) Shah stated that there is not much evidence against VHP etc. that gave the indication that the commission had already made up his mind as to what type of report was to be given. The depositions of the witnesses and the evidence presented was selectively constructed to ratify the pre arrived conclusions or what were to be presented as the conclusions.
N-M report operates on the basis that it was a preplanned conspiracy by local Muslims in collaboration with the ISI. It concludes that Haji Umarji the local cleric presided over the meeting of Muslims where this conspiracy was hatched. They bought 140 liters of petrol, cut open the vestibule between S 6 and S 7, spread the petrol and burnt the coach. This conclusion is arrived without even a single eyewitness to the burning of the train. There were 200 passengers in the overcrowded train but no eye witness account has been cited to ratify their conclusion.
This conspiracy theory has serious holes in it. No one, that the train is carrying the returning Kar Sevaks was not a public knowledge, not even the state officials knew about it. The only people who knew that the Ram sevaks were returning by that train were the VHP-BJP combine. The train was late by five hours and this totally debunks the theory of conspiracy by Muslim community. If they did not know that thrain is carrying Ram Sevaks how could they conspire and how could they implement the same if train was late? If conspiracy is at all to be believed the finger of suspicion should be in some other direction!
Than, if the commission says the vestibule was cut open, why such valuable evidence was permitted to be sold in the scrap? The depositions show that the first train stoppage at Godhra station was due to the Ram Sevaks pulling the chain as some of them were left out on the platform and the second one was due to technical fault. For conspiracy by them they should have stopped the train, which is not the case. This again goes against the conspiracy by Muslims theory.
While trying to come to this theory first N-M operated on the line that the burning rags and some chemicals were thrown from the windows, soon it shifted to the theory that vestibule was cut. The earlier thesis that petrol was poured from outside was not tenable as Forensic laboratory FSL, had strongly maintained that petrol cannot be poured from outside due to the height of the rail track and the height of the train. Then comes the vestibule theory. One imagines for cutting the vestibule the train has to be stopped, which stopped due to technical snag and not due to pulling of chain. And then to cut the vestibule to be able to enter the coach is not an easy job.
The report is a new low, which we witness in the objectivity of inquiry committees. It is totally silent on practically most of the issues involved in the train burning. Sophia Bano was dragged by Kar Sevaks and she stated the same to the commission, but her testimony has been sidelined. The commission has based its total finding on the police officer Noel Parmar, whose findings were rejected by the Supreme Court and so it appointed R.K Raghavan. The hurry, in which N-M has submitted its part one, can easily be understood. As Lok Sabha elections are close, this part is meant to influence that. As such as is clear from the functioning of this commission it was already working to the theory propounded by Narendera Modi in the aftermath of Godhra train burning, and N-M have just ratified his thesis. They have selectively picked and chosen the evidences to suit their preformed opinion, ignoring the crucial testimonies which could have led them to the truth.
The N-M is totally silent on Justice U.C. Bannerjee report. As per the railway act after every major accident, a probe has to be instituted. In this case that time BJP ally Nitish Kumar was the railway minister and he did not abide by the rule, no inquiry was done ostensibly to protect his ally. When Lalu Yadav became the railway minister he instituted Bannerjee committee, which concluded that it was an accident. Now if N-M is coming with it today, already one report is already there, whose finding are contrary to its own. In that case it has to refute them to stand the ground. No such effort is made. One also fails to understand as to why the demand to cross examine Modi was rejected as there was a case for interrorogating him, based on phone call records. Most importantly the whole thesis of burning by patrol falls to the ground with FSL report saying that the analysis of residues shows that petrol was not used.
R.B. Sreekumar has been one of the forthright officers, who refused to bow to the Modi administration. He filed his affidavit giving his version. He also commented that he was threatened by state officials if he dares to speak the truth. He had recorded these conversations also. N-M was duty bound to take these seriously, either to accept them or reject them with due explanation, but there is a total silence on the submissions of Sreekumar.
All in all this report is a disgrace on the norms of investigation. This also symbolizes that there are sections in professional lives who are willing to play to the bidding of the rulers to please them for various reasons or they themselves are heavily under ideological influence to deviate from professionalism, objectivity and pursuit of truth.
Ram Puniyani
Recently Justice Nanavati-Mehta (N-M) submitted their report to Govt. What it has done must be very close to the desire of the ruling establishment which reaped a rich harvest due to the Godhra train burning and the anti Muslim pogrom in the aftermath of the same.
The report submitted in month of September 2008, after the investigation for six long years is just the first part, while legally it is tangible that the investigating judge can present the report in parts, the logic behind this for investigation is not clear. The allegations that it has been done with the forthcoming Lok sabha elections in mind are very close to the truth. In a way the outcome of the report should have been well predicted as just some months after being appointed Nanvati and (then) Shah stated that there is not much evidence against VHP etc. that gave the indication that the commission had already made up his mind as to what type of report was to be given. The depositions of the witnesses and the evidence presented was selectively constructed to ratify the pre arrived conclusions or what were to be presented as the conclusions.
N-M report operates on the basis that it was a preplanned conspiracy by local Muslims in collaboration with the ISI. It concludes that Haji Umarji the local cleric presided over the meeting of Muslims where this conspiracy was hatched. They bought 140 liters of petrol, cut open the vestibule between S 6 and S 7, spread the petrol and burnt the coach. This conclusion is arrived without even a single eyewitness to the burning of the train. There were 200 passengers in the overcrowded train but no eye witness account has been cited to ratify their conclusion.
This conspiracy theory has serious holes in it. No one, that the train is carrying the returning Kar Sevaks was not a public knowledge, not even the state officials knew about it. The only people who knew that the Ram sevaks were returning by that train were the VHP-BJP combine. The train was late by five hours and this totally debunks the theory of conspiracy by Muslim community. If they did not know that thrain is carrying Ram Sevaks how could they conspire and how could they implement the same if train was late? If conspiracy is at all to be believed the finger of suspicion should be in some other direction!
Than, if the commission says the vestibule was cut open, why such valuable evidence was permitted to be sold in the scrap? The depositions show that the first train stoppage at Godhra station was due to the Ram Sevaks pulling the chain as some of them were left out on the platform and the second one was due to technical fault. For conspiracy by them they should have stopped the train, which is not the case. This again goes against the conspiracy by Muslims theory.
While trying to come to this theory first N-M operated on the line that the burning rags and some chemicals were thrown from the windows, soon it shifted to the theory that vestibule was cut. The earlier thesis that petrol was poured from outside was not tenable as Forensic laboratory FSL, had strongly maintained that petrol cannot be poured from outside due to the height of the rail track and the height of the train. Then comes the vestibule theory. One imagines for cutting the vestibule the train has to be stopped, which stopped due to technical snag and not due to pulling of chain. And then to cut the vestibule to be able to enter the coach is not an easy job.
The report is a new low, which we witness in the objectivity of inquiry committees. It is totally silent on practically most of the issues involved in the train burning. Sophia Bano was dragged by Kar Sevaks and she stated the same to the commission, but her testimony has been sidelined. The commission has based its total finding on the police officer Noel Parmar, whose findings were rejected by the Supreme Court and so it appointed R.K Raghavan. The hurry, in which N-M has submitted its part one, can easily be understood. As Lok Sabha elections are close, this part is meant to influence that. As such as is clear from the functioning of this commission it was already working to the theory propounded by Narendera Modi in the aftermath of Godhra train burning, and N-M have just ratified his thesis. They have selectively picked and chosen the evidences to suit their preformed opinion, ignoring the crucial testimonies which could have led them to the truth.
The N-M is totally silent on Justice U.C. Bannerjee report. As per the railway act after every major accident, a probe has to be instituted. In this case that time BJP ally Nitish Kumar was the railway minister and he did not abide by the rule, no inquiry was done ostensibly to protect his ally. When Lalu Yadav became the railway minister he instituted Bannerjee committee, which concluded that it was an accident. Now if N-M is coming with it today, already one report is already there, whose finding are contrary to its own. In that case it has to refute them to stand the ground. No such effort is made. One also fails to understand as to why the demand to cross examine Modi was rejected as there was a case for interrorogating him, based on phone call records. Most importantly the whole thesis of burning by patrol falls to the ground with FSL report saying that the analysis of residues shows that petrol was not used.
R.B. Sreekumar has been one of the forthright officers, who refused to bow to the Modi administration. He filed his affidavit giving his version. He also commented that he was threatened by state officials if he dares to speak the truth. He had recorded these conversations also. N-M was duty bound to take these seriously, either to accept them or reject them with due explanation, but there is a total silence on the submissions of Sreekumar.
All in all this report is a disgrace on the norms of investigation. This also symbolizes that there are sections in professional lives who are willing to play to the bidding of the rulers to please them for various reasons or they themselves are heavily under ideological influence to deviate from professionalism, objectivity and pursuit of truth.
Monday, September 15, 2008
A house for Shabana Azmi
A House for Shabana Azmi
Ram Puniyani
One of the major contributions of Shabana Azmi in the arena of human rights was to work for the housing rights. It was ironical that the actor of such exceptional talents and the social activist with such dedication and commitment was denied the purchase of house, not once but twice in the locality of her choice. Voicing her pain she did comment in a TV show that Indian democracy is being unfair to the Muslims and recounted her experience. (August 2008). Apart from other people, a few from film community swooped on her, criticizing her statement as false, irresponsible, communal and what not! Even the actor of stature of Shatrughan Sinha criticized and admonished her.
One journalist from a prominent newspaper wanted to prove her wrong; he rang up few builders from his plush office and came to the conclusion that there is no discrimination in the selling of houses. One of the film persons stooped to the level of counting Azmi’s houses, and said that if Muslims are denied they should be living on the streets! Such ‘brilliant’ logic in a sensitive socio political issue can only be expected from those who live in the ivory towers unaware of the social realities.
To begin with, it is a not an issue as to how many houses Azmi owns. The point is that she wished to buy a particular house and the broker told her she cannot get it as she is a Muslim. Muslims are not living on streets, but a large section of them has to live in ghettos, is known to all and sundry barring the one’s wearing saffron glasses. There are colonies of Parsis and Jains and vegetarians who do not let those not belonging to their ilk to buy the flats in their colonies. This trend can neither be idolized nor be compared to the large social phenomenon of Muslims being denied housing, as these communities (Jains, Parsis) themselves are too tiny, their reasons and their inward looking tendencies are retrograde but having different socio-psychological reasons. The case of Muslims came more to the fore from the decades of Nineties, after the communal politics has started threatening the democratic polity in a serious way, resulting in increase in the intensity of communal violence.
The Mumbai violence of 92-93 was followed by the internal migration of the battered minority. Many from minority were displaced or chose to shift to areas, which may be safer for them, Mumbra, Jogeshwari, Bhendi Bazar being the foremost. Incidentally the population of Mumbra before the violence was less than a lakh; today it is more than 7 Lakhs! Similarly many a friends from minority community sold their houses in the mixed areas to shift to the Muslim majority areas, increasing the pressure on civic amenities in those areas.
In Gujarat also ‘borders’, ‘Gaza Strips’ have come up to supplement the ‘mini Pakistans’. As the extent of myths, biases, stereotypes against minorities are going through the roof, the mental partitions are created and these partitions get converted in to the ones of brick and mortar. The communal partitions are the definite aftermath of the communal violence. In Gujarat, the victims of violence were not permitted to return into their own houses, even the written undertakings were demanded from the victims that they will not seek legal justice for whatever happened to them during the violence.
Today, six years after the Gujarat carnage, nearly five lakhs Muslims have to live in isolated ghettoes, and that too in abysmal situations. The extension of civic and other amenities to these areas is conspicuous by its absence. Water, sanitation, health, education, banking and other amenities and facilities are not reaching these areas. These internally displaced people are being helped only by conservative Muslim groups, who are competing with each other in increasing their area of influence amongst them. This is also becoming the zone with poverty, illiteracy, hunger, disease and misery. These conditions are worst in the whole of state. Since the state is shirking from its basic responsibilities of provision of infrastructure for social life, the Muslim fundamentalist groups are providing the same and are also having a field day in these areas. Who is to blame for this, a particular religion or the communal politics which not only resulted in the massive genocide but even now is dictating the state policies by abandoning the responsibilities of the victims of violence and others from minorities who have felt insecure and shifted or were made to shift in these areas!
The message of communal agenda manifested through violence and through creating difficult situation for minorities is now isolating them in most parts of India. So one can see the trajectory of violence as follows, it begins with pre violence biases, stereotypes, then violence, post violence neglect, isolation, ghettoization and finally leads to partitioning of the national community at emotional and physical level.
The communal violence always polarizes the communities. In the initial phase till, say the seventies, the ghettoisation was minimal. From the decade of nineties, on one hand the communal violence has gone into higher gear, ‘hate other’ sentiments have worsened and this ‘non sale of housing units to the Muslim minority’ started becoming unwritten norm. What can be more ironical than the fact that a housing rights activist herself is denied the house, just because she carries a Muslim name!
The second irony is that the RSS politics, which is based on Brahminical values, codes of Manu in a modern form, the caste system in a subtle form, which disguises it by coining the term ‘integral nationalism’ is creating new ghettoes. The traditional Varna system created the ghettoes for untouchables. This social thinking, finding place in Brahiminical tomes justified the exclusion of dalits from the villages. So separate housing for them. Typically Maharwadas (dalit ghettoes outside villages) in Maharashtra were the norm. Now the same thinking is creating new untouchables, and so barring few exceptions the average and even middle class Muslims have to look for housing in ‘special areas’.
Critics of Azmi deliberately overlook the social reality being created due to the politics of communalism. Due to the rise of communal violence, due to the social common thinking which is becoming worse by the day, its worst culmination goes on to equate terrorism with Islam and Muslims.
Most of those involved with social work do come across such cases of discrimination times and over again. No builder in majority, mixed area is going to put the hoarding that Muslims are not acceptable, it operates subtly. There have been sting operations also where this fact has been brought to light. Surely going by Azmi’s experience, one only feels that now even a person totally seeped in Indian-ness, upholding human ethos with utmost sincerity, can also be denied house because of her Muslim name! Normally it should be a matter of honor that such an accomplished actor and committed rights activist lives in one’s neighbouhood. If she is denied the house the only inference is that the communal partitions are near total.
Where is national integration? During freedom movement, the major task of father of the nation was to cultivate and highlight the national Indian community. That’s how people of different religions joined the movement, shoulder to shoulder to build Indian nation, Indian community. What is going on with the rise of communalism is not merely the violence against this or that community; it is an assault on the values of Indian nationhood, on the values emerging from freedom movement. We do need a second freedom movement, freedom from communal mindset, freedom from the divisive politics in the name of religion?
--
ram.puniyani@gmail.com
Ram Puniyani
One of the major contributions of Shabana Azmi in the arena of human rights was to work for the housing rights. It was ironical that the actor of such exceptional talents and the social activist with such dedication and commitment was denied the purchase of house, not once but twice in the locality of her choice. Voicing her pain she did comment in a TV show that Indian democracy is being unfair to the Muslims and recounted her experience. (August 2008). Apart from other people, a few from film community swooped on her, criticizing her statement as false, irresponsible, communal and what not! Even the actor of stature of Shatrughan Sinha criticized and admonished her.
One journalist from a prominent newspaper wanted to prove her wrong; he rang up few builders from his plush office and came to the conclusion that there is no discrimination in the selling of houses. One of the film persons stooped to the level of counting Azmi’s houses, and said that if Muslims are denied they should be living on the streets! Such ‘brilliant’ logic in a sensitive socio political issue can only be expected from those who live in the ivory towers unaware of the social realities.
To begin with, it is a not an issue as to how many houses Azmi owns. The point is that she wished to buy a particular house and the broker told her she cannot get it as she is a Muslim. Muslims are not living on streets, but a large section of them has to live in ghettos, is known to all and sundry barring the one’s wearing saffron glasses. There are colonies of Parsis and Jains and vegetarians who do not let those not belonging to their ilk to buy the flats in their colonies. This trend can neither be idolized nor be compared to the large social phenomenon of Muslims being denied housing, as these communities (Jains, Parsis) themselves are too tiny, their reasons and their inward looking tendencies are retrograde but having different socio-psychological reasons. The case of Muslims came more to the fore from the decades of Nineties, after the communal politics has started threatening the democratic polity in a serious way, resulting in increase in the intensity of communal violence.
