Why Christmas was peaceful in Orissa, India?

nalysis: Why Christmas was peaceful in Orissa, India? Monday, 29th December 2008. 8:35am By: Vishal Arora. New Delhi: Christians and rights groups across the world feared re-eruption of violence around Christmas in the east Indian state of Orissa, which witnessed a macabre spate of attacks on Christians in August and September in 2008. But thanks to changing political atmosphere in the country, the festival season passed off largely peaceful in the region. The ebb and flow of the targeting of the Christian minority in India in the last 10 years can put in context both the wave of anti-Christian violence in Orissa’s Kandhamal district in August 2008 and the absence of more attacks in December 2008 despite a call for a state-wide shutdown by Hindu extremist groups on Christmas Day. The decade of organised Christian persecution, which began in 1998 and climaxed in 2008, can be divided into four episodes, the ongoing being a period of restraint. I. The Genesis and Rise of Christian Persecution (mid-1998 to mid-2004): Until 1998, Hindu nationalist groups targeted only the Muslim community, which accounts for around 14 per cent of India’s population, which is more than one billion. But due to two developments, the targeting of Christians began in 1998. The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came into power at the federal level for the first time in 1998 – though through a coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BJP, but its admission, was started under the leadership of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the RSS, India’s chief Hindu nationalist organization that acts as an umbrella for a plethora of smaller groups. The BJP original agenda is to make India a Hindu nation; not a theocracy like in Saudi Arabia, but a national state in the European sense of the word. The party wants to create a nation that will be recognized as a land belonging to the Hindus, who account for more than 80 per cent of the population, and where Christians (who comprise 2.3 per cent of the population) and Muslims will be seen as outsiders and in subordination to the majority community. It will also be a nation where minorities will not be allowed to preach their religion and religious conversions will be banned. In March 1998, Sonia Gandhi, the wife of late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, became the president of the Indian National Congress, India’s grand old party and the biggest threat to the BJP’s rule at the time. Given that Mrs Gandhi is an Italian-born Roman Catholic, the BJP launched a campaign, including violent attacks, against Christians to provoke her to defend the minority community, whereby she could be branded as a minority leader as opposed to BJP’s leadership to the majority community. By launching attacks, the BJP also hoped to suggest that Christians were using money and force to convert Hindus under the protection provided by Mrs Gandhi. Following the two developments, the Independent India witnessed its first large-scale, indiscriminate attack on Christians in the Dangs district of the western state of Gujarat in December 1998. The violence led to a mass destruction of property belonging to local Christians and Christian organizations in Dangs, a tribal (aboriginal people) majority district (with 93% tribal population). The violence began after an alleged attack on a Hindu nationalist rally -— an allegation that had no evidence. In January 1999, an Australian missionary, Graham Staines, and his two underage sons were burned alive in the western state of Orissa’s Keonjhar district, another tribal district. In March 2004, India’s second massive spate of anti-Christian attacks took place in the Jhabua district of the central state of Madhya Pradesh. The violence erupted after a nine-year-old Hindu girl was found murdered in a Christian school — a Hindu man was later arrested for the murder. Over 85 per cent of the people in Jhabua are tribal. From 2000 to 2004, around 200 anti-Christian attacks were reported each year from various parts of the nations, but mainly from the states situated in the tribal belt of central India (including some eastern and western states), where 75 per cent of India’s tribal population lives. II. The Period of Sustenance (mid-2004 to 2006-end): In the general elections of 2004 –after the NDA federal government completed its five-year term, the BJP-led coalition lost to the Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA). The RSS blamed the BJP’s defeat on the party’s reluctance to whole-heartedly implement its Hindu nationalist agenda (Most political analysts, however, said it was a vote against the BJP’s non-inclusive economic policies, and that people’s interest in emotive, identity-based issues was gradually fading away.). However, Christians continued to face attacks, as the BJP was a ruling party in various states (India is a federation, and law and order is a state subject). According to the Christian Legal Association (of India), at least 165 anti-Christian attacks were reported in 2005, and over 130 in 2006. more

Christmas peaceful in Kandhamal: Hindus join the celebrations

Christmas mass passes off peacefully in Kandhamal Bhubaneswar (IANS): Midnight Christmas mass was attended by thousands of Christians amid tight security across Orissa, including Kandhamal district that had witnessed widespread anti-Christian violence earlier this year. In many places Hindus joined Christians in the celebrations, officials said Thursday. "We have not received information of any trouble. It seems to be all peaceful," the Archbishop of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar Raphael Cheenath told IANS. "We held the Christmas mass with prayer and singing," Cheenath said, adding that he is satisfied with the security arrangements made by the government. "We are confident the Christmas celebrations will also pass off peacefully in the state," Cheenath said. Midnight mass was held peacefully in Kandhamal amid heavy security cover. Officials said except for the felling of two trees on the road in two places early Thursday no untoward incident was reported. The trees were promptly removed by security forces. "There has been no problem so far," Kandhamal district collector Krishan Kumar told IANS by phone. About 8,000 people still living in government-run relief camps in the district also attended the Christmas mass and decorated their camps, officials said. more

