All-community meet to restore peace in Kandhamal On Oct 2

The meeting, attended by representatives of Hindus, Christians, tribals and Scheduled Castes, decided to hold a district-level peace rally on Gandhi Jayanthi day.

Top officials of the government, including Secretary of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development Department, Taradatt, and Kandhamal District Collector Krishan Kumar, attended the meeting. Representatives of various non-governmental organisations were also present. ...more

Nun was gang raped and priest brutally assaulted in Kandhamal

Parvathi Menon  The Hindu   September 30, 2008

FIRs lodged but no arrests by State government; no response from Centre; Sister Nirmala wrote to CM and PM appealing for protection to Christians

The Orissa government has failed to take any action, under the law of the land, against those who committed bestial crimes — the gang rape of a 28-year-old Catholic nun and the brutal attack on a Catholic priest who courageously resisted their attempts to force him to participate in the atrocity.  ...more 

 Sister Nirmala, head of the Mother Teresa's Missionaries writes to  CM and PM

Church in India Under Attack 

We are paying a heavy price for our blind faith in the Congress. 

George Menezes in Hindustan Times

First, the Christian church is fragmented. I use the word ‘Christian’ to include all her denominations. There are thousands of churches all over India and there is no authority to unite and speak on their behalf. Even the well-organised Catholic church consists of three rites and a host of disparate organisations of the laity. Efforts to set up a body for broad consultation within the church have not borne fruit yet.

Second, the community is fragmented. Despite the tremendous activism of the laity, Christian lay organisations are unable to present a single front. They try to upstage each other, ride piggyback on others’ successes and criticise each other publicly.

When the nuns in Gajraula were raped, we called George Fernandes, then the Minister for Railways. The next day he took AICU members in his jeep and visited the nuns to assuage their fears. It did not matter that the Janata Dal was in power. Neither did it matter that he was a Mangalorean and the nuns and AICU leaders were not. Today, the scenario has changed. We are paying a heavy price for our blind faith in the Congress. We have not lobbied with other major parties and we have openly declared our hostility to the BJP.

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Re-conversions in Orissa -- Tehelka Report by Vijay Simha

A Christian rises. He has a coconut in his hand. “I swear that I have become a Hindu today. After today, if I ever become a Christian again, may my dynasty perish,” he says. He breaks the coconut on a stone. The other Christians follow, each one making the same promise. Some murmur, some are loud. A Hindu priest begins to apply vermillion on the foreheads of the Christians-turned-Hindus. One of them protests, but it is too late. There’s a red streak on his forehead as well.

Sudhir Pradhan then takes over. Eyes closed, spine firm, and voice ominous. There is a deep and rhythmic chanting of Om followed by the Gayatri Mantra, a sacred chant of the Hindus. The slogans follow: “Bharat mata ki jai.” “Ganga mata ki jai.” “Gau mata ki jai.” “Sri Ramjanambhoomi ki jai.” They pause for a few moments and the Christians-becoming-Hindus kneel, placing their foreheads on the ground. There’s a final “Jai Shri Ram.” The first stage of reconversion from Christianity to Hinduism is over. The motivation for these Christians to reconvert is life. They want to live in Kandhamal, keep their houses and, maybe, get some regular work. Read more >

LifeLine: Re-conversions in Orissa 

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Day of prayer and fasting for Christians in Orissa, together with Hindus and Muslims

In Ranchi (Jharkhand), Cardinal Thelesphore Toppo gathered more than 6,000 people on the Loyola grounds, a few hundred meters from the cathedral. Members from all the religions participated in the celebration, with prayers and readings taken from the different sacred books: Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Sarnas (tribal religions), Protestants, and Catholics. The mayor of the city, Rama Xalxo, also participated in the gathering, which lasted more than an hour and a half.