The Mumbai violence of 92-93 was followed by the internal migration of the battered minority. Many from minority were displaced or chose to shift to areas, which may be safer for them, Mumbra, Jogeshwari, Bhendi Bazar being the foremost. Incidentally the population of Mumbra before the violence was less than a lakh; today it is more than 7 Lakhs! Similarly many a friends from minority community sold their houses in the mixed areas to shift to the Muslim majority areas, increasing the pressure on civic amenities in those areas.
In Gujarat also ‘borders’, ‘Gaza Strips’ have come up to supplement the ‘mini Pakistans’. As the extent of myths, biases, stereotypes against minorities are going through the roof, the mental partitions are created and these partitions get converted in to the ones of brick and mortar. The communal partitions are the definite aftermath of the communal violence. In Gujarat, the victims of violence were not permitted to return into their own houses, even the written undertakings were demanded from the victims that they will not seek legal justice for whatever happened to them during the violence.
Today, six years after the Gujarat carnage, nearly five lakhs Muslims have to live in isolated ghettoes, and that too in abysmal situations. The extension of civic and other amenities to these areas is conspicuous by its absence. Water, sanitation, health, education, banking and other amenities and facilities are not reaching these areas. These internally displaced people are being helped only by conservative Muslim groups, who are competing with each other in increasing their area of influence amongst them. This is also becoming the zone with poverty, illiteracy, hunger, disease and misery. These conditions are worst in the whole of state. Since the state is shirking from its basic responsibilities of provision of infrastructure for social life, the Muslim fundamentalist groups are providing the same and are also having a field day in these areas. Who is to blame for this, a particular religion or the communal politics which not only resulted in the massive genocide but even now is dictating the state policies by abandoning the responsibilities of the victims of violence and others from minorities who have felt insecure and shifted or were made to shift in these areas!
The message of communal agenda manifested through violence and through creating difficult situation for minorities is now isolating them in most parts of India. So one can see the trajectory of violence as follows, it begins with pre violence biases, stereotypes, then violence, post violence neglect, isolation, ghettoization and finally leads to partitioning of the national community at emotional and physical level.
The communal violence always polarizes the communities. In the initial phase till, say the seventies, the ghettoisation was minimal. From the decade of nineties, on one hand the communal violence has gone into higher gear, ‘hate other’ sentiments have worsened and this ‘non sale of housing units to the Muslim minority’ started becoming unwritten norm. What can be more ironical than the fact that a housing rights activist herself is denied the house, just because she carries a Muslim name!
The second irony is that the RSS politics, which is based on Brahminical values, codes of Manu in a modern form, the caste system in a subtle form, which disguises it by coining the term ‘integral nationalism’ is creating new ghettoes. The traditional Varna system created the ghettoes for untouchables. This social thinking, finding place in Brahiminical tomes justified the exclusion of dalits from the villages. So separate housing for them. Typically Maharwadas (dalit ghettoes outside villages) in Maharashtra were the norm. Now the same thinking is creating new untouchables, and so barring few exceptions the average and even middle class Muslims have to look for housing in ‘special areas’.
Critics of Azmi deliberately overlook the social reality being created due to the politics of communalism. Due to the rise of communal violence, due to the social common thinking which is becoming worse by the day, its worst culmination goes on to equate terrorism with Islam and Muslims.
Most of those involved with social work do come across such cases of discrimination times and over again. No builder in majority, mixed area is going to put the hoarding that Muslims are not acceptable, it operates subtly. There have been sting operations also where this fact has been brought to light. Surely going by Azmi’s experience, one only feels that now even a person totally seeped in Indian-ness, upholding human ethos with utmost sincerity, can also be denied house because of her Muslim name! Normally it should be a matter of honor that such an accomplished actor and committed rights activist lives in one’s neighbouhood. If she is denied the house the only inference is that the communal partitions are near total.
Where is national integration? During freedom movement, the major task of father of the nation was to cultivate and highlight the national Indian community. That’s how people of different religions joined the movement, shoulder to shoulder to build Indian nation, Indian community. What is going on with the rise of communalism is not merely the violence against this or that community; it is an assault on the values of Indian nationhood, on the values emerging from freedom movement. We do need a second freedom movement, freedom from communal mindset, freedom from the divisive politics in the name of religion?
--
ram.puniyani@gmail.com
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Then they came for Christians...
Then they came for Christians…
Ram Puniyani
Orissa is witnessing unprecedented violence against the tiny Christian minority. On August 23, 2008, Swami Laxmananand along with his four followers was killed, probably by a group of Maoists. Immediately, anti-Christian violence began on big scale. The way it began it seemed as if preparations for it were well afoot. It was systematic and widespread. It sounded as if preparation was already there, just the pretext was being waited for. So far many innocent Christians have been killed, wounded and rendered homeless apart from many Churches having been torched. The RSS combine, VHP-Adivasi Kalyan Ashram-Bajarang Dal, allege that Swami was killed by Christians, or there is collusion between Maoists and Christians. It is unlikely that there is any such alliance between the two. Any way, what is important is that the crime of murder of Swami must be properly investigated and guilty must be punished as per the law of the land.
Just to recall anti Christian tirade was also launched in December 2007, around Christmas time. That time also the pretext was that Christians have beaten up Swami and so this ‘revenge’. For RSS combine launching such bouts of violence by now is becoming a child’s play. Search for a pretext, launch your well oiled machinery for the communal agenda, communalize the society along religious lines and strengthen your political base seems to be its trajectory. The similar phenomenon was observed in Gujarat, after the burning of Sabarmati coach S 6 at Godhra. Modi announced that it has been done by local Muslims. There was no need to wait for the proper investigation, no need to follow the norm of railway board that every such event must be investigated, and tirade was launched with full vigor, and split in the society along religious lines was brought in ensuring BJP coming back to power. This victory of BJP was despite the decline of popularity of BJP. Anti incumbency was nullified and Modi returned to power to further his agenda. Power of polarizing the society by communal violence was at display at its worst.
This, by now is the standard technique, spread canards, myths, biases against minorities, look for pretext and go for the kill under the tolerating eyes of communalized state apparatus. If BJP is in power or is an ally in the seat of power, the job is easier. Anti Christian violence went on higher gear in the same year in which BJP came to power in the Center in 1996. The pretext was that Christian missionaries are converting the gullible Adivasis by force, fraud and allurement. This incitement was skillfully utilized by Adivasis Kalyan Ashram, VHP and Bajrang dal, and the violence started going up in intensity over the years. The most ghastly of this was seen in the burning alive of Pastor Graham Stains along with his two innocent sons, aged 11 and 7 years. This was immediately followed by the murder of Fr. Arul Das. Also Sheikh Rahman was killed on the charges of trading in cows for slaughter. Anti Christian atmosphere was built up and as this was more in the remote places where Adivasis do not have easy access to law, police etc, anyway there efficacy in helping minorities from the onslaught of RSS combine is also doubtful by now, the process has been going on and on. The violence kept on simmering and kept taking intense forms around the Christmas times. In a way a new Christmas ritual of burning churches and beating up Christians around Christmas time became a sort of annual event. It is immaterial that the number of Christians is miniscule in Indian society, it is immaterial that Christian missionaries are working in India from first century A.D. itself, it is immaterial that the despite the allegations from RSS combine, the population of Christians as per the census figures has been declining constantly. In the face of these facts the argument proffered was that since the converts to Christianity don’t want to loose their privileges that don’t declare their true religion and are crypto Christians. The simple point is that Adivasis, where the missionary work is maximum, don’t loose such privileges after conversion. Gobbles must be turning in his grave with his followers surpassing him many times over!
In it not a mere coincidence that maximum violence in Adivasi areas has been seen in the poorest regions. Dangs in Gujarat is the poorest district of Gujarat, and Orissa is amongst the poorest states of the country. The main reason for violence against Christians is to ensure that the welfare, educational services offered by them do not reach the Adivasis and that they remain poor and illiterate, that the status quo in these areas prevails so that the democratic space for these wretched of the society is blocked by the religiosity cultivated through Swamis. We saw two processes of co-option and one political process of intimidation in these regions. Through Swamis, Laxmananad (Orissa), Assemanand (Dangs) and followers of Asaram bapu in Jhabua area, they did the cooption work, Gharvapasi, conversion in to Hinduism. Through mega processes like Shabri Kumbh in Dangs, Hindu Sangams in other Adivasi areas, an intimidating atmosphere has been created to draw them to RSS fold. The other process is the political one. This is the building up of mechanism where by Dara Singh’s, and his clones are ready waiting for pretexts to pounce upon the social fabric of unity. The violence is made to look as spontaneous and is a part of a process of revenge. It is neither, it is well planned un-folding of RSS agenda. Even Wadhva Commission, pointed out that there was no conversion activity by Pastor Stains. The civic rights groups have pointed out that the violence has political foundations and has nothing to do with religion or conversion. A Peoples tribunal headed by retired Justice Usha also warned about the preparedness of the communal organizations for violence,
The case of Orissa was specifically investigated by India Peoples Tribunal, led by Justice K.K.Usha (retired) of Kerala High court in 2006 (Communalism in Orissa). This tribunal forewarns about the shape of things to come. " The tribunal assessed the spread of communal organizations in Orissa, which has been accompanied by a series of small and large events and some riots…such violations are utilized to generate the threat and reality of greater violence, and build an infrastructure of fear and intimidation." It further notes that minorities are being grossly ill treated; there is gross inaction of the state Govt to take action. Outlining the mechanism of the communalization, it points out, "The report also describes in considerable detail how the cadre of majoritarian communal organizations is indoctrinated in hatred and violence against other communities it holds to be inherently inferior. If such communalization is undertaken in Orissa, it is indicative of the future of the nation… the signs are truly ominous for India's democratic future." (p 70)
In all the Adivasis areas, a dangerous situation, and occasionally an apparent calm prevail. While swami Laxmananand’s killers deserve the punishment, Swami’s followers are spreading hate in these areas and vitiating the atmosphere. One can also see the communalization of state apparatus and BJP protecting its marauding mobs either by pulling the strings from the seats of power or by spreading the canards against the weaker sections of society. Interestingly as pointed out above, the December 2007 violence was launched on the pretext that Christians have beaten up the Swami! We do need to look back and check the activities of those spreading hate in the name of religion. While the Christian sects are dime a dozen, all are not in the business of proselytization. Few of them must be indulging in wrong practices, but surely law of the land can take care of those not following it. Permitting violence by the state machinery tantamount to violation of the oath taken by those in power, and they should to be suspended form the seats of power. And if they are not able to protect the innocent citizens of their state, why should they continue to rule? The question is which political force is above suspicion and honest enough to abide by the laws of Indian constitution? The question also arises, is the state bureaucracy and police honest enough to protect the minorities? Time to introspect and set the things right at deeper level of governance and politics.
Ram Puniyani
Orissa is witnessing unprecedented violence against the tiny Christian minority. On August 23, 2008, Swami Laxmananand along with his four followers was killed, probably by a group of Maoists. Immediately, anti-Christian violence began on big scale. The way it began it seemed as if preparations for it were well afoot. It was systematic and widespread. It sounded as if preparation was already there, just the pretext was being waited for. So far many innocent Christians have been killed, wounded and rendered homeless apart from many Churches having been torched. The RSS combine, VHP-Adivasi Kalyan Ashram-Bajarang Dal, allege that Swami was killed by Christians, or there is collusion between Maoists and Christians. It is unlikely that there is any such alliance between the two. Any way, what is important is that the crime of murder of Swami must be properly investigated and guilty must be punished as per the law of the land.
Just to recall anti Christian tirade was also launched in December 2007, around Christmas time. That time also the pretext was that Christians have beaten up Swami and so this ‘revenge’. For RSS combine launching such bouts of violence by now is becoming a child’s play. Search for a pretext, launch your well oiled machinery for the communal agenda, communalize the society along religious lines and strengthen your political base seems to be its trajectory. The similar phenomenon was observed in Gujarat, after the burning of Sabarmati coach S 6 at Godhra. Modi announced that it has been done by local Muslims. There was no need to wait for the proper investigation, no need to follow the norm of railway board that every such event must be investigated, and tirade was launched with full vigor, and split in the society along religious lines was brought in ensuring BJP coming back to power. This victory of BJP was despite the decline of popularity of BJP. Anti incumbency was nullified and Modi returned to power to further his agenda. Power of polarizing the society by communal violence was at display at its worst.
This, by now is the standard technique, spread canards, myths, biases against minorities, look for pretext and go for the kill under the tolerating eyes of communalized state apparatus. If BJP is in power or is an ally in the seat of power, the job is easier. Anti Christian violence went on higher gear in the same year in which BJP came to power in the Center in 1996. The pretext was that Christian missionaries are converting the gullible Adivasis by force, fraud and allurement. This incitement was skillfully utilized by Adivasis Kalyan Ashram, VHP and Bajrang dal, and the violence started going up in intensity over the years. The most ghastly of this was seen in the burning alive of Pastor Graham Stains along with his two innocent sons, aged 11 and 7 years. This was immediately followed by the murder of Fr. Arul Das. Also Sheikh Rahman was killed on the charges of trading in cows for slaughter. Anti Christian atmosphere was built up and as this was more in the remote places where Adivasis do not have easy access to law, police etc, anyway there efficacy in helping minorities from the onslaught of RSS combine is also doubtful by now, the process has been going on and on. The violence kept on simmering and kept taking intense forms around the Christmas times. In a way a new Christmas ritual of burning churches and beating up Christians around Christmas time became a sort of annual event. It is immaterial that the number of Christians is miniscule in Indian society, it is immaterial that Christian missionaries are working in India from first century A.D. itself, it is immaterial that the despite the allegations from RSS combine, the population of Christians as per the census figures has been declining constantly. In the face of these facts the argument proffered was that since the converts to Christianity don’t want to loose their privileges that don’t declare their true religion and are crypto Christians. The simple point is that Adivasis, where the missionary work is maximum, don’t loose such privileges after conversion. Gobbles must be turning in his grave with his followers surpassing him many times over!
In it not a mere coincidence that maximum violence in Adivasi areas has been seen in the poorest regions. Dangs in Gujarat is the poorest district of Gujarat, and Orissa is amongst the poorest states of the country. The main reason for violence against Christians is to ensure that the welfare, educational services offered by them do not reach the Adivasis and that they remain poor and illiterate, that the status quo in these areas prevails so that the democratic space for these wretched of the society is blocked by the religiosity cultivated through Swamis. We saw two processes of co-option and one political process of intimidation in these regions. Through Swamis, Laxmananad (Orissa), Assemanand (Dangs) and followers of Asaram bapu in Jhabua area, they did the cooption work, Gharvapasi, conversion in to Hinduism. Through mega processes like Shabri Kumbh in Dangs, Hindu Sangams in other Adivasi areas, an intimidating atmosphere has been created to draw them to RSS fold. The other process is the political one. This is the building up of mechanism where by Dara Singh’s, and his clones are ready waiting for pretexts to pounce upon the social fabric of unity. The violence is made to look as spontaneous and is a part of a process of revenge. It is neither, it is well planned un-folding of RSS agenda. Even Wadhva Commission, pointed out that there was no conversion activity by Pastor Stains. The civic rights groups have pointed out that the violence has political foundations and has nothing to do with religion or conversion. A Peoples tribunal headed by retired Justice Usha also warned about the preparedness of the communal organizations for violence,
The case of Orissa was specifically investigated by India Peoples Tribunal, led by Justice K.K.Usha (retired) of Kerala High court in 2006 (Communalism in Orissa). This tribunal forewarns about the shape of things to come. " The tribunal assessed the spread of communal organizations in Orissa, which has been accompanied by a series of small and large events and some riots…such violations are utilized to generate the threat and reality of greater violence, and build an infrastructure of fear and intimidation." It further notes that minorities are being grossly ill treated; there is gross inaction of the state Govt to take action. Outlining the mechanism of the communalization, it points out, "The report also describes in considerable detail how the cadre of majoritarian communal organizations is indoctrinated in hatred and violence against other communities it holds to be inherently inferior. If such communalization is undertaken in Orissa, it is indicative of the future of the nation… the signs are truly ominous for India's democratic future." (p 70)
In all the Adivasis areas, a dangerous situation, and occasionally an apparent calm prevail. While swami Laxmananand’s killers deserve the punishment, Swami’s followers are spreading hate in these areas and vitiating the atmosphere. One can also see the communalization of state apparatus and BJP protecting its marauding mobs either by pulling the strings from the seats of power or by spreading the canards against the weaker sections of society. Interestingly as pointed out above, the December 2007 violence was launched on the pretext that Christians have beaten up the Swami! We do need to look back and check the activities of those spreading hate in the name of religion. While the Christian sects are dime a dozen, all are not in the business of proselytization. Few of them must be indulging in wrong practices, but surely law of the land can take care of those not following it. Permitting violence by the state machinery tantamount to violation of the oath taken by those in power, and they should to be suspended form the seats of power. And if they are not able to protect the innocent citizens of their state, why should they continue to rule? The question is which political force is above suspicion and honest enough to abide by the laws of Indian constitution? The question also arises, is the state bureaucracy and police honest enough to protect the minorities? Time to introspect and set the things right at deeper level of governance and politics.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Ahemdabad Blasts
Combating Terrorism
Ram Puniyani
The sufferings of the country are worst compounded with the occurrence of acts of terror. Every such act not only inflicts bodily blow to the innocents but also acts as a divisive force, subtly polarizing the communities and weakening the bonds of National integration. One is not talking of the massive bonhomie shown by the communities in the wake of terror attack. Actually immediately after the attack the communities come together like solid rocks, helping each other in the moments of grief. One is talking of the strengthening of communal politics, which emerges stronger after the terror attacks. The role which communal violence has played during last two and a half decades, of dividing the nation, gets a deeper strength due to these blasts as by now despite the most immediate protests by most of the Muslim groups, coming out with severest condemnation of these dastardly acts, the 'social common sense' that 'all terrorists are Muslims' does get a shot in the arm.
