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'Ghar Wapsi' will stop after 15 cr people are reconverted: VHP

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sadhvi_prachi

Aligarh: Sadhvi Prachi Arya, a prominent Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, has said that the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme will continue till the fifteen crore people who, she claimed, have left the Hindu fold post Independence, are “reconverted to Hinduism”.

“The ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme launched by some Hindutva organisations would continue until all the fifteen crore people who have left the Hindutva fold after Independence are reconverted to Hinduism,” Arya said at a convention organised by VHP at the Ramleela Grounds in the old City last night.

She also said that the Father of the Nation title to Mahatma Gandhi was “unwarranted”.

“The title of the Father of Nation to Gandhi was unwarranted because the true sacrifice for attaining freedom was carried out by others,” she said.

“The credit for India’s independence was wrongly attributed to Gandhi when it should have been given to Vir Savarkar and Bhagat Singh,” she said.

Sadhavi said the VHP would also continue its movement to ensure increase in the population of Hindus in India which had been steadily declining compared to others.

“I and BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj are receiving threats but we are not scared and would continue working for the rights of the Hindu community,” she said.

The VHP also announced that it would launch a movement for renaming Aligarh as ‘Harigarh’ which, the organisation claimed, was the city’s original name.

The convention was attended by senior BJP leaders including Lok Sabha MP Satish Gautam and city Mayor Shakuntala Bharti.

(Agencies)

Cases against Togadia, other VHP leaders for violating Bengaluru police orders

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Despite Police Ban, Praveen Togadia Addresses VHP Supporters Via Video at National College grounds in Bengaluru on Feb. 08, 2015. Photo: Handout email

Despite Police Ban, Praveen Togadia Addressed VHP Supporters Via Video at National College grounds in Bengaluru on Feb. 08, 2015. Photo: Handout email

Bengaluru: Criminal cases have been registered against VHP leader Praveen Togadia and organisers of ‘Hindu Virat Samavesha’ for allegedly violating prohibitory orders issued by Bengaluru Police Commissioner MN Reddi.

“We have booked one criminal case against Togadia and cases against the organisers for violating prohibitory orders,” a top police official, who did not wish to be named, said in Bengaluru on Monday night.

Togadia has been booked under Section 188 of IPC,invoked against an offender for disobeying the order duly promulgated by public servant.

Sections 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence omitted in prosecution of common object), and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the IPC have been invoked against event organisers, he said.

Section 188 was also invoked against the organisers for violating orders for holding the programme beyond the prescribed time limit. “Permission was granted to hold the event from 3 pm to 5 pm, but it extended to 7.40 pm,” the official said.

This section also was invoked against organisers for playing a 15-minute video footage of Togadia’s speech, defying the orders of the Police Commissioner, the official said.

On 7 February, Reddi had issued an order, prohibiting organisers from displaying and transmitting Togadia’s speech through any form of media for two days.

Last week, he had imposed the prohibitory orders on the ground that Togadia’s ‘provocative’ and ‘inflammatory’ speeches would have ‘grave’ consequences and likelihood of breach of peace.

VHP had challenged the Commissioner’s orders on Togadia’s entry into the city in the High Court with the interim prayer for a stay on the ban.

While declining the interim plea, the Judge, however, had said Hegde’s petition was maintainable and adjourned the matter without mentioning the next date of hearing.

(PTI)

Defying ban, VHP airs Togadia speech at Hindu Samajotsava

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Despite Police Ban, Praveen Togadia Addresses VHP Supporters Via Video at National College grounds in Bengaluru on Feb. 08, 2015. Photo: Handout email

Despite Police Ban, Praveen Togadia Addresses VHP Supporters Via Video at National College grounds in Bengaluru on Feb. 08, 2015. Photo: Handout email

Bengaluru: The organisers of the Virat Hindu Samajotsava in the City played a pre-recorded video clip of a fiery speech by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) international working president Praveen Togadia in Hindi on Sunday. This is despite a police ban on airing his speeches in any form.

In the speech, Togadia said: “Let no one come and teach us religious tolerance. From the time of creation of the universe we have religious tolerance,” hinting at US President Barack Obama’s remark during his recent visit to India. Obama had said the “acts of intolerance” experienced by religious faiths of all types in India in the past few years would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi.

“Teach it to those who are into religious conversions. From now on, no Hindu shall be converted and we will do ghar wapsi to bring them back.” He also said, “We will get rid of all Bangladeshi Muslims living in the country.”

He exhorted Hindus to come together, leaving the caste system behind, and demanded a “Samvyadhanik Hindu Rashtra” (Constitutional Hindu nation).

The clip — which was played at the end of the over three-hour conclave — stopped the crowd in their tracks, many of whom had started leaving the venue. As the two giant screens played the video clip, people stood in rapt attention.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar, who was present at the venue, said: “The organisers have violated the police order. We have made a note of this. We will consult legal experts and go ahead with the proceedings. So far, we have not detained anyone.

On Saturday, City Police Commissioner M N Reddi had issued an order prohibiting Keshav Hegde, VHP organising secretary, and other organisers of the ‘Samavesha’ from displaying and transmitting any speech of Togadia through audio, visual or any other media at the venue for two days, from 6 pm on February 7 to 6 pm on February 9.

