Anti-Sangh Report from U.S. Commission on Intl Religious Freedom

[Guest guest]

BELOW IS A REPORT FROM THE U.S. Commission on International

Religious Freedom.http://www.uscirf.gov/index.php3

 

IT BLATANTLY MISREPRESENTS THE VIEWS OF THE SANGH

PARIVAR. IT LINKS VIOLENCE AND MURDER TO THE SANGH PARIVAR USING

TOTALLY AMBIVELANT TERMS, USING NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER. IT CALLS FOR

ACTION FROM THE US GOVT WHILE PRESENTING IT WITH FAULTY INFORMATION.

THE REPORT IS SO ANTI-INDIAN THAT IT WAS WIDELY PROMOTED IN THE

PAKISTAN MEDIA.

 

IF THE COMMISSION IS WRONG IN ITS CONCLUSIONS THEN IT MUST BE WRONG

IN ITS RECOMENDATIONS AS WELL. PLEASE CONTACT THE COMMISIONERS OF

THIS REPORT AND LET THEM KNOW THE FACTS. PERHAPS THEY WERE NEVER

GIVEN THE CHANCE TO HEAR THE TRUTH. LETS GIVE THEM THAT CHANCE.

VRIN PARKER

(PS It is interesting to note the

3 Muslim names attached to this report.

Firuz Kazemzadeh, Leila Nadya SadaT,

& The Hon. Shirin Tahir-Kheli)

 

Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, USCIRF Communications Director, (202) 523-

3240, ext. 27

 

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom

800 N. Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 790

Washington, D.C. 20002

Phone: (202) 523-3240 FAX: (202) 523-5020

 

Email: communications

 

"...the recent increase in violence against religious minorities in

India, particularly Muslims and Christians, that has been associated

with the rise in power of Hindu nationalist organizations, including

the Vishna Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal, and the Rashtriya

Swayamsevak Sangh, as well as their political wing, the Bharatiya

Janata Party (BJP). These groups are collectively known as the Sangh

Parivar." .....

 

"The ideology of the Sangh Parivar holds that only Hindus are "real"

Indians, suggesting that non-Hindus are foreigners and thus

deserving of suspicion and even attack."

 

U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 12, 2002 Contact: Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27

U.S. Must Help India Foster a Climate of Religious Tolerance,

Commission Says

 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom

has observed with great concern the rioting between religious groups

in India over the past weeks that has taken more than 600 lives.

Reports indicate that both Hindus and Muslims have instigated

violence. In all cases, regardless of who the perpetrators are, the

Commission unequivocally condemns such attacks and urges the U.S.

government to press Indian authorities to exercise their power

immediately to halt the atrocities and violence and bring the

perpetrators to justice.

 

 

In its report of May 1, 2001, the Commission expressed its concern

about the recent increase in violence against religious minorities

in India, particularly Muslims and Christians, that has been

associated with the rise in power of Hindu nationalist

organizations, including the Vishna Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal,

and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, as well as their political

wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These groups are

collectively known as the Sangh Parivar. The BJP has led the

national government since 1998 in coalition with regional parties

(some without nationalist leanings).

 

 

The ideology of the Sangh Parivar holds that only Hindus are "real"

Indians, suggesting that non-Hindus are foreigners and thus

deserving of suspicion and even attack. Sangh Parivar groups argue

that the previous leaders of India failed to create a nation

sufficiently grounded in Hindu culture, and that Western thought,

including the concept of secular government, is dangerous and

detrimental to India, along with conversion to what they claim

are "foreign" religions such as Islam and Christianity. Members of

other religious communities are thus portrayed as foreign implants,

and their patriotism and status as true Indian citizens are

frequently called into question by Sangh Parivar groups.

 

 

It is hard to imagine a set of views and values less appropriate in

a country that is home to one of the world's largest Muslim

populations (about 120 million) and 20 million to 30 million

Christians. The United States government must speak out strongly

against both the increasing attacks on minorities and the ideology

of hate behind them. The Indian government must also do more to root

out the causes of such tragedies, especially by resolving the

impasse over the Muslim Babri mosque in Ayodhya destroyed by Hindu

nationalists in 1992, and where Hindu nationalists are vowing to

construct a Hindu temple instead.

 

 

As the United States deepens its engagement with India, it must work

with the Indian government to help foster an atmosphere of greater

religious tolerance in that country.

 

 

As the Commission recommended in its May report, the U.S. government

should:

 

 

-- press India to pursue perpetrators of violent acts that target

members of religious groups;

 

 

-- make clear its concern to the BJP-led government that virulent

nationalist rhetoric is fueling an atmosphere in which perpetrators

believe they can attack religious minorities with impunity;

 

 

-- encourage and facilitate private-sector communication and

exchanges between American and Indian religious groups and other non-

governmental organizations interested in religious freedom;

 

 

-- allocate funds from U.S. foreign-assistance programs for the

promotion of education on religious toleration and inclusiveness in

India;

 

 

-- seek ways to respond positively through enhanced economic ties to

Indian government efforts to protect religious freedom.

 

 

The full text of the report on India is available on the

Commission's Web site at www.uscirf.gov.

 

 

 

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created

by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to give

independent recommendations to the executive branch and the Congress.

 

Michael K. Young, Chair * Felice D. Gaer * Firuz Kazemzadeh *

Richard D. Land * Bishop William Francis Murphy * Leila Nadya

Sadat * Nina Shea * The Hon. Charles R. Stith * The Hon.

Shirin Tahir-Kheli * Steven T. McFarland, Executive Director

 

 

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