In Mumbai, Cardinal Oswald Gracias gathered people of different religions in Azad Maidan, to express rejection of the pseudo-religious struggle against the Christians of Orissa. Swami Agnivesh, head of the world council of Arya Samaj (a reformist Hindu group) also participated. He emphasized that "the Hindu population in general does not support the atrocities unleashed by the radicals in Orissa". Referring to the destruction and burning of churches and Christian villages, he asked all to "kindle inner fire instead, and work on behalf of humanity".  

Read more

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Orissa 12,539 people in 10 relief camps

558 houses, 17 places of worship torched during riot: Orissa govt-India-The Times of India:
While 543 houses were burnt in the worst hit Kandhamal district, 15 houses had been set ablaze in Gajapati district, said Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy after a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
A total of 35 people were injured in the riot in Kandhamal, he said.
All the torching of places of worship were reported from Kandhamal district where over 185 people were arrested on charge of rioting, arson and other offences.

Besides Kandhamal, Tripathy said, people were provided with food in free kitchen in Rayagada and Gajapati districts. While 12,539 people were fed in 10 relief camps, 783 people got the facilities in two relief camps in Rayagada district." > full story Sphere: Related Content

Aid to the Church in Need: INDIA: Government “aided” attacks on India’s Christians

Government “aided” attacks on India’s Christians

Orissa state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who visited the affected areas said “I saw damaged houses, damaged buildings during visit to some village in Kandhamal district.

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Orissa Update

Eight prayer houses were damaged in Kundra area of Koraput on Sunday

 Film Director Mahesh Bhatt will meet President Pratibha Patil on Monday

All India Christian Council in a press release on Sunday said a delegation led by noted Film Director Mahesh Bhatt will meet Indian President Pratibha Patil on Monday to apprise her about miseries being faced by the Christian community in Orissa state. Full Story

Shambhu Nath Naik, independent legislator of the Orissa state assembly:

Murder of Swami was a planned conspiracy against Christians

More than 100 people have lost their lives

Shambhu Nath Naik, independent legislator of the Orissa state assembly, attacked the state government saying that it is a state sponsored anti-Christian communal violence.

He said that no FIR has been registered so far against the arrested rioters. There is coalition government of Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state and they are providing logistic support to the VHP people to spread violence and create havoc.

We are not allowed to visit affected areas, he said responding to a question.

He alleged that murder of Swami was a planned conspiracy against Christians there. Swami got a life threat just 26 hours before his murder and despite this threat his PSO, provided him by the government, went on leave and all other police officials deputed for his security, went for dinner just minutes before his killing.

When asked about the official record of death he told that it says 40 lives but more than 100 people have lost their lives in this communal violence. Full Story

Cardinal Oswald Gracias : the persecution against the Church is aimed at stopping Christian promotion of the person

The Archbishop of Bombay and president of the Latin Rite Bishops of India, Cardinal Oswald Gracias said on Vatican Radio that . “These fundamentalist forces do not want the Church to work in support of human rights and the poor. They do not want the Church to contribute to improving the standard of living of these people. For this reason there are problems,” he added. Full Story


Hindu activists had forced about 3,000 Christans in riot-affected parts of the state to renounce their religion in the past few days. But Hindu leaders said all the conversions were voluntary.

“Armed Hindu activists are raiding the villages and threatening them with violence if they do not convert to Hinduism immediately.

“Fearing for their lives, the poor Christians are taking part in the rituals of conversion to Hinduism. For the past week, in many villages, Hindu activists have been conducting forced conversions,” he said.
“The most unfortunate fact is that everything is happening under the nose of the authorities. Despite our appeals neither the state government nor the local police have done anything to protect the Christians.”

Hindu leaders say that their ongoing Hindu “homecoming” ceremonies are being attended voluntarily by Christians. Full story Sphere: Related Content

VHP Plans kalash march for Swami Laxmananda

The BJD-BJP government in Orissa has been complicit in some way in the ongoing Christian cleansing in the State.

Praveen Togadia,VHP Leader, for example, was allowed by the state administration to visit the affected areas.