(Agencies)

Behind Sangh Parivar’s Ghar Wapsi, the politics of power and profit

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In this file photo, villagers of Sirisguda at the Special Gram Sabha to ban the entry of non-Hindu religious missionaries. Photo: The Hindu

In this file photo, villagers of Sirisguda at the Special Gram Sabha to ban the entry of non-Hindu religious missionaries. Photo: The Hindu

by Ajaya Kumar Singh

The news reports of series of attacks and forced conversion of Christians were trickled in from Bastar region, home to one of the largest Adivasi habitations in India, even before the Indian Parliament was stalled on conversion issue. A few of us, concerned citizens in India, planned for a fact finding mission to the region on the eve of Christmas 2014. Some of the state Christian leaders discouraged us from undertaking such an independent fact finding team as Sangh Parivar had already intimidated the community by creating fear and insecurities. The local Christian leaders were of the opinion that our visit could be an alibi for further violence that the Sangh was trying to initiate. Hence, we postponed our fact finding mission. Yet, a team of four of us went ahead to understand the ground realities in Chattisgarh. The following is the result of our observations.

The Politics of ‘Ghar Wapsi’ (Return Home) in Chattishgarh

Chattisgarh is one of the major Adivasi populated states in India. The Census Report of 2001 says that the share of tribal population in Chattisgarh was 31.76%, while the 2011 report says that it was 30.62%. It means that there was a decrease of 1.14% in the Adivasi population in the area . As per the Census Report, Chattisgarh is a home for 94.7 % Hindus, while the share of Muslim and Christian population is noted to be 1.97% and 1.92% of respectively. However, there is still a population of Adivasis in Chattisgarh, who do not belong to any of the established religions of Hinduism, Christianity or Islam. These Adivasis still worship their own indigenous Gods and these spiritualities related to nature can not be equated to any of the existing established religions. It is obvious that the Census Report has included these indigenous spiritualities also as a part of Hinduism. This perhaps will fall within the category of violation of identity and faith enshrined in the Indian Constitution. However, the ministry of Tribal Empowerment portal has classified Adivasis following different religions in the state with 93.7% following Hinduism; Christian, Muslim and other religion and persuations with a share of 4.7%, 1.4% and 0.1% respectively.i

The newly carved state of Chattisgarh along with states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Gujurat have witnessed unprecedented ‘Ghar Wapsi (Return Home) politics since early 1980s. Late Dilip Singh Judeo, former Minister of State for Environment and Forests in Bharatiya Janata Party, whch led National Democratic Alliance government was known as ‘Ghar Wapsi Guru’, and spearheaded `successful’ successful Ghar Wapsi campaign to bring back the ‘converted Christian Adivasis’ into Hinduism in Jashpur region. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized power in the state since 2000, and the hate campaign against the Christian community and their propogands became stronger and violent.

Bastar Under Siege

We were quite anxious to go to the villages of Bastar as soon as we arrived in Jagdalpur. A young pastor, who came to brief us about the situations informed us, We (pastors) cannot go by bike to the affected villages as the fanatics know us quite well’.We could hire a taxi’, I suggested. But the response was: `No, we should not. The taxi owner/driver could be a Sangh Parivar worker or sympathiser. Our movements are tracked. That could be fatal’. The anxiety and fear was quite palpable among the local community leaders and pastors in the Bastar region. Suresh Yadav, a native of Haryana and President of the Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has become a rallying point of Hindutva brigade and he is known to be a fearsome face for the minority communites.

Madhota: Seed of Poison Sown by BJP Member of Parliament

Mangal Mandavi is still reeling under shock of Madhota village of Bastar Region. He was brutally attacked as he did not yield into Sangh Parivar’s demands of ‘Ghar Wapsi’, while some of his relatives were forcefully converted into Hinduism, he said: `I thought I would die; but I have survived’.

In the village of Madhota which has a population of 4,000 people, there are 35 Christian families. They are all Adivasis. There were no conflicts within the community before 10-15 years even though their family members chose the religion of their choice and practiced their faith without any qualm about it. Things began to change when the outsiders (the non-tribal Sangh Parivar workers) started visiting the village and held secret parleys and meetings with non-christians. The first major conflict broke in the village in 2008 as they broke the church of the Christians. During the last six months, it has been nightmare for the Adivasi Christians, as VHP workers have resumed intimidating them to become Hindus, as well as promising them a better future with such conversion. Dinesh Kashyap, the tribal Member of Parliament from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his associates were quite successful to divide the tribal community as Christians and Hindus even though some Christians have refused to toe their lines during the second week of October, 2014.

“By now, with the ‘success’ of `Ghar Wapsi’, the VHP became more furious and aggressive as some of the Christians did not join the ‘Ghar Wapsi’, and therefore they attacked us again on October 19, 2014”, said Sindhu Kumar Das, the village pastor, who almost lives in hiding today. He had been beaten up thrice and was slapped with false cases; of conversion and creating ill will among the community by the police when he approached them for protection.

When we were praying in the church in the morning, a strong group of VHP workers got inside the Church with slogans,Kill the Christians, chase them unless they become Hindus and mercilessly started beating us’, the injured villager said. The villagers went to the police station to lodge the complaints. But the police refused. The police, in turn, taunted them to become Hindus so that that the problem could be solved forever. Finally, after the district administration intervened in the dispute, the Police Inspector yielded and informed them that the police would call for a peace meeting of both communities.

