India update 1-19-09

Thu, 08/01/2009 - 10:53am Margaret Alva to lead Kandhmal peace movement
Margaret Alva during the launch of rights awareness programme organized by the Global Council of Indian Christians in Bangalore on Wednesday.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Bangalore: With all the angry public movements to restore peace and secularism in the country, a new movement will begin to resolve communal violence in Orissa. Former AICC general secretary Margaret Alva and Global Council of Indian Christians announced here on Tuesday that they would launch an awareness campaign across the country to restore peace in Kandhmal and give the victims the compensation they deserve. The campaign will be held in the city on March 30, 31, and April 1 and 2.Alva said she was free now of her political commitments and she could devote all her time to the cause. “Our voice has been discarded because the Christian community is peaceful. But it is time to fight back now. One is the displaced victims who have migrated are being asked to convert to Hinduism before returning to their homes. This should be addressed. They are Christians and should be allowed to practice their belief,” she said.The other demand, she pointed out, was that most victims did not have land documents as they have been living in the interior tribal areas and are not being allowed to enter their homes because of this. She said the issue needs to be addressed by the central government.Twelve widows from Kandhmal from different camps of G Udaygiri, Raikia, Tikabali, Sugodbadi etc were present to have a word with Alva. Kavita Naik, also a victim who works with widows for their rights, said the aid that was being given to the camp members was not adequate. Children were getting a packet of biscuits every week and elders were getting rations of only dal and rice. “I had severe diarrhoea once and they gave me paracetamol. Medical supply is out of place and children are falling sick every day,” she added.
posted in: Current Issue, , South India
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Thu, 08/01/2009 - 8:15am ‘Rights of all citizens will be protected’ Karnataka state
BANGALORE: The State Government on Wednesday informed the Karnataka High Court that it would protect the rights of all citizens in Karnataka, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion even as the Commissioner of the Davangere Municipal Corporation (CMC) filed a memo stating that some churches in Davangere that were locked had been reopened.
Advocate-General Uday Holla made this submission when a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice V.G. Sabhahit was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by several pastors and members of the Christian community of Davangere district.
The petitioners had sought the intervention of the court, claiming that some fundamental groups had attacked churches and assaulted pastors. They alleged that even the district administration, particularly the Deputy Commissioner (DC), had failed to provide adequate protection to them.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, South India
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Wed, 07/01/2009 - 1:14pm A dalit couple was beaten and their child killed
Shivpuri, MP, Jan 7 : A dalit couple was beaten and theirthree-month-old girl killed by a few people over a dispute related tofilling water at Bhadroni village in this district, police said today.
Saroj Jatav (25) had gone to fill water from handpump yesterday when afew influential people told her not to do so while wearing slippers.This led to an argument between them.
Later, Saroj was going along with her husband Nawal Singh, childAanchal and brother Kamalal to police station to lodge a complaintwhen the culprits stopped them on the way and beat them up.
The accused took hold of the baby girl and smashed her on the groundkilling her on the spot.
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, Central India
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Wed, 07/01/2009 - 1:10pm Kerala launches project to preserve, study Christian heritage
Thrissur : Kerala has launched a project to preserve and digitise manuscripts and heritage material related to 2,000 years of Christianity in the state.
The project, launched in collaboration with Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) and some leading European and American universities, also aims to "promote further studies on the subject in a proper perspective".
A forum called Association for the Preservation of the Saint Thomas Christian Heritage (APSTCH) has been formed to locate, gather and preserve all available documents including the manuscripts in Syrian.
"The purpose of the project is to preserve and maintain the St Thomas Christian heritage, monuments, manuscripts and printed books in Syrian and Malayalam to create correct data-base for the study of Christianity in Kerala, their culture and traditions," APSTCH honorary president Mar Aprem says.
The Syrian Christians in Kerala, regardless of different church denominations they belong, trace their origin to the arrival of St Thomas at Kodungallur, an ancient port town in central Kerala, in 52 AD to preach the gospel.
According to historians, many church documents had been lost over centuries.
"The project is important not merely from the religious angle. The preservation of the documents that have survived the ravages of time would greatly help studies on Kerala history and eastern Christianity," KCHR director Cherian said.