The blasts of Bangluru, 25th July 2008, and the one's in Ahemadabad, 26th July 2008, left a trail of blood and suffering. The bombs in Bangluru were crude unsophisticated, ones’ meant more to frighten than to kill. Out of 9 areas, which were hit by these none of the areas was that of IT affluence, four Muslim majority areas were part of it. In Ahmedabad also neither RDX nor other trade marks of 'Jehadi' terrorists were clear. A cycle, Ammonium Nitrite and low level of intensity was the hall mark of these bombs also. At the same time many of these bombs were defused in Surat, these did leave a question mark in mind. How did only one political groups’ members knew that bombs are there at particular spots, and how come they confidently picked up the live bombs in front of cameras?
When these blasts took place many a significant events had been taking place in the country. The Manmohan Singh Government won the vote of confidence and Advani, the leader of opposition and BJP did feel humbled due to passing of confidence motion in Lok sabha. BJP led agitation in Jammu for Government land for a Shrine board has been peaking to the communal heights, which may leave a severe mark on the values of national integration. A pilgrimage by Hindus which was extensively managed by Muslims, a pilgrimage which was the major tourist attraction and means of livelihood for Muslim majority state is being communalized in a severe form. And in Gujarat itself, a close spiritual ally of BJP, Asaram Bapu, has been mired in the doubts following the death of four boys in his Ashrams. In Gujarat Narendra Modi had blurted that Jehadi terrorists will not dare to enter his state, so who entered?
It is not that we have not witnessed the acts of terror before. Starting from attack on Parliament, Ansal Plaza, Akshrdham temple, Raghunath Temple in Jammu; during NDA regime to blasts in Malegaon, Samjhauta express, Nanded, Jalana , Parbhani, attack on RSS headquarters in Nagpur and Chennai, killing of two Bajrang Dal workers in Nanded while making bombs, Hyderabad blasts and Jaipur one's the country has suffered enormously during recent times. Post blasts some scenarios have become fairly repetitive. Some of these are welcome while others should raise our eyebrows. What is welcome is the post blast community response of helping the victims. What should raise our eyebrows are, first, the fact that failure of intelligence agency to either gather intelligence or to act in time. Second, the pet thesis is immediately dished out by investigating agencies, pointing its fingers to ISI, HUJI, SIMI and other organizations which give clear boost to the popular perception that all terrorists are Muslims. Some Muslims, beards or without, are arrested and languish in jail. Barring steps where few helpful terrorists have been carrying their dairies, phone numbers of contact to make the job of our agencies easier, the charges against those arrested, have not been proved most of the times. The whole set of allegations begins with a bang and ends with a whimper. Interestingly though this happens case after case, no rethink on the issue! Third, there are some instances when the investigative agencies have got a success, but these events, as their results are contrary to what are the popular theories about who the terrorists are, remain in the backyard of popular consciousness and remain a foot note in the media.
Three such cases of underplayed 'success' and simultaneously a failure to learn from those are glaringly obvious. First, on April 2006 two Bajrang Dal workers died while making bombs, false moustache and typical clothes of a Muslim were recovered from the site and one of the survivors of the accident stated that Hindus should be doing blasts; else they will be taken as eunuchs. These blasts should be done on Fridays near the mosques where the congregation of Muslims generally takes place in the afternoon. The blasts in Parbhani, Jalana did follow this pattern and Samjhauta express case was also very similar. In the blasts which took place in Thane and nearby places (June 2008), the connection of Hindu Jagran and Sanatan Ashram was proved beyond any shadow of doubt. The Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad succeeded in apprehending the culprits. The case of attack on RSS head office in Chennai also was led to the culprits, who were the RSS workers only. What is a bit surprising this time is that BJP spokespersons who usually blame some Muslim terrorist group in the aftermath of the blasts, this time has accused Congress for the same. Their blaming Congress out of frustration is understandable but how come the needle of their suspicion is not on the usual suspects?
Now while this is the overall schemata of these tragic events, what do the political parties say to it? So far, during the UPA regime BJP after every act of terror has been calling for more stringent laws, particularly POTA. What does POTA entail? It merely empowers the authorities to arrest any body on the grounds of suspicion and to put them behind bars infinitely. Despite POTA many attacks took place while this was in place during NDA regime. Then there is an argument that BJP governments are better motivated to deal with terrorism. Most of the recent attacks of terror have taken place in BJP ruled states, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat. Despite Modi’s boast that terrorist dare not touch his state as they know he can deal with them.
Whatever are the other interpretations, one thing stands out undisputed and that's that these acts in the long term benefit the communal politics. Communal, divisive politics has become stronger with the rise of communal violence during last two decades. Most of the inquiry committee reports (Communalism Combat March 1998) show us that somewhere the hand of a BJP associate organization is there in orchestrating the violence. What communal violence was doing earlier, polarizing the communities, is now being done by the acts of terror, as the propaganda that ‘it is those from one religious community do it’ has succeeded like nothing else.
No body can deny the role of Pakistan Administration, the role of AL Qaeda types (both supported and propped up by US for oil interests) had a very adverse impact on the south Asian perceptions about such acts. It is post Al Qaeda and post communal violence 92-93 Mumbai, that these insane acts were sometimes presented to be done for the defense of faith! The role of US media in coining and propagating the word Islamic terrorism, post 9/11 completed the circle.
It is high time we get over this mind set and our agencies get over the preformed notions to be able to crack the real culprits, the way they could do in Thane. And surely no investigation which begins with preformed biases can succeed in proper results and the real elimination of the problem.
--
Issues in Secular Politics
August 2008 I
www.pluralindia.com
Ram Puniyani
The sufferings of the country are worst compounded with the occurrence of acts of terror. Every such act not only inflicts bodily blow to the innocents but also acts as a divisive force, subtly polarizing the communities and weakening the bonds of National integration. One is not talking of the massive bonhomie shown by the communities in the wake of terror attack. Actually immediately after the attack the communities come together like solid rocks, helping each other in the moments of grief. One is talking of the strengthening of communal politics, which emerges stronger after the terror attacks. The role which communal violence has played during last two and a half decades, of dividing the nation, gets a deeper strength due to these blasts as by now despite the most immediate protests by most of the Muslim groups, coming out with severest condemnation of these dastardly acts, the 'social common sense' that 'all terrorists are Muslims' does get a shot in the arm.
The blasts of Bangluru, 25th July 2008, and the one's in Ahemadabad, 26th July 2008, left a trail of blood and suffering. The bombs in Bangluru were crude unsophisticated, ones’ meant more to frighten than to kill. Out of 9 areas, which were hit by these none of the areas was that of IT affluence, four Muslim majority areas were part of it. In Ahmedabad also neither RDX nor other trade marks of 'Jehadi' terrorists were clear. A cycle, Ammonium Nitrite and low level of intensity was the hall mark of these bombs also. At the same time many of these bombs were defused in Surat, these did leave a question mark in mind. How did only one political groups’ members knew that bombs are there at particular spots, and how come they confidently picked up the live bombs in front of cameras?
When these blasts took place many a significant events had been taking place in the country. The Manmohan Singh Government won the vote of confidence and Advani, the leader of opposition and BJP did feel humbled due to passing of confidence motion in Lok sabha. BJP led agitation in Jammu for Government land for a Shrine board has been peaking to the communal heights, which may leave a severe mark on the values of national integration. A pilgrimage by Hindus which was extensively managed by Muslims, a pilgrimage which was the major tourist attraction and means of livelihood for Muslim majority state is being communalized in a severe form. And in Gujarat itself, a close spiritual ally of BJP, Asaram Bapu, has been mired in the doubts following the death of four boys in his Ashrams. In Gujarat Narendra Modi had blurted that Jehadi terrorists will not dare to enter his state, so who entered?
It is not that we have not witnessed the acts of terror before. Starting from attack on Parliament, Ansal Plaza, Akshrdham temple, Raghunath Temple in Jammu; during NDA regime to blasts in Malegaon, Samjhauta express, Nanded, Jalana , Parbhani, attack on RSS headquarters in Nagpur and Chennai, killing of two Bajrang Dal workers in Nanded while making bombs, Hyderabad blasts and Jaipur one's the country has suffered enormously during recent times. Post blasts some scenarios have become fairly repetitive. Some of these are welcome while others should raise our eyebrows. What is welcome is the post blast community response of helping the victims. What should raise our eyebrows are, first, the fact that failure of intelligence agency to either gather intelligence or to act in time. Second, the pet thesis is immediately dished out by investigating agencies, pointing its fingers to ISI, HUJI, SIMI and other organizations which give clear boost to the popular perception that all terrorists are Muslims. Some Muslims, beards or without, are arrested and languish in jail. Barring steps where few helpful terrorists have been carrying their dairies, phone numbers of contact to make the job of our agencies easier, the charges against those arrested, have not been proved most of the times. The whole set of allegations begins with a bang and ends with a whimper. Interestingly though this happens case after case, no rethink on the issue! Third, there are some instances when the investigative agencies have got a success, but these events, as their results are contrary to what are the popular theories about who the terrorists are, remain in the backyard of popular consciousness and remain a foot note in the media.
Three such cases of underplayed 'success' and simultaneously a failure to learn from those are glaringly obvious. First, on April 2006 two Bajrang Dal workers died while making bombs, false moustache and typical clothes of a Muslim were recovered from the site and one of the survivors of the accident stated that Hindus should be doing blasts; else they will be taken as eunuchs. These blasts should be done on Fridays near the mosques where the congregation of Muslims generally takes place in the afternoon. The blasts in Parbhani, Jalana did follow this pattern and Samjhauta express case was also very similar. In the blasts which took place in Thane and nearby places (June 2008), the connection of Hindu Jagran and Sanatan Ashram was proved beyond any shadow of doubt. The Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad succeeded in apprehending the culprits. The case of attack on RSS head office in Chennai also was led to the culprits, who were the RSS workers only. What is a bit surprising this time is that BJP spokespersons who usually blame some Muslim terrorist group in the aftermath of the blasts, this time has accused Congress for the same. Their blaming Congress out of frustration is understandable but how come the needle of their suspicion is not on the usual suspects?
Now while this is the overall schemata of these tragic events, what do the political parties say to it? So far, during the UPA regime BJP after every act of terror has been calling for more stringent laws, particularly POTA. What does POTA entail? It merely empowers the authorities to arrest any body on the grounds of suspicion and to put them behind bars infinitely. Despite POTA many attacks took place while this was in place during NDA regime. Then there is an argument that BJP governments are better motivated to deal with terrorism. Most of the recent attacks of terror have taken place in BJP ruled states, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat. Despite Modi’s boast that terrorist dare not touch his state as they know he can deal with them.
Whatever are the other interpretations, one thing stands out undisputed and that's that these acts in the long term benefit the communal politics. Communal, divisive politics has become stronger with the rise of communal violence during last two decades. Most of the inquiry committee reports (Communalism Combat March 1998) show us that somewhere the hand of a BJP associate organization is there in orchestrating the violence. What communal violence was doing earlier, polarizing the communities, is now being done by the acts of terror, as the propaganda that ‘it is those from one religious community do it’ has succeeded like nothing else.
No body can deny the role of Pakistan Administration, the role of AL Qaeda types (both supported and propped up by US for oil interests) had a very adverse impact on the south Asian perceptions about such acts. It is post Al Qaeda and post communal violence 92-93 Mumbai, that these insane acts were sometimes presented to be done for the defense of faith! The role of US media in coining and propagating the word Islamic terrorism, post 9/11 completed the circle.
It is high time we get over this mind set and our agencies get over the preformed notions to be able to crack the real culprits, the way they could do in Thane. And surely no investigation which begins with preformed biases can succeed in proper results and the real elimination of the problem.
--
Issues in Secular Politics
August 2008 I
www.pluralindia.com
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Happenings at Asaram Bapu's Ashram
Godmen and Mortal World
Happenings at Asaram Bapu’s Ashram
Ram Puniyani
Death of two students of Gurukul (traditional schools run by Hindu Gurus) of Asaram Bapu's Ashram (July 2008) has raised multiple questions. The children staying in the Ashram were missing for some time before being found dead near the river. The post mortem showed that some of their organs are missing. The parents of the children accused the Ashram residents for practicing black magic and removing children's organs. Asaram in reply said that the residents of his ashram hear Bhagvat and other holy books, how they can be involved in such an act and that they won't even kill a dog. Later two related events took place. One, when Asaram had to travel by air and as a part of security drill he was frisked second time, a random check applied some times, his followers created ruckus. The listeners of Bhagvat etc. rampaged and expressed their anger for the Holy man being subjected to the mundane rules. Also the same ashramites attacked the journalists, severely beating up a woman journalist, who had to be hospitalized. So much for the Bhagvat induced tolerant attitude!
This holy man has lot of other incidents to his account. In Jhabua area his female Sadhvis beat up the nuns in the Christian mission school when a 13year old girl was raped and killed by an outsider, who had nothing to do with the school. The same Holy seer sat on protest dharana when Shankaracharya was arrested on the charges, which were far from divine. An act of solidarity indeed! An FIR has also been filed against him for grabbing one and a half acre of land in Patna. He has a vast network of devotees and followers, even his disciples are giving pravachans (holy discourse), keeping his photo in the backdrop. He is in the race for the most popular Goodman, along with Sri Sri Ravishaker, Baba Ramdeo amongst others.
His is not an isolated case. While these three top Godmen are very visible, they are not the only ones. This phenomenon is sprawling and one can see them mushrooming every where with ever increasing following. Recently in Kerala one Godman created scene when arrested by police. Shakarachraya's Ashram also showed lot of muck in its cupboard. Surely this is the most proliferating phenomenon in recent times marching parallel with increase in the religiosity and might of RSS at social and political level.
There are types and types of godmen but still one can say that majority of them are politically close to the RSS/VHP/BJP combine. Asaram Bapu sat on dharana along with Vajpayee et al and recently. Sri Sri Ravishanker and Baba Ramdeo were all praises for Advani while releasing his autobiography, which justifies the politics of Hate and his own role in that. They subtly spread the message that minorities are violent as they consume meat etc. forgetting that the most violent person of all the time Hitler was a vegetarian. And the followers of these Godmen are mercurial in their temper and aggressive in their stance. Another such 'Holy man, Narendra Mahraj's followers also created trouble when he was not permitted to carry his holy staff in the aeroplane. They were also involved in the attack on nuns in Alibaug, these nuns were doing the AIDS awareness work and that was presented as 'conversion' a pretext enough to beat them up.