The peace meeting was fixed on October 25, 2014. `Nearly 30 members of the minority community gathered at the proposed time. There was no sign of police presence for three hours or so, eventhough the meeting was called by the police itself. Then in flash of seconds, nearly 70 VHP workers descended on the venue and assualted the Christians with serious bodily injuries. Ambulances were brought in. Yet, the injured were not taken to the hospital until the police arrived. “Even before the injured ones reached the hospital, four VHP workers had got themselves admitted with complaints of physical attacks by the Christians’, said a Jagdalpur based community leader.

The police arrested a few each from both parties on the ground ofcreating enimity among the communities’. It was an obvious case of conspiracy by the administration to get minority members harassed, attacked and later slapped with false cases and sent to jails so that they remain fearful and leave leave the religion,’ explained Bhupendra Khora, who assists the affected and injured ones.

Mangal and another 10 families have remained as Christians. `We do feel isolated and alienated in the village as we are not allowed to take water from the bore well. The only relief is that the threats do not come from the newly converted Adivasis to Hinduism, who still share our concerns and are still sympathetic to us. Nobody seems to be sure how long the church would survive in this panchayat.’

Sirishguda Gram Sabha: Non-Hindu Religious Activities Banned!

Sirishguda Gram Sabha as a part of Bodangi police station is one of 50 Gram Panchayats in Jagdalpur district has passed a resolution under Section 129 (G) of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Act banning all `Non-hindu religious campaigns, prayers and speeches in the villages in view of the outsiders (non-Hindu) religious groups taking advantage of simple Hindu Adivasi and are converting them and facilitating caste discriminations and untouchability practices’.

The resolution calls for total prohibition of any religious programe/activity other than that of Hinduism, as it is a threat to cultural and religious traditions as well as social unity of the village. It further resolves not to allow any place (land) for establishment for any religious building/centre.

Siva Mondavi, 36 year old, pastor of Brethern Church says: We used to be 55 Christian families which lived in the village. Since seven months, we are being harassed and intimidated by the Sangh Parivar as we refused theGhar Wapsi’ programme organized by them.

The VHP workers instigated the ‘Hindu’ Adivasis to refuse the ‘Christian’ Adivasis for common burial ground. The conflicts further aggravated with forceful demand of higher donation ‘chanda’ from Christians for a Hindu religious festival.

Mandovi further said, “When we refused to pay the donation, the VHP stopped providing us ration provisions.”

‘The district administration sent the food supply inspectors to settle the ration issue once complaints reached them. The food supply inspectors were chased away and Christians who gathered for the meeting were also assaulted. Eight Christian men and two women sustained severe injuries and they had to be hospitalized. The fanatics were even trying to stop the injured being taken in the ambulances. The police as usual came after the Christians were attacked’.

Apprehension on Community Cleansing

The stories of Adivasi Christians of Madhota and Sirisguda villages are not just isolated cases. Local christian leader, Mr. Khora observes that “ there is a pattern in police refusal to register complaints. To make the matters worse, the Christians are slapped with counter cases only to harass and intimidate, with the help of the police in nexus with Sangh Parivar elements, so that the tribal Christians do not sustain the threats and pressures and yield into `Ghar Waspsi’.

The villages are under siege with the loss of unity and the community bonding that has been a characterstic of the Adivasi habitation and it is under threat today. The district administration appears to play a second fiddle to the Hinduvta (Hindu nationalists or right wing) forces.

Fr. Abraham Kanampala, Vicar General of Jagadalpur Diocese and Bastar President of VHP that issued a joint statement; agreeing that the term Father’ can be replaced and addressed asPracharya’ or `Up-pracharya’ in Catholic Schools, putting up photographs of “Maa Saraswati” in schools and work together for the development of the region.

`We are peace loving and sensitive citizens. We have agreed to accommodate local sentiments as goodwill measures and harmony for the people in the area’, Fr.Kanampala, a CMI priest, explained the reason behind the joint statement. The Carmelites of Mary Imaculate (CMI) congregation in collaboration with the Diocese runs several reputed schools and hospitals in the region.

Arun Pannalal, President, Chattisgarh Christian Forum (CCF) has a different take. “The Joint Press Meet and statement might set a precedent and the Hindutva forces could play a mischief and try to impose themselves on our schools all over’.

Navneet Chand, Youth Leader of Bastar Masih Mahasangh is quite upset and said, “National Church leadership cannot be mute spectators to happenings to the anti-Christian attacks. We need support and accompaniment of guidance on how to respond with nationally well funded, coordinated and orchestrated religious motivated violences led by the Sangh Parivar. The community is in depair and directionless.”

As the attacks mount on the community, the battle of faith continues. Senior Christian leader, Arun Pannalal believes, `We depend on judiciary no matter in which direction verdict goes’.

Goldy M. George, Dalit-Adivasi activist sees a ‘diabolic plan of the Hindutva brigade in attacking selected Catholic Schools in cities while terrorising non-Catholic Christians in villages. Defaming the institutes and carrying on the violent attacks on the community both in cities and rural villages seems to be the strategy on their module’.

`The Church leadership seemed to fail to see what awaits for the community, a sinister design to eliminate them not just in Chattishgarh, but all over in India. Moreover, the leadership looks surrendering to the Hindutva regime exposing the marginalised community into more marginalisaiton, intimidations and violence. The community cleansing is on,” said Rajendra Sail, former State President of Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Chattishgarh.

