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Christmas in 1998 was not the same for the Christian community in Gujarat. Just before Christmas many churches were attacked by unidentified groups who went on a rampage damaging and sometimes destroying the premises of many churches and Christian institutions, even attacking and injuring people. The violence has continued unabated with the attacks concentrating on minorities, particularly in the Dangs District of Gujarat. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in Gujarat has denied any role in the attacks on churches in Gujarat. The Opposition parties in the Parliament have demanded the imposition of President's rule in the state of Gujarat to bring the state back to normalcy. The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee has expressed his deep sense of shock and shame. Nevertheless the minority community are not satisfied with the actions taken so far and are also doubtful if the ruling BJP will be able to bring the culprits to justice, as most of them belong to the Sangh Parivar (associated with the BJP).
The most serious incident reported was from Vaki village near Dangs District where a mob of 500 armed people attacked a church and looted nearby shops. More than seven people sustained bullet injuries in the crossfire and were hospitalized. CNI District Superintendent, Rev. T.V. Gaikwad, alleged that the gunfire was aimed at the minority community. Many petitions and memoranda have been sent to the President, Prime Minister and the Home Minister. Archbishop Alan de Lastic of Delhi has had meetings with the Prime Minister and has been assured that things would be under control. The BJP Government at the Center has asked the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Keshubhai Patel (also of the BJP), to bring the situation under control. The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) has sent a high-level delegation, led by the President, Dr. K. Rajaratnam, to Gujarat to assess the situation. He has also been on the national media-television and newspapers-speaking on this issue.
Prime Minister Mr. A.B. Vajpayee visited the Dangs District of South Gujarat in the wake of the violence to view the situation and to voice his support for the victims. The NCCI reacted to the Prime Minister's visit saying that, instead of restraining the forces of fundamentalism, it has lent credence to the false accusations of these forces. Fresh bouts of violence erupted immediately after the Prime Minister left the area.
The NCCI insists that, by calling for a debate on the subject of conversions, the Prime Minister has lent credibility to all the false allegations of the VHP and Bajrang Dal that the Christian Missions are engaged in forced conversions. In fact, both the Dangs District Collector and the Police Chief categorically denied any knowledge of forced conversions, when questioned by a January NCCI delegation.
While the VHP and Bajrang Dal bring accusations against the Christian community of large scale forced conversions, so-called greconversionsh back to Hinduism have allegedly taken place in the Dangs district at knife point as Hindu idols were forcibly placed into the candidates' hands. The NCCI feels it is a pity the Prime Minister has justified such reconversions, undermining the confidence of minorities in the ability of the Prime Minister to protect the victims of violence and injustice.
What can be done now is to ask the National Human Rights Commission to make an inquiry into the alleged forced conversions of both Christians and the VHP and Bajrang Dal. The NCCI also stressed the need to investigate plans of VHP and Bajrang Dal to reconvert Christians by using force and violence such as forcible occupation of Church buildings and Church Schools just as they are doing in the Dangs district.
A team from the National Council of Churches in India visited the areas affected by recent communal violence in Gujarat Ahwa, Dangs District.
The team found nearly 32 worship places burnt and damaged fully or partially. In Subir a Catholic School and Children's Hostel came under attack; jeeps and other vehicles were damaged and torched. In Kasaar Bari where there are about 12 Christian families belonging to Kukana and Bheel tribes, part of the worship place was torched by a group of people on December 31st evening. In Jamalapada, on the night of December 25th about 400 people attacked and fully damaged the village Church and took away the poultry and decamped with some money of the poor villagers. Similarly in Gadvi on December 25th a group of about 400 people attacked and damaged the whole church. In Vaki on December 25th about 400 people once again attacked and damaged the villages and tried to set the church on fire. While the team was still visiting on Sunday, January 3rd the villagers of Diwan Tabadun were stopped from attending a worship service.
Though the government has posted police at several places to protect the churches, sufficient action is not being taken to protect their properties.
