Sangh Parivar

Truth about Kandhamal (Pioneer, Jan. 14, 2008)

[ Media has distorted the facts about the clashes between tribals and missionaries in this Orissa district. Ashok Sahu tells the real story of what happened and why it happened ]

Reports of clashes between 'converted' Christians led by missionaries on one hand and tribals on the other in Kandhamal district of Orissa that have been highlighted by media since December 25, 2007, are vastly distorted and motivated. These reports need to be clarified in public interest lest our national image is tarnished before the people and the international community.

The whole series of incidents began with the unprovoked and pre-planned attack on Vedanta Keshari Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati who was visiting his disciples at Darsingbadi village in Kandhmal district on December 24. The 82-year-old Swami has been working tirelessly in the district since 1967 for the welfare of the local population.

More than 75 per cent people in Kandhamal live below the poverty line and are not literate. Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati has opened schools, hostels, hospitals and temples to protect mainly the tribals and the downtrodden from the clutches of missionaries who have access to massive funds from foreign countries. A lot of this money is also provided to so-called non-government organisations whose covert agenda is to convert local tribals to Christianity.

World Vision is one such NGO operating in this district. It is patronised by Mr Radhakanta Nayak, a resident of Darsingbadi village from 'Pana' community. He later converted to Christianity. He was an employee of the Orissa Government and was promoted to the IAS before he retired from service. He is now a Member of the Rajya Sabha. The assailants who attacked Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati on December 24 are believed to be his henchmen.

The 'Kui' tribals among the Kandhs in the district have been protesting against Mr Nayak's attempt to get his 'Pana' community relisted as a Scheduled Tribe. For some time now, Mr Nayak has been trying to get a notification issued under the provisions of the Constitution to get his Pana community, at present designated a Scheduled Caste, relisted as a Scheduled Tribe along with the Kui on the ground that the former also speak the Kui dialect.

Various reservation facilities to which Scheduled Tribes are entitled are not available to Scheduled Castes if their members convert to Christianity. On hearing about the attack on Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, the already agitated Kui community reacted with anger and protested throughout the district against those members of the 'Pana' community who had converted to Christianity.

Interestingly, most Maoist activists in the district are among the recent converts to Christianity. Security forces are believed to have seized 20 guns from 47 Maoists arrested in connection with the recent burning of villages inhabited by Hindus (Brahmanigaon, Jhinjiriguda, Katingia and Godapur) to counter the attacks by tribals on Christians and Churches. It is evident that the Maoists and the missionaries are hand-in-glove with each other to instigate clashes between the Kui tribals and the Pana community. A similar pattern exists in Karbi-Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts in Asam where insurgents are working in tandem with missionaries.

While in Government service, Mr Radhakanta Nayak and Mr John Nayak, a retired IPS officer -- both 'converted' Christians -- were instruments of the Church to proselytise poor and illiterate members of the 'Pana' and tribal communities in Kandhamal district.

In the guise of funding NGOs, thousands of dollars are being pumped into the country for converting tribals to Christianity in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and the North-East. The missionaries and their cohorts take advantage of the poverty and lack of education; thousands of people have been converted to Christianity through these means.

In the North-East, many of them are being trained for separatist movements. In States like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, many of them are being trained for Maoist insurgency.

Conversions have been more pronounced since 1970, which is evident from the Census reports till 2001. In Kandhamal district, for instance, the Christian population has increased from six per cent in 1971 to 27 per cent in 2001, despite a law enacted by the Orissa Legislature in 1967 to prevent conversion by allurement, coercion, bribery and cheating.

Swami Lakshmanananda has been fighting a lone battle against such conversions and has made the tribal dominated district his home for the last 40 years. Those behind the conversions have been targeting him.

Earlier, there were two deadly attacks on Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati in 1971 and 1995. Since then, the Government has provided his with armed protection. But despite that, armed men attacked him on December 24. Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, his driver and armed guards were seriously injured in the attack and were hospitalised in Cuttack Medical College Hospital.

Hence, the recent clashes manifest the various ramifications of the socio-economic, political and cultural issues, as well as the deep-rooted conspiracy by missionaries and Maoists to destabilise our society. Let the national media stop distorting facts.