I am afraid to say that I apprehend genocide if the hate campaign, intimidations and threats continue against the Adivasi Christians. The resurgent Hindutva groups seem to be successful on their strategy as the administration becomes a willing partner to provide cover for the criminal activities of these forces,' said Ajaya T. G, a noted independent documentary film maker and senior functionary of Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Chattisgarh, probably the only civil society group in Chattisgarh, that went for fact finding mission in the aftermath ofGhar Wapsi’ and violent attacks on the villagers.

‘Sangham’ Salwa Judum in the making

`Chattisgarh, the new steel capital of India, is the richest state in terms of mineral wealth that includes diamonds, besides two other Indian states and posses almost all coal deposits in the country. All the tin ore reserves in India are found in this state; and its iron ore deposits are world class quality’, posts a Mumbai based professional information and consultancy portal, Steel World.ii

“The mineral rich state of Chhattisgarh will be in a position to produce 32 per cent of country’s total steel production by 2015 and also will share about 35 per cent of country’s total cement production’, stated State Chief Minister Raman Singh.

Chattisgarh Government’s Mineral Policy of 2001 states: `The State of Chattisgarh was carved out of erstwhile Madhya Pradesh state to provide deference to its distinctive historical, social background and natural resources. The basic purpose of its formation would be defeated if the natural resources are not used due to constraints of stringent forest laws and environment problems’.iii

The mineral-diamond-coal rich politics is a similar play of Arabian Oil Politics. It is no coincidence that Jindal Cement plant was commissioned in Raigarh-Jashpur in 1991 while Mahendra Karma, a tribal leader, the leader of the opposition in Legislative Assembly, started the first movement of Naxalites knonwn as ‘Jan Jagaran Abhiyan’ and later christened “Salwa Judum”iv as the state signed agreements with Tata and Eassar groups to counter Naxalites in the same year itself. It is no wonder Mr.Judeo came to the limelight with his “Ghar Wapsi’ movement in the same time and the region, where Jindal has had the plant. He toed the lines of his father Vijaybhushan Singh Deo, the patron of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. The controversies of Mr Judeo being caught in camera for acceptance of the bribe for granting mining rights in the states of Chattisgarh and Odisha as a Minister for Environment and Forests and body blow by the Supreme Court of India declared Salwa Judum, the militia to be illegal and unconstitutional, and ordered it’s disbanding only vitiatied the atmosphere of the region. Tragically, both Mr Judeo and Mr.Karma’ lives ended with sickness and Maoists Bullets respectively in 2013 giving rise to turf war to claim their legacy.v

There is a fierce competition to claim the legacies of Judeo and Karma; to be recognized and resourceful. Gram Panchayat resolution under Section 129 C of the Chhattisgarh Panchayati Act is not just relligio-political, but is part of a well knit plan of corporate communal agenda to control the natural resources and tribal community in the region.

‘Late Ramakant Keshav, an associate of two former RSS Chiefs and a relative of 3rd RSS Chief Balasaheb Deoras arrived in Jashpur in 1948 and founded Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in 1951 where he devoted his life to ameliorate the material and spiritual state of these hapless tribal people. The late Vijaybhushan Singh Deo and son Dilip Singh Judeo of Jashpur helped in his mission. The work was two-fold: To bring back those tribals who were converted to Christianity and to inculcate in them a strong sense of belonging to the Indian culture and religion. Another most commendable mission that was accomplished during his time was the work of Niyogi Commission’. (Organiser, RSS mouthpiece).vi

The Niyogi report heavily influenced by Sangh Parivar contours pitch for the canard.

‘The Sangh Parivar recasting Adivasi as part of Hindu religion and Hindu Rastra with three fold strategies: Hinduising Tribals as necessary for National Integration, using its influence to secure electoral gains and gearing towards communal tensions and violence.’vii

The disturbing trend is that the Christian Adivasis are being intimidated and even lynched with deadly combination of political feudal king of Jaspur royal family with Vanvasi Kalyan Asharam which is a face of Sangh Parivar in the region, fuelling the hate campaign and portraying the Christian community as harmful to the nation building. The documentary, Fishers of Men has documented the tragic case of Christian Adivasi beaten to death by a frenzied Hindu mob, which accused him of destroying a Hindu (Shiva) Temple. Dilip Singh Judev, former Central Minister of India, Patron of Operation Ghar Wapasi explains:

Over there, there was a 150-year-old Shiva temple, which these [the Christian] people went and destroyed. Now if you go and destroy our heritage…go on breaking our temples in this manner and if you expect us to sit quietly and watch…we will not tolerate it… We are not sitting at home wearing bangles. (Outlookindia: Adivasi vs Vanvasi: The Hinduization of Tribals in India)viii

Nandini Sundar, a Professor of Sociology, University of Delhi, who keeps eyes on Adivasi and Chattisgarh region and has authored ‘Adivasi Politics and State Responses: Historical Processes and Contemporary Concerns’ captures the concerns as she explains:

`While both Hindu and Christian organizations practice some kind of boundary keeping for their people, what distinguishes the RSS organizations is the slow penetration of hate. What they are producingis not just Hindu adivasis but bodies for Hindutva, as shown by the involvement of adivasis in the genocide of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002. While there has been some focus on RSS ghar vapsi or ‘reconversion ceremonies’, in fact the maximum and most effective work of conversion takes place through everyday conversation in hostels or satsang kendras’.ix

It is shocking to note that the Christian Adivasi is being killed by another Adivasi known as Hindu and such instigated events could explain the alarming divide of the Adivasi community, in the name of the religion they they have been co opted with.

