Author: Lakshmi Iyer
Publication: India Today
Date: September 25,
2000
The American Urge to
play globe-cop has put the minority Christian community in India on the
backfoot. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)-
an agency of the country's legislative branch is holding a public hearing
on religious freedom in India for the first time since the panel was founded
in 1998. To be held on September 18 in Washington, the hearing is
taking place under the International Religious Freedom Act to give independent
recommendation to the US President and the Congress. The panel acknowledges
that it is focusing on India as "the BJP's rise to power has led to increased
assaults on religious minorities".
Three Indians-including
expat academic Sumit Ganguly. Bangalore-based Mumtaz Ali Khan and
All India Catholic Union Vice-President John Dayal-are taking part in the
hearing. It is Dayal's participation that has raised the hackles
of the Christian community, in particular, of the 25-menber Christian MP's
Forum (CMF). In fact, Dayal's initiative to take the battle against
Hindu fundamentalism to the US has created a distinct disquiet in the community.
The minority group apprehends that Dayal's move, along with the demonstrations
by expat Christians against Prime Minster Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his
US visit, could prove to be counterproductive. "We could just be
inviting a Hindu extremist backlash," rues a Congress MP. He says
by deposing before the US panel Dayal has given Hindu extremist groups
valid reason to doubt the integrity of the community.
It is not only the laity
but also the clergy which does not wish to associate itself with Dayal's
decision. "We have nothing to do with Dayal's decision to appear
before the US panel," says Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI)
Deputy Secretary-General Father Donald D'Souza. Dayal tactically
asserts that he is going to Washington as an Indian Christian and not as
a representative of any organisation. "I am going there to speak
for the Christians who have been raped and murdered," he says. He
defends his proposed appearance by citing the recent Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(VHP) show in Staten Island with Vajpayee in tow. He also clarifies
he is not helping the US police India, adding that "the US Government already
knows what is happening in this country".
The Christian MPs feel
Dayal is pursuing a private agenda to the community's peril. M.J.
Mattathil Varkey, an MP from the Christian dominated Kerala Congress, deplores
Dayal's decision to internationalise domestic issues, saying. "We
are not happy with Dayal. His action is not good for the nation and
will tarnish our image." Similarly, CMF Chairman Paty Ripple Kyndiah disapproves
of Dayal's antics. "It is against national interests. We have
to seek redressal of our grievances within the nation," he says.
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A. Sangma endorses Kyndiah's views.
"This is our internal problem. We are capable of solving it," he
asserts.
The politicians got wind
of the hearing when Swami Agnivesh publicised his refusal to accept the
USCIRF invitation. The Arya Samaj leader dubbed the US panel's activities
as "American invasiveness" into the domestic affairs of the country and
urged other invitees to boycott the hearing. His call spurred the
parliamentarians to urge the CBCI to isolate Dayal, with former Union minister
Margaret Alva warning that she would dissociate herself from the organisation
if it got involved with the US panel. "I am very clear about this.
I am a nationalist. We will hold morchas and dharnas within the country
but not collaborate with foreign countries" says Alva. She admits
that western countries have been taking keen interest in the attacks on
the community. "They invite us over for lunches and dinners and make
polite inquiries about the incidents," she says.
Clearly the politicians
are not comfortable with some Christian leaders widening the differences
between the two communities. "It is the fringe groups that create
problems for us. A majority of Hindus are secular," says Congress
MP Mabel Rebello. Her colleague in Samata Party Beatrix D'Souza denies
Christians are being persecuted. "Our churches are packed every Sunday."
She says.
The MPs acknowledge that
there is need to curb the influence of fundamentalists over the community
and the Church. According to the clergy, however, the politicians
are themselves to blame for allowing men like Dayal to head the Indian
Christians. "The MPs are reluctant to exclusively identify themselves
with the community. They do help but it is Dayal who sticks his neck
out for us," says a priest. Which means while politicians shun sectarianism,
minority communities could become susceptible to undesirable manipulation.