The team observed that, gthere is an organized effort by the Sangh Parivar to terrorize the Christian community through organized violence.h The community in Ahwa Dang area still live in fear because of the proposed meeting of the Sanyasis in the near future. The team was surprised to see the saffron flags displayed in public place like bridges.
Before visiting the affected areas the team met the Governor of Gujarat, Shri Anshu-man Singh and presented a memorandum. They also met the Christian leaders in Gujarat and requested them to refrain from any retaliation and uphold the key Christian principles of peace and non-violence.
The following decisions were taken in view of the above context :
In view of the prevailing situation and the possibilities of further deterioration in Gujarat, the team recommended that this information dissemination process be continued for the next three months as a pilot phase with the possibility of extension of this to three years.
It was also felt that there was a need to study the prevailing situation and inform all the other churches of the NCCI for a national action plan as a response to the situation in Gujarat.
The team also recommended that a two-member team rush to Gujarat to establish this information network. This visit will also do the assessment, study for infor-mation, possible response and action at Gujarat.
There is an immediate need for rebuilding the confidence of the Christian community and this can be done by enabling members of the neighboring congregation for visits and joint worships. This will strengthen the local congregations and also give them the needed feeling of belonging and solidarity. Many congregation-based programs relating to youth, women and children need to be organized immediately to not only strengthen the local congregations but also to give them a creative diversion from the present fear psyche.
The program of the churches in response to the violence is called 'Church's Solidarity with the Persecuted Christians in Gujarat'.
The National Council of Churches in India convened an ecumenical meeting on Tuesday the 2nd of February at the CNI Bhavan to discuss the existing and emerging situation regarding the violation of Minority Rights in the country. Leaders of many church bodies in India were represented at the meeting: the heads of the National Council of Churches in India, Catholic Bishops Conference of India, United Baptist Church in India, Evangelical Fellowship of India, India Mission Association, and the Pentecostal Churches.
In his opening remarks the President of the NCCI expressed his deep sense of gratitude to Churches for coming together gat a time most challenging to the Churches in India to view our responses to the gravest and most difficult challenge in the history of Christianity in Indiah. He explained the process by which this meeting was called for and also suggested the setting-up of a joint structure operating from the capital to speak on behalf of the whole Church in India. He pleaded that gat this time of history there was a serious need to have a collective identity instead of individual confessions as the situation challenges all Christians in the country.h
The meeting noted violence against Muslims, Dalits and Christians in particular to be on the increase. The statistics for the past five years point to an alarming increase in violence.
The participants also affirmed that not all the Hindus approve of the present activities of the Sangh Parivar particularly on the issue of violence against minorities and the issue of conversion. On the other hand it was affirmed that conversion is a fundamental Constitutional Human Right, that India is a mosaic of religions and no one religion should dominate the other. In fact the participants called for dialogue with people of other faith on the issue of conversion as a right enshrined in the Constitution.
In order to meet the emerging situation those gathered proclaimed the need to come together and form an Ad-Hoc Committee representing the whole Church in India.
The Church also needs to view this situation from the political perspective as well. Does the Church have a political option? Present attacks against the minorities is a clear violation of not only fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution but also a serious violation of Human Rights.
Some groups within the Church and outside are aggressive in their propagation methods particularly in terms of culturally displacing people. It is necessary to have a joint agreement on the strategies and methods for evangelism and mission. Attacks on Churches and Church related personnel and property continues to be on the increase particularly in states like Bihar, Ludhiana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. There is a serious need to respond to these emerging situations.
The response of the Church is to be a determination to continue with the mandate of love and service given by Jesus Christ. gWe unequivocally reject hatred and violence, even in the face of the worst provocation. While we expect the instruments of State to do their duty by the Constitution, we are sure that the united will of a secular and peace-loving people will restrain, contain and finally reform those who inflict such violence.
gFor its part, the Church has always upheld national honor, patriotism and individual's freedom of choice. This includes the freedom to practice and propagate one's faith. While the Church strives to preach the Gospel, conversion is a free personal responsible act through the grace of God. The Church therefore expresses concern at any act of forcible 'reconversion'.
| More...India:NCCI Press Statement |
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