Ban Hindu terrorist groups : CBCI

September 26, 2008

Ban Hindu groups that train terrorists: Indian bishops

NEW DELHI (ICNS): As renewed anti-Christian violence erupted in Orissa, Catholic bishops in India ended their executive body meeting Sept. 26, with a set of demands that included banning Hindu groups that train terrorists.

The following is the full text of the statement, which was signed by bishops' president Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil.

VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS

Statement of the Executive Body of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India

(Bangalore September 26, 2008)

Shocked and grieved by the incidents of extreme violence unleashed against the Christian community recently in various parts of our Country, the members of the Standing Committee (Executive Body) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India express their utter disappointment at the apathy and inaction of the Governments at the Centre and in the States.

TRAGIC EVENTS

Innocent people were murdered, women were molested, churches and religious places were desecrated, pulled down and burnt, houses of Christians were destroyed in Kandhamal and several other districts of Orissa. The State Government kept giving an assurance that things were normal and security arrangements were perfect. Yet when representations were made, it pleaded inability to control the mobs that vandalized church property assailed religious personnel and Christian population. It was evident that the perpetrators of these hideous deeds were trained agents of radical Hindutva activists who were acting under instructions and executing a master plan of destruction. Even as the Christian community in India was still agonizing under these most painful events, attacks and vandalism spread to Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh

It is India’s ancient civilization that is being humiliated and the values such as Ahimsa, Truth, Tolerance, and Respect for Religions that She has jealously preserved for centuries that are being dragged to the dust. It is India’s fair name that has been tarnished and her secular and democratic image seriously damaged before the international community. These recent horrors in various parts of our country have disgraced the high ideals and principles that our wise men and saints upheld and the vision that our Founding Fathers cherished.

We appreciate the initiative of the Government of India in sending a fact-finding team to study the situation in Karnataka. At the same time we express our disappointment because no corresponding action has been taken until now in the State of Orissa, where the violence and destruction were of much greater magnitude.

OUR DEMANDS

We make the following demands:

• That stronger and stringent action be taken against all kinds of anti-social and anti-religious elements that violate human rights and terrorize innocent people;

• That culprits should be brought to book and legal action be taken against them;

• That adequate compensation be immediately given to the affected people and institutions;

• That CBI inquiry be immediately ordered to investigate the Orissa incidents and their nexus to attacks on Christian communities in other States;

• That a ban be imposed on fundamentalist groups that train “terrorists” under the banner of Hindutva or any other name;

• That the leaders who act on a communal agenda, or who inspire organized violence against persons of another community, or who use religion for political purposes be restrained.

• That in the event of people taking the law into their own hands, the police be instructed to act in accordance with the demands of law and order, with justice and without prejudice.

THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH

We are convinced that the allegations of forced conversions by Christian communities is merely a strategy developed by vested interests in order to prevent Christian services of health, education, poverty alleviation and development on behalf of deprived communities. Conversion by force, allurements or deception goes against the teaching of the Catholic Church: “The Church strictly forbids forcing anyone to embrace the Faith, or alluring or enticing people by worrisome wiles. By the same token, she also strongly insists on this right that no one should be frightened away from the Faith by unjust vexations on the part of others.” (Vatican Council II). Further Church Law prescribes: “No one is ever permitted to coerce persons to embrace the Catholic faith against their conscience.”

It is truly humiliating to the poor to claim that they easily yield to the temptation of converting to any religion for some material advantage. In fact, the poor who choose Christianity forfeit so many benefits guaranteed by the Constitution. Some have even sacrificed their lives for refusing to reconvert.

The Catholic Church respects other religions and holds what is true and holy in them as a precious heritage of humanity. Her teaching in this matter is clear. “The Catholic Church regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teaching which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.” She exhorts all her children “prudently and lovingly, through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions and in witness of Christian faith and life, to acknowledge, preserve and promote the spiritual and moral goods, found among these people, as well as their values in their society and culture.” (Vatican Council II)

We perceive that the Hindutva opposition to Christian activities derives from the fear that many of the deprived communities may be so empowered as to assert their own rights and resist exploitation. No matter how great the threat that may confront us, we cannot renounce the heritage of love and justice that Jesus left us. He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Gospel of Luke 4:18). When Jesus went about healing the sick, associating with outcasts and assisting the poor, those works were not allurements but the concrete realization of God’s plan for humankind: to build a society founded on love, justice and social harmony. The Church therefore is walking in the footsteps of her Master when she exerts herself to the utmost for the benefit of humanity, especially those who are poor and marginalized.

OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

Every citizen and community of our Country has an inalienable right to freedom of conscience and religious liberty. The Indian Constitution, article 25 § 1, upholds that “all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion.” It is this right of every citizen to embrace the religion which best satisfies his/her quest for God and for fulfillment. This constitutes an essential part of Human Rights. We belong to a civilization that attaches great importance to this right.

CHRISTIAN RESPONSE

Ultimately, Christian response to harassment and persecution may be expressed in one word: forgiveness, and this while we seek to have our rights safeguarded and justice done. If however, some choose to consider the sufferance of the Christian community as a weakness, they are seriously mistaken. We wish to remind everyone that we are citizens of this great country. We too have had a share in shaping this civilization and continue to contribute a great deal to the growth and development of this nation. The Catholic Church in India has always played an active role in promoting inter-religious dialogue and inter-religious harmony. It is with absolute resolve to live in harmony and in happy collaboration with everyone around us, that we seek to serve God and our Nation.

We are heartened by persons of Hindu society and of other communities who have come forward to condemn the evil deeds of a fringe group of fundamentalist activists and to help the victims of violence in many ways. We are grateful that the majority of the people of our Country recognize the small Christian minority as a peace-loving community, ever eager to render service to people of all social strata and religious affiliations, especially those who are poor and needy.

We express our solidarity with the hapless suffering victims of violence, especially those in Orissa who have been rendered homeless, who are forced to flee into forests, who still languish in relief camps and who are being still cruelly threatened to give up their Christian faith, and in their name we appeal to the Governments concerned to take appropriate and effective action without any further delay and to bring relief and justice to them.

We invite everyone to join in prayer for our great nation, for leaders of the Governments and for Civil Authorities, for all those who have suffered in the recent violence and also for those who were the cause of our sufferings. May God bless our country and lead us on the way of peace and justice. 

Read

Kalam for four-pronged approach to tackle terrorism

Hindustan Times September 27, 2008

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam on Friday said a unified intelligence system and speedy trial of cases was necessary to combat terrorism as he called for more active participation of citizens in the fight against the menace.

"I advocate four things that are necessary to remove terrorism. First of all, citizens should be more alert and vigilant and thus complement the efforts of the law-enforcing agencies. Secondly, there should be one intelligence agency in the country.

"Thirdly, courts should work towards speedy trial and disposal of cases pertaining to terrorism. Lastly, we must wipe out poverty through economic progress," the former President said at a function organised by city-based SS Khanna Girls Degree College.

The "missile man", who arrived in the city on a two-day visit, was replying to a student's question who wished to know whether harsh laws were the only way to fight terrorism.

To another query, Kalam said "At present we are producing 30,000 MW of electricity. By 2020, our energy requirement is likely to grow ten-fold. We will not be able to meet that through conventional sources or alternatives like solar and wind power. Hence, nuclear energy is essential for our progress."

Kalam also stressed the need for removing corruption from society and asked children to do their bit by discouraging their elders "from indulging in corrupt practises".

The former President also underscored the need for the betterment of women "which is essential for the progress of society as a whole" and asked the students to work for removing evils like dowry, female foeticide and infanticide and other crimes against the fair sex.

Many Unanswered Questions in Jamia Nagar

Civil rights teams visit Jamia Nagar, questions police version

Submitted by kashif on 21 September 2008 - 6:35pm. 

• Crime/Terrorism
 
• Indian Muslim

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net

New Delhi: There is something more than that meets the eye in the Jamia Nagar police encounter case and that’s why civil rights groups and human rights organizations are visiting the area and tying to get the true picture by talking to neighbours and eyewitnesses.

Of all what is most disturbing is that those described as terrorists by the police have valid rent agreement and submitted a form with the Jamia Nagar Police Station for the verification of their credentials.

