For Immediate Release
Contact: Lalit Kaul
Phone: 508-341-6057
E-mail: hinduhumanrights@gmail.com
URL: http://protectreligions.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=1
*Click link for Photo*:
http://picasaweb.google.com/umeshkaul/2008AugIndiaDayParade?authkey=mnF5Gf3GYes
http://picasaweb.google.com/savetemples/NJIndependenceDayParade2008
Hindu Human Rights groups such as Protect
Religions Organization, Save Temples Organization and advocacy groups such
as Indo-American Kashmir Forum, participated in New Jersey India Day parade
highlighting the human rights violations of Hindus in India after 60 years
of independence. The human rights abuses covered the plight of half million
Kashmiri Hindus, global terrorism during last four years, large scale illegal
conversions of Hindus, government control and looting of Hindu temples and
pseudo-secularism. The participation consisted of banners, placards and dramatization.
Photos, Video and the press release are available at www.protectreligions.org.
One of the highlights of the event was the
dramatization of Islamic terrorist targeting a Kashmiri Hindu with a gun.
The presentation pointed to the plight of half million Kashmiri Hindus who
are living as refugees in their own country in sub-human conditions for the
last 18 years. It is pathetic state of things where multiple governments have
done nothing in addressing the situation and the media is completely silent
about their state. Unfortunately, the apathy of Indians, particularly Hindus,
to this situation is also contributing to the state of affairs. The whole
situation is a great shame on India and is a blot on our independence.
Terrorism in India, particularly during last
4 years where 3785 were lost is another form of Human Rights abuse faced by
Hindus in India. The primary targets of terrorists are Hindu Mandirs, Hindu
festival shop-goers (e.g, Delhi), Hindu Gujarathi businessmen (e.g, Mumbai
train blasts). It is shameful record where the number of lives lost is as
close to the number of deaths in Iraq. According to Indian Express article
dated Aug 2, 2008, "It is a spectacular four and half years of mayhem
when not one terrorist has been caught, not one major case solved. Even by
the modest standards that Shivraj Patil's home ministry may have set for itself,
this is a spectacularly disastrous record." The same article quotes,
"Ask senior police officers investigating - even Congress Chief Ministers
if they would dare to speak the truth - and they will tell you how they pulled
away in fright, under pressure from the Center for targeting and upsetting
Muslims (Voters) in their investigations. This proceeded neatly alongside
the utterly communalized discourse on the Afzal Guru hanging issue."
Life is precious no matter who lost their life. It is the duty of Government
to protect the lives of every Indian, no matter what religion they are. However,
vote bank politics is taking precedence over loss of lives, particularly Hindus
(and to smaller number the Muslims where two mosques were targeted during
last 4 years).
Religious conversion is another issue facing
Hindus (including Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists) in India. Mahatma Gandhi, the father
of India was so passionate and unequivocal against missionary religious conversions
and called it the deadliest poison that ever sapped the fountain of truth.
He scorned at use of social service as a pretext for conversions and called
it deception and denationalization. The banners sought to bring these messages
along with a message denouncing Reverend Pat Robertson who publicly declared
in 2001 at Dallas Pastor Conference that 100 million Hindus would be converted
to make up for losses in Europe. Projects such as Joshua Project are incessantly
targeting Hindus in India using millions of dollars with detailed information
of every tribe, sect in every single village in India. Today, in states like
Andhra Pradesh, churches are springing up in thousands of villages with the
tacit support of evangelical Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh along with that
of catholic Ms. Sonia Gandhi.
Government control and looting of Hindu temples
and Hindu devotee offerings is another form of abuse occurring in India that
was highlighted at the parade. In democratic India, only Hindu temples are
in control of Government where as Mosques, Churches, Gurudwaras were free
to manage their own worship places. Governments in India particularly in Southern
Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, large scale selling of temple lands for
political patronage, votes and offering for building churches, looting of
devotee offerings is continuing unabated. In one reported event, an acre of
temple land worth 1 Crore was sold away for about 4 lakh rupees to political
patronages. According to India Today magazine few years ago, out of 72 Crores
collected at Karnataka 207,000 temples, 6 Crores were given back to temples
for maintenance, 50 Crores for Haj trip to Muslims, 10 Crores to Churches,
6 Crores for secular activities. At the same time hundreds of temples in the
state are in dilapidated state.
Psuedosecularism is another problem affecting
Hindus in India. The same media that has covered about Godhra Muslim victims
numerous times have never found reason to highlight the plight of half million
Kashmiri Hindus who were brutally targeted. The sad state is even in Godhra
coverage, the same media would cover little about Hindu victims in the train
as well as in the riots (where one third of the riot victims were Hindus).
While Rama Janmabhoomi gets wide attention, every day temples are being destroyed
in Kashmir and other places but get little attention. Media's responsibility
is to highlight issues of all Indians, irrespective of their religion. Most
Indian English media is pseudo secular and anti-Hindu. This rally is to bring
awareness to media bias with the hope that Indian Americans demand objective
coverage or stop supporting biased media.
No country can be strong when its majority
population is weakened. When Gandhi emphasized the well being of minorities,
it is his desire to make sure all Indians have equal security and share of
progress in India. But Indian Politics combined with apathy of Hindus is causing
this pathetic situation where the majority lives are threatened every day,
their institutions destroyed and are divided for vote banks. Gandhi ji once
said, he does not desire a so called 'Free India' where white sahibs are replaced
by brown sahibs who follow the same policies. Unfortunately, that is what
is taking place in India, in spite of best efforts of Indians.
