STATEMENT

Condemn the Orissa Violence

By CENTRE FOR STUDY OF SOCIETY AND SECULARISM
& INSTITUTE OF PEACE STUDIES AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

2008 SEPTEMBER 3 | MUMBAI, INDIA

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism strongly condemns the orgy of violence perpetrated by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Sangh Parivar organizations in the Kandhmal District of Orissa, now spreading to neighbouring Jeypore in Koraput and other districts, targeting the Christians and converting them to Hinduism by force. The violence has incessantly continued from 23rd August till date i.e. for 10 days and is now even spreading to Madhya Pradesh. The number of affected persons is shocking to say the least. 300 villages were burnt, 4,014 houses were destroyed and 50,000 Christians are hiding in Forests fearing forcible conversion or having to face violent attacks, including the prospect of being killed. Even orphanages and other institutions run by Christians and serving the poorer and deprived sections were not spared. About 25 persons have been killed, including a Hindu girl burnt to death working for a Christian orphanage. Shamefully, a nun was gang raped, priests and women personnel have been humiliated, beaten, tortured, some nearly to death.

The State has utterly failed in protecting the vulnerable and innocent sections. The police were either absent or were acting as hapless just onlookers. Following the murder of Laxmanananda Saraswati, allegedly by Naxalites who have claimed the responsibility for killing Laxmananada, even a naïve layman could have predicted that there would be retaliatory attacks against Christians as Laxmanananda had earlier abetted several attacks against Christians in Kandhmal district. Anybody could have predicted that the footloose and armed followers of Laxmananada would deem attack on Christians as the best homage for the abettor of criminal violence against the Christians in the past. The police did not take any effective action to protect the minorities. No action was taken against the culprits during the Christmas of 2007 as the lawless Sangh Parivar enjoyed impunity due to the fact that BJP is a coalition partner in the Orissa Government. The Orissa Government even failed and neglected to set up proper relief and rehabilitation measures for the victims of the attack then. This only encouraged the footloose criminal elements of Sangh Parivar to continue to unleash terror for over ten long days amongst the Christians from SC and ST background starting 23rd August 2008. The utter failure of police is apparent when the Union Minister of state for Home Affairs was persuaded not to visit the affected areas.

The Central government has also been twiddling its thumb while the orgy is being played out and there is total break down of constitutional machinery and governance cannot be carried on in Orissa as per the law of the land. The Central Government has failed its election promise of enacting a law to prevent and control communal disturbances. The Central Govt. Has also failed to call the meeting of National Integration Council to discuss and take effective measures against the growing communal forces in the country, including in Jammu. The Central Government has abjectly surrendered to the Communal forces.

The CSSS therefore demands that:

1. Immediate action be taken against all those who have participated, conspired, aided or abetted in the anti-Christian orgy in Orissa, including the guilty leaders from Sangh Parivar, however highly placed they may be. The entire investigation should be handed over to the CBI and the guilty punished through fast track special courts. Even those police officials who failed and neglected their duties to protect should be brought to justice.
2. The Victims of violence should be adequately compensated on the lines of victims of anti-Sikh violence in Delhi in 1984. Immediate attention should be paid for their relief and rehabilitation. Conducive conditions should be created for the victims to return to their homes and should be paid reparations according to the international standards. The Churches and institutions demolished should be rebuilt with the help of the state.
3. Navin Patnaik Government does not have any moral right to continue in governance and should resign.

Reference:

Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer

Chairman

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism

Irfan Engineer

Director

Institute of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

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