Subhash Gatade, the author of the book, ‘Godse Children: Hindutva Terror in India says, ‘Articulate sections of the Dalit movement rightly knew that the essence of Hindu Rashtra is restoration of Brahminical supremacy and relegation of the Dalits to a secondary status, much on the lines of Manusmriti, the sacred edicts of the Hindus. People very well knew how the triumvirate of Hindutva Savarkar- Hedgewar and Golwalkar glorified Manusmriti’.x He believes the same thing could be said of Adivasis too, who have become ‘foot soldiers’ of hindutva forces.

The point of concern for the civil society for the future of India is being captured by Outlook correspondent in Ahmedabad: ‘Of all the disturbing facts that have emerged from the postmortem of the communal carnage in Gujarat, the most baffling and alarming is the large-scale participation of Dalits and tribals in the rioting. Even more shocking: the tribals, who have little in common with mainstream Hinduism, brandished weapons, looted and killed as they violently avenged the ‘attack on Hindus’ These outfits seem to have succeeded in indoctrinating the tribals with the view that they are indeed Hindus and that Muslims are their enemies. Says Achyut Yagnik, political scientist: The Sangh has systematically made inroads among Dalits and tribals and is using them as instruments of Hindutva. This is being achieved with extended government patronage. A systematic Hindutva campaign is on in the tribal region. (Outlook Magazine: Poisoned Edge: The Sangh Exploits Dalit and tribal frustration to recruit soldiers for hindutva’s war, it was revealed).xi

The Adivasi being torn apart and having huge collateral damages of life and properties in the conflicts between Maoist and agents of Salwa Judum, officially disbanded yet active in order to protect the economic and ecological interests of tribals of the region. The lynching of Christian Adivasi by a Hindu mob (I presume it is a non-Christian Adivasi) for destroying Shiva temple, reflects acute religious cultural warfare, and the loss of Adivasi interests and identity.

The cooperation among the communal and corporate forces with the tacit support of the state machinery for the grounding of Sangha (Parivar) Salwa Judum is in the making. If the State and civil society acts in time, turf war over resources reducing the communities to end up in bloody history, can be regulated. There is a need for pressure on the State to play its constitutional role and respect its own mandate. The State faces the play of BJP, Sangh Parivar and Corporate giants to capture power politics, religious-cultural rights, land and forest rights respectively. If that happens, it could be combination of Odisha’s Kandhamal and Kalinga Nagar violence as well as Gujarat communal violence where saffronised Adivasis and Dalits were instigated to kill Muslim dalits. The Adivasi will be on the edge if the Sangh Salwa Judum gets consolidated further.

Writer could be contacted: ajaysingho@gmail.com

i http://tribal.nic.in/WriteReadData/CMS/Documents/201410170519295222004StatisticalProfileofSTs2013.pdf

ii www.steelworld.com/coverstory0209.pdf

iii chhattisgarhmines.gov.in/states-mp.htm

iv http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwa_Judum

v http://www.jindalsteelpower.com/businesses/raigarh.html,/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salwa_Judum

vi http://organiser.org/Encyc/2013/12/23/The-legend-called-Balasaheb-deshpande.aspx?NB=&lang=4&m1=&m2=&p1=&p2=&p3=&p4=&PageType=N

vii http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Adivasi-vs-Vanvasi-The-Hinduization-of-Tribals-in-India/217974

viii http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Adivasi-vs-Vanvasi-The-Hinduization-of-Tribals-in-India/217974

ix http://www.scribd.com/doc/110485849/Adivasi-Politics-and-State-Responses#scribd

x http://kafila.org/2009/01/26/the-new-footsoldiers/

xi http://www.outlookindia.com/article/Poisoned-Edge/216292

Bengaluru: VHP to hold live telecast of Praveen Togadia's speech

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Praveen Togadia

Bengaluru: A day after Karnataka High Court rejected VHP’s plea for a stay on the police order banning its leader Praveen Togadia’s entry into the city on grounds of law and order, the saffron outfit has made all arrangements to live telecast his speech through video-conferencing at the ‘Hindu Virat Samavesha’ to be held here tomorrow.

“Togadia has already reached Karnataka borders and will enter the state today or tomorrow. There is a stay on his entry into Bengaluru city, but there isn’t on his giving speech through video-conferencing mechanism,” VHP’s State Public Relations Officer Manjunath Swamy told reporters here.

Justice Abdul Nazir had on Saturday turned down the interim prayer by Karnataka VHP Organising Secretary Keshav Hegde for staying the police commissioner’s order banning Togadia’s entry into the city from February 5 to 11.

City Police Commissioner MN Reddi had earlier this week imposed the ban on the ground that Togadia’s “provocative and inflammatory” speeches would have “grave” consequences and likelihood of breach of peace.

Swamy said they have invited some television channels to live telecast Togadia’s speech arranged outside Bengaluru for tomorrow’s event here.

On City Police Commissioner MN Reddi’s remark that the live telecast even from outside Bengaluru will amount to an offence, Swamy said, “It will not amount to an offence. The Police Commissioner can tell many things. Even I am an advocate and tell you that it will not amount to an offence. If it is done, then it will be an anti-democratic act.” Reddi told reporters that any speech made by Togadia through video-conferencing will amount to offence.

“It will amount to an offence. We will do everything to issue a ban order on Togadia using video-conferencing mechanism to deliver speech,” he said.

VHP had challenged the police commissioner’s prohibitory orders on Togadia’s entry into the city in the High Court with the interim prayer for a stay on the ban.

