Hinduism

Young Dalit writer attacked for criticizing caste system

October 23, 2015 by Nasheman

Dalit writer Huchangi Prasad, who was attacked in Davangere.

Davanagere: In a fresh case of upper caste atrocity against lower caste Hindus, a young Dalit writer was attacked by a group of Hindutva activists for his writings against the caste system perceived to be “anti-Hindu” at Davanagere in Central Karnataka.

The Thursday’s attack comes barely three months after the shooting of writer M.M. Kalburgi – barely 100 km away – and at a time when numerous writers across the country have raised their voice against rising intolerance.

According to the complaint filed by 23-year-old Huchangi Prasad, a journalism student at Davanagere University who had published a ‘controversial’ book a year ago, an unidentified man came to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe hostel at the university in the early hours, claiming that Mr. Prasad’s mother had been hospitalised following a heart attack.

Apparently in “shock”, the student followed the man who promised to take him to the hospital. Midway, in an isolated corner of APMC Yard, a group of eight to ten people ambushed him.

“They surrounded me and started to push me around. They said my writings were anti-Hindu as I talked about the caste system. They even put kumkum all over my face. They pulled out a knife and said they will cut my fingers off so I can never write again,” Mr. Prasad told The Hindu.

He pushed his way through the group and ran into the nearby woods, where he hid. Hours later, when sure that the group had left, he fled to the hostel. He later filed a police complaint.

Following the attack, police have registered a case against “unknown persons” under attempt to murder (IPC 307) and under sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The student had published his first book in April 2014 and had since then faced threats. The book comprised prose and poetry revolving around treatment of Dalits in the country.

At the book launch, Kannada writer K.S. Bhagwan — who has recently received threats — spoke inviting the ire of right-wing organisations who had filed a complaint for provocative speech at the local police station. Mr. Prasad had been threatened since then.

(Agencies)

Agra Muslims who were lured to convert to Hinduism, revert to Islam

May 2, 2015 by Nasheman

Meerut: A group of Muslims in Agra, who converted to Hinduism on Christmas last year became Muslim again on Friday.

About 17 members of ‘Nat’ community, an extremely backward community in Mahuar Lathiya village in Achnera block, who became Muslim, alleged that a Hindutva group leader had pressured them to become Hindu and had promised them a piece of land.

All those who reconverted belong to the same family and used to live in a settlement of fellow ‘Nat’ community on a public land.

Fifty-year-old Rahmat, the eldest of the group, told the media that Ali Mohammad had pressured the rest of the family members after the Hindutva leader had allegedly promised them a piece of land. After they had become Hindu last year, they faced boycott by their fellow community members.

They didn’t get invitation for marriages and other community functions of the closely knit Nat community in the village.

(Agencies)

Hindu Mahasabha's latest diktat: Bollywood’s Khans should convert to Hinduism

January 24, 2015 by Nasheman

Meerut: Since last year, there have been a series of controversies pertaining to attempts by hard-core Hindu outfits, which were involved in reconversion campaigns. Now, in order to glam up the issue, a Hindu outfit has targeted Bollywood Khans, who are married to Hindu women.

The Hindu Mahasabha has dared Shah Rukh Khan, Amir Khan and Saif Ali Khan to convert to Hinduism to prove their love for their wives.

The Hindu Mahasabha, in an editorial in its weekly publication Hindu Sabha Varta, has challenged Shahrukh, Amir and Saif to convert to Hinduism if they really love their wives, according to The Hindu.

The report added that the editor of the weekly described their wives as victims of “love jihad”.

While Shah Rukh is married to Gauri Khan, Amir Khan to Kiran Rao and Saif Ali Khan to Kareena Kapoor.

We will accept Christianity and Islam if our demands are not met: UP Hindus

January 11, 2015 by Nasheman

Lucknow: After the Sangh Parivar’s ‘Ghar Wapsi’ flop show, a few Hindu communities in Uttar Pradesh, especially from deprived castes, are now threatening the communal forces and authorities that they would convert en masse to Christianity and Islam if their demands were not fulfilled.

At least two incidents had been reported from different places in the North Indian state, where some communities threatened “mass conversion” to try to “force” authorities to meet their various demands which, in one case, was their inclusion in the list of scheduled castes (SC) so that they could get job reservation.

It began with the demand from the “Dhangarhs” (a community of herders) in Agra to issue them certificates declaring them as members of the SC in order to enable them to avail job reservation.

The community members threatened that they would undergo “mass conversion” and become Christians if their demand was not met. The community leaders have given the government a month’s time to meet their demand.

Similarly, a few days back, a group of people from “Valmiki” community also threatened to convert “en masse” to Islam after they were allegedly not allowed to undertake a “shobhayatra” (procession) and pay obeisance at a “Valmiki temple” at Baghpat.

