*- Forwarded Message to Be, Calm & Cool List (BCC) -----* *From:* Eddie <gdig...@btinternet.com> *To:* renovacao.rene...@gmail.com *Cc:* descm...@gmail.com;goa...@goanet.org *Sent:* Sunday, 20 August 2017, 22:34
*Subject: On Dr Noronha's article in RENEWAL (Goa Church Bulletin)* *The Church did right*As guardian of justice and morals, the Church did right to remind its flock of their repressive government and to warn them to use their vote wisely. *Dr Noronha’s epistle was bold and tim* *ely. Warm congratulations.* The Archbishop should have given him unqualified support. (The church always demurs before dictators.) BJP, the ruling party since 2014, has ushered in their version of Hindu *Rashtra*, in which the the focus is on the interests of the upper castes and the corporate sector. The top officials are no philosopher-statesmen, more of feudal stock. So, expect bigotry and banalities, not empathy and compassion. No consultation or public debates have been scheduled with minorities (Muslims, Christians, Dalits and tribals) for their views and needs. The cow has been made supreme (pity the bull) and any Muslim caught harming it or eating beef could be lynched. Now for a bit of history: Governance is new to the Hindus; they have been powerless and isolated in their own land for some 1000 years [from about 1000 CE when Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Hindustan until Brexit in 1947] – which PM Modi called ‘1200 years of slavery’ in his first speech in Parliament in 2014. Hindus are acutely aware of their failure to challenge the invaders and drive them out. They are now reacting: – they want to gain respect via a taste of global power; hence the frantic buying spree for arms from the US and Israel at the cost of health & welfare for common people; - the ‘descendants’ of the invaders will be punished for oppressing and humiliating the Hindus. But the ones to be punished are the Muslims, not the British whom they respect for setting up the Indian State and all its institutions. The Indian Christians are also being targeted for conversions – not the European clerics who authorized the conversions. (Hindu elites always fear to confront Europeans.) *UK Indian groups protest against the BJP*On 16th August, several Indian organisations based in the UK expressed their “distress and concern” to President of India Kovind in a letter on 70th Independence Day, about the anti-minority violence by the BJP government. They wrote: *Your Excellency [President Kovind]* *We the undersigned are extremely distressed and concerned that during the**last three years, India has become a country where Hindu supremacist gangs**can lynch and rape freely and without any fear of punishment, where **children, women and men are brutally killed for what they eat, who they love **and simply for who they are.* *On this 70th anniversary of Independence, India has become a Republic of **Fear where justice, democracy and the basic right to life lie in tatters. PM **Modi made highly Islamophobic comments about retiring Vice-President Hamid **Ansari, after he dared to suggest that Muslims felt increasingly insecure in * *India.* *We demand that the BJP government put an end to the violence against **Muslims, Christians and Dalits and indict not only the perpetrators of these **horrific crimes but those, including senior politicians of the BJP, who have **instigated communal and anti-Dalit violence.* *--- --- ---* *--- --- ---* *In the last few days, nearly 70 young children died in UP in a government**hospital in Gorakhpur, which was Yogi Adityanath's own constituency. The Chief Minister did not apologise but has tried to justify the recent deaths, saying it is ‘normal’ for children to die in August He then ordered the police to organise Janamashtami celebrations on a ‘grand’ scale just when people are in mourning for the avoidable deaths of so many children.* *On the 70th anniversary of India's Independence, we will not remain silent**and allow the forces of the Hindu right to transform India into a Republic **of Fear.* *Yours sincerely* *South Asia Solidarity Group Castewatch UK * *SOAS India Society Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance* *Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations UK* *Voice of Dalit International (VODI)* [image: clip_image002] *Musings on Hindu Rashtra *Here are extracts from an illuminating essay by *Satya Sagar*, journalist & activist from Delhi: *http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/NewsDetail/index/2/11267/Musings-on-the-Eve-of-Hindu-Rashtra* Welcome, to the sights and sounds of Hindu Rashtra, that fantasy land of upper caste Hindus or savarnas masquerading as Indian ‘nationalists’, where they will rule unchallenged and forever. A frightening future, which they promise will be a recreation of Ram Rajya, a mythical time from ancient India, where the Lord Himself ensured everyone ‘knew their place’. For the first time in independent India, the votaries of Hindutva seem to have everything going their way. Electoral power across country, support from captains of industry, a servile media & bureaucracy, foot soldiers galore. Even many from the oppressed communities - prefer to collaborate to be on top of the bandwagon than under it. The construction of a temple to Shri Ram in Ayodhya will be done just in time for the next general elections in 2019 (after that there may be no more elections). And who knows, Prime Minister Narendra Modi may be officially anointed a new *avatar*of Lord Vishnu Himself (he certainly behaves like one already!). The question before Indian citizens today: how can a few caste groups from a small part of the country be allowed to wreck the modern Indian Republic that guarantees every citizen equal rights, justice and opportunities without exception. For the truly religious or spiritual among the Hindus themselves it is time to ask, are Indian history, culture and traditions the property of a few self-appointed ideologues and their disciples? Does it not represent a vast and rich body of knowledge and experiences with contributions from everyone who has ever lived on this land? Do they really want a narrow, Wahabi version of Hinduism thrust upon them, turning India into another Saudi Arabia or Pakistan? *In conclusion, many will agree with Dr Noronha that ‘the country is being ruled by one or two men, and the rest are mere henchmen* *and running dogs*.’ He was presumably referring to PM Modi and BJP boss Amit Shah. *Noronha advised people to vote for a person of character or risk being engulfed by nationwide fascism. Let’s be mindful of that advice.* --------------------------------- Eddie Sent from my Samsung device