U.N. envoy to India affirms 'religious violence on rise'

United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief Asma Jahangir has said that religious intolerance has risen in India and the divisions based on religion must be halted now.

Jahangir and her Geneva–based assistant, Mr. Michael Wiener, visited eight states and numerous cities in India since arriving on March 2, 2008. The last visit to India by a UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief was in 1996.

Jahangir who consulted heavily with the All India Christian Council (AICC) said she was gravely depressed by the persecution on minorities specially the Christians and Muslims in Gujarat and Orissa.

Citing the recent anti–Christian violence in Orissa where more than 100 churches were burnt and the Gujarat's 2002 riots that killed 2500 people she said, "All these incidents continue to haunt the people affected by them and impunity emboldens forces of intolerance."

"Today there is a real risk that similar communal violence might happen again unless incitement to religious hatred and political exploitation of communal tensions are effectively prevented,” said Jahangir, who is a Pakistani rights activist.

Jahangir severely castigated the slowness of government inquiries in previous religious clashes and blamed the law enforcement authorities for being reluctant to act against perpetuators of religious violence.

Furthermore, about the attacks against the Christian minority in Orissa last year, she said, there were credible reports about members of the Christian community having alerted the authorities in advance.

Dr. Joseph D’souza, AICC President, said, “We are proud of India. It remains the world’s largest democracy and the only officially secular country among the eight member countries of SAARC."

He continued: "However, there are dark clouds on the horizon because violence against Christians and other minorities is on the rise. Authorities must arrest perpetrators and protect the innocent. Tragically, often perpetrators are protected and the innocent arrested.”

“The right to embrace any religion and seek the Divine is the most basic of human rights. It must not be hindered. But some radical elements, especially within hardline Hindu nationalist groups, are attacking minorities with impunity. Their spokespeople say that conversions must be stopped at any cost,” said John Dayal, AICC Secretary–General.

“For example, during the attacks over this past Christmas in the eastern state of Orissa, about 100 churches and 700 Christian homes were burned. At least four Christians were killed and many injured and abused. Yet the state government banned charitable and religious institutions from giving direct aid to victims and the aggressors still roam freely today.”

Thanking the Indian government for graciously hosting the UN Special Rapporteur, Dr Sam Paul, AICC National Secretary of Public Affairs urged the government to heed to the advice and recommendations of the U.N. officials and to protect the religious freedom of all citizens.

Meanwhile, the U.N. officials last week submitted a memorandum on the violation of human rights minorities in the country.

The memorandum talks about the violation of human rights, civil rights and democratic rights of minorities including Muslims, Christians and tribals under the Narendra Modi–led BJP regime.

Not only Muslims, Christians and tribals are also being targeted by the establishment. They are scared of the BJP government, says the memorandum.

The BJP has often been accused of participation in religious violence and using religiously sensitive issues for political advantage.

According to the group, Bharat(India) is a Hindu nation and this definition cannot include Muslims or Christians.