When these Godmen are giving such peaceful sermons and eating satvik food, (food creating peaceful tendencies as per them), how are they so violent? According to traditional system of medicine type of food determines the nature of man. So Muslims the meat eaters are violent the vegetarian Hindu are tolerant, that’s how the social common sense says here. This has been the part of demonization of Muslims. Violence is due to the ideas and underlying premises of the teachings they imbibe. They listen to the exclusionary discourse, Hindus are under threat is part of the preaching of many of these and some of them are deliberately planted in Adivasi areas to scare the Christian missionaries away. Lakkhanand in Orissa and Aseemanand in Dangs, Gujarat are two examples of that. They have been attacking the missionary work in the area of education and health. Incidentally in these areas around Christmas time, attacks are organized against churches and priests.
Along with the adverse effects of globalization the rise of these Holy men can clearly be seen. One was surprised to note that some of these Babas, (holy men) claiming to renounce the worldly goods are extremely prosperous themselves and have such a rich clientele that they can undertake an expensive month long luxury cruise along with these holy people and listen to the divine discourse in the midst of sea waves. Also there is a very impressive self designed dress code for the men of God. While one need understand this phenomenon at deeper level what can be said off hand is that their ashrams and activities should be within the parameters of law, subject to the usual checks and balances of a civic society. In case of Brinda Karat raising questions about the composition of medicines being produced by his factory, Baba’ followers were aghast as to how can ordinary mortal raise such question about the Baba. To assert that the laws of the land should not be applied to them cannot be acceptable in society and polity. To reduce the fraud which is seeping in many of these Ashrams, it will be worth its while to inculcate voluntary social audit, based on ethical values and laws of Indian society. All those involved in the death of these children and beating up of journalists must be subjected to the punishment due to them.
One has seen many a types of saints. During medieval period the Bhakti and Sufi saints stood for reform of society, emphasized on moral values of religion and included all in the fold of their community. They talked against blind faith and emphasized on the unity of all human beings. That's why we see that people cutting across religions flocked them. Today it seems that a large genre of those wearing holy robes are revivalists, pushing back the social values and exclusionary in their approach to the society. Their main focus is on giving calm and tranquility to the affluent, to be close to those with money and power. They are mute against the evil practices of untouchability, bride burning and manifest caste system.
Their association with politics of RSS combine clearly gives an indication as to how they prepare the ground for their societal agenda. We do need to emphasize on reform of the society, to look at dogmas and blind faith critically and to ensure that society develops in a humane direction. Some of them dish out the RSS ideology in a more sophisticated way, with the halo of divine sermon. While one appreciates their social welfare work, one will like that transparency is brought into their operations and medicines they produce should be regulated by the laws of the land. Can one expect that the tragic incidents of Asaram’s Ashram will open our eyes to be more vigilant about their deeds?
--
Happenings at Asaram Bapu’s Ashram
Ram Puniyani
Death of two students of Gurukul (traditional schools run by Hindu Gurus) of Asaram Bapu's Ashram (July 2008) has raised multiple questions. The children staying in the Ashram were missing for some time before being found dead near the river. The post mortem showed that some of their organs are missing. The parents of the children accused the Ashram residents for practicing black magic and removing children's organs. Asaram in reply said that the residents of his ashram hear Bhagvat and other holy books, how they can be involved in such an act and that they won't even kill a dog. Later two related events took place. One, when Asaram had to travel by air and as a part of security drill he was frisked second time, a random check applied some times, his followers created ruckus. The listeners of Bhagvat etc. rampaged and expressed their anger for the Holy man being subjected to the mundane rules. Also the same ashramites attacked the journalists, severely beating up a woman journalist, who had to be hospitalized. So much for the Bhagvat induced tolerant attitude!
This holy man has lot of other incidents to his account. In Jhabua area his female Sadhvis beat up the nuns in the Christian mission school when a 13year old girl was raped and killed by an outsider, who had nothing to do with the school. The same Holy seer sat on protest dharana when Shankaracharya was arrested on the charges, which were far from divine. An act of solidarity indeed! An FIR has also been filed against him for grabbing one and a half acre of land in Patna. He has a vast network of devotees and followers, even his disciples are giving pravachans (holy discourse), keeping his photo in the backdrop. He is in the race for the most popular Goodman, along with Sri Sri Ravishaker, Baba Ramdeo amongst others.
His is not an isolated case. While these three top Godmen are very visible, they are not the only ones. This phenomenon is sprawling and one can see them mushrooming every where with ever increasing following. Recently in Kerala one Godman created scene when arrested by police. Shakarachraya's Ashram also showed lot of muck in its cupboard. Surely this is the most proliferating phenomenon in recent times marching parallel with increase in the religiosity and might of RSS at social and political level.
There are types and types of godmen but still one can say that majority of them are politically close to the RSS/VHP/BJP combine. Asaram Bapu sat on dharana along with Vajpayee et al and recently. Sri Sri Ravishanker and Baba Ramdeo were all praises for Advani while releasing his autobiography, which justifies the politics of Hate and his own role in that. They subtly spread the message that minorities are violent as they consume meat etc. forgetting that the most violent person of all the time Hitler was a vegetarian. And the followers of these Godmen are mercurial in their temper and aggressive in their stance. Another such 'Holy man, Narendra Mahraj's followers also created trouble when he was not permitted to carry his holy staff in the aeroplane. They were also involved in the attack on nuns in Alibaug, these nuns were doing the AIDS awareness work and that was presented as 'conversion' a pretext enough to beat them up.
When these Godmen are giving such peaceful sermons and eating satvik food, (food creating peaceful tendencies as per them), how are they so violent? According to traditional system of medicine type of food determines the nature of man. So Muslims the meat eaters are violent the vegetarian Hindu are tolerant, that’s how the social common sense says here. This has been the part of demonization of Muslims. Violence is due to the ideas and underlying premises of the teachings they imbibe. They listen to the exclusionary discourse, Hindus are under threat is part of the preaching of many of these and some of them are deliberately planted in Adivasi areas to scare the Christian missionaries away. Lakkhanand in Orissa and Aseemanand in Dangs, Gujarat are two examples of that. They have been attacking the missionary work in the area of education and health. Incidentally in these areas around Christmas time, attacks are organized against churches and priests.
Along with the adverse effects of globalization the rise of these Holy men can clearly be seen. One was surprised to note that some of these Babas, (holy men) claiming to renounce the worldly goods are extremely prosperous themselves and have such a rich clientele that they can undertake an expensive month long luxury cruise along with these holy people and listen to the divine discourse in the midst of sea waves. Also there is a very impressive self designed dress code for the men of God. While one need understand this phenomenon at deeper level what can be said off hand is that their ashrams and activities should be within the parameters of law, subject to the usual checks and balances of a civic society. In case of Brinda Karat raising questions about the composition of medicines being produced by his factory, Baba’ followers were aghast as to how can ordinary mortal raise such question about the Baba. To assert that the laws of the land should not be applied to them cannot be acceptable in society and polity. To reduce the fraud which is seeping in many of these Ashrams, it will be worth its while to inculcate voluntary social audit, based on ethical values and laws of Indian society. All those involved in the death of these children and beating up of journalists must be subjected to the punishment due to them.
One has seen many a types of saints. During medieval period the Bhakti and Sufi saints stood for reform of society, emphasized on moral values of religion and included all in the fold of their community. They talked against blind faith and emphasized on the unity of all human beings. That's why we see that people cutting across religions flocked them. Today it seems that a large genre of those wearing holy robes are revivalists, pushing back the social values and exclusionary in their approach to the society. Their main focus is on giving calm and tranquility to the affluent, to be close to those with money and power. They are mute against the evil practices of untouchability, bride burning and manifest caste system.
Their association with politics of RSS combine clearly gives an indication as to how they prepare the ground for their societal agenda. We do need to emphasize on reform of the society, to look at dogmas and blind faith critically and to ensure that society develops in a humane direction. Some of them dish out the RSS ideology in a more sophisticated way, with the halo of divine sermon. While one appreciates their social welfare work, one will like that transparency is brought into their operations and medicines they produce should be regulated by the laws of the land. Can one expect that the tragic incidents of Asaram’s Ashram will open our eyes to be more vigilant about their deeds?
--
Friday, July 18, 2008
Land Allotment and Amarnath Shrine
Land Allotment and Amarnath Shrine
Ram Puniyani
Jammu and Kashmir has been one of the regions of the country mired in different types of troubles all through. To add to the painful situation, the issue of land allotment to Amarnath shrine and later reversal of this decision has worsened the harmony, which is eluding the region.
J&K Government in contravention to the Supreme Court ruling decided to divert 39.88 (June 2008) hectares of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). This was preceded by lot of miscalculations and misrepresentations. In the volatile situation of the state this land diversion was presented as if the land has been sold to the Shrine board. This also had the implication of changing the tourism related services in the state. Currently the economic activity generated due to yatra (pilgrimage to the shrine) is one of the major sources of income for Muslims en-route. With SASB taking over many/all these services, a perception was created that those regularly associated with yatra services will be sidetracked and it will now become an exclusively Hindu affair. Further, this was wrongly perceived in the valley as if this is an attempt to change the demographic profile of J&K by settling more Hindus in the region. This baseless perception had some roots in the common knowledge that Shimon Peres, the Israeli Foreign minister had advised Lal Krishna Advani about changing the demographic composition in the valley. These twin factors were in the minds of people when this land diversion was presented as the sale of land and spontaneously there were huge protests in the valley. Separatist Extremists sections of Kashmir politics further enhanced the fury. These protests were immediately projected as anti-National by the BJP etc., and huge demonstrations, equally fierce were orchestrated by BJP etc. in the Jammu region.
The Amaranth yatra by Hindus is rooted in one of the most syncretic-mixed support structures. The cave where shrine is located was discovery of a Muslim Shepherd in 1850s, since when the pilgrim has started. The descendents of the Muslim shepherd and sahdus managed the yatra till 2001 when the SASB took over and is trying to increase its hold on the arrangements. Remarkably the yatra went on smoothly even at the peak of militancy in Kashmir, barring of course few aberrations here and there. In 2006 the Governor ordered to place dry ice on the Lingam (phallus, the holy deity) which showed signs of melting due to the increase temperature caused by increase in the yatra traffic and unseasonal heat. This was also a matter of protests. The pilgrimage is the major annual tourist event for the whole state, a means of bread butter for many of them. Also the syncretism in people's attitude is explicit all through as one sees the deep interconnection of the religious communities in the organization and carrying out of the yatra logistics. This again came to the fore when the pilgrims who got trapped due to breaking out of the demonstrations were well served by the Muslims en-route, who organized the food supplies and other help to them.
The spontaneous breaking out of protest in valley was used by elements, like Syed Ali Shah Gilani, belonging to the extremist faction of Hurriat Conference, in the valley politics, who went on to fan the fire of separatism during the agitations and further aggravated the situation by calling for boycott of polls to be held in October,.
The ruling coalition of Congress and regional PDP has been far from objective. Both the coalition partners calculated more in terms of vote bank rather than going by the ethos of democratic and secular values. Congress forced the diversion of the land under pressure from the Governor Sinha, and PDP sensing the mood in the valley backed out leading the Government to revert the order, PDP walked out of the Government leading to the fall of the government.
In Jammu region the BJP etc. has inflamed the situation by organizing massive bandhs. Its call for All India Bandh led to many highhanded actions, more so in BJP ruled states, the worst of which was death of several people in Indore, Madhya Pradesh due to the accompanying violence. In J&K BJP on parallel grounds has been communalizing the whole situation. Contrary to the local feelings it has also been talking of trifurcating of J&K, along religious line, Kashmir valley, Jammu and Laddhak. Demanding of separate statehood for Jammu has been one of the causes of rout of BJP in the last elections. Now it is at its old game again and is making an election issue out of the Amaranth shrine land transfer mismanagement.
J&K has been suffering both the communalisms in a painful way. The issues related to autonomy of Kashmir not being respected, the highhanded approach of central government, the violation of democratic process by constant rigging of elections has resulted in the atmosphere of fear and mistrust amongst Kashmir people leading to alienation and giving support to separatist elements. This process has been duly supported earlier by the Pakistan Government, in turn supported by the US designs of having its presence in such a vital area. The militancy in the decade of 1980s, the exodus of Kashmiri Pundits due to the militancy and hasty actions of Jagmohan has left severe marks on the psyche of Kashmir. The best thing happening in the area has been the strengthening of democracy during last few years, as manifested by the relative fairness of last elections and the reduction in the militancy due to better representation of people and change in the attitude of Pakistan. Still the fear of highhandedness of the Central government and the heavy presence of military is a big obstacle for the restoration of faith in Indian democracy in full. There is a need to curb communalism of both types, to create an atmosphere where Pundits can go back, there is a need to win over the heart and mind of the people of the region and to ensure that communalization of Kashmir related issues by extremist Kashmiri factions and RSS-BJP is opposed to the fullest extent.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Secular Action Network June 2008
Secular Action Network – June 2008
1
1HZVOHWWHURI$OO,QGLD6HFXODU)RUXP
Vol.III No.6 June 2008
Contents_________________________
(GLW
2. -DLSXU %ODVWV
D 3UHVV 5HOHDVH :LVGRP )RXQGDWLRQ
E 0HGLD &HOO UHOHDVH
F 38&/ 5HSRUW
3. &666 0RQWKO\ $FWLYLWLHV
4. +XPDQLVW 0RYHPHQW ,QGR 3DN 5HODWLRQV
5. 1HZV +LQGXNDUDQ RI $GLYDVLV
6. 3UD\HUV IRU SHDFH LQ 3ULVRQ
7. 7UDLQLQJ 3URJUDP IRU 0XVOLP :RPHQ
8. )RUWKFRPLQJ 6HPLQDU
9. 5HVRXUFHV 5HSRUW RI ,QGLD 3HRSOHV 7ULEXQDO
1. Edit
Terrorism: A Political Cancer
The blasts in Jaipur (13th
May 2008), have once
again brought to fore the
grim reality of global and
local political scenario. In
a short span of time close
to hundred innocent lives
were lost. What was
heartwarming was the
calm with which the
society handled this grim
tragedy. The amity with
which the post blast
situation was handled
certainly needs million
respectful salutes.
But political parties are
what they are, taking
advantage of such
tragedies to bake their
political breads. The BJP
leadership was quick
enough to say that the
blasts are taking place as
the central government is
weak, the withdrawal of
POTA has given rise to a
situation where terrorists
can make merry. Most
such criticism is aimed at
scoring brownie points,
forgetting that during BJP
led NDA regime with
POTA in operation, the
attacks on Parliament, Red
fort and many other acts of
terror were very much
there.
Despite Advani's lie that
he did not know about
foreign minister accompanying
the terrorists to
Kandhar, there were acts
Secular Action Network – June 2008
2
of terror a plenty when he
was the Home/deputy
prime minister and was
trying to cultivate the
image of an iron man.
Also the argument that
BJP ruled states with
glorious strength are free
from terrorist acts also
comes to a naught with
this tragedy.
Petty political thinking
apart, the world today is
gripped by this insane
phenomenon, which like a
cancer has spread over a
period of last two decades.
The analogy of cancer for
terrorism is very apt as
many features of this are
matching with the
behavior of cancer in
human body. Cancer has
multiple etiologies
(causative factors) and
same is true of terrorism.
It is time that while
improving our
investigation methods we
need to desist from
politicizing and communalizing
these tragic
events. The seeds of this
cancer were sowed by the
global super power so just
being shortsighted to
blame the neighboring
country and the religious
community is counter
productive. There is a need
to cultivate amity and trust
and that's possible if we
see that essentially it the
secondary metastasis of
the Al Qaeda clones, very
difficult to control by
superficial means. Better
intelligence, better
policing and a deeper
understanding of the
phenomenon will go a
long way to overcome this
suffering of the country.
2. Jaipur Blasts
(a). Wisdom Foundation
PRESS RELEASE
The Wisdom Foundation
strongly condemns the
heinous act of terrorism
committed in Jaipur this
Tuesday as it condemns
every such act committed
in India and the world over
.It is a crime of humanity
against humanity. Our
hearts and sympathies lie
with the bereaved in their
grief. The mindless killers
have to be brought to
books.