About 50 “Valmikis” who live near the temple at Jamalpur Goma village in Baghpat district, about 600 km from here, alleged that they had not been allowed to worship at the temple and undertake the annual procession by the priest.

The priest Mahant Lakshyadevananda, however, claimed that he never prevented the “Valmikis” from praying at the temple. “It is basically a ploy to grab the land property that belonged to the temple. They (Valmikis) are threatening to convert to pressurize the authorities,” he claimed.

Saffron groups have held meetings with the “Valmikis” in a bid to persuade them not to “convert”. The “Valmikis” have set a deadline of January 26 for the administration to meet their demand.

Produce 4 kids to protect Hinduism: Sakshi Maharaj

January 7, 2015 by Nasheman

Meerut: BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj has yet again stoked controversy by saying all Hindu women must produce four children to protect Hindu religion.

“The concept of four wives and 40 children will not work in India and the time has come when a Hindu woman must produce at least four children in order to protect Hindu religion,” he said at a gathering for the Sant Samagam Mahotsava in Meerut on Tuesday.

Sakshi Maharaj went further to add that those involved in conversion must be punished with death though ‘ghar wapsi’ (reconversion) is not equivalent to conversion. “Wait for some time,” he thundered, “a law will be passed in Parliament in which anyone indulging in cow slaughter and conversion will be punished with the death sentence.”

On Ram mandir, Maharaj said, “No power on earth can stop the construction of Ram mandir in Ayodhya. It will be constructed, come what may.”

Sanjay Jha wrote on Twitter: “There is only one way to describe Sakshi Maharaj’s ludicrous and provocative call for Hindu women to have four children; beyond a boundary.”

Priyanka Chaturvedi, also of the Congress party, wondered if women were born only to have children:

Academic Prerna Bakshi questioned the “irony” of the statement:

Many like journalist Kanika Gahlaut have been using sarcasm to poke fun at the MP’s comment:

Journalist TS Sudhir wondered if this was what Prime Minister Narendra Modi meant when he launched the “Make in India” campaign to turn the country into a manufacturing hub:

Journalist Nistula Hebbar wanted Sakshi Maharaj to shut up:

Comedian Rohan said the comment suggested the MP had never had to deal with the tough nursery school admission process in the country:

However, this is not the first time Sakshi Maharasj has made a controversial statement.

Earlier, on December 11, BJP lawmaker had raked up a controversy saying father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse was a nationalist.

However, Sakshi Maharaj later tendered his apology saying, “I respect Bapu and also the parliament. If I have said anything by mistake, I withdraw my statement. Godse was not a nationalist.”

His statement had led to an uproar in both the houses of Parliament for almost a week.

Make Aamir Khan's 'PK' tax free, says Swami Agnivesh

December 31, 2014 by Nasheman

New Delhi: Arya Samaj leader Swami Agnivesh on Tuesday advocated tax exemption for Aamir Khan-starrer ‘PK’ in view of the movie’s “new message” that would encourage scientific temperament among students across India.

Agnivesh welcomed “the film which takes a swipe at superstitious beliefs and false idol worship practiced by some people in the name of religion, said a statement released by his organisation Bandhua Mukti Morcha.

As the film’s storyline questions exploitation of devotees and followers in the name of religion, Agnivesh urged people to “ignore the hue and cry made by some of the so-called religious leaders like Swami Ramdev and other religious outfits like Vishva Hindu Parishad or Jamaat-e-Islami Hind”.

“It is natural that such religious leaders and institutions are bound to get threatened for their survival as the movie hits out at the blind faith,” he said, in the statement.

He congratulated Central Board of Film Certification chairperson Leela Samson for rejecting a review of the screening certificate to the film despite pressure from religious fundamentalists.

VHP continues its ‘Ghar Wapsi,’ reconverts 17 Christians in Kottayam

December 25, 2014 by Nasheman

File photo

Kottayam: Continuing with its ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Thursday reconverted about 17 Christians to Hinduism in Kottayam district.

There were unconfirmed reports yesterday that the Hindu outfit would stage mass conversion events at several places on Christmas day, mainly targeting Dalit Christians.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said there had been no forceful conversions in the state.

Kerala all these years has steered clear of any controversy when it came to forced religious conversion, Chandy said.

Chandy was responding to a question on the reported conversion of 35 people from Christianity to Hinduism in two Kerala districts last Sunday.

“We have always steered clear of any such happenings and there has been no forceful conversions in our state. If anyone decides to convert, it’s their decision. If there is a need for any government intervention, it would be done, but for that to happen, there has to be forceful conversion and it does not take place here,” he said.

The peculiar situation in Kerala is that Hindu SC/ST people enjoy government reservations which are not open to Christian SC/ST people.