While declining the interim plea, the Judge, however, said the writ petition filed by Hegde was maintainable and adjourned the matter without mentioning the next date of hearing.

(PTI)

Karnataka high court upholds ban on Praveen Togadia

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Praveen Togadia

Bengaluru: The Karnataka high court today upheld Bengaluru police commissioner’s order on banning entry of VHP leader Praveen Togadia into Bengaluru.

He was to take part in Virat Hindu Samavesha, which will be held at National College grounds on February 8.

Advocate General (AG) Ravivarma Kumar on Thursday had submitted to the high court that Togadia was a dangerous man who could disrupt the communal harmony in the State through his provocative speeches.

In likelihood that Togadia may deliver provative speech at the Hindu convention, the Bengaluru police commissioner issued orders banning Togadia from entering Bengaluru between February 5 and February 11. The decision has been met with much criticism from right wing groups and religious leaders, and also the opposition BJP, which crippled the House proceedings for two consecutive days and even staged a walkout.

BJP walks out of Karnataka Assembly against ban on Togadia

Earlier, on Wednesday the BJP MLAs raised objection in the Karnataka Assembly to the ban on VHP leader Praveen Togadia entering Bengaluru, leading to the adjournment of the House repeatedly.

BJP leader R Ashoka raised the issue as the House met for the day and questioned the government’s intention behind the action and called it an attempt to “suppress” the majority, leading to a heated argument between BJP and Congress MLAs.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervened to say government would not allow anything that disturbs peace in society. This further angered BJP members.

The Speaker said he would give permission to raise the issue during Zero Hour and Question Hour should be allowed to function smoothly, to which members agreed.

(Agencies)

VHP leader Praveen Togadia barred from entering Bengaluru

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Praveen Togadia

Bengaluru: Senior VHP leader Praveen Togadia has been barred from entering Bengaluru from February 5 to February 10.

Bengaluru police commissioner M N Reddi has issued a notice to Togadia prohibiting him from entering the city.

The VHP leader was scheduled to attend ‘Hindu Virat Samavesha’ convention on February 8 in the city.

The ban came in the wake of provocative speeches made by Praveen Togadia in the past.

Sources said that VHP is planning to organise ‘Ghar Wapsi’ after the convention on February 8.

(Agencies)

Embracing Islam will be real home coming: Asaduddin Owaisi

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asaduddin-owaisi

Hyderabad: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that Islam is the ‘real home’ of all religions in the world and hence the real ‘home coming’ will be when people of other religions embrace it.

The MP from Hyderabad said that every child is born as a Muslim but his parents convert him to other religions. “The real home coming will be when people of other religions embrace Islam,” he said, addressing a public meeting on the eve of ‘Milad-un-Nabi’ Saturday night.

The MIM leader said the Sangh Parivar was running a campaign in the name of ‘home coming’.

“Muslims are being allured with Rs.5 lakh and Christians with Rs.2 lakh to convert. Only five lakh? What a joke. Muslims can’t leave Islam even if you give them the wealth of the world,” he said, amid loud cheers from thousands of people at Darussalam, the MIM headquarters.

The Muslim leader invited people of all faiths to accept Islam but made it clear that there is no compulsion. “You come back. We can’t give money but we guarantee you success in this world and thereafter,” said the MP.

Stating that India is the country of ‘our father’, Owaisi said Adam who is the father of entire humanity landed in India when he came to Earth. He criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on ‘ghar wapsi’.

“Have you ever thought what will happen to the country. How foreign exchange will come to India. You announced that you will bring 100 billion dollars. Will this bring FDI (foreign direct investment),” he asked.

The MIM president decried attempts to link terrorism with Islam. He said terrorism can be eliminated from Earth only by following the teachings of Islam. “Islam came to end terrorism and repression. Allah sent Prophet Mohammad as Rehmat-ul-lil Alameen (mercy to the world),” he said.

Demanding action against Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and Hafiz Saeed for killing innocents, Owaisi said the enemies of the country are enemies of Muslims. He said MIM has political differences with the Bharatiya Janata Party but supports any action against the enemies of the country and has made this stand clear in parliament.

(IANS)

How is Ghar Wapsi different from forcible conversions?

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conversion-Aligarh

Propaganda around conversions has been one of the major political tools during last few decades. It was Niyogi Commission report which investigated the conversions in Adivasi areas in 1950s, then the Meenaxipuram conversions of Dalits into Islam, and then the gruesome murder of Pastor Graham Stewart Stains on the charges that he was doing conversion; these are a few amongst the big spectrum related to the phenomenon of conversions. As such the regular propaganda by communal forces that Muslim Kings converted people into Islam by sword has been made the part of ‘social common sense’ by now. On regular basis around Christmas time one saw the anti Christian violence in Adivasi areas a decade ago, and in that context rather than focusing on the violence against religious minorities, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called for a National debate on Conversions.

In the recent conversions to Hinduism in Agra (10 December 2014) nearly 350 pavement dwellers-rag pickers and other destitute sections were promised that if they participate in the religious function they will be given the ration card and BPL cards. This was done by the Bajrang Dal activist and the Hindu Janjagriti Samiti both outfits affiliated to RSS. The only difference is that this process has been called as Ghar Vapasi and not conversion. On one hand this is being projected as a great valorous achievement by the RSS leaders like Yogi Adiytnath, on the other it is being labeled as a master stroke by RSS by other RSS ideologues. According to one ideologue of RSS, they had been calling for a ban on conversions, which was being opposed by the secular elements and religious minorities. This conversion nay Ghar Vapasi will bring to fore the debate to bring in the strict law against any conversion. If, as reported, the conversion of 350 odd Muslims in Ved Nagar in Agra to Hinduism is the work of RSS, it is clear that the RSS has grown strategic, according to RSS ideologue.