Beat gong and blow conch on Christmas in Orissa: Sangh outfit

Bhubaneswar , Dec 20 A Sangh Parivar outfit today called people of Orissa to"blow conch and beat gongs on Christmas"after calling off the proposed state-wide bandh. " People have been asked to beat gongs and blow conch shells from 5.30 pm-540 pm on 25th December to protest the state government&aposs failure to arrest the culprits who killed VHP leader Laxmanananda Saraswati,"president, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Sradhanjali Samiti, Ratnakar Chaini said. " This will ring as a warning bell for the government,"he said, adding the bandh was called off following a request of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Patnaik reportedly said to them that given the complexity of the case, arresting the culprits require some more time. He, however, said the outfit had kept its option open to go for a democratic peaceful agitation depending on the situation. soure ....................... Fears of new anti-Christian violence in Orissa Saturday, 20th December 2008. 12:41pm By: Judy West in Religious Intelligence Dr Joseph D’souza, AICC President, said: “The climate of intimidation and fear among Christians continues in Orissa. Although we hope the state and central authorities act to protect thousands of innocent victims and prevent future mob violence, we’re deeply worried. We are appealing for preventative action through all legal avenues.” As we reported yesterday, the subject was raised in the British House of Lords. Earlier, on Dec. 10, 2008, the United States Congressional Task Force on International Religious Freedom held a briefing titled, "The Threat Religious Extremism Poses to Democracy and Security in India: Focus on Orissa." Witnesses included Vishal Arora, an independent Indian journalist who contributes to this site; Dr Angana Chatterji, Associate Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology at California Institute of Integral Studies; Angela Wu, International Director at The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty; Sophie Richardson, Advocacy Director for Human Rights Watch's Asia Division; and Joannella Morales with the State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom. The AICC briefed two of the panelists during their recent visits to India. Dr D’souza said: “We are hopeful that our great democracy can resolve these issues by itself, but at the same time we welcome the interest of nations friendly to India and citizens of goodwill from across the world who believe in human rights and religious freedom more

Sangh Parivar calls off Orissa bandh

BHUBANESWAR: The Sangh Parivar on Friday called off its proposed Orissa bandh on December 25, the Christmas Day. The bandh was called off after a delegation comprising leaders from both the Sangh Parivar and Bharatiya Janata Party met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence in the evening. The Christian community had expressed apprehension that a Statewide bandh on the Christmas Day would create communal tension in riot-hit Kandhamal district and other areas. CM’s assurance The members of the delegation that met Mr. Patnaik include president of Lakshmanananda Saraswati Shrandhanjali Samiti Ratnakar Chaini, Laxmikant Dash of the Vanvasi Kalyan Samiti, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Chandan Mitra, BJP MP from the State Dharmendra Pradhan, and BJP Orissa unit president Suresh Pujari. According to Mr. Pradhan, the Samiti decided to call off the proposed bandh after Mr. Patnaik assured the delegation that the government would take all possible steps to ensure arrest of all those who were involved in the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Lakshmanananda Saraswati. more

EU team meets Orissa home secretary on Kandhamal

14 Dec 2008, 0050 hrs IST, TNN

BHUBANESWAR: In an apparent follow-up to French President Nicolas Sarkozy eliciting a "national shame'' response in October from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the Kandhamal violence, a five-member delegation from theEuropean Union has asked the Orissa government to ensure a peaceful Christmas in the riot-ridden region.  This came even as the Centre advised the ruling BJD-BJP coalition to remain alert considering the saffron brigade's announcement to organize a statewide bandh on December 25.  The diplomats met home secretary Aditya Padhi and DGP Manmohan Praharaj on Friday and expressed their concern and fears over possible re-escalation of tension between communities during Nativity. "The delegation had taken prior clearance from the ministry of external affairs to visit Bhubaneswar and Berhampur,'' an official said.  The visitors comprised deputy head of mission (embassy of Ireland) Pat Bourne, second secretary (embassy of the Netherlands) Bart Paans, second secretary (British high commission) Ruth Willis, deputy head of mission (embassy of Finland) Lissa Valjento and first secretary (embassy of Italy) Gabriele Annis.  "The delegation laid stress on the prevention of forcible reconversion activities, people returning to their villages, restoration of peace and normalcy in Kandhamal and smooth celebration of Christmas,'' a senior official said. "The government representatives highlighted the steps they have taken so far and assured that they would do all to ensure peace in the trouble-torn district,'' he added.  The home secretary told TOI: "The state government is committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring harmonious coexistence of all communities.'' The visit of the envoys coincided with a letter from Union home secretary to the state chief secretary, advising the latter to take adequate measures to prevent recurrence of any untoward incident in Kandhamal during Christmas.  more

Christmas at UTC with Widows Of Orissa Violence

INDIA  Widows Of Orissa Violence Brought Across Country For Christmas Celebration

December 11, 2008  |  IB06299.1527  |  609 words     Text size  

BANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- A Christian group here organized an advance Christmas celebration for some women widowed during anti-Christian violence in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.

Asmitha Digal is among 24 widows who lost husbands in the anti-Christian Orissa violence in India, taking part in Christmas celebration in Bangalore on Dec. 8.

"We have lost our husbands to a hate campaign, yet we believe that only love and forgiveness can bring peace in society," asserted Kadamphul Nayak, widow of Pastor Samuel Nayak.

She was among 24 widows and two children who traveled 1,400 kilometers from Orissa to the southern Indian city of Bangalore to attend the Dec. 8 celebration. The ecumenical Global Council of Indian Christians, which is based in the city and organized the event, is involved in rehabilitation work for the Orissa victims.

About 150 people from various Churches joined the celebrations held at Protestant-run United Theological College in Bangalore, 2,060 kilometers south of New Delhi. They sang together hymns of praise and joy.

The Churches and their institutions gave the guests pots and other household items, clothes and sweets. They also shared a Christmas cake, and sang Christmas carols. Some of the Orissa visitors performed a tribal dance depicting the birth of Jesus.

Retired Methodist Bishop Sampath Kumar told UCA News the faith of the simple women amazed him and made the event the most meaningful celebration in his life. "We celebrate Christmas in our fullness, but they celebrated it in an utter hopeless situation," he remarked.  more