10: 35pm
Over the course of six weeks, Hindu supremacists whose bearings can be traced back to theVishwad Hindu Parishad (VHP-The World Hindu Counsel) and its “youth wing,” Barjang Dal (BD), have continued to impress violent hardships on the “impoverished,” Christians of Orissa. Why there has been no form of intervention from the state or national government is still unknown. As of yesterday, 50 Christians have been killed and 5,000 homes have been upended by traveling mobs of VHP and BD members whose repertoire of weaponry consists of tridents, iron rods, bows, homemade bombs, and kerosene. Among the dead are a priest and a nun who were burned alive.
The violence has been centered in poverty stricken areas such as Kandamahal and Phoolbani which both happen to be predominantly Christian, tribal areas. Over 13,000 have sought out shelter in refugee camps. They are considered to be fortunate compared to those 50,000 who have fled to the forests and hills to escape persecution. The only means of return comes in the form of conversion; the conversion that is to the Hindu faith.
Additional paramilitary forces were sent at the request of Orissa’s Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, who has been linked to have close ties with the Hindu communalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Patnaik’s tactics are now being questioned as to whether his requesting of troops was a “substitute,” for ordering the demise of the communal attacks or for exposing the “complicity of local police officers, who are reported to have allowed many of the attacks to proceed unimpeded.” These issues are now beginning to draw outside attention and cries for such necessities as a President are beginning to emerge.
In my opinion, tensions are only going to grow and India will continue to be a divided nation as a result of religious indifferences. Why there has been no intervention is still inconspicuous to me. Since it is beginning to attract outside attention, hopefully there will be some acute intervention although religious tensions will more than likely persist. There is a definite need for reformation within India system of government and the actions that have been taking thus far should increase Indian citizen’s speculations of power and control the government actually has.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/oct2008/indi-o07.shtml
1 comment:
That is horrifying!
I definately think that India needs to change their government to help protect relligions. From what I read the government is really corrupt. In one area of India their was a riot against a muslim community by Hindu nationalists and the authorities let it happen.
I am going to India next semester and will be interested to observe the religious interactions. India is the most religiously diverse country on earth and has a history of conflicts between some religions, especially Hindu and Muslim.
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