Terrorism has to be
brought to an end, with
neither qualm nor
compunction, neither
apologies nor regrets. The
people of India have a
duty towards the nation:
They should not assume
the role of silent onlookers
but should bring the evil
elements in their midst out
into the open so that they
can be visited with
condign punishment. The
situation calls for firm
handling. . Strong action
has to be taken.
The terrorists, whatever
their origin, share a
common aim of raising the
tensions between India’s
religious groups and
dividing people. By
attacking Hindu temples,
prayers and
neighbourhoods in
Rajasthan's capital, they
probably hope to provoke
an angry backlash.
Unfortunately Islam is
being invariably associated
with terrorism especially
by media generally. Such a
view is not only erroneous
but contradictory to the
Quranic vision. Islam not
only means peace but
shows the direction
towards non-violence and
peace-building. It asserts
that if you save one life it
is as if you have saved all
humanity and if you take
one life it is as if you have
killed all humanity. It
forbids suicide and there
naturally suicide killings.
Killing of innocents
cannot be condoned.
Terrorism has no religion
or nationality The Darul
Uloom recently held an
anti-terrorism Conference
where Terrorism was
condemned in no uncertain
terms. Scholars of Islam
condemn violence and
terrorism at all levels.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
3
Their views must be
published and made
known to the public at
large.
(b). Media Cell
Very few blast cases in
India has reached to legal
and logical conclusion and
the main culprits are still
are free. Same patterns are
repeated every time. Home
ministry has an easy way
out than to our neighbor,
security agencies claim
that they have already
informed the state police.
Media plays the news two
three days declaring Huji,
ISI, SIMI, but nothing is
changing. Police arrests
some people (Khabris) but
finally we the Indians are
loosing our lives at regular
interval. There must be
some investigative stories
in these blasts cases
beginning from Nanded.
(c). PUCL Report - Excerpts
The Jaipur Terror Scapegoat: The Poor Bengali Muslim Migrant
On the evening of the 13th of May, 2008,
nine bomb blasts ripped through the spine of
the walled city killing more than 66 people
and injuring over two hundred people. Like
in other 8 cities where similar attacks took
place since 2005 Jaipur too stood together
and thankfully no communal riot followed.
Instead people belonging to different faiths
and communities came together on the third
day and paid their respects to the deceased
and remembered the unity of this city over
several hundred years, which had been
marred by three major riots in 1989, 1990
and 1992. Always communal amity, is what
everybody pledged for all the times.
The medical community at the SMS
Hospital and other Private Hospitals that
admitted patients responded with zeal and
saved several lives. That night 56 patients
were brought in dead and five who came in
gasping died soon after. The death toll by
the end of the week grew to 66. More than
277 injured were also brought in on the
night of the blast out of which 134 were
admitted in the various Hospitals and the
rest were discharged. Some of the patients
have ended up with permanent impairments,
assessments are still being made and the
medical Community of the SMS Hospital
even today affirm their commitment to the
patients.
In the next few days it became clear that
more than half of those who lost their lives
were around the two Hanuman temples.
More than 35 lives were lost at the
Chandpole Hanuman Mandir. At least a
third of the shoppers and passer byes who
got killed were children, school going girls,
college going boys and of course the flower
seller, the bangle seller, the key makers
including two police men. Destroying
dreams
The city put its best foot forward and
collectively tried to cope with this tragedy.
When occupants of the hospital wards learnt
that blast victims were being brought into
their ward, on their own they gave up their
beds for the victims of the bomb blast. Long
Queues of youth stood outside the hospital
for blood donation, a youth group decided to
provide attendants and a group of senior
citizens decided to carry out Jal Sewa in
Hospital. Scores of such stories expressing
the good side of the Human kind filled the
news pages and were broadcasted by the
channels.
At our own end we initially with other
groups got involved with relief work. We
also collected a100,000 rupees and gave it to
the Relief society in the Hospital for
medicines and other consumables needed.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
4
We also provided attendants and have
planned to do a detailed survey of the
families of the injured and that of the
deceased. This survey will be carried out
now in the first week of June, 2008.
Conclusions
1. The serious violation of the human
rights of the Muslim migrants in the
city especially those of Bengali
origin would be an issue for the
PUCL to expose and ensure justice
for the poor.
2. It was decided that the first level of
intervention would be to put
together the report of the various
PUCL teams and make it public.
3. On the basis of the facts collected
by the teams an application should
be sent to the NHRC which should
then be asked to intervene.
4. A delegation should also meet the
Collector and the Chief Secretary
and the DG police and ask them to
respond to the situation of hunger
that was stark in Bagrana and in
those homes where the men had
been taken away and the women had
been left behind.
5. Immediate suspension of the SHO
Sanganer Sadar for arresting Pappu
Ahmed of Buxawalla Basti due to
which his wife Afsana could not be
provided with medical support and
she died on the 21st May, 2008 and
for arresting the Ram Lal who had a
hearing impairment. The inhuman
manner in which Pappu Ahmed was
also denied the right to be there at
the time of her burial.
6. Even the SDM did not hear them
when Pappu was produced in front
of him and he Basti people tried to
tell that his wife was serious.
7. Action should be taken against all
SHOs for keeping people without
arrest for more than 6 days.
3. Center for Study of Society and Secularism –Programs of May 2008
List of Activities conducted by center
1) Police workshop at Goregaon East, Mumbai – 8th May 08
2) Lecture on Terrorism in Surat – 11th May 08
3) Police workshop at Dahisar East, Mumbai – 12th May 08
4) Seminar in Delhi on Composite Culture – 17th May 08
5) Workshop on Interfaith Dialogue to meet Challenges of communal problem in
Kanyakumari - 20th May 08
Details of the programs
1) Police Workshop at Goregaon 8thMay 08
A one-day Police
workshop was conducted
by CSSS on “Communal
Harmony” in Goregaon
East where about 100
Police officers were
present. There were many
Police officers of Different
Grade Level from
Constables to Assistant
Commissioner of Police.
Dr Asghar Ali Engineer
Discussed about the types
of Conflict, i.e. regional
conflict, language conflict
etc. He mentioned that it is
easy to mobilize people on
the basis of religion, caste
Secular Action Network – June 2008
5
and language as it the
power of politics, which
divide the people. He also
mentioned about the
politicization of religion.
Religion is used a means
to rule by the politicians.
The entire workshop was
very interactive in nature.
2) Lecture on Terrorism Surat 11th May 08
A one-day conference was
held in Surat on 11th May
08 on “Terrorism from
Islamic Perspective”.
About 2500 thousand
people mostly Muslims
from Surat District
attended the Conference.
These Muslims included
those teaching and
studying in various
Madarsas in the Surat
District along with
eminent citizens,
intellectuals and activists.
The main organizers
included Anjuman–ETahamuz–
E-Madaris and
CSSS also Participated in
it. The Conference was
addressed among others by
Swami Agniwesh, Prof
Ram Puniyani, Dr Asghar
Ali Engineer, and Senior
Journalist Mr. Digant Oza.
They all spoke about the
causes of terrorism and
emphasized that terrorism
is a political phenomenon
and cannot be associated
with any religion much
less with Islam. There
were many madarasa
teachers and Islamic
theologians who spoke and
emphasized that Islam is a
religion of Peace and it has
nothing to do with
terrorism. Those who
associate terrorism with
Islam are either ignorant or
those who have there own
political agenda.
3) Police Workshop Dahisar 12th May 08
Dr Asghar Ali Engineer
started the session by first
discussing about the
History of partition where
he mentioned about the
reasons of partition,
distortion of history by
British, Politics of religion
and most important the
role of our Politicians
today and British are same
only as both aim at divide
and rule.
.
4) Seminar in Delhi on Composite Culture 17th May 08
A one-day seminar was
held in Delhi on
“Preservations of
Composite Culture of
India”. The workshop was
organized by Urdu
Tehzeeb.com and Islamic
Cultural Center on 17th
may 08 where Dr Asghar
Ali Engineer was invited
to speak on Composite
Culture. The seminar was
inaugurated by Governor
of Haryana Mr. A.R.
Kidwai, other speakers
were Dr Sayeda Hameed,
Baroness Emma
Nicholson, Prof Abdul
Haq, Yawar Abbas, and
Asad Mufti. Dr Engineer
gave details on composite
heritage of India and cited
numerous instances of
contribution made by
Muslims, Hindus,
Christians and others in
involving composite
culture. He observed that
in all fields like music,
architecture, painting,
poetry and language.
Muslims have made a very
rich contribution. He also
observed that not only in
the North India But from
Kashmir to Kanyakumari
our culture is composite.
He also gave numerous
instances of various
religions, sects that came
into existence as a result of
adherent Islam in India.
Those who participated
were prominent writer,
journalists, and activists.
There was great
appreciation of the
presentations.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
6
5) Workshop on Interfaith Dialogue to meet challenges of communal Problem 20th
May 08
A one-day workshop was
organized in Kanyakumari
by CSSS and Local
Church organization on
“Interfaith Dialogue to
meet challenges of
communal problem”. Dr
Engineer as keynote
speaker observed that
India is highly diverse
country and there is
bewildering diversity in
not only in the field of
religion but also in the
field of culture, language,
caste and ethnicity. Where
there is diversity
otherisation is bound to
happen, and if there is
otherisation there is bound
to be misunderstanding
and misconceptions about
other. The only useful tool
to understand other is
interfaith and intercultural
dialogue. In absence of
such dialogue the vested
interest promote the
concept of clash of
religions and cultures
which destroys harmony
and peace, there fore in a
diverse society dialogue
should take place at
various levels of society,
also to come together to
struggle for common
problems is also a sort of
dialogue as unity and
solidarity builds up during
such co operative and
coordinated action we can
call it a dialogue of life.
This was followed by
interactive session, a
number of questions were
raised to which Dr
Engineer replied there
were 75 participants most
of them were prominent
citizens and activists of
Nagar coil which is head
Quarters of Kanyakumari
District.
4. Reports
HUMANIST MOVEMENT
Delhi, 03 May 2008
PRESS RELEASE
India – Pakistan Relations: Time for a new beginning
Ever since the British left
the divided and wounded
Indian shores, people on
both sides of the border
(India and Pakistan) have
seen and faced plenty of
violence. This useless
violence has resulted in
tragedy for many families
on both sides. All this has
no future, other than
serving
the interest of weapon
suppliers.
Human being has learnt
that Violence has no future
and it brings only misery
for all involved/targeted.
Both the Indian and
Pakistan Governments
have announced their
wishes for permanent and
durable peace on the
borders and the time has
come for these wishes to
turn into reality. Increased
People to people contacts
have shown abundant
feelings on both sides for
peace
and normal living among
the citizens of both
Nations.
It is clear : People love
each other and want
Peace and nothing else.
Gandhi is now recognized
and followed the world
over and 02 October 2007
was celebrated joyfully
by people on both sides
of the border as
International Day of
Nonviolence. Taking
Gandhi's teaching of
Nonviolence, its time
that both the
Governments begin
taking independent (of
weapon suppliers),
sincere and practical
steps to begin the end of
violence on/from both
the sides.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
7
Humanists feel that the
time to give Peace a
chance has come and this
opportunity must not be
lost. Change is in the air
and this opportunity is the
right one for both the
sides. Taking example of
the Bolivian President
Honorable Evo Morales
who announced the
unilateral renunciation of
war as a tool of conflict
resolution with its
neighbors, both the Indian
and Pakistan Governments
should make a similar
announcement (without
waiting for the other side
to do it first) and follow
this with concrete daily
steps to make Peace
happen in real life for
peoples on both sides.
R10, 3rd floor, Khirki
Extn, New Delhi 110017.
Phone : 9810120918.
Email: info@humanistmovement.org
InterNet :
www.humanistmovement.org
HUMANIST MOVEMENT
Possible steps that both the Governments can take:
” 3DUGRQLQJ RI SULVRQHUV ZKR DUH RQ 'HDWK
row on both the sides, starting with Sarabjit
Singh as an example. Indian should also do
the same with similar prisoners on their side
of the border;
” %RWK VLGHV VKRXOG KRQHVWO\ H[FKDQJH
complete details of all the prisoners held by
each one and their crimes. A joint permanent
commission should be setup to review these
cases impartially and considering that those
prisoners who undertook actions (for which
they were arrested) due to their respective
Government sending them for such acts
(Army is ordered by the Government), they
can easily be pardoned by both the sides. In
any case, till these matters are resolved, no
one should be killed;
” $V D PDWWHU RI UHVSHFW IRU +XPDQ GLJQLW\
both the Governments should renounce
Death penalty with immediate effect.
” $ SHUPDQHQW 3HDFH FRPPLVVLRQ
consisting of representatives of both the
Governments (Politicians and Officials),
Peace activists from both the sides, UN,
Globally respectable Peace personalities like
Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, Aung San
Suu Kyi and Silo should be formed with the
aim of forming concrete steps that will bring
Peace in the region.
” 3HRSOH WR 3HRSOH FRQWDFWV VKRXOG EH
increased and a target date for open borders
should be announced.
” 3URSRUWLRQDWH DQG FRPSOHWH UHGXFWLRQ RI
Nuclear and Conventional arms with both
the
nations to achieve a peaceful border among
the two nations. Sudhir Gandotra –
Spokesperson.
R10, 3rd floor, Khirki Extn, New Delhi
110017. Phone: 9810120918.
Email: info@humanistmovement.org
Internet: www.humanistmovement.org
5. News
Hindukaran of Adivasis
May 12, 2008 68 EM-lines (700 words)
INDIA Church Leaders Dispute Hindu Claim on Mass Conversion of Christians
MUMBAI, India (UCAN) -- Church people and others see a political game in a Hindu leader's
claim that he "reconverted" hundreds of Christians to Hinduism.
Swami Narendra Maharaj organized a "mass conversion" on April 27 in Shimpoli, Borivili, a
suburb of Mumbai, 1,410 kilometers southwest of New Delhi.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
8
The Hindu leader told reporters he brought back 1,793 Christian tribal people to Hinduism.
Participants in the four-hour ceremony reportedly took an oath never to abandon Hinduism.
Swami Maharaj claimed they came from villages in Thane and Nashik districts, and he
accused Christian missioners of forcibly converting tribal people.
Bombay archdiocese and Vasai diocese share Thane district, while Nashik diocese covers
Nashik district, all in Maharashtra state. Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is the state capital.
Archbishop Felix Machado of Nashik has denied the claims. He says Hindu "gurus and
swamis" have "a hidden agenda to seek publicity by claiming to convert a large number of
tribal Christians."
Archbishop Machado told UCA News on May 8 that no Catholic from his diocese has become
Hindu. "Our parishes and mission stations attached to them have personal rapport with each
Catholic through schools, social work and other excellent infrastructure." Church people would
know immediately if a Catholic were to leave, he said.
The prelate served as undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue
before taking charge of Nashik diocese this past March. Pope Benedict XVI granted him the
personal title "archbishop" as a special gesture of appreciation for his work.
The archbishop recalled meeting former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the
Vatican when Vajpayee met with Pope John Paul II in 2000. He said he challenged the pro-
Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian people's party) politician to prove the Catholic Church
indulged in forced conversions in India.
Auxiliary Bishop Percival Fernandez of Bombay also denied Christians were converted at the
Shimpoli event. The bishop, who oversees the archdiocesan territory that includes Shimpoli,
told UCA News on April 7 that those alleging to convert Christians should produce baptismal
certificates to prove their claim. He also asserted, "There has not been a single case of forced
conversion in our archdiocese."
Bishop Fernandez said Bombay archdiocese annually baptizes around 300 adults from other
religions, who spend up to two years in catechism. Each also must produce an affidavit saying
he or she is converting of his or her own free will. Although no law demands such an affidavit,
the archdiocese has made it a rule in order to avoid allegations, he explained. "Our priests
know this strict rule and they all follow it," he added.
Father Peter Almeida, the Vasai diocesan spokesperson, told UCA News on May 8 that parish
priests in the tribal belt have no information about Catholics going back to Hinduism. However,
he said he could not deny the possibility that some members of Protestant denominations
might have changed religion.
Joseph Dias, general secretary of the Mumbai-based Catholic Secular Forum, sees the reconversion
claim as a political game. Such events, Dias told UCA News, are a prelude to
"minority bashing," or disparaging of religious minority communities, that he expects will
precede the general election, due later this year. He said he has written to the Maharashtra
government to restrain Swami Maharaj from dividing Christians and Hindus, the predominant
community.