The entire project will be carried out in three-phases.
posted in: Current Issue, Religion, South India
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Tue, 06/01/2009 - 8:21pm Governor's remarks on RSS: BJP rocks Rajasthan Assembly
Jaipur (PTI): Rajasthan Governor S.K. Singh's remark that Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by an RSS man had its repercussions in the Assembly on Tuesday where opposition BJP rocked question hour leading to adjournment of the House thrice.
As soon as the question hour began, BJP MLAs raised the issue and demanded a debate on the Governor's statement. They rushed to the well of the House and raised anti-Governor slogans.
Speaker Dipendra Singh Shekhawat, however, dismissed a debate on the issue and asked reporters to expunge details of the incidents in the House.
BJP Deputy leader G.S. Tiwari recalled that a privilege committee was formed against former Governor Sampoornand's "derogatory" remarks and demanded constitution of similar committee now. The relentless opposition forced two adjournments on the issue.
When the House re-assembled after the second adjournment, BJP members stalled proceedings and did not allow the speaker to continue the business. Speaker adjourned the House for third time in Zero hour.
At a university seminar on Saturday last, the Governor had said that an RSS member assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. "Gandhiji never bowed down to terror," he said while delivering a lecture on "Gandhi in Times of Terror".
posted in: Current Issue, Religion, North India
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Tue, 06/01/2009 - 5:44pm keep Central forces in Kandhamal till elections: Supreme Court
The Hindu“If your government is unable to protect Christians, you better resign,” says KatjuThe Centre has to ensure that minorities are safeOrissa must coordinate deployment with Union Home MinistryNew Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Orissa government to coordinate with the Union Home Ministry deployment of Central paramilitary forces in the Kandhamal area till the general elections to be held in a couple of months.
A Bench, consisting of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices Markandey Katju and P. Sathasivam, passed this order after senior counsel for Orissa K.K. Venugopal said the Centre planned to withdraw the forces by January 15.The Bench said the Centre should take an appropriate decision having regard to the law and order situation in the State. It also asked the Orissa government to pass orders on payment of compensation for churches damaged in violence. It posted the case, filed by Archbishop of Cuttack Raphael Cheenath, for further hearing after six weeks.Earlier, Justice Katju told Mr. Venugopal: “You [State] had failed in your duty to protect minorities.” When counsel maintained that necessary action was taken, he said, “You had done it much later after 50,000 Christians fled to the jungles. You can’t run your government like this. We can’t tolerate persecution of minorities. If your government is unable to protect Christians, you better resign. We are a secular country and no minority should feel insecure in our country.”When Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramanian said the Central forces would be withdrawn in a phased manner only if necessary, Justice Katju told him: “You [the Centre] have a responsibility to protect the minorities. You have to ensure that they are safe.”During the hearing on October 22 last, the court directed that paramilitary forces be stationed in the riot-hit areas till December-end in view of Christmas, and that a generous view be taken on payment of compensation for churches and other institutions damaged in the riots.On Monday, when the matter was taken up, senior counsel Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioner, said there was a deceptive calm in the area after the deployment of the Central forces.Though about 150 churches and institutions were damaged, the State was offering only about Rs. 40 lakh as against the demand for Rs. 3 crore. The estimate for repairs was Rs. 5 lakh to 6 lakh but the State was providing only Rs. 50,000 and in some cases no compensation was being considered.Mr. Venugopal said in cases where there was a dispute over land — whether the structure was an encroachment or it came up on forest land — compensation was kept on hold.Payment could be considered only if the structure had come up on land other than forest and government land.
posted in: Current Issue, , East India
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Tue, 06/01/2009 - 3:47pm Naveen Patnaik government should either resign or get rid of communal forces
Patnaik should quit or snap ties with BJP: CPI
Bhubaneswar (PTI): A day after the Supreme Court asked the Orissa government either to protect minorities or quit, CPI on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik should resign or snap ties with ruling coalition partner BJP.
"In view of the apex court's pronouncement, the Naveen Patnaik government should either resign or get rid of its communal partner without delay," CPI general secretary A B Bardhan told reporters here.
Claiming that the ties with BJP was causing Patnaik and his government considerable embarrassment not only in the country but abroad also, he said, in a democracy it was important to ensure that minority communities are protected.
To a query, the veteran CPI leader said, though BJD itself is not a communal party, it had forged an alliance with the "most communal party in the country."
posted in: Current Issue, Persecution, East India