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The Opinion Pages | Editorial

Religious Intolerance in India

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD DEC. 25, 2014

                       

Hope is in danger of crumbling that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would rein in the divisive agenda of his militant Hindu-nationalist supporters and allow India to concentrate on the important work of economic reform, and the blame lies squarely with Mr. Modi.

 

During the last days of its winter session ending on Tuesday, Parliament was unable to deal with important legislative business because of repeated adjournments and an uproar over attempts by Hindu groups to convert Christians and Muslims. The issue has come to a head following a “homecoming” campaign by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad — groups dedicated to transforming India’s secular democracy into a Hindu state — to “reconvert” Christians and Muslims to Hinduism.

 

In recent weeks, Hindu militants have engineered conversions of Muslims and Christians in Agra and in the states of Gujarat and Kerala. Police are investigating accusations that people have been induced to participate in mass conversion meetings by a combination of intimidation and bribery, including the promise of food ration cards. Attacks on Christians and their places of worship have intensified in recent weeks. One of New Delhi’s biggest churches burned down on Dec. 1 — arson is being blamed — and Christmas carolers were attacked on their way home in the city of Hyderabad on Dec. 12.

 

More than 80 percent of Indians are Hindus, but Muslims, Christians and Sikhs form important religious minorities with centuries of history in India. Religious pluralism and freedom are protected by India’s Constitution. The issue of religious conversion is contentious in India. Many Dalits, known formerly as untouchables, and other low-caste Hindus and Tribals admit they convert to Islam or Christianity primarily to escape crushing caste prejudice and oppression. The main architect of the Constitution, Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, born a Dalit, famously converted to Buddhism to escape caste-oppression under Hinduism.

 

As opposition political leaders are demanding, Mr. Modi must break his silence and issue a stern warning to emboldened Hindu militants before their actions turn further progress on economic reform into a sideshow, with the politics and divisiveness occupying center stage.

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Lure of ration cards for food led to Agra 'reconversion'?

Every human should be free to eat, drink, wear and believe whatever the hell he or she wants, and no one should be forced to do otherwise in a free country. It is the freedom that is allowing each one of us to be who we are out of our own volition. At no cost we should let this freedom be compromised.

This is the story of aggressive harassment by extremists among Hindus. Bajrang Dal is becoming to be ISIS or Hindu ISIS of India, when this is allowed, at the very end of the tunnel, no one, yes no one, including Hindus who do not subscribe to their extremism will be affected severely.

I am glad the entire Muslim world is condemning ISIS, they are tarnishing the name of Islam and there is nothing Islamic about them, they are rogues and freaks. Even the Talibans have washed hands off them.  Now, the entire Hindu world has Hindu-ISIS on their hands and I hope they condemn the harassment and threats they pose to fellow Indians.

We should have no problem if Muslims convert to Hinduism or Hindus to Christianity or any combination thereof, even if each group is lured financially to become one. The politicians switch parties for money or election; we change jobs for better money. Why shouldn't people switch for the same money, and meeting their dire needs of food, clothing and a source of income?

For years the extremists among Hindus have attacked Christians for bribing people to convert, and now they are doing the very same thing they accused others of. What Muslims factually or allegedly did in the past, should remain behind 1947. We are a new independent and free India and our story began on August 15, 1947 and we don't want India to be like what we shun.

Now, every Indian is a goddamned Indian regardless of his or her faith, caste, color, social, political or financial status, and we need to stand up against injustice to every Indian. We should rise above pettiness and speak up, before the extremism takes over and we have to regret.

I hope to write my 16th essay about Modi urging him to take the lead and speak up and not be a silent spectator and watch his dream, like the dream of 1.25 billion Indians go down the drain. We want pragati and not religion.

Mike Ghouse

www.MikeGhouse.net 

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TIMES OF INDIA

Lure of ration cards for food led to Agra 'reconversion'?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/Lure-of-ration-cards-led-to-Agra-reconversion/articleshow/45443004.cms 

AGRA: A day after a group of around 200 Muslims in Madhunagar slum-cluster here claimed they had "reconverted" to Hinduism, many of them on Tuesday said they were still Muslims, with some admitting that they had joined the RSS and Bajrang Dal-organized 'ghar vapsi' ceremony after being promised ration cards and houses. The saffron outfits, though, rubbished this claim, saying there was no inducement for "reconversion".

Farhan, a slum dweller, said, "If 40 people in saffron scarves come and stand on your head, you will do just as they want." Farhan was among those who had taken part in the puja, washed the feet of Hindu gods and also briefly worn vermillion on his forehead. On Tuesday, though, he said it was all for getting those men in "saffron scarves" off his back.

The re-conversion event was painted as "ghar vapsi" or re-conversion of Muslims who had Hindu ancestry. It was organized by the Dharma Jagran Samanvay Vibhag, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bajrang Dal. A 'shuddhikaran hawan' was also performed in the slum.

Bajrang Dal functionary Ajju Chauhan said the re-conversion had indeed taken place, and if the people were denying it, it was out of fear. "All these people have Hindu ancestors. They just did 'ghar vapsi'," he said, adding, "They were not lured by ration cards or houses. They wanted to lead clean lives."

District magistrate Pankaj Kumar and SSP Shalabh Mathur said no one had approached them in connection with the re-conversion event.


READ ALSO: RSS 're-converts' 200 Agra Muslims, says more in line


Ismail, who led the 200-odd Muslims in the event, said he offered namaz on Tuesday after no one from the saffron outfits turned up in their neighbourhood. "We're poor people and anyone can do anything with us. We can't afford to lose our lives over religion and conversion," Ismail said, adding that the promise of ration cards and houses had drawn many people.

"They first threatened to get us to vacate our homes. The land is owned by a Hindu. Later, they said that if we converted, we would get houses and better schooling for children," Ismail said. The women who had posed before cameramen on Monday sappeared withdrawn the day after and would not even allow the kids out to play.

Read this in Hindi: नया मोड़: RSS ने लालच देकर कराया धर्म परिवर्तन?