-- The writer is a former Inspector General of Police, Orissa.

http://tinyurl.com/2ah7h

Mombattiwallas of Kandhamal

Ram Madhav on the Evangelist instigated Violence (Jan. 8, 2008)

For days, one TV Channel ran visuals of how Christians have been targeted for violence in Orissa's Kandhamal district. Several other so-called national channels too joined the chorus sufficient enough for Mombattiwalas (candlelight activists) to plunge into the ring and declare that 'entire Orissa', if not 'entire India', is in the grip of violence unleashed against 'innocent minorities' by 'Hindu nationalists'.

As a senior leader pointed out to me after a heated TV debate, we have created a funny nomenclature in our country: if you are a Hindu and defend your faith, you are a 'Hindu nationalist' a pejorative reminiscent of Nazi Nationalism. But if you are a Hindu and use your lung power to loudly attack Hinduism and Hindus for crimes they never committed, then you are a great 'secularist'. Both these stereotypes are a creation of our perverted political discourse.

Thus every incident of the nature of the Kandhamal one will immediately be dragged into this Hindu Nationalist Secularist arena and the endless blame-game continues.

We don't realise that in the process we are not only destroying the image of our nation but actually perpetrating such violence by not looking dispassionately into the real reasons behind each and every single incident.

Violence in the name of religion in any form should be opposed by all.

It is unfortunate that we had to end 2007 with one such violent situation in a district of Orissa. But we must not ignore the fact that Kandhamal is for that matter many such incidents have been a localised incident; not a phenomenon as the Candlelight-walas would want us to believe. It is neither pan-Orissa nor pan-Indian.

'Many feel conversion is not the church's business'

The trouble in Kandhamal started on December 23 when some Christians at Brahmanigoan village wanted to erect a Christmas gate in front of a Hindu place of worship. This was resented by the local Hindus who questioned the motive of the Christians in insisting on building a second gate near a Hindu place of worship while one gate was already erected at a place where it is done every year on the eve of Christmas. This led to the initial clashes. Since Christians were more in number in the said village the Hindus were at the receiving end.

As the news of clashes reached Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, a selfless Hindu seer working for the socio-economic development of the local people for over four decades -- he set out for Brahmanigoan on December 24. His car was attacked by a violent Christian mob in which the seer himself and two of his followers sustained serious injuries.
Swamiji, 82 years old, has been relentlessly working for the uplift of the people in the district -- more than 75 per cent of whom are below the poverty line and illiterate -- since 1967. He has opened schools and hostels, hospitals and temples to serve mainly the tribals and the down-trodden.

It was this attack that led to further clashes in the district, as the seer is highly respected and has innumerable supporters in the district. Four days of clashes resulted in both sides suffering in various ways -- many houses were burnt, properties destroyed and physical attacks taking place.

What made things worse in Kandhamal was the open collaboration between the Christian groups and Naxals. Among those arrested in connection with the burning down of villages inhabited by Hindus (Brahmanigaon, Jhinjiriguda, Katingia, and Godapur) were 47 Maoists. Some 20 guns have been recovered by the security forces from them.
The Kandhamal violence is essentially a localised one, as many such incidents in the country have been. It is the local factors that play a predominant role. Animosities were brewing no doubt. But again the reasons were immediate. There has been a feud between the Kondh tribals and largely Christian Pana Scheduled Caste people. The Panas, under the leadership of the local Congress Rajya Sabha member Radhakanta Naik, who is said to be a convert, have been demanding inclusion of their caste in the Scheduled Tribe category as they too speak the same Kui language that the ST Kondhs speak.

However, if there is any one aspect that is pan-Indian in all the incidents related to Hindu-Christian clashes it is religious conversions. Even in Kandhamal district, one of the major factors fuelling tensions is the conversion campaign of the evangelical groups. It is noteworthy that in a state like Orissa which enacted anti-conversion laws as back as in 1967, the Christian population in Kandhamal district alone has grown from 6 per cent in 1970 to 27 per cent in 2001.

The 'aggression' shown by the new age evangelical groups mostly in predominantly tribal areas in states like Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat etc has become a major contributor of religious strife. We can't overlook the fact that in the entire country Christmas was celebrated with a lot of gaiety with millions -- a lot of Hindus included -- thronging churches. Hindus, at the core of their belief, are 'omnitheists'. For a Christian or a Muslim there is 'one god', but for a Hindu there is 'only god'. For him god is omnipresent, the entire creation is divine manifestation only.

Religious conversion is an anti-thesis to this belief. There was a time when at the end of the British Raj the mainstream missionaries in India had decided to focus more on humanitarian and developmental activity than conversions. Many still adhere to that concept, confining themselves to running schools, hospitals etc and serving humanity at the time of need.