The swami’s funeral march was allowed to travel 200 km through the district, provoking violence. Wherever it went, arson, looting and killing followed the march. Now they are planning a kalash march. The kalash is supposed to carry the ashes of the swami but there are no ashes really.

Read it all

FACT SHEET OF ORISSA HAPPENINGS

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Orissa under mob justice: 2000 houses destroyed

23 members of the Digal family killed
6000 people in relief camps: DNA News

Curfew imposed in Jeypore town


137 people arrested and 39 cases registered in connection with the violence.Read more
Centre favours CBI probe, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters

Christians are forcibly Reconverted to Hinduism

Maoists say: "We killed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati to avenge his villainous role in Kandhmal," said Azad, a leader of Maoist outfit, People's Liberation Guerrilla Army, in an interview to a leading Oriya daily on Friday. Read more

There is a complete collapse of gov­ernance in Orissa.
The Central Government should act to protect the People, the Church leaders ask.

The Bishop of Phulbani in the Church of North India (CNI), the Rt Revd Bijay Nayak, gave a graphic account of the events in his area by email. He writes: “Situation is very critical. More than 15 people are killed, among them seven are from our church from Barakhama and Udayagiri. Many church buildings are destroyed and still going on. Many many people are in jungle out of fear. Balliguda hostel, Udayagiri boys and girls hostel children were in the jungle last night. Continuously they are de­stroy­ing the people’s houses.

“Mr Mathew Naik is killed at Kritangia village near Raikia. He was boys’ hostel superintendent for many years and at present he was Diocese executive member. They caught and put him in the water and cut into pieces and burnt in front of the Church. They have also targeted the Christian leaders of the district. All the leaders are hiding. I request you with tears kindly organize the prayer for us.”

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45,000 Church institutions catering to Five million students remain closed to bring spotlight on Orissa violence
Christian denominations like the Church of South India (CSI) and Marthoma Syrian Church joined the protest against the violence. “All those attending our institutions will attend work wearing black badges," said an official of Mar Thoma Church at its headquarters in Thiruvalla. In Kerala, around 5,900 educational institutions remained closed. The institutions that were closed in Kerala include four medical colleges and 11 engineering colleges run by the Catholic Church.

In Delhi scores of Christians marched to Orissa Bhawan, the office of the state resident commissioner, to protest the violence in Orissa against Christians. “Christians from at least 30 churches across the country participated in the rally in Delhi.

Several social activists like Udit Raj and Teesta Setelvad also participated in the protest march to Orissa Bhawan and addressed the gathering there. Read more

7th to 21st September, to be observed as a fortnight of prayer and solidarity for peace and harmony of all people of faith in India.

NCCI intitating an inter-faith peace group for peace measures in Orissa.

Rev.Raj Bharath Patta,Executive Secretary, Commission on Dalits and Adivasis, National Council of Churches in India, writes:

At a moment like this, we all need to be united in our efforts, and we in NCCI are working hard to get connected with people in Orissa through our regional council, the Utkal Christian Council. An inter-faith peace group is envisaged to be initiated for peace measures in Orissa, and I also request you all to organise inter-faith groups in your localities in sensitizing them in addressing issues on communal violence and for a wider network of solidarity for the Dalit Christians in Orissa.

It was also decided that on the 7th September 2008, Sunday, the Churches will declare a day of prayer and fasting and will hold prayer services and memorial gatherings, highlighting the need for solidarity with all the victims and pray for peace and harmony among people of all faiths. Therefore I urge you all to join in observing the day of prayer on the 7th, wherever you are and take the lead in your local congregations to do so. At our NCCI secretariat, few prayers and a brief worship order has been prepared and is posted on our NCCI website for you all to make use of those resources for the 7th. As we all know 21st September is celebrated as the International Day of Prayer for Peace, which was initiated by the World Council of Churches, may I also ask you all to take the occasion from the 7th to 21st September, a fortnight, in calling all people of faith for prayer and solidarity for peace and harmony in India.