Ram Punyani, a Hindu and secretary of All India Secular Forum, called the mass reconversion
claim "bogus." He told UCA News the event was a "preparatory act to whip up
sectarian sentiments to strengthen the Hindu vote bank." Swami Maharaj's disciples, he
recalled, recently attacked two Catholic nuns near Alibag, south of Mumbai.
Maharashtra ministers reportedly go often to the Hindu center Swami Maharaj heads near
Ratnagiri to seek his blessings.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
9
Chandrakant Naik, an organizer of the re-conversion ceremony, denied it was politically
motivated. Most of the reconverted Christians were "recently married couples who were
originally Hindus," he told UCA News.
"Your (Christian) missionaries indulge in conversion activities by force, fraud and allurements"
to convert poor and illiterate tribal people, he alleged. Naik said he wants Christian missioners
to undertake only social service, not conversions. He pointed out that "no Hindu leader has
said anything against" Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, an "epitome of selfless service."
Report by Michael Gonsalves
6. Prayers for peace in Prison
INMATES OF ARTHUR ROAD JAIL GATHER EVERY MORNING TO
PRAY FOR PEACE AND RELIGIOUS HARMONY FINDS
Prayers in Penance
It’s surprising but Arthur Road Jail at
Mumbai Central, today, seems far
different from the dreary, torturous image
described by several novels and
newspapers. The ambience is now
peaceful and calm. On the contrary,
mornings are serene, and the jail premises
clean and green. “There are 21 barracks
inside the prison, each of which contains
more than 100 inmates. We have a lot of
manpower in the jail that needs to be put
to constructive use, so we make the
inmates clean the premises at regular
intervals,” says a jail official.
With an intention to develop religious
tolerance and transform the lives of the
prisoner, the jail authorities have now
introduced the concept of Sarva Dharma
Prarthana – a secular union of all religions
and faiths. This initiative by Mumbai
Sarvodaya Mandal, a charitable trust, takes
place every day within the prison premises.
Prayers are composed in Hindi and it
consists of teachings from Hinduism, Islam,
Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, and Tavo
(Jewish teachings.
“Prisoners hail from various religions, so it
is essential for us to teach them to live in
harmony and accept all religions,” says
Swati Sathe, superintendent, Arthur Road
Jail.
Every morning volunteers from the
Mumbai Sarvodaya Mandal visit the
jail premises to conduct prayers. They
have arranged to display 3.7 feet banners
of the prayer in each barrack in order to
make it easier for the inmates to
remember the chants.
“There has been a remarkable change in
the behavior of the inmates. They seem at
peace and all of them are making a
sincere effort to co-operate with each
other while performing their daily
activities. The prisoners look forward to
the prayer sessions everyday,” smiles
Sathe, who has been the initiator of the
praying sessions.
The jail authorities now plan to expand
this spiritual journey for the inmates and
are trying to conduct spiritual healing
classes twice a day. The jail premises
also have a mini community centre,
where the inmates learn basics of
computers. This special section works as
a rehabilitation center for prisoners who
are drug addicts.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
10
“The prison is not just meant for making
an individual realize his mistakes: it is
also a place for changing the way one
looks at life and go back into the world as
a better person,” concludes Sathe.
It’s inspiring to know that even with the
burden of a criminal past, the inmates of
the jail are living in a peaceful present
and moving towards a happy future.
Source: The Times of India, dt. 17.05.2008
7. Important Event: Training Program
Training Programme for Muslim Women in Mumbai in June
The Institute of Islamic
Studies, Mumbai, run by
Asghar Ali Engineer, is
going to organize a
training course in
'Rights of Muslim
Women- Theory and
Practice' for those who
are actively involved in
promoting and working
for the awareness of
Muslim women's rights.
This training will equip
them with adequate
knowledge and skills to
do their work more
effectively and
efficiently.
Subjects that will be dealt with in the course include:
1. Islam and its origin and development.
2. Position of Women before Islam.
3. Evolution of Islamic Shariah.
4. Concept of Women in Qur'an.
5. Position of Women in Shariah.
6. The Personal Law in India.
7. Personal Law reforms in Islamic countries.
8. Personal Law reforms and codification of law in India.
These subjects will help
participants to grasp
how the Shariah was
evolved, what steps can
be taken for reforms and
what the possibilities of
empowerment and
liberation of Muslim
women are.
In all there will be 40
participants from all
over India. The training
will be for the period of
3 days from 27th June to
29th June 2008 (both
days inclusive). For
further details and
registration mail at
csss@mtnl.net.in
8. Forthcoming Seminar
'Scapegoats and Holy Cows': State 'Response' to Terrorism
May 29, 2009
Seminar
Time 10am to 4pm
Secular Action Network – June 2008
11
Venue: Main Auditorium, India International Centre, Max Mulellar Marg, New
Delhi-110003
Speakers:
A. Bimol Akoijam, Associate Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
Arun Shrivastava, Certified Management Consultant
Dr Syed Ahamed Anwar, State Secretary, Human Rights Wing. TMMK, Tamil Nadu
Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court
Hilal Ahmad Meer, Journalist, Greater Kashmir, J & K
Kavita Srivastava, General Secretary, PUCL, Rajasthan
Mahesh Bhatt-Director, Producer, Filmmaker, Social Activist
Nasiruddin Haider Khan, Senior Journalist, UP
PC Tiwari, Human Rights Law Network, Uttrakhand
Prof KN Panikkar, Historian, Social Activist, Writer
Sheema Mohsin, Social Activist, PUCL, Karnataka
Siddharth Vardarajan, Senior Journalist, the Hindu, Delhi
Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, Editor, Siasat, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Zakia Jowher, Social Activist-Gujarat
-----------------------------------------------------------
Every now and then the Indian State, reaches
out its 'long arms of injustice' to pick a
scapegoat from amidst the Indian population to
cover up its own incompetence to provide
security to its citizens.
The hapless creature, decorated and
demonized by the 'fashion designers' of Indian
officialdom, is then paraded before the entire
nation to create a public spectacle prior to its
ritual sacrifice.
The Bengali speaking Muslim people of Jaipur
are the latest in a long line-up of such
scapegoats.
The Indian state's treatment of scapegoats is
in stark contrast to the 'holy cows' it protects,
irrespective of their trespasses or crimes
against the people of the country.
Whether it be the Hashimpura massacre of
1987, the Babri Masjid demolition and the
Mumbai riots of 1992, the Gujarat carnage of
2002, Nanded Bomb Blast April 6, 2006 or the
recent anti-national activities of the likes of Raj
Thackeray in Mumbai- no one gets even
arrested- leave alone punished for their
terrorist activities.
The seminar mentioned above is being
organised at a very short notice to register our
anguish and protest against the way innocent
people across India are being harassed,
picked up, arrested and tortured in the name of
fighting terrorism. It is also to register our
protest against the well designed plan of
demonising minorities in this country. We
might not be able to document all the cases at
this seminar but this is being organised as a
first step to plan a larger national level
campaign involving citizens and organisations
from across India to resist the state terror.
DO COME AND REGISTER YOUR
PROTEST.
PASS THE INFORMATION TO YOUR
FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND FELLOW
ACTIVISTS.
HRLN, PEACE, ANHAD
23, Canning Lane, New Delhi-110001
Tel-23070740/ 22; anhad.delhi@gmail.com
9. Resources
Review of Report of Independent People's Tribunal "The rise of Fascism in India"
Since the ascent of the United Progressive
Alliance [UPA] and their promise of a `riot free
India' many have assumed that communalism
and Communal Violence are on the doctrine due
to the presence of an avowedly secular
government at the center. As the memory of
Gujarat begins to fade, we risk becoming
Secular Action Network – June 2008
12
complacent in the fight against those responsible
for the 2002 pogrom. In this context, an
Independent people's Tribunal was convened in
March 2007 in order to assess the state of
communalism in an UPA-led India. During this
tribunal, over 300 victims and activists from 17
states came to relate their experiences of
communalism to a jury of eminent personalities
prominent in the struggle for communal
harmony.
The testimony during the tribunal exposes faith
in central UPA rule to be not only misguided,
but also extremely dangerous, as it fosters
complacency at a time in which the growth of
Hindutva activity, in both intensity and scope,
continues uninterrupted. It is a perilous mistake
to equate the efforts of Hindutva with
mainstream BJP Politics and further to assume
that the defeat of the latter cripples the former.
Instead, during the last four years, the Sangh
Parivar has continued its efforts on an
unprecedented scale, not only deepening their
influence in strongholds like Gujarat, Rajasthan
and Madhya Pradesh but also making
considerable headway in states thought to be
strongly secular such as Kerala, Goa and West
Bengal. Indeed, the two most visible
manifestations of Communalism, the communal
riot and the BJP, may have longer be central to
the ultimate objectives of Hindutva, as the
former invites scrutiny from an increasingly
active civil society and the latter moves toward
the center in an effort to be electorally viable.
Hindutva operates at a micro level, encouraging
the socio-economic and educational boycotts of
minorities, co-opting marginalized its
propaganda through the regional press. These
avenues of Hindutva activity often go unnoticed.
What this tribunal has aptly demonstrated is both
brutality of the communal riot and the everyday
forms of violence that are increasingly
dominating the expression of communalism in
India today. Most importantly, this tribunal has
clearly shown that both forms of violence are
engendered by the creation and perpetuation of a
particular worldview that can be legitimately
termed fascist. As a result of the inculcation of
this mindset, it seems that in many parts of
India, communal riots are no longer necessary to
devastate and suppress minority populations.
The socio-economic and educational boycotts,
the small-scale but daily physical violence faced
by minorities and assert the control and
supremacy of the majority. As such, it is
important that our focus move beyond the
communal riot to concentrate on how this
mindset is developed and disseminated, and
further how it manifests in the daily lives, rather
than the spectacular occurrences, of India's
minorities.
Perhaps the most critical and successful effort of
Hindutva forces in the creation of fascist mindset
has been their national project to constitute and
consolidate the Hindu community. Though the
Sangh Parivar began its movement largely
among the urban upper caste and middle class
Hindu population, it has in the last two decades
significantly extended its reach to co-opt Adivasi
and Dalit groups as the foot soldiers of its
militancy. The result of this effort was made
explicitly clear during the 2002 Gujarat pogrom.
Several of the deponents who testified during the
IPT described the efforts of the Sangh Parivar
among marginalized groups. In particular, the
efforts of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and the
Ekal Vidhyalayas, both extensively funded by
ministries of the Indian government and
foundations based in the Diaspora like the India
Development and Relief Fund, were singled out
for their importance in simultaneously promoting
a canonical and intolerant form of Hinduism, and
building the political institutions necessary to
promote violence.
The second major site of constituting and
consolidating the Hindutva forces has been
through textbooks. Education is crucial in
imparting certain ideas and visions about society
and those contained within it. Both the
government and the Sangh Parivar have
recognized this and used textbooks as a medium
to construct particular view of the Indian nation
and communicate its ideals and norms to
students. According to expert testimony, the
versions of the government and of the Sangh
Parivar [when in control of the government and
in private publishing] vary only in degree.
The pervasive communalization of the Indian
press is another disturbing trend borne out by the
IPT. This communalism appears to take two
forms; each epitomized by either the English of
Indian languages press. The native language
press in many areas, particularly Gujarat and the
Hindi Belt often represent the interests of the
Hindutva. They, through both sins of
Secular Action Network – June 2008
13
commission and omission, portray Muslims and
anti-national, while often fabricating or
exaggerating instances of violence against
Hindus. False information spread through the
language press has become a regular feature of
the buildup to a communal riot, as was famously
observed in Gujarat 2002. In the U.P. Section of
the IPT, we were told of the dangerous lies
spread by the language press during last year's
riots in Lucknow and Mau. Though Muslims
were the primary victims of the riots, the
language press falsely reported the kidnapping of
Hindu girls and slaughter in Hindu
neighborhoods. As in Gujarat's 2002 pogrom,
these fabrications had significant
consequences, sharpening the intensity of the riot
and inciting people to commit violence.
In order to understand how communal violence
appears in Indian today, it is crucial that we shift
our gaze from the communal riot to the process
by which communal violence is made routine. In
contrast to the riot, the most prevalent forms of
communal violence happen everyday. Among
others, manifestations of this include the denial
of education, social and economic boycott, and
deliberate harassment from the state, and
symbolic acts of humiliation. The pervasiveness
of this violence structures the experience of
India's minorities, and seriously undermines its
claim to be a free and secular Republic.
In every state, the testimony gathered at the
Independent People's Tribunal speaks of the
growth of this micro-violence, which is a result
of the increasing appeal and success of a
majoritarian fascist worldview. The growth of
this mindset, independent of secular political rule
at the center, is the single greatest warning of
this tribunal. Absence of concrete and zealous
efforts to undermine this propagation of this
worldview, communal violence is likely to
increase and perhaps engulf this nation.
As majoritarian fascism is fundamentally a
worldview, its effects are felt in the daily ways in
which victims go about their lives. As such, it is
crucial that activism be framed in those terms,
and formulates strategies that address the routine
material existence of a victim of communal
violence. Communal violence, whether in the
form of a riot or sustained discrimination,
continues long after the event itself, without
long-term strategies to ensure victim's continued
ability to earn a living. We are unlikely to make
a significant and lasting difference in their lives.
"The Report carries detailed versions of the
depositions and well witnessed experiences
during last 2 decades both during the NDA
regime and the present that goes like a horror
movie".
The dried up blood line with tiny drops around
on the cover page (and we know too well where
it springs down from..). will inspire you to try to
wipe it from the cover itself .. and the drops will
laugh instead of giving a cry in pain... It's only
one more way to express our tributes for those
innocent lives.. and costs just Rs.450/- (cost of
your shirt or pant or a week's tea cups .. in case
we can't eliminate fascism .let's see how it
eliminates some more .. and we may become of
them ..Some day.
Note: for copies; (Rs 450)
Please contact: HRLN, 576, Masjid Road, Jangpura, New Delhi - 110
014 (publications@ hrln.org) PH: 011-65908842, 24374501, 24378854,
24379855-56, 24376922, Fax: 24374502
++
=============================================================================
Editor: Ram Puniyani, ram.puniyani@gmail.com, www.pluralindia.com
Patron: Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Advisory Board: L.S. Hardenia, Digant Oza, Irfan Engineer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by All India Secular Forum
C/o. Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
602 & 603 New Silver Star, Prabhat Colony Rd., Behind BEST Bus Depot,
Santacruz (E), Mumbai: - 400 055. E-mail: csss@mtnl.net.in
1
1HZVOHWWHURI$OO,QGLD6HFXODU)RUXP
Vol.III No.6 June 2008
Contents_________________________
(GLW
2. -DLSXU %ODVWV
D 3UHVV 5HOHDVH :LVGRP )RXQGDWLRQ
E 0HGLD &HOO UHOHDVH
F 38&/ 5HSRUW
3. &666 0RQWKO\ $FWLYLWLHV
4. +XPDQLVW 0RYHPHQW ,QGR 3DN 5HODWLRQV
5. 1HZV +LQGXNDUDQ RI $GLYDVLV
6. 3UD\HUV IRU SHDFH LQ 3ULVRQ
7. 7UDLQLQJ 3URJUDP IRU 0XVOLP :RPHQ
8. )RUWKFRPLQJ 6HPLQDU
9. 5HVRXUFHV 5HSRUW RI ,QGLD 3HRSOHV 7ULEXQDO
1. Edit
Terrorism: A Political Cancer
The blasts in Jaipur (13th
May 2008), have once
again brought to fore the
grim reality of global and
local political scenario. In
a short span of time close
to hundred innocent lives
were lost. What was
heartwarming was the
calm with which the
society handled this grim
tragedy. The amity with
which the post blast
situation was handled
certainly needs million
respectful salutes.
But political parties are
what they are, taking
advantage of such
tragedies to bake their
political breads. The BJP
leadership was quick
enough to say that the
blasts are taking place as
the central government is
weak, the withdrawal of
POTA has given rise to a
situation where terrorists
can make merry. Most
such criticism is aimed at
scoring brownie points,
forgetting that during BJP
led NDA regime with
POTA in operation, the
attacks on Parliament, Red
fort and many other acts of
terror were very much
there.