Karnataka government may withdraw bill on mutts

December 25, 2014 by Nasheman

Cautious over the bill raising controversies, CM Siddaramaiah told reporters “Now we are planning not to pursue with bill. We will take it back..” Photo: The New Indian Express

Koppal: Facing resistance from Hindu seers and reservations within cabinet, Congress government in Karnataka Wednesday said it would withdraw a bill which religious mutts fear is an attempt to take over their institutions.

Developing cold feet as the bill raised a storm of controversy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters here “Now we are planning not to pursue with bill. We will take it back.”

The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill of 2014 was introduced in the Assembly during the session at Belagavi last week, amid stiff opposition from BJP which termed it as an attempt to interfere in the affairs of Hindu religious institutions.

The bill has raised the hackles of seers across the state who say it is needless interference and question why only Hindu religious institutions are being “targetted”.

Siddaramaiah said the JDS-BJP coalition government in 2007 had given an undertaking to Supreme Court stating they would bring an amendment to the law, following which the bill was introduced. The bill was also recommended by a high powered committee headed by Rama Jois, a former Supreme Court judge who was also a BJP Rajya Sabha member.

“BJP is playing politics on this issue now, while they are the ones who had given such undertaking,” he said.

“Now we are planning not to pursue with the bill….We will take it (bill) back; ….We will inform the court about it, the undertaking was given by the previous government….”

At the cabinet meeting yesterday, several ministers as also the Chief Minister himself, had reportedly expressed reservations about the bill.

(PTI)

Protests over conversions set back reform agenda

December 24, 2014 by Nasheman

New Delhi/Reuters: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reform agenda suffered a setback on Monday as protests erupted in parliament and in the streets over a campaign by Hindu hardliners linked to his party to convert Muslims and Christians to Hinduism.

Opposition members threw papers and swarmed to the centre of the upper house of parliament, forcing the suspension of the session and effectively preventing the government from tabling a bill to increase foreign participation in the insurance sector.

The long-pending insurance legislation to raise the cap on foreign investment to 49 percent from 26 percent, and another bill to replace a decree to overhaul the coal sector, were considered low-hanging fruits that Modi hoped to push through parliament’s winter session, which ends on Tuesday.

But comments by the head of the right-wing Hindu group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, that India was a “Hindu nation” provoked a storm of criticism, snuffing out any chance of opposition support for government business in the upper house of parliament, where Modi lacks a majority.

“This is an attempt to divide the society,” Nitish Kumar, an opposition leader from the state of Bihar told hundreds of people at a protest in New Delhi, referring to religious conversions.

“The government is not capable of resolving the core issues of our country, so they want to divide the society and distract people.”

Modi is facing a backlash for not doing enough to rein in hardline affiliate groups that have become emboldened in their pursuit of a Hindu-dominant agenda, threatening India’s secular foundations, critics say.

Trouble erupted this month after a group of Muslims complained they had been tricked into attending a conversion ceremony by Hindu groups. A Hindu priest-turned-lawmaker of Modi’s party had planned a mass conversion ceremony on Christmas Day, but that has been put off.

About a fifth of India’s 1.2 billion people identify themselves as belonging to faiths other than Hinduism. Conversion is a sensitive issue with Hindu groups saying many poor Hindus were forced over the ages to give up their faith, or lured into Christianity and Islam.

On Monday, opposition Congress party leader Anand Sharma urged Modi to make clear where he stood on conversions.

Modi actively communicates via social media and addresses the nation every month on radio, but has not commented on conversions, letting colleagues tackle the criticism.

"Not getting any reservation benefits, hence converted to Hinduism"

December 23, 2014 by Nasheman

Thiruvananthapuram: As Kerala Police began a probe into reports of 35 people in two districts converting to Hinduism, two families Monday said they did it on their own and not under any pressure.

The families of Babu and Joy, siblings from Cheppad in Alappuzha district, told the media that in official records they were classified as Christian Cheremars, but they had been practising Hinduism right from childhood.

They said that despite being classified as Christian Cheremars, they were not getting any reservation benefits.

Hence, they decided on their own to convert to Hinduism to enjoy the benefits.

They also said they had approached the local leadership of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and it was they who made arrangements for their conversion rituals.

A total of 35 people from Alappuzha and Kollam districts had Sunday converted to Hinduism, following which state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had ordered a probe.

Additional Director General of Police A. Hemachandran has been asked to conduct a detailed probe and submit a report, Chennithala’s office told IANS.

“He has constituted a team of officials and they are trying to find if there was any forced conversion. The report is awaited,” the office said.

The VHP leadership Monday continued to maintain that there was no attempt on their part to woo people to convert to Hinduism.

Fr. Paul Thelekkat, spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church, told IANS that there exists a problem in Kerala where reservation benefits are there for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Hindus and not for SC/ST Christians.

What happened Sunday was probably to enjoy those benefits, he said.

“Moreover, the Bharatiya Janata Party, through this could look to polarisation of Hindu votes,” Thelekkat said.

(IANS)