However, for the growing breed of 'aggressive' evangelicals, numbers are very important. 'Harvesting souls' is god's work for them. Means don't matter. In a very interesting article in Christian Science Monitor (April 1, 2005) Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute of Conflict Management in New Delhi and a renowned intellectual was quoted as saying: 'Aggressive and unprincipled missionary work that exploits the distress and ignorance of marginalised groups ... can constitute a catalyst to localised violence, particularly when they are brought into confrontation with other creeds'.

External link: A new breed of missionary

These 'aggressive' activities of their fellow pastors and fathers have aggrieved many Christian leaders too. This is what the Christian Science Monitor article says on those activities:

After the tsunami, the US National Council of Churches issued a statement warning against the practice by "New Missionaries" of mixing evangelism and aid. "Often lacking sophistication about the lure of gifts and money, and wanting to be generous with their resources, they easily fall prey to the charge of using unethical means to evangelize. This creates a backlash," the February statement read.

"You get this guy out of Texas who has no idea of the local culture, he is out to win souls, and he comes with a lot of money," says Bob Alter, former Presbyterian pastor born and raised in the Indian mountain town of Mussoorie, and former superintendent of a missionary institution, the Woodstock School.

The problem with these newer churches, Mr. Alter says, is the tone of their message. "You have Baptists using the Diwali festival [the Hindu festival of lights], but they come to 'spread the light to those in darkness.' That is mighty offensive stuff, when you're out to tear down another religion."

It even quoted one Bishop Chacko, head of the Roman Catholic diocese in Meghnagar in Jhabua district in Madhya Pradesh who said, 'Even the older Protestant churches are unhappy with the evangelicals. It is said that they are irresponsible. Consequences don't matter to them. They put the fire and then they leave it to burn.'

Whether it is Kandhamal in Orissa or Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh or Dangs in Gujarat, the only pan-Indian question is the evangelical activities of 'aggressive conversion campaign'.

If we argue that conversion is a right, then re-conversion too is a right. In this melee of conversions and re-conversions violence and strife will become the order of the day.

Let every religion enjoy complete religious freedom to preach, practice and propagate. But as our apex court categorically stated, 'Propagate' does not and should not include 'Conversion'. Let us put an end to the institutionalised activity of conversions by church agents and instead allow citizens freedom of personal choice without fear or favour.

Ram Madhav
(former spokesperson for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)
http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/jan/08guest.htm
Investigate and stop funding of chuch-linked NGOs in Kandhamal: VHP

From: VHP DELHI HQ Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008
Evil intention of foreign funded Organsations and Church establishments to get more funds is the main cause of disturbance in Kandhamal (Orissa)
New Delhi , January 08, 2008 -
A four-member delegation representing the Kandhmal (Orissa) tribals and other Hindus affected by the recent murderous Christian attacks met Her Excellency the President of India today and submitted a Memorandum that demanded that -

1. Government of India should check foreign funding to the NGOs and Church establishments and frame laws to scrutinize the activities of these organizations;
2. To protect all the rights and facilities provided to the SCs (Scheduled Castes) and STs (Scheduled Tribes) and to prevent others (non-SCs & non-STs including convertees) from taking away those facilities by fraud;
3. Duly check and audit their such income and expenditure profiles and seize and confiscate their accounts wherever those may be in existence;
4. 'Propagation of Religion' does not mean the 'right to convert'. Therefore, all conversion activities, that undermine the holistic indigenous culture and religious traditions and work against the unity of the people by breeding disaffection amongst them and threaten the integrity of the country, must be banned;
5. To arrest, prosecute and punish those offenders and their accomplices who murdered an innocent person and made an attempt on the life of HH Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati and torched the houses of Hindus.
6. Let a Central Law be made to prohibit conversions by force, allurement and fraudulent means presently going on in Bharat.
7. Restrain those that converted to Christianity from being declared as ST.

Addressing a Press Conference, they said: "...The incidents that happened in Kandhamal district of Orissa were unfortunate. We are very much worried about the life and property of the minority Hindu community of Daringbadi block of Kandhamal district who were very much affected by the recent violence.