[pullquote]Do we need laws to ban conversions? We have laws to punish those who indulge in force, fraud and allurement. What we need is to distinguish between voluntary conversion and forced one’s. Ghar Vapasi is a shrewd name for forcible conversions. So what we need is the political and moral will to promote freedom of religion and punish the guilty, using illegal means to achieve the change of faith. The so called ‘Freedom of Religion’ bills are there not to provide freedom of conscience but to curb the same by legal means.[/pullquote]

As per this ideologue this move of RSS is a smart one too. It seems to have triggered a debate on conversions which it has been asking for decades but was evaded by its critics. While communal elements are crying hoarse that Meenaxipuram has been the act of conversions through petro dollars and the Christian missionaries are doing conversion though foreign money, the truth of the matter is somewhat different. Meenaxipuram conversion was triggered by humiliation of the dalit youth by the upper caste. While the propaganda that Christian missionaries are doing forcible conversions is on the peak the fact is that no evidence of the application of force has been generally reported. It is also true that while some sects of Christian do claim that they are converting; the majority sects affirm that when the conversion is sought by someone in the society and only under that voluntary request the conversion if at all takes place. Interestingly as many people have started believing that the missionaries are converting the population of Christians has been shown a marginal decline during last few decades as per census figures (1971-2.60, 1982-2.44. 1991-2.34, 2001 -2.30 and probably 2.20 in 2011) The Wadhwa Commission, which was appointed by the then home minister L.K.Advani in the after math of the burning of Pastor Stains points out that Pastor was not involved in the work of conversions and that in Keonjhar in Manoharpur of Orissa, the percentage of Christians has shown fair stability, or an statistical insignificant rise in the percentage of Christian population during the time Pastor Stains was working there.

How have conversion taken place in India? We can examine this in two stages. In medieval period as far as conversion to Islam is concerned it took place mainly due to the caste oppression, as pointed out by Swami Vivekananda “Why amongst the poor of India so many are Mohammadens? It is nonsense to say that they were converted by the sword. It was to gain liberty from Zamindars and Priests…..” (Collected Works- Vol. 8- Page 330). Surely a small section did convert to Islam due to anticipation for reward by Muslim kings, a smaller section due to fear and a substantial chunk due to the social interaction as seen in the Muslims of Malabar coast and the Muslims of Mewat. Major conversion to Islam during medieval time was due to the influence of Sufi saints, at whose Dargaha the untouchables could also visit. Since even today one fourth of the population holds to the norms of untouchablity, it is not surprising that some dominated castes do keep deciding to leave the fold of Hinduism, as was proclaimed by Dr. Ambedkar, who left Hinduism with proclamation that ‘I was born a Hindu; that was not in my hands, but I will not die a Hindu.”

The conversions to Christianity did not begin with the coming of British as propagated by some. Christianity is centuries old, entering India with the coming of St Thomas in the first century. Some doubt this version and hold that Christianity came here in fifth century. The Christian missionaries have been working here in the neglected Adivasi areas providing the health and educational services, the appeal of which prompted many Adivasis-Dalits to embrace this religion. It is only from last six decades that communal forces have been showing their discomfort of Missionaries working in the Adivasi-village areas violence has been more in those areas. Not to forget here is the point that many Christian institutions are located in cities, where all sections of society vie to send their children. One can also concede that a few of these missions may be aiming for conversions through their prayer and healing services. The question of allurement and fraud, if at all, may be a small component of the phenomenon of conversion to Christianity. Most of the attacks and accusations which took place against Christian missionaries were when they were holding prayer meetings. The money they receive comes through proper FCRA channel, and many NGOs including the organizations like RSS also receive foreign funds to be sure.

Now the assertion is that what RSS affiliates do is a Ghar vapasi! They claim so many things which are a pure political concoction. The voluntary conversions have very much been a part of caste ridden Indian society. It is another matter that even the Christian and Muslim communities could not remain free from this caste virus, but the hope of the dominated castes to get social justice has played a major role in changing one’s faith. The RSS claim that the ancestors of all these converts are Hindus has no relevance in the debate. How is ancestry important in one’s faith and the citizenship today? Do we have to trace our ancestry to decide today’s faith? Where will this lead us? The theory of evolution apart from the latest DNA studies show that human’s beginning is from South Africa. The coming of Aryans to India from Arctic zone (Lokmanya Tilak ) to that Aryans were original inhabitants of India is a perpetual debate, with more heat than light in it.

What was the religion of Nomads-Pagans? Some social scientists call it Indigenous culture, rather than religion for the phenomenon which was and is practiced by indigenous (Adivasi) people all over the World. Society is always changing. As caste system has been the central part of religion in India many of the dominated castes regularly kept leaving Hinduism to opt for other religions, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism. People felt that they are not getting equality and so kept leaving the Hindu fold and embracing other religions. After Lord Buddha’s teachings a large chunk of people became Buddhists in the sub continent. It is another matter that later in the Brahminical reaction, Buddhism was wiped out from here. Many felt that the missions are doing service to their community so they changed their faith.