According to the rent agreement and police verification form (a copy of the documents are with TwoCircles.net), Atif Ameen, who was killed in the encounter, had got the flat on rent in his name. The rent agreement was signed on August 25, 2008. The police verification form says there were six people living in the flat. They are Atif, Zeeshan Ahmad, Md. Saif, Md Sajid (24 years), Md Khalid and Md Sajid (20 years).

People say if they were terrorists, why would they seek their verification?

Human rights activists visiting the Jamia Nagar

Finding some loopholes in the police version of the encounter on Friday (September 19), some human rights groups have visited the area and talked to locals and neighbours to get the whole picture.

Today around one dozen senior civil activists from various human rights organizations visited the area and also the building L-18 in Batala House, near Khalilullah Masjid in Jamia Nagar area.

The police did not allow the team to go into the building.

They talked to 12-15 people and remained there for around 2 hours. Several questions and doubts came up during the talks. The most doubtful is the escape theory of the police. The team made a round of the building and found it impossible for one to escape when there are policemen at the gate, the only exit of the building.

More 

Building up

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The Rubbishness of Indian History as taught in Indian schools

The Rubbishness of Indian History as taught in Indian schools

As a boy, I grew up in the government schools that taught standard curricula for everyone. In my fifth standard, I first studied the History of India. The best thing that I read was that the Vedas were written about three thousand years ago. I also ‘learnt’ that the Vedic Aryans did yagyas and drank soma. That was all.

Now, thirty five years later, when I opened my first son’s history book who is in Ninth standard (he is 14 years old), I saw nothing about Hinduism . But it had significant chapters on new religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Another notable addition was a large chapter on new European thinkers such as Marx, Engels and so on. Read more

Jabalpur Church set on fire by Dharm Raksha Sena, a new terrorist outfit

New Terrorist Groups are Coming Up Under BJP Rule.  Besides Bajrang Dal, Shri Ram Sena in Karnataka, Dharm Raksha Sena in MP

Church in India Under Attack:

UPA Against State Terrorism

Centre warns Orissa, K'taka over attack on Christians 19 Sep 2008, 0220 hrs IST,TNN NEW DELHI: Centre on Thursday issued a warning to NDA-controlled governments of Orissa and Karnataka under Article 355 to rein in violence against Christians, in an action which will be praised as appropriate in many quarters but will sharpen the UPA vs NDA faultlines. While BJP condemned the action as ''partisan'', Congress welcomed it with glee. Article 355 vests emergency powers in the Centre to ensure adherence to the Constitution and it can even be seen as a precursor to the application of Article 356 (President's rule). But in the current context, it also serves the political purpose. Importantly, with the government acting against the Opposition governments over violence against minorities by RSS affiliates, it could clear the way for a tougher response against terrorism.   Read it all

Politics and Minority: Terror in Kandhamal: 1000 families reconverted

The already ravished, terrorized, emotionally broken dalits and adivasis are being converted from Christianity to Hinduism in a well-planned manner. A villager (Christian) from Baliguda block called and informed today that they have been given a ultimatum by VHP people that they have to keep themselves prepared with two cocoanuts, non-boiled rice (arua chaula) and other items for attending re-conversion (sanskar) ceremony on 15th September 2008. In case they failed to do so, what will happen – only time can tell? 'In the meantime more than 1000 families have been reconverted within 15-days' according to a reporter, who does not want to disclose his identity.

A couple of days back, the leaders of VHP and RSS have announced to wipe out Christians from Kandhamal District shortly. This was reiterated by Sangha leaders on 11th September before press ....>read it all here

