Navhind Times, 7 Sep 2008 --- Goans seek action against Orissa violence perpetrators NT NETWORK
PANAJI: The Solidarity Meeting organised by the Council for Social Justice and Peace at Institute Menezes Braganza Art Gallery, Panaji on Saturday evening demanded a comprehensive probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader, Laxmanananda Saraswati. The council also demanded action against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its organs, especially the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and the Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram which have been allegedly spearheading the violence in Orissa against the Christian minority. The statement also insisted that the President, Ms Pratibha Patil should use her powers and gets the Union government to invoke Article 355 and if that fails to halt the violence, impose President's Rule under Article 356. The council also wants action against the officials involved in dereliction of duties during the violence and the setting up of fast track criminal court to try those found guilty at all levels during the violence. It wanted an investigation into all aspects of the anti-Christian violence, both in December 2007 and now in August-September. The general line of all the speakers throughout the meeting was that such riots keep on happening as the perpetrators are not punished and get away scot-free, thus emboldening them as well as the inaction of the governments whenever such incidents take place with even example being given of our state where it was alleged that the government has still not done anything to bring the perpetrators of the Sanvordem riots to justice. 'A great mass of Hindus have nothing to do with this and are horrified with what is happening in Orissa just as they were about what happened inn Gujarat,' Mr Vidyadhar Gadgil of the Citizens Initiative for Communal Harmony said and explained that what was happening was political mobilisation. 'This happened just before the elections in Gujarat and now as elections are due in Orissa it is happening there,' he argued and alleged that these incidents were not spontaneous but ground was prepared for it. He said that he would not like to absolve any political force as they either connive or stand aside while it happens and charged that the inaction of the state was a 'commonality in these situations.' He said that the intention of the brutality committed was to terrorise the minority community as well as the members of the majority community who do not subscribe to this violence. He felt that people get off scot-free at the behest of the political forces irrespective of the parties in power at that time. Mr Pravin Sabnis, architect and social activist said that majority and minority are nothing to do with the powers and privileges enjoyed but minorities can be of race, ethnic origin, language and script. He argued that it was not enough to have laws but important that laws have to be implemented. He said that because governance did not happen then, Orissa continued to burn with sectarian violence. Mr Asif Hussein from Vasco said that he had come here to show solidarity with the victims of communal violence in Orissa. 'It is the utter failure of the administration that even after 12 days they have not been able to contain what is happening in Orissa,' he said adding, 'It is very sad.' 'Action has to be taken against the perpetrators of the violence in Orissa and we have to be united in this irrespective of religion, caste and creed. India is a great country and people are great. It is a small majority that is creating the problem,' was the view of the moderator of the meet held in solidarity with the killing of Christians in Orissa, the ex-speaker and noted tiatrist, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo. He also criticised the silence of the government in this regard, informing that he himself had spoken to certain MLAs about the issue requesting them to condemn the same. Mr Avertanus D' Souza, ex-director of Caritas as well as the ex-director, Voluntary Health Association of India, criticised the intolerance of anti-socials and said that this was not the Hindu religion. --- TOI, 7 Sep 2008 Multi-faith meet calls for President's Rule in Orissa TIMES NEWS NETWORK Panaji: A multi-faith solidarity meeting on Saturday protested the violence in Orissa and demanded that the President of India invoke Article 355 of the Constitution to protect Orissa from internal aggression and if that fails to curb the violence, to invoke President's Rule in Orissa. Goa's Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, who attended the multi-faith meeting organised by the church body, Council for Social Justice and Peace, did not address the gathering. The four main speakers of different faiths condemned the violence in Orissa and expressed solidarity with the victims. The statement supported the demands of the All India Christian Council. These include bringing a halt to the violence through disciplined police action; investigating all aspects of the anti-Christian violence, both in December 2007 and now in August-September 2008; taking stringent action under the Indian penal Code against the RSS and its organs, specially the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and the Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram which have been spearheading the violence. Other demands include conducting a comprehensive CBI investigation into the murder of VHP leader Laxmanand Saraswati, holding officers accountable for dereliction of duty during the violence, ensuring fair compensation to the kin of the dead and to the