Indian American Christians warn Brahmin organizations
surreal_ravi
(FIACONA)
110 Maryland Ave, NE Suite 510, Washington DC 20002. Ph: 202 547 4700,
http://www.fiacona.org/
STATEMENT
Absolute Stupidity Reign Hindutva Brigade in India
Monday, November 24, 2003
The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North
America (FIACONA) condemns the provocative and uncalled for actions of
the Hindutva groups in India including last Thursday's burning of an
effigy of Jesus in the state of Orisa; the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's
(VHP) latest brain child to drag the newly appointed Cardinal
Telesphore P Toppo into a legal (publicity seeking) battle for
accepting a 'foreign honor'; and the sinister designs of using even
the census data of India by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against
the Indian church.
Activists a radical group called Bajrang Dal, one of the sister
organizations of the ruling BJP which was held responsible by a court
early September for the burning of Australian Missionary Graham Stains
and his two young children Timothy (7) and Phillip (11) in 1999, burnt
an effigy of Jesus last Thursday in the state of Orisa. Police
officials said 'about a dozen activists belonging to this radical
group forced their way into a local church in the town of Tileibani,
brought out thousands of religious books (Bibles and Hymnals) and
burnt them in broad day light'. District police chief LD Naik said
they had also misbehaved with a woman in the church.
Two cases have been registered against 12 suspects in connection with
the incidents. All of them have been absconding since Thursday.
"Tension is mounting in Tileibani area as a result of which police
patrolling has been intensified," Mr. Naik told IANS news service.
A day before that, the Vice-president of Jharkhand unit of VHP
(another sister organization of the ruling BJP), Ganga Prasad Yadav
said that the acceptance of the post of Cardinal by the Ranchi diocese
Archbishop at a recently concluded function in Vatican City was
against the law of the land as he accepted the honor without seeking
permission from the government.
Reacting to the above reported statements by the VHP and the actions
of the Bajrang Dal, the President of FIACONA Mr. Pallekonda said today
in Chicago that, "All these actions amply prove that the Hindutva
brigades, a part and parcel of the ruling BJP party, has nothing
worthwhile to do with their time than harassing the church in India
for political ends". He cautioned that India would spiral into a state
of anarchy and mayhem if actions are not taken against the people
creating such mischief. He said, "the very idea of India would be
jeopardized if we do not find a way to stop such things from happening
again in a timely fashion".
Mr. Prabhudoss, the Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee of
FIACONA, who is currently visiting Iraq said today in a
tele-conference, "Absolute stupidity is ruling the Hindutva brigade in
India". He hoped that the Hindu population would rise up to the
challenge and prevent the radical elements from causing further damage
to the age old Hindu faith and its great traditions in the eyes of the
international community.
Mr. Prabhudoss urged the International governments and their embassies
in India to take these developments seriously as it could easily
jeopardize internal stability. He explained 'how international
communities have much to lose strategically, politically and
economically if India marches on in the same negative direction'.
Mr. Condillac, a member of the Board of FIACONA pointed out how the
Bharathiya Janata Party and its ideologues have politicized even the
process of census taking in India. He explained how the methodology
used in the 2001 census made amply clear the "ulterior political
motives" of the ruling BJP party. He pointed out that even the then
President of India Mr. Naryanan questioned the methods followed in
collecting the data especially about the Tribal and low caste
populations. (Note for the international press: The President of India
does not have authority to take corrective action in that matter).
It is ironic that the US government has chosen to downplay these
serious developments in the Indian subcontinent for strange reasons.
US business delegations are going to the aid of Mr. Nareendra Modi in
Gujarat without any code of ethics or morality.
FIACONA cautions the international governments that if nothing is done
within a reasonable time in India, the radical groups are out to
create another Iraq in India. We hope that better sense will prevail
among the sister organizations of the ruling party soon so they would
work constructively to help the country progress economically and
culturally rather than destroying the foundation on which the nation
is built.
Jayachand Pallekonda, President
John Prabhudoss, Chair, Governmental Affairs Committee.
An article, The Indian Census, Hindu-Christian Dialogue, and
Perceiving the Religious 'Other' Interpreting Facts by Judson B.
Trapnell is made available for reference at:
http://www.fiacona.org/Research%20Articles/census_article_Judson.htm
Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America
(FIACONA) is an umbrella organization of many Indian American
foundations, groups and churches from all cross the United States. The
main office of FIACONA is based in Washington DC, on the Capitol Hill.
More information is available at www.fiacona.org