The most dangerous facts which comes out of the analysis of the incidents happened during this period indicates the aggressive attitude and evil design of the converted Pano Christans motivated by Church and other Christian Organisation like YMCA, World Vision, Phulbani, Jan Kalyan Sabha etc. You can better understand from the following instances:
1. Brahmanigaon :
Conflict started at Brahmanigaon on 20th December 2007 as the Church people with the local Christians constructed a huge gate covering the main road and a portion of the Durga Puja Mandap. When prevented by the local public on 23rd Christians started beating and even dishonor the peace meeting of the administration.
2. Attack on Swami Laxmananda Saraswatiji Maharaj:
Fatal attack on Swami Laxmananda Saraswatiji, his driver, security and his associates obstructing his vehicle on way to Bramhanigaon at Darsingbadi by a group of armed Christians on 24th December 2007
Barakhama killing of Khageswar Mallick
Christian women petted stones at the Hindus returning from a procession when an old tribal Khageswar Mallick fell down, he was brutally stoned to death on 24th evening.
When Bhikari Sethi a Vendor of Birikot village of Gajapati district was alone near Bramhanigon some Christians burnt him with kerosene. He is saved by the Police and other Hindu villagers and now undergoing treatment at M KC G Medical College hospital.
On 27th nearly 3000 Christians of nearby villages of Ganjam, Gajapati with the local Christians attacked the Bramhanigaon villagers with arms and ammunitions and also with the help of naxales. When the villagers fled away and surrendered at the police station, the Christians torched the whole village and attacked the police station. Exchange of fire continued for more than four hours. One police and the Gajapati S.P. who were there at that time were injured. One Christian was killed by the police firing.
A young Christian who was seriously injured in the fighting later found hiding in the Christian Sahi confessed the plan and program of the attackers before the S.P. which has been recorded.
The most important factor which has made the Kondh tribal most disturbed is the illegal demand of S.T. status to some converted Pano Christians who are deprived of S.C facilities due to their conversion by a planned conspiracy. Radhakant Nayak an Retd I A S now M.P Rajya Sabha, who is a converted Christian got SC facility stating himself as Hindu is charged as the main conspirator by the Kandha community.

A large number of Christians who are converted are getting SC facilities by false Caste certificates and some of them even got S.T. certificates and serving in various Government departments like Radhakant Nayank, John Nayak IPS retd, Isac Behera IAS retd and several others. A list of 130 such names has been submitted by Kandh organization to the State Government.
Christians have forcibly and illegally constructed houses, Churches and other Christian establishments on lands of tribals which they could not get back after Court order causing resentment amongst the tribal like Barakhama and Sukhananda and many other places (published in Samaj Oriya Daily dated 4-1-08)

Houses, shops and vehicles of Hindus are looted and burnt in many villages where Hindus are in minority.

During the whole incidents not a single Christian was attacked. Nearly 25 Hindus were injured by Christians at different places. Large quantity of Arms were seized from the Houses of Christians at Bramhanigaon.
Christians have beaten and threatened to kill in many villages where Hindus are in minority like Gadapur, Katingia, Tiarigaon etc which compelled the villagers to flee to the jungle or to a safer place. 95 families comprising 430 persons in Katingia and Tiarigaon of Bramahnigaon P.S are fled away to Merikot of Ganjam and several others are in the jungles.
Knowing that Government will provide them with Indira Awas Christians themselves burnt the houses. Similarly church institutions torched their so-called Jhopadi churches to get foreign aid and leveled blame on nearby Hindu community. Several such instances were reported false by courts in the previous years. Now it has been also supported by the Statement of D.G. Police (Published in the Indian Express on 5-1-2008)

All India Christian Forum leader John Dayal has admitted that Christians have attacked Bramahanigaon village and involved in the violence.
From the above facts one can easily understand the poor innocent Christians of such remote areas could not have done such things in a planned way without the support of any big foreign funding organization. There is hidden hand of world vision, YMCA, NISWASS etc and Church organization behind such incidents.
The evil intention of these foreign funded organization and Institutions are to create social disharmony and conflict by which they will get more foreign fund and tarnish the image of the Nation.
Therefore we demand

1) Govt of India should check foreign funding to the NGOs and Church establishments and frame laws to scrutinize the activities of these organizations.
2) To protect all the rights and facilities provided to the SCs & STs and to prevent others (non SC & ST) from taking away those facilities by fraud..."

- Released by Gauri Prasad Rath, General Secretary VHP-Orissa & Dr Laxmi Kant Dash, General Secretary, Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram-Orissa from Delhi Camp