The problem, which RSS projects is due to its being hung up to the values and system of past; pastoral, agricultural-feudal societies. The changes in social system accompany the changes in systems of production and education in particular; are totally missing in its world view. India came into being through the freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi, who could unite the people of all religions as he treated all religions on equal ground. For him, there is no distinction between foreign and Native religions. Three types of Nationalisms competed with each their during freedom movement. On one hand was the concept of Indian Nationalism and the accompanying concept of ‘India as a nation in the making’, this is what was followed by most of the people. The other was Muslim Nationalism, which located its beginning from the time of Muhammad bin Kasim’s victory in Sindh in eight century. And the third one was Hindu nationalism, ‘we are a Hindu nation from times immemorial’, held by the Hindu Mahasabha and RSS. Both these latter nationalisms derived their legitimacy from identity of religion had miniscule social support.

Unfortunately Gandhi is quoted extensively by Right wing forces to oppose conversions; but his quotes which are taken support are fragments of what he said. His major quote on conversion is from collected works, Volume XLVI p. 27-28. In an interview dated 22nd March 1931, given to The Hindu, Gandhi apparently stated that “if in self governing India, missionaries kept ‘proselytizing’ by means of medical aid, education etc., I would certainly ask them to withdraw. Every nation’s religion is as good as any other. Certainly India’s religions are adequate for her people. We need no converting spirituality.” This is the first part of the quote and the lines that follow give the totally opposite idea, the ideas, which Gandhi held. Gandhi goes on to write, “This is what the reporter has put in my mouth… All that I can say is that it is a travesty of what I have always said and held.” He goes on to explain, “I am, then, not against conversion. But I am against the modern methods of it. Conversions nowadays have become a matter of business, like any other… Every nation considers its own faith to be as good as that of any other. Certainly the great faiths held by the people of India are adequate for her people. India stands in no need of conversions from one faith to another.” And then he goes on to list the faiths of India, “Apart from Christianity and Judaism, Hinduism and its offshoots, Islam and Zoroastrianism are living faiths.”

As Gandhi opposed the divisive agenda of communal forces, which were using identity of religions for political purpose, Gandhi in contrast was harping on ‘morality’ of religions to unite the people. So while he was leading the anti colonial struggle the communalists were spitting fire against the ‘other community’ and ‘Shuddhi’ (Arya Samaj) and Tanjim (Tablighi Jammat) was part of their political agenda in the early part of twentieth century. The Hindu religion is not a prophet based religion, so the concept of conversion is not there. In most prophet based religions the call for spreading the divine word is there. So earlier Arya Samaj coined the word Shuddhi, which was for forcible conversion into Hinduism. RSS improvised on that and has coined the word Ghar Vapasi as a clever move to hide its ‘forcible conversion drive’. Its claim that it is undertaking Ghar vapasi to bring the religious minorities in the mainstream is again a hoax as minorities had been equal participants in the movement for India’s freedom, a struggle from which RSS remained aloof, barring one exception. To claim that adivasis are Hindus, is again does not hold water as Adivasis are animists, believing in nature worship, and in the spirit of their ancestors and spirit of Nature. All over the World indigenous people hold similar belief and have similar practice. This is unlike Hinduism where Gita, Ram and Acharya are the core part of it belief today.

The central point is that RSS does not recognize Indian nationalism and holds to Hindu nationalism so the whole maneuver for this ‘forcible conversion’ is being passed off as ‘Ghar Vapasi’ while dubbing other conversions as forcible. Rather than recognizing the qualitative change in the formation of India as the nation state, it is stuck to the pastoral-feudal-preindustrial society with the values of caste and gender hierarchy. The ‘Ghar vapsi’ is being planned at larger scales. And an intimidating and fraudulent atmosphere is being created to execute the forcible conversions. This is a frightening message to religious minorities. This is a clever manipulation of political power to violate the norms of Indian constitution.

Then how do we distinguish between a forcible conversion and adoption of a new religion. In the present scheme of things if one leaves Hindu fold to embrace Buddhism-Jainism-Sikhism, it is OK, as they are ‘Indian religions. For communalists problem seems to be only with Islam and Christianity! The basic shrewdness is to call religions as national or foreign. As such religions are basically universal not bound by national boundaries.

Constituent Assembly had discussed this thread bare and so the right to practice and propagate one’s religion is very much there. In the debate the word used is ‘converting’ others. Where is the place for people volunteering and adopting another religion, like Ambedkar and so many others? In a way it is a way to undermine the conscience of people that somebody is converting them. Where is the place for choice of one’s religion in a democratic society believing in ‘freedom of religion and conscience’?

With RSS plans for a bigger conversion nay Ghar vapasi in Aligarh this Christmas (2014) the attempt to polarize the society are being taken to a higher pitch. The heroes of RSS parivar like Yogi Adityanath are saying that those being subjected to ghar vapasi will be given the Gotra and caste from which they converted! So come what may the caste structure and rigidities remain and thrive. That’s what the agenda of nationalism in the name of Hinduism is!

Do we need laws to ban conversions? We have laws to punish those who indulge in force, fraud and allurement. What we need is to distinguish between voluntary conversion and forced one’s. Ghar Vapasi is a shrewd name for forcible conversions. So what we need is the political and moral will to promote freedom of religion and punish the guilty, using illegal means to achieve the change of faith. The so called ‘Freedom of Religion’ bills are there not to provide freedom of conscience but to curb the same by legal means.

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