Politics and Minority: Terror in Kandhamal: 1000 families reconverted

Politics and Minority: Forced Conversion In Gujarat

Read Shabnam Hashmi in Countercurrents

Terror continues in Kandhamal

The Telegraph, Kolkatta September 15, 2008 Clashes on in Kandhamal OUR CORRESPONDENT A sand sculpture on the riots by Sudarshan Pattnaik. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee Bhubaneswar, Sept. 14: Tension brewed in parts of strife-torn Kandhamal today as nine houses were torched at Toposi and Dibadi while reports of arson trickled in from some places in Raikia. Five platoons of CRPF, Rapid Action Force and Orissa State Armed Police were deployed in those areas and in other vulnerable pockets to bring the situation under control. Trouble started in Kandhamal last evening itself after two civilians died in firing at Tumudibandha, where Swami Laxmananda Saraswati was gunned down on August 23, and a CRPF jawan was critically injured. The problem began when CRPF jawans tried to intercept a mob of 500 men, mostly Kandh tribals, on their way to Kurtamgarh gram panchayat to “discuss matters” with the village headman (sarpanch), Sisir Mallik. The headman belonging to the Pana community later converted to Christianity and some persons in the mob held grudges against the sarpanch. Facing the resistance, the mob launched an attack on the CRPF team with lathis, stones and arms. “Rioters continued to attack the jawans till the latter opened fire,” said DIG (southern range) R.P. Koche. Two protesters died in the CRPF firing, leaving two protesters dead. “The bodies are yet to be identified,” the officer confirmed. A jawan sustained a bullet injury in his neck and was rushed to the sub-divisional hospital at Baliguda. His condition is stated to be critical and has been shifted to MKCG Hospital today, said a senior officer. On Friday, too, Tumudibandha witnessed clashes. A prayer house and at least a dozen houses were set ablaze, leading to tension in the area and in the neighbouring G. Udaygiri block. Since then the security has been beefed up in the area. Several villagers left their homes for safer areas even as at least three platoons of CRPF and Orissa State Armed Police were deployed at Tumudibandha today. Meanwhile, curfew imposed on Jaipur since August 30 was lifted today. “We have lifted the curfew, as no fresh incidents of violence was reported from the area. The situation is becoming normal there,” said DIG (south-western range) Sanjeev Panda. Link

Protect Your Computers from Terrorists access - Tips from Dheeraj Sanghi ( IIT Kanpur ), Director of the LNM Institute for Information Technology, Jaipur.

The Telegraph September 15, 2008 How to guard against Wi-Fi terrorism

G.S. MUDUR

New Delhi, Sept. 14: The next time militants send out a terror message, it could bear the tag of your computer unless you take steps to secure your connection. The Indian Mujahideen hacked into the Wi-Fi Internet connection of a Mumbai engineer’s wife to send yesterday’s terror email to TV offices, Mumbai police said today. “We did not feel the need to secure or password-protect our Internet connection,” said Sarika Kamath, from whose Internet Protocol address the email was sent. “But now it has become a necessity for all citizens to secure their connections.” Network security experts say this is especially true for those who use the wireless Wi-Fi networks to access the Internet. WHAT TO DO Activate a firewall, a barrier built out of software Disable file and printer sharing Choose secure connections — networks that require a security key Change default passwords Turn off computer after use Wi-Fi networks, now available in Calcutta, are particularly vulnerable to security breaches because they use radio waves and make it possible for unauthorised users to hijack unprotected connections, the experts say. Wired networks are usually better protected. Besides, to slip into a wired network, the hackers would require some kind of physical access — to the computer, the wires or to the network’s server. But they could gain access into an unprotected wireless network from anywhere within the range (typically a few tens of metres) of the wireless network device. “The onus of security in wireless networks lies with both the network providers and end-users,” said Dheeraj Sanghi, a network specialist with IIT Kanpur and director of the LNM Institute for Information Technology, Jaipur. The network provider should use a “key” — a rather long sequence of characters, much like a password — to authenticate a user, Sanghi said. Such a key enables the user and the network to identify each other. Microsoft provides these tips for working securely in a wireless world: Activate a firewall, a barrier built out of software, that prevents unauthorised users from gaining access to the computer through the Internet or a network. All Microsoft Windows operating systems come with a firewall which can be turned on. Disable file and printer sharing. When this feature is enabled, it allows other computers on a network to access resources on the computer. When using a mobile computer in a wireless network, it is best to disable file and printer sharing. Choose secure connections. When possible, users should opt for wireless networks that require a network security key. A computer discovers the security features of networks as it scans its environment for networks. More wireless security tips from other experts: Change default passwords. Most wireless access points come with default passwords that can be picked up online. Changing these passwords makes it harder for an unauthorised user to take control of a computer. Turn off wireless devices when you are not using your computer. Even with wireless connectivity, a computer has to be switched on for an intruder to access it. A computer that is turned off cannot be invaded. Link

National Issues: For Tougher Anti-terror Laws

National Issues: For Tougher Anti-terror Laws