I was involved with the Kandhamal issue directly and I have experienced a lot of tears from the Adivasi Christians and Dalit Christians in Kandhamal soon after the Kandhamal genocide in 2008. It was a sheer experience of a feeling of helplessness deep within. But soon, with the initiative of like-minded friends, the platform called National Solidarity Forum was organised which became a voice for the Kandhamal victims and survivors at a local, national and to a certain extent also at an international level. During this process, we also made a full length documentary film called Voices from the Ruins which is a documentation of the experiences of the Christians in Kandhamal. The root of the issue in Kandhamal is in the Anti-Conversion Law which was passed in Orissa in 1967 and this law provided a justification for the Hindutva forces to attack the Christians in the name of conversion. The film was released by the former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan in Kerala. While we could move the secular sections to a certain extent, I was also pleasantly surprised by the support from the Muslim sections, especially the Muslim youth in Kerala. That provided a lot of hope for those who stand together against the politics of hate irrespective of their own involvements of faith or no faith. However, there is a need to widen this sector. The present debate on Anti-Conversion Laws is too significant to maintain communal harmony as well as the need to protect the Indian Constitution. The Anti-Conversion Laws affect Christians, Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis and Women in this country. The national campaign for the Repeal of Anti-Conversion Laws initiated by the National Solidarity Forum has to be seen from this perspective. Many well known personalities in India endorsed this petition as initial signatories. Around 30,000 people have already signed the petition. But many more will have to sign. I request you to endorse your support on this petition and send it your friends, families and networks. The link is: https://chng.it/gBYcGCPZyV <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchng.it%2FgBYcGCPZyV%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2gcgL1GotGpcdopGrQNEC7-RYIPrRMuUJCZWixCqRC_nnFeArD4o4YMDI&h=AT2Ix290E6TbgIwC5eHav5tqehTsXe6sDjmcU5nQdElpV89t89hRkSMCiXECvL5oD3f5y5JBpYVjH0aoTRHOOx0VFPOwIIIdl5kzQ-IZLGTraQc1s9Sae4t61gTC7Ndwo4V6&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT2LToHXGL2VWuVshImqAbQ2nJWKiOhi63NMCXENt32FB8aGKeJlA3fgDDF6Ulne9XT8JmKBJVvhAIHiycuSnuMI2oBEQoZO-sA4NID2yB7Jt__TjOLJOmt9PIgr2KtdWuDuuH3cvDFwmMZRPGxIGnAf> . The issue of persecution of Christians is not well noticed, despite the fact that there are enough documents to prove that the persecution of Christians has increased during the last 7 years during the present BJP Governance in a major way. I would also request you to watch the film Voices from the Ruins. The issue of conversion is also dealt in this film and those who have already watched the film may share it to others. The film brings out the terrorist side of the Hindutva forces to undertake forceful conversion from Christianity to Hinduism. Though the Indian Constitution clearly articulates against the use of force, none of the culprits who indulged in such terrorism were punished. If you feel that this film needs to be watched by more people, under the present context of debates on conversion issue, please take the liberty to circulate it among your friends. The link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9T5fmc05to <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9T5fmc05to&fbclid=IwAR23NcEha0lc9dm344lDw93kKq1Zd-EV8uXtMkzRvkcd_YLUpFAc2j0wbZc> In Solidarity, K.P. Sasi
On Sat, Feb 12, 2022 at 7:44 AM KP Sasi <[email protected]> wrote: > Support, Share and Circulate! > > > https://countercurrents.org/2022/02/thousands-join-the-campaign-against-anti-conversion-laws-in-india/ > Thousands Join The Campaign Against Anti-Conversion Laws In India > <https://countercurrents.org/2022/02/thousands-join-the-campaign-against-anti-conversion-laws-in-india/> > > Many prominent citizens in India demanded for a Repeal of All > Anti-Conversion Laws in India, in the context of the Anti-Conversion Bill > scheduled to be tabled in Karnataka Upper House on February 14, 2022. The > initial signatories for the Petition to the President of India included > nationally well known citizens like Admiral L Ramdas ( Former Chief of > Naval Staff of the Indian Navy), Mallika Sarabhai (Accomplished dancer & > choreographer), Medha Patkar (NAPM), Anand Patwardhan (Film Maker), Mani > Shankar Aiyar (Former Minister), Prof. Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd (Writer, > Academician), Rev. Peter Machado (Archbishop of Bangalore), Margaret Alva, > Former Governor of Goa, Gujarat and Uttarakhand), Teesta Setalvad > (Advocate, Civil Rights Activist), K. Satchidanandan (Writer, Poet, Former > Secretary of Sahitya Akademi), Annie Raja (National Federation of Indian > Women), Prof. Ram Puniyani, Harsh Mander (Author, Social Activist), Kavita > Krishnan (AIPWA), Dr. John Dayal (Senior Journalist, Human Rights > Activist), Sandeep Pandy (General Secretary, Socialist Party of India), > Tehmina Arora (Human Rights Activist), Brinelle D’Souza (Centre for Health > and Mental Health, TISS), Susmit Bose (Musician), Irfan Engineer (Centre > for Study of Society and Secularism), Vidya Dinkar (Human Rights Activist) > and others. > > While articulating that that a new Anti-Conversion Law is not necessary > since the Indian Constitution has enough provisions for the same, > the signatories also stated: `Wherever the Anti-Conversion law, ironically > officially called Freedom of Religion Act, was passed, it became a > justification for the persecution of the minorities and other marginalized > identities. The attacks on the minorities grew sharply in recent > years since this law was used as a weapon targeting the dignity of > Christians and Muslims particularly belonging to Adivais, Dalits and > women.’ The petition called for joining hands to defend the values > enshrined in the Indian Constitution and protection of human rights of the > minorities and other marginalized sections in India. The petition was > initiated by the National Solidarity Forum, a network of groups and > individuals who started acting in response to the Kandhamal Genocide on the > Adivasi Christians and Dalit Christians in 2007-2008. > > In India, from the last few years there have been scattered and > sporadic sub-radar attacks on Christian communities. Pretext made is that > Christian Missionaries are converting by force, > fraud, coersion or allurement. Population census shows a small decline in > the percentage of Christians from 2.6 percent in 1971 to 2.3 percent in > 2011. These Anti- Conversion Laws, generally called freedom of religion > laws, are attempts to intimidate the Christian Community and the planned > law in Karnataka is on the same lines,’ said Prof. Ram Punyani, the > Convenor, National Solidarity Forum (NSF). > > Ajay Kumar Singh, a Co-Convenor of NSF stated: `A Dalit converted to > Christianity or Islam loses the reservation and protection from the State. > The Dalit does not lose any reservation and protection if he or she > converts to Sikhism, Jainism or Buddhism. It is a reality that the > discriminatory dalit identity does not change no matter which religion one > belongs to. . There are stringent penal for restricting the dalit and > adivasi to convert to Christianity or Islam. This law itself acts as an > inducement to remain in Hinduism and violates the individual’s right to > choose one’s own religion. It treats them as objects, who cannot decide for > themselves.’ > > `The law disrespects women, and places restrictions for a woman to choose > her partner. It is conceived with a notion that women in India are not in a > position to think on their own and act on their own. This law is highly > patriarchal. It is not acceptable,’ said Vidya Dinkar, human rights > activist and a core team member of NSF. > > Dr. John Dayal, senior journalist, human rights activist and a founder > member of the National Solidarity Forum stated: `The Anti-Conversion Laws > are not just affecting the Christians alone, they are meant for further > persecution on the Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis and women also in this > country. They violate the basic tenets of the Indian Constitution and > India’s secular heritage.’ > > `This law discriminates against certain religions. It is a violation of > the principle enshrined in the Indian Constitution that all religions are > equal. It is meant to strengthen religious conflicts and majoritarian > nationalism in India. Moreover, its infantalizes the poor and gives the > State power over matters that are deeply personal.’ Said Brinelle D’Souza, > Centre for Health and Mental Health, School of Social Work, Tata Institute > of Social Sciences > > Thousands of people have already responded to the petition immediately by > endorsing it and thousands of endorsements are pouring in. The petition is > available on https://chng.it/gBYcGCPZyV > <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchng.it%2FgBYcGCPZyV%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1Sa_LOlrs9PvZtBUKDOS5Xec1sjKRWXVHjHjepM3oWEP9auQr7FpFgK40&h=AT0DZcShAHgmLOLmRabYmPcVCPMzNRTzJrWKg3uKPpXNNDTjUnneXnLQbgHw5fQNA3q1WQ0NcRgaDpRsUJsLUSTYHJ9D_nEfBLRQHYb8aMHpNfj-T2UWHxNP0BuekIobOrWB&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5B0%5D=AT30ki5zqKgqGDFGZKOxWTfi2FIrTmXTAcIKKBYR-YNm841kEoMQuk2ZYkte7tUTSaJlzlCiujRND3qm-ak2mfFEpc7dAyx7ePxP-MKDmRRIm6qrzz7WGekIfvxgSQ79EzEGSCqXsT9QG3MRySnOupzZ> > > Supporting the petition, Margaret Alva, the former Governor of Goa, > Gujarat and Uttarakhand, appealed: `the National Solidarity Forum is trying > to collect signatures of people from all religions and backgrounds to > dissuade the Government from passing this Bill. I request you to sign this > appeal to withdraw the anti-Christian bill and such laws in other states of > the country.’ > > Many political parties like Congress, Janata Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Welfare > Party, Socialist Party (India) and other political organisations have > already come forward strongly against the Anti-Conversion Bill and the need > to protect the Indian Constitution and the secular tradition in India. > > Dr. Ram Puniyani, Convenor, National Solidarity Forum > > K.P Sasi, Co-Convener, National Solidarity Forum > > Email: [email protected] > __________ Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC. 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