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Catholic schools in India protest

About 25,000 schools and colleges in India run by the Catholic Church remained closed today to protest against continuing anti-Christian violence in Orissa. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the violence as a "national disgrace".

Pope Benedict XVI labelled the death of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati as "deplorable". He said,"I firmly condemn any attack on human life." Pope told a crowd of pilgrims on Wednesday. "I express spiritual closeness and solidarity to the brothers and sisters in faith who are being so harshly tested."

Read

Gurukul College also Joined the protest meeting held in Chennai Central on Friday, on 29th August 2008.

Human Rights Watch, Christian Solidarity Network, Dalit Freedom Network and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty have appealed to foreign ministers in the EU and the US to immediately call for an end to the sectarian violence in India's Orissa.

Read more

In a memorandum submitted to Dr Manmohan Singh the Christian community said, “We are pained and shocked at the merciless killings and unabated violence against the Christians all over the State of Orissa. While the Christian leaders have condemned the heinous crime perpetrated on Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and his associates in the Ashram at Kandhamal District, Orissa, the killings of and atrocities against Christians are the evil designs of the fanatic fundamentalists. They are still continuing the violence and the State Government has failed to protect the Christians and other innocent people”.

The way Sangh goons have killed tens of Christians in the state with impunity shows that how lax we are when it comes to saving the minorities in the country.

Read more

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 Letter from Orissa -- what have we done wrong?
I believe God is love, and our job is only to love and serve. In fact, over 90 % of my community health team is Hindu and not Christian. We do not work with a village unless we are invited in writing. Panchayath leaders are always involved. Tribal leaders evaluate and guide our work. Most of our education centres actually open with a small puja or breaking of a coconut. So tell me – what have we done wrong? Is it wrong to help a lady deliver safely in a hill village ? Is it wrong to help parents run a school where the teacher never comes, so that their children can get primary education ?

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Gayadhar Digal: Frenzied mob did not know he reentered Hinduism and cut him to pieces

Why him? And a villager whispered: "He practiced Christianity for sometime, but was back to the Hindu-fold later. Maybe those in the mob who were from nearby areas, didn't know about his reentering Hinduism."

"The situation in Kandhmal is such that Christians have started claiming to be Hindus to escape communalists' rage. As such, it's difficult to ascertain religious affiliation of people. Many people, even after embracing Christianity, choose to remain Hindus in official records for SC/ST benefits," said a police officer.

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If God does not want to save us, then let us die,"

Fifty-five-year-old Pushpalata Nayak's house has been burnt down and her family has been without food and shelter for four days. Most people in Badimunda village share her fate.

"No one is here to protect us. Police is fleeing when the mob comes. We are old people, where shall we go? At this age how can we change our religion? If God does not want to save us, then let us die," says Pushpalata

Fifty houses have been burnt down by a violent mob in the village and all the house belong to Christians. Even the houses of some of those who had reconverted to Hinduism were torched.

Some of the victims however feel communal hatred was not the only motive.

Read more
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Kandhs and Panu tribals set against one another
A source in the Rapid Action Force said the unrest had spread deep. Not only were the state police not acting, the source said, a senior bureaucrat on deputation in Kandhamal hid in the house of a CRPF company commander yesterday fearing the mobs. “The situation is so bad that about 10,000 Christians are hiding in a hill in Kandhamal while the police are not acting,” said a senior CRPF officer in New Delhi.

A Reuters report said mobs armed with rods put up roadblocks across the district and others attacked churches.

People armed with bows and arrows and axes have attacked Christian homes, dragging out women and children. Hundreds have fled to forests and nearby hills, officials said. “Moments after we passed by a Christian village, people set it on fire and everything was over within minutes,” a senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said from Kandhamal.

The Kandhamal clashes are primarily between the Kands, who are predominantly Hindus, and the Panu tribals, who are Christians. The latter are financially better off and are into several trades, including money-lending, sources said.

Read more

Communal violence in state resulted from negligence -- The Statesman

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