Church to rebuild and restore their religious, educational and humanitarian institutions and set up fast track criminal courts to try those found guilty during all phases of the violence. Recalling the August 23 murder of Swami Laxmanand along with his followers probably by Maoists, the statement said that the RSS soon blamed Christians and unleashed violence against them. The statement read, "This has become a pattern. Every time the Sangh Parivar wishes to go after some community, they create facts on the ground which then become the pretext to humiliate and oppress minority populations with the tacit approval of the state apparatus." The statement urged Goans who care about genuine harmony to rise up to oppose these trends in our own backyard not by getting into dialogue with the communalists, but by opposing their propaganda of hate and division through actions that include spreading notions of justice in social relations. The statement read, "Today, we must contend with the sad fact that Hindutva has taken root on our soil and the results have been disastrous also to the Muslims of our state. This is also a time when we as Goans must unite forces in our communities that are committed to secularism and the ideals of pluralism to strive harder to combat the forces of fundamentalism here in our own state." Drawing parallels between the religious intolerance in Orissa and Gujarat and the communal incidents in Sanvordem and Margao, speakers suggested the formation of peace communities in the state. Four of the main speakers at Saturday's solidarity meeting included Averthanus D'- Souza, who spoke on "Facts and analysis about the anti-Christian Pogrom in Orissa," Pravin Sabnis, who spoke about "Minority Rights are Human Rights - The failure of governance and the assault on democracy," Asif Hussein who spoke on "Taking the risks for Peace - Confronting the malignancy of communalism in India today" and Vidyadhar Gadgil who spoke on "From Gujarat to Orissa - A pattern is emerging." Highlighting the difference between Hinduism and Hindutva, Averthanus D'Souza said that while Hinduism is a respected and venerated religion, Hindutva is a political ideology that seeks to divide. He said Hinduism is a tolerant religion which is evident from the teaching of Lord Krishna who said, "Whatever path men come to me, I accept them through that very path." Other speakers suggested forums for inter-religious dialogue in Goa, peace committees which could be co-ordinated by churches, temples, masjids and village panchayats. Some Muslim youth suggested a regular dialogue with them to understand their community better. Pravin Sabnis said, "Never mind our differences, we need to learn to live with each other. I hope a rainbow will be formed through our unity because we will follow our laws, the government will enforce the laws and human rights will not be violated." Asif Hussein said that communalist elements have entrenched themselves in administration departments due to which innocent youth languish in jails. Vidyadhar Gadgil said citizens must unite to convince legislators that they have the powers to enforce the laws of the land. ---- Herald, 7 Sep 2008 Meet moots formation of inter-faith youth group HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 6 — A meeting held on Saturday at the Menezes Braganza Hall, here, to condemn the violence against Christians in Orissa suggested formation of peace committees, a state minority commission, forum for inter-religious dialogue and inter-faith youth group in Goa. The meeting opined that the formation of these bodies would bring about a better understanding among different faiths. It was organised by Council for Social Justice and Peace and attended by Archbishop Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao. Averthanus D'Souza, who was one of the speakers, sought to bring to the fore the difference between 'Hindutva' and Hinduism, which he said was a respected religion whereas the former was a fascist political ideology. "We are not against Hinduism, but Hindutva because it is a political ideology created to incite tension among people." The second speaker, architect and social activist Praveen Sabnis, mentioned that the type of reaction against Christians in Orissa was strange and well planned. He held the governance responsible for the deteriorating situation there. The activist also raised the Curchorem and Margao riots and the recent Porvorim incident in his speech. Vasco businessman Asif Hussain also chided the administration for its utter failure to stop the atrocities against minorities for 12 days in Orissa. Journalist Vidyadhar Gadgil asserted that there is a pattern that can be seen in the violence against minorities in Gujarat and Orissa and in other incidents as well. Such violence is usually meant to polarise communities along communal lines for political purposes, he stated. Tomazinho Cardozo, who moderated the progranmme, lamented that only one MLA had publicly condemned the violence and no one else had raised the issue. Among the prominent citizens who made suggestions was President of Goa Suraj Party Dr N S Dumo. He suggested a forum for inter-religious dialogue in Panjim as an example. Advocate Albertina Almeida, co-convenor Forum for Communal Harmony putting forth her views said it would be hypocritical not to raise the incidence of communal incidences in Goa. She said there was a need to reflect on these incidents too. Panjim resident Rui Fereira suggested setting up of State Minority Commission. CSJP will be organising a larger meeting on September 16 at the Azad Maidan in solidarity with the victims of the Orissa violence.