Despite Advani's lie that
he did not know about
foreign minister accompanying
the terrorists to
Kandhar, there were acts
Secular Action Network – June 2008
2
of terror a plenty when he
was the Home/deputy
prime minister and was
trying to cultivate the
image of an iron man.
Also the argument that
BJP ruled states with
glorious strength are free
from terrorist acts also
comes to a naught with
this tragedy.
Petty political thinking
apart, the world today is
gripped by this insane
phenomenon, which like a
cancer has spread over a
period of last two decades.
The analogy of cancer for
terrorism is very apt as
many features of this are
matching with the
behavior of cancer in
human body. Cancer has
multiple etiologies
(causative factors) and
same is true of terrorism.
It is time that while
improving our
investigation methods we
need to desist from
politicizing and communalizing
these tragic
events. The seeds of this
cancer were sowed by the
global super power so just
being shortsighted to
blame the neighboring
country and the religious
community is counter
productive. There is a need
to cultivate amity and trust
and that's possible if we
see that essentially it the
secondary metastasis of
the Al Qaeda clones, very
difficult to control by
superficial means. Better
intelligence, better
policing and a deeper
understanding of the
phenomenon will go a
long way to overcome this
suffering of the country.
2. Jaipur Blasts
(a). Wisdom Foundation
PRESS RELEASE
The Wisdom Foundation
strongly condemns the
heinous act of terrorism
committed in Jaipur this
Tuesday as it condemns
every such act committed
in India and the world over
.It is a crime of humanity
against humanity. Our
hearts and sympathies lie
with the bereaved in their
grief. The mindless killers
have to be brought to
books.
Terrorism has to be
brought to an end, with
neither qualm nor
compunction, neither
apologies nor regrets. The
people of India have a
duty towards the nation:
They should not assume
the role of silent onlookers
but should bring the evil
elements in their midst out
into the open so that they
can be visited with
condign punishment. The
situation calls for firm
handling. . Strong action
has to be taken.
The terrorists, whatever
their origin, share a
common aim of raising the
tensions between India’s
religious groups and
dividing people. By
attacking Hindu temples,
prayers and
neighbourhoods in
Rajasthan's capital, they
probably hope to provoke
an angry backlash.
Unfortunately Islam is
being invariably associated
with terrorism especially
by media generally. Such a
view is not only erroneous
but contradictory to the
Quranic vision. Islam not
only means peace but
shows the direction
towards non-violence and
peace-building. It asserts
that if you save one life it
is as if you have saved all
humanity and if you take
one life it is as if you have
killed all humanity. It
forbids suicide and there
naturally suicide killings.
Killing of innocents
cannot be condoned.
Terrorism has no religion
or nationality The Darul
Uloom recently held an
anti-terrorism Conference
where Terrorism was
condemned in no uncertain
terms. Scholars of Islam
condemn violence and
terrorism at all levels.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
3
Their views must be
published and made
known to the public at
large.
(b). Media Cell
Very few blast cases in
India has reached to legal
and logical conclusion and
the main culprits are still
are free. Same patterns are
repeated every time. Home
ministry has an easy way
out than to our neighbor,
security agencies claim
that they have already
informed the state police.
Media plays the news two
three days declaring Huji,
ISI, SIMI, but nothing is
changing. Police arrests
some people (Khabris) but
finally we the Indians are
loosing our lives at regular
interval. There must be
some investigative stories
in these blasts cases
beginning from Nanded.
(c). PUCL Report - Excerpts
The Jaipur Terror Scapegoat: The Poor Bengali Muslim Migrant
On the evening of the 13th of May, 2008,
nine bomb blasts ripped through the spine of
the walled city killing more than 66 people
and injuring over two hundred people. Like
in other 8 cities where similar attacks took
place since 2005 Jaipur too stood together
and thankfully no communal riot followed.
Instead people belonging to different faiths
and communities came together on the third
day and paid their respects to the deceased
and remembered the unity of this city over
several hundred years, which had been
marred by three major riots in 1989, 1990
and 1992. Always communal amity, is what
everybody pledged for all the times.
The medical community at the SMS
Hospital and other Private Hospitals that
admitted patients responded with zeal and
saved several lives. That night 56 patients
were brought in dead and five who came in
gasping died soon after. The death toll by
the end of the week grew to 66. More than
277 injured were also brought in on the
night of the blast out of which 134 were
admitted in the various Hospitals and the
rest were discharged. Some of the patients
have ended up with permanent impairments,
assessments are still being made and the
medical Community of the SMS Hospital
even today affirm their commitment to the
patients.
In the next few days it became clear that
more than half of those who lost their lives
were around the two Hanuman temples.
More than 35 lives were lost at the
Chandpole Hanuman Mandir. At least a
third of the shoppers and passer byes who
got killed were children, school going girls,
college going boys and of course the flower
seller, the bangle seller, the key makers
including two police men. Destroying
dreams
The city put its best foot forward and
collectively tried to cope with this tragedy.
When occupants of the hospital wards learnt
that blast victims were being brought into
their ward, on their own they gave up their
beds for the victims of the bomb blast. Long
Queues of youth stood outside the hospital
for blood donation, a youth group decided to
provide attendants and a group of senior
citizens decided to carry out Jal Sewa in
Hospital. Scores of such stories expressing
the good side of the Human kind filled the
news pages and were broadcasted by the
channels.
At our own end we initially with other
groups got involved with relief work. We
also collected a100,000 rupees and gave it to
the Relief society in the Hospital for
medicines and other consumables needed.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
4
We also provided attendants and have
planned to do a detailed survey of the
families of the injured and that of the
deceased. This survey will be carried out
now in the first week of June, 2008.
Conclusions
1. The serious violation of the human
rights of the Muslim migrants in the
city especially those of Bengali
origin would be an issue for the
PUCL to expose and ensure justice
for the poor.
2. It was decided that the first level of
intervention would be to put
together the report of the various
PUCL teams and make it public.
3. On the basis of the facts collected
by the teams an application should
be sent to the NHRC which should
then be asked to intervene.
4. A delegation should also meet the
Collector and the Chief Secretary
and the DG police and ask them to
respond to the situation of hunger
that was stark in Bagrana and in
those homes where the men had
been taken away and the women had
been left behind.
5. Immediate suspension of the SHO
Sanganer Sadar for arresting Pappu
Ahmed of Buxawalla Basti due to
which his wife Afsana could not be
provided with medical support and
she died on the 21st May, 2008 and
for arresting the Ram Lal who had a
hearing impairment. The inhuman
manner in which Pappu Ahmed was
also denied the right to be there at
the time of her burial.
6. Even the SDM did not hear them
when Pappu was produced in front
of him and he Basti people tried to
tell that his wife was serious.
7. Action should be taken against all
SHOs for keeping people without
arrest for more than 6 days.
3. Center for Study of Society and Secularism –Programs of May 2008
List of Activities conducted by center
1) Police workshop at Goregaon East, Mumbai – 8th May 08
2) Lecture on Terrorism in Surat – 11th May 08
3) Police workshop at Dahisar East, Mumbai – 12th May 08
4) Seminar in Delhi on Composite Culture – 17th May 08
5) Workshop on Interfaith Dialogue to meet Challenges of communal problem in
Kanyakumari - 20th May 08
Details of the programs
1) Police Workshop at Goregaon 8thMay 08
A one-day Police
workshop was conducted
by CSSS on “Communal
Harmony” in Goregaon
East where about 100
Police officers were
present. There were many
Police officers of Different
Grade Level from
Constables to Assistant
Commissioner of Police.
Dr Asghar Ali Engineer
Discussed about the types
of Conflict, i.e. regional
conflict, language conflict
etc. He mentioned that it is
easy to mobilize people on
the basis of religion, caste
Secular Action Network – June 2008
5
and language as it the
power of politics, which
divide the people. He also
mentioned about the
politicization of religion.
Religion is used a means
to rule by the politicians.
The entire workshop was
very interactive in nature.
2) Lecture on Terrorism Surat 11th May 08
A one-day conference was
held in Surat on 11th May
08 on “Terrorism from
Islamic Perspective”.
About 2500 thousand
people mostly Muslims
from Surat District
attended the Conference.
These Muslims included
those teaching and
studying in various
Madarsas in the Surat
District along with
eminent citizens,
intellectuals and activists.
The main organizers
included Anjuman–ETahamuz–
E-Madaris and
CSSS also Participated in
it. The Conference was
addressed among others by
Swami Agniwesh, Prof
Ram Puniyani, Dr Asghar
Ali Engineer, and Senior
Journalist Mr. Digant Oza.
They all spoke about the
causes of terrorism and
emphasized that terrorism
is a political phenomenon
and cannot be associated
with any religion much
less with Islam. There
were many madarasa
teachers and Islamic
theologians who spoke and
emphasized that Islam is a
religion of Peace and it has
nothing to do with
terrorism. Those who
associate terrorism with
Islam are either ignorant or
those who have there own
political agenda.
3) Police Workshop Dahisar 12th May 08
Dr Asghar Ali Engineer
started the session by first
discussing about the
History of partition where
he mentioned about the
reasons of partition,
distortion of history by
British, Politics of religion
and most important the
role of our Politicians
today and British are same
only as both aim at divide
and rule.
.
4) Seminar in Delhi on Composite Culture 17th May 08
A one-day seminar was
held in Delhi on
“Preservations of
Composite Culture of
India”. The workshop was
organized by Urdu
Tehzeeb.com and Islamic
Cultural Center on 17th
may 08 where Dr Asghar
Ali Engineer was invited
to speak on Composite
Culture. The seminar was
inaugurated by Governor
of Haryana Mr. A.R.
Kidwai, other speakers
were Dr Sayeda Hameed,
Baroness Emma
Nicholson, Prof Abdul
Haq, Yawar Abbas, and
Asad Mufti. Dr Engineer
gave details on composite
heritage of India and cited
numerous instances of
contribution made by
Muslims, Hindus,
Christians and others in
involving composite
culture. He observed that
in all fields like music,
architecture, painting,
poetry and language.
Muslims have made a very
rich contribution. He also
observed that not only in
the North India But from
Kashmir to Kanyakumari
our culture is composite.
He also gave numerous
instances of various
religions, sects that came
into existence as a result of
adherent Islam in India.
Those who participated
were prominent writer,
journalists, and activists.
There was great
appreciation of the
presentations.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
6
5) Workshop on Interfaith Dialogue to meet challenges of communal Problem 20th
May 08
A one-day workshop was
organized in Kanyakumari
by CSSS and Local
Church organization on
“Interfaith Dialogue to
meet challenges of
communal problem”. Dr
Engineer as keynote
speaker observed that
India is highly diverse
country and there is
bewildering diversity in
not only in the field of
religion but also in the
field of culture, language,
caste and ethnicity. Where
there is diversity
otherisation is bound to
happen, and if there is
otherisation there is bound
to be misunderstanding
and misconceptions about
other. The only useful tool
to understand other is
interfaith and intercultural
dialogue. In absence of
such dialogue the vested
interest promote the
concept of clash of
religions and cultures
which destroys harmony
and peace, there fore in a
diverse society dialogue
should take place at
various levels of society,
also to come together to
struggle for common
problems is also a sort of
dialogue as unity and
solidarity builds up during
such co operative and
coordinated action we can
call it a dialogue of life.
This was followed by
interactive session, a
number of questions were
raised to which Dr
Engineer replied there
were 75 participants most
of them were prominent
citizens and activists of
Nagar coil which is head
Quarters of Kanyakumari
District.
4. Reports
HUMANIST MOVEMENT
Delhi, 03 May 2008
PRESS RELEASE
India – Pakistan Relations: Time for a new beginning
Ever since the British left
the divided and wounded
Indian shores, people on
both sides of the border
(India and Pakistan) have
seen and faced plenty of
violence. This useless
violence has resulted in
tragedy for many families
on both sides. All this has
no future, other than
serving
the interest of weapon
suppliers.
Human being has learnt
that Violence has no future
and it brings only misery
for all involved/targeted.
Both the Indian and
Pakistan Governments
have announced their
wishes for permanent and
durable peace on the
borders and the time has
come for these wishes to
turn into reality. Increased
People to people contacts
have shown abundant
feelings on both sides for
peace
and normal living among
the citizens of both
Nations.
It is clear : People love
each other and want
Peace and nothing else.
Gandhi is now recognized
and followed the world
over and 02 October 2007
was celebrated joyfully
by people on both sides
of the border as
International Day of
Nonviolence. Taking
Gandhi's teaching of
Nonviolence, its time
that both the
Governments begin
taking independent (of
weapon suppliers),
sincere and practical
steps to begin the end of
violence on/from both
the sides.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
7
Humanists feel that the
time to give Peace a
chance has come and this
opportunity must not be
lost. Change is in the air
and this opportunity is the
right one for both the
sides. Taking example of
the Bolivian President
Honorable Evo Morales
who announced the
unilateral renunciation of
war as a tool of conflict
resolution with its
neighbors, both the Indian
and Pakistan Governments
should make a similar
announcement (without
waiting for the other side
to do it first) and follow
this with concrete daily
steps to make Peace
happen in real life for
peoples on both sides.
R10, 3rd floor, Khirki
Extn, New Delhi 110017.
Phone : 9810120918.
Email: info@humanistmovement.org
InterNet :
www.humanistmovement.org
HUMANIST MOVEMENT
Possible steps that both the Governments can take:
” 3DUGRQLQJ RI SULVRQHUV ZKR DUH RQ 'HDWK
row on both the sides, starting with Sarabjit
Singh as an example. Indian should also do
the same with similar prisoners on their side
of the border;
” %RWK VLGHV VKRXOG KRQHVWO\ H[FKDQJH
complete details of all the prisoners held by
each one and their crimes. A joint permanent
commission should be setup to review these
cases impartially and considering that those
prisoners who undertook actions (for which
they were arrested) due to their respective
Government sending them for such acts
(Army is ordered by the Government), they
can easily be pardoned by both the sides. In
any case, till these matters are resolved, no
one should be killed;
” $V D PDWWHU RI UHVSHFW IRU +XPDQ GLJQLW\
both the Governments should renounce
Death penalty with immediate effect.
” $ SHUPDQHQW 3HDFH FRPPLVVLRQ
consisting of representatives of both the
Governments (Politicians and Officials),
Peace activists from both the sides, UN,
Globally respectable Peace personalities like
Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, Aung San
Suu Kyi and Silo should be formed with the
aim of forming concrete steps that will bring
Peace in the region.
” 3HRSOH WR 3HRSOH FRQWDFWV VKRXOG EH
increased and a target date for open borders
should be announced.
” 3URSRUWLRQDWH DQG FRPSOHWH UHGXFWLRQ RI
Nuclear and Conventional arms with both
the
nations to achieve a peaceful border among
the two nations. Sudhir Gandotra –
Spokesperson.
R10, 3rd floor, Khirki Extn, New Delhi
110017. Phone: 9810120918.
Email: info@humanistmovement.org
Internet: www.humanistmovement.org
5. News
Hindukaran of Adivasis
May 12, 2008 68 EM-lines (700 words)
INDIA Church Leaders Dispute Hindu Claim on Mass Conversion of Christians
MUMBAI, India (UCAN) -- Church people and others see a political game in a Hindu leader's
claim that he "reconverted" hundreds of Christians to Hinduism.
Swami Narendra Maharaj organized a "mass conversion" on April 27 in Shimpoli, Borivili, a
suburb of Mumbai, 1,410 kilometers southwest of New Delhi.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
8
The Hindu leader told reporters he brought back 1,793 Christian tribal people to Hinduism.
Participants in the four-hour ceremony reportedly took an oath never to abandon Hinduism.
Swami Maharaj claimed they came from villages in Thane and Nashik districts, and he
accused Christian missioners of forcibly converting tribal people.
Bombay archdiocese and Vasai diocese share Thane district, while Nashik diocese covers
Nashik district, all in Maharashtra state. Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is the state capital.
Archbishop Felix Machado of Nashik has denied the claims. He says Hindu "gurus and
swamis" have "a hidden agenda to seek publicity by claiming to convert a large number of
tribal Christians."
Archbishop Machado told UCA News on May 8 that no Catholic from his diocese has become
Hindu. "Our parishes and mission stations attached to them have personal rapport with each
Catholic through schools, social work and other excellent infrastructure." Church people would
know immediately if a Catholic were to leave, he said.
The prelate served as undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue
before taking charge of Nashik diocese this past March. Pope Benedict XVI granted him the
personal title "archbishop" as a special gesture of appreciation for his work.
The archbishop recalled meeting former Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the
Vatican when Vajpayee met with Pope John Paul II in 2000. He said he challenged the pro-
Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian people's party) politician to prove the Catholic Church
indulged in forced conversions in India.
Auxiliary Bishop Percival Fernandez of Bombay also denied Christians were converted at the
Shimpoli event. The bishop, who oversees the archdiocesan territory that includes Shimpoli,
told UCA News on April 7 that those alleging to convert Christians should produce baptismal
certificates to prove their claim. He also asserted, "There has not been a single case of forced
conversion in our archdiocese."
Bishop Fernandez said Bombay archdiocese annually baptizes around 300 adults from other
religions, who spend up to two years in catechism. Each also must produce an affidavit saying
he or she is converting of his or her own free will. Although no law demands such an affidavit,
the archdiocese has made it a rule in order to avoid allegations, he explained. "Our priests
know this strict rule and they all follow it," he added.
Father Peter Almeida, the Vasai diocesan spokesperson, told UCA News on May 8 that parish
priests in the tribal belt have no information about Catholics going back to Hinduism. However,
he said he could not deny the possibility that some members of Protestant denominations
might have changed religion.
Joseph Dias, general secretary of the Mumbai-based Catholic Secular Forum, sees the reconversion
claim as a political game. Such events, Dias told UCA News, are a prelude to
"minority bashing," or disparaging of religious minority communities, that he expects will
precede the general election, due later this year. He said he has written to the Maharashtra
government to restrain Swami Maharaj from dividing Christians and Hindus, the predominant
community.
Ram Punyani, a Hindu and secretary of All India Secular Forum, called the mass reconversion
claim "bogus." He told UCA News the event was a "preparatory act to whip up
sectarian sentiments to strengthen the Hindu vote bank." Swami Maharaj's disciples, he
recalled, recently attacked two Catholic nuns near Alibag, south of Mumbai.
Maharashtra ministers reportedly go often to the Hindu center Swami Maharaj heads near
Ratnagiri to seek his blessings.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
9
Chandrakant Naik, an organizer of the re-conversion ceremony, denied it was politically
motivated. Most of the reconverted Christians were "recently married couples who were
originally Hindus," he told UCA News.
"Your (Christian) missionaries indulge in conversion activities by force, fraud and allurements"
to convert poor and illiterate tribal people, he alleged. Naik said he wants Christian missioners
to undertake only social service, not conversions. He pointed out that "no Hindu leader has
said anything against" Blessed Teresa of Kolkata, an "epitome of selfless service."
Report by Michael Gonsalves
6. Prayers for peace in Prison
INMATES OF ARTHUR ROAD JAIL GATHER EVERY MORNING TO
PRAY FOR PEACE AND RELIGIOUS HARMONY FINDS
Prayers in Penance
It’s surprising but Arthur Road Jail at
Mumbai Central, today, seems far
different from the dreary, torturous image
described by several novels and
newspapers. The ambience is now
peaceful and calm. On the contrary,
mornings are serene, and the jail premises
clean and green. “There are 21 barracks
inside the prison, each of which contains
more than 100 inmates. We have a lot of
manpower in the jail that needs to be put
to constructive use, so we make the
inmates clean the premises at regular
intervals,” says a jail official.
With an intention to develop religious
tolerance and transform the lives of the
prisoner, the jail authorities have now
introduced the concept of Sarva Dharma
Prarthana – a secular union of all religions
and faiths. This initiative by Mumbai
Sarvodaya Mandal, a charitable trust, takes
place every day within the prison premises.
Prayers are composed in Hindi and it
consists of teachings from Hinduism, Islam,
Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, and Tavo
(Jewish teachings.
“Prisoners hail from various religions, so it
is essential for us to teach them to live in
harmony and accept all religions,” says
Swati Sathe, superintendent, Arthur Road
Jail.
Every morning volunteers from the
Mumbai Sarvodaya Mandal visit the
jail premises to conduct prayers. They
have arranged to display 3.7 feet banners
of the prayer in each barrack in order to
make it easier for the inmates to
remember the chants.
“There has been a remarkable change in
the behavior of the inmates. They seem at
peace and all of them are making a
sincere effort to co-operate with each
other while performing their daily
activities. The prisoners look forward to
the prayer sessions everyday,” smiles
Sathe, who has been the initiator of the
praying sessions.
The jail authorities now plan to expand
this spiritual journey for the inmates and
are trying to conduct spiritual healing
classes twice a day. The jail premises
also have a mini community centre,
where the inmates learn basics of
computers. This special section works as
a rehabilitation center for prisoners who
are drug addicts.
Secular Action Network – June 2008
10
“The prison is not just meant for making
an individual realize his mistakes: it is
also a place for changing the way one
looks at life and go back into the world as
a better person,” concludes Sathe.
It’s inspiring to know that even with the
burden of a criminal past, the inmates of
the jail are living in a peaceful present
and moving towards a happy future.
Source: The Times of India, dt. 17.05.2008
7. Important Event: Training Program
Training Programme for Muslim Women in Mumbai in June
The Institute of Islamic
Studies, Mumbai, run by
Asghar Ali Engineer, is
going to organize a
training course in
'Rights of Muslim
Women- Theory and
Practice' for those who
are actively involved in
promoting and working
for the awareness of
Muslim women's rights.
This training will equip
them with adequate
knowledge and skills to
do their work more
effectively and
efficiently.
Subjects that will be dealt with in the course include:
1. Islam and its origin and development.
2. Position of Women before Islam.
3. Evolution of Islamic Shariah.
4. Concept of Women in Qur'an.
5. Position of Women in Shariah.
6. The Personal Law in India.
7. Personal Law reforms in Islamic countries.
8. Personal Law reforms and codification of law in India.
These subjects will help
participants to grasp
how the Shariah was
evolved, what steps can
be taken for reforms and
what the possibilities of
empowerment and
liberation of Muslim
women are.
In all there will be 40
participants from all
over India. The training
will be for the period of
3 days from 27th June to
29th June 2008 (both
days inclusive). For
further details and
registration mail at
csss@mtnl.net.in
8. Forthcoming Seminar
'Scapegoats and Holy Cows': State 'Response' to Terrorism
May 29, 2009
Seminar
Time 10am to 4pm
Secular Action Network – June 2008
11
Venue: Main Auditorium, India International Centre, Max Mulellar Marg, New
Delhi-110003
Speakers:
A. Bimol Akoijam, Associate Fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies
Arun Shrivastava, Certified Management Consultant
Dr Syed Ahamed Anwar, State Secretary, Human Rights Wing. TMMK, Tamil Nadu
Justice Rajinder Sachar, Former Chief Justice, Delhi High Court
Hilal Ahmad Meer, Journalist, Greater Kashmir, J & K
Kavita Srivastava, General Secretary, PUCL, Rajasthan
Mahesh Bhatt-Director, Producer, Filmmaker, Social Activist
Nasiruddin Haider Khan, Senior Journalist, UP
PC Tiwari, Human Rights Law Network, Uttrakhand
Prof KN Panikkar, Historian, Social Activist, Writer
Sheema Mohsin, Social Activist, PUCL, Karnataka
Siddharth Vardarajan, Senior Journalist, the Hindu, Delhi
Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, Editor, Siasat, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Zakia Jowher, Social Activist-Gujarat
-----------------------------------------------------------
Every now and then the Indian State, reaches
out its 'long arms of injustice' to pick a
scapegoat from amidst the Indian population to
cover up its own incompetence to provide
security to its citizens.
The hapless creature, decorated and
demonized by the 'fashion designers' of Indian
officialdom, is then paraded before the entire
nation to create a public spectacle prior to its
ritual sacrifice.
The Bengali speaking Muslim people of Jaipur
are the latest in a long line-up of such
scapegoats.
The Indian state's treatment of scapegoats is
in stark contrast to the 'holy cows' it protects,
irrespective of their trespasses or crimes
against the people of the country.
Whether it be the Hashimpura massacre of
1987, the Babri Masjid demolition and the
Mumbai riots of 1992, the Gujarat carnage of
2002, Nanded Bomb Blast April 6, 2006 or the
recent anti-national activities of the likes of Raj
Thackeray in Mumbai- no one gets even
arrested- leave alone punished for their
terrorist activities.
The seminar mentioned above is being
organised at a very short notice to register our
anguish and protest against the way innocent
people across India are being harassed,
picked up, arrested and tortured in the name of
fighting terrorism. It is also to register our
protest against the well designed plan of
demonising minorities in this country. We
might not be able to document all the cases at
this seminar but this is being organised as a
first step to plan a larger national level
campaign involving citizens and organisations
from across India to resist the state terror.
DO COME AND REGISTER YOUR
PROTEST.
PASS THE INFORMATION TO YOUR
FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND FELLOW
ACTIVISTS.
HRLN, PEACE, ANHAD
23, Canning Lane, New Delhi-110001
Tel-23070740/ 22; anhad.delhi@gmail.com
9. Resources
Review of Report of Independent People's Tribunal "The rise of Fascism in India"
Since the ascent of the United Progressive
Alliance [UPA] and their promise of a `riot free
India' many have assumed that communalism
and Communal Violence are on the doctrine due
to the presence of an avowedly secular
government at the center. As the memory of
Gujarat begins to fade, we risk becoming
Secular Action Network – June 2008
12
complacent in the fight against those responsible
for the 2002 pogrom. In this context, an
Independent people's Tribunal was convened in
March 2007 in order to assess the state of
communalism in an UPA-led India. During this
tribunal, over 300 victims and activists from 17
states came to relate their experiences of
communalism to a jury of eminent personalities
prominent in the struggle for communal
harmony.
The testimony during the tribunal exposes faith
in central UPA rule to be not only misguided,
but also extremely dangerous, as it fosters
complacency at a time in which the growth of
Hindutva activity, in both intensity and scope,
continues uninterrupted. It is a perilous mistake
to equate the efforts of Hindutva with
mainstream BJP Politics and further to assume
that the defeat of the latter cripples the former.
Instead, during the last four years, the Sangh
Parivar has continued its efforts on an
unprecedented scale, not only deepening their
influence in strongholds like Gujarat, Rajasthan
and Madhya Pradesh but also making
considerable headway in states thought to be
strongly secular such as Kerala, Goa and West
Bengal. Indeed, the two most visible
manifestations of Communalism, the communal
riot and the BJP, may have longer be central to
the ultimate objectives of Hindutva, as the
former invites scrutiny from an increasingly
active civil society and the latter moves toward
the center in an effort to be electorally viable.
Hindutva operates at a micro level, encouraging
the socio-economic and educational boycotts of
minorities, co-opting marginalized its
propaganda through the regional press. These
avenues of Hindutva activity often go unnoticed.
What this tribunal has aptly demonstrated is both
brutality of the communal riot and the everyday
forms of violence that are increasingly
dominating the expression of communalism in
India today. Most importantly, this tribunal has
clearly shown that both forms of violence are
engendered by the creation and perpetuation of a
particular worldview that can be legitimately
termed fascist. As a result of the inculcation of
this mindset, it seems that in many parts of
India, communal riots are no longer necessary to
devastate and suppress minority populations.
The socio-economic and educational boycotts,
the small-scale but daily physical violence faced
by minorities and assert the control and
supremacy of the majority. As such, it is
important that our focus move beyond the
communal riot to concentrate on how this
mindset is developed and disseminated, and
further how it manifests in the daily lives, rather
than the spectacular occurrences, of India's
minorities.
Perhaps the most critical and successful effort of
Hindutva forces in the creation of fascist mindset
has been their national project to constitute and
consolidate the Hindu community. Though the
Sangh Parivar began its movement largely
among the urban upper caste and middle class
Hindu population, it has in the last two decades
significantly extended its reach to co-opt Adivasi
and Dalit groups as the foot soldiers of its
militancy. The result of this effort was made
explicitly clear during the 2002 Gujarat pogrom.
Several of the deponents who testified during the
IPT described the efforts of the Sangh Parivar
among marginalized groups. In particular, the
efforts of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and the
Ekal Vidhyalayas, both extensively funded by
ministries of the Indian government and
foundations based in the Diaspora like the India
Development and Relief Fund, were singled out
for their importance in simultaneously promoting
a canonical and intolerant form of Hinduism, and
building the political institutions necessary to
promote violence.
The second major site of constituting and
consolidating the Hindutva forces has been
through textbooks. Education is crucial in
imparting certain ideas and visions about society
and those contained within it. Both the
government and the Sangh Parivar have
recognized this and used textbooks as a medium
to construct particular view of the Indian nation
and communicate its ideals and norms to
students. According to expert testimony, the
versions of the government and of the Sangh
Parivar [when in control of the government and
in private publishing] vary only in degree.
The pervasive communalization of the Indian
press is another disturbing trend borne out by the
IPT. This communalism appears to take two
forms; each epitomized by either the English of
Indian languages press. The native language
press in many areas, particularly Gujarat and the
Hindi Belt often represent the interests of the
Hindutva. They, through both sins of
Secular Action Network – June 2008
13
commission and omission, portray Muslims and
anti-national, while often fabricating or
exaggerating instances of violence against
Hindus. False information spread through the
language press has become a regular feature of
the buildup to a communal riot, as was famously
observed in Gujarat 2002. In the U.P. Section of
the IPT, we were told of the dangerous lies
spread by the language press during last year's
riots in Lucknow and Mau. Though Muslims
were the primary victims of the riots, the
language press falsely reported the kidnapping of
Hindu girls and slaughter in Hindu
neighborhoods. As in Gujarat's 2002 pogrom,
these fabrications had significant
consequences, sharpening the intensity of the riot
and inciting people to commit violence.
In order to understand how communal violence
appears in Indian today, it is crucial that we shift
our gaze from the communal riot to the process
by which communal violence is made routine. In
contrast to the riot, the most prevalent forms of
communal violence happen everyday. Among
others, manifestations of this include the denial
of education, social and economic boycott, and
deliberate harassment from the state, and
symbolic acts of humiliation. The pervasiveness
of this violence structures the experience of
India's minorities, and seriously undermines its
claim to be a free and secular Republic.
In every state, the testimony gathered at the
Independent People's Tribunal speaks of the
growth of this micro-violence, which is a result
of the increasing appeal and success of a
majoritarian fascist worldview. The growth of
this mindset, independent of secular political rule
at the center, is the single greatest warning of
this tribunal. Absence of concrete and zealous
efforts to undermine this propagation of this
worldview, communal violence is likely to
increase and perhaps engulf this nation.
As majoritarian fascism is fundamentally a
worldview, its effects are felt in the daily ways in
which victims go about their lives. As such, it is
crucial that activism be framed in those terms,
and formulates strategies that address the routine
material existence of a victim of communal
violence. Communal violence, whether in the
form of a riot or sustained discrimination,
continues long after the event itself, without
long-term strategies to ensure victim's continued
ability to earn a living. We are unlikely to make
a significant and lasting difference in their lives.
"The Report carries detailed versions of the
depositions and well witnessed experiences
during last 2 decades both during the NDA
regime and the present that goes like a horror
movie".
The dried up blood line with tiny drops around
on the cover page (and we know too well where
it springs down from..). will inspire you to try to
wipe it from the cover itself .. and the drops will
laugh instead of giving a cry in pain... It's only
one more way to express our tributes for those
innocent lives.. and costs just Rs.450/- (cost of
your shirt or pant or a week's tea cups .. in case
we can't eliminate fascism .let's see how it
eliminates some more .. and we may become of
them ..Some day.
Note: for copies; (Rs 450)
Please contact: HRLN, 576, Masjid Road, Jangpura, New Delhi - 110
014 (publications@ hrln.org) PH: 011-65908842, 24374501, 24378854,
24379855-56, 24376922, Fax: 24374502
++
=============================================================================
Editor: Ram Puniyani, ram.puniyani@gmail.com, www.pluralindia.com
Patron: Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer, Advisory Board: L.S. Hardenia, Digant Oza, Irfan Engineer
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published by All India Secular Forum
C/o. Centre for Study of Society and Secularism
602 & 603 New Silver Star, Prabhat Colony Rd., Behind BEST Bus Depot,
Santacruz (E), Mumbai: - 400 055. E-mail: csss@mtnl.net.in
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)