[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 149 (Thursday, October 30, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2146-E2147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INDIAN POLICE FIRE AT CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 30, 1997

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, India may dress like a democracy for 
Halloween, but it is only a costume. That was proven again last week 
when a Christian religious festival in Ludhiana was shut down by police 
gunfire.
  According to the Tribune of Chandigarh, 19 police and 9 Christians 
were injured in the incident. Two vehicles were also damaged, the 
newspaper reported. Those Christians were merely holding a five-day 
festival on the theme ``Jesus Christ is the answer.'' Is there 
something wrong with this in a secular democracy? Apparently, the 
Indian authorities think so.
  The festival was met with protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party, 
Shiv Sena, and the Bajrang Dal. These are militant Hindu political 
organizations that do not believe in religious tolerance. It was at 
their instigation that permission to hold the festival was withdrawn. 
However, when assurances were given that no ``magical healing'' would 
occur and no conversions would take place, the festival was allowed to 
go on.
  That's right, Mr. Speaker, the festival was only allowed to take 
place in the secular democracy of India after the authorities were 
assured that no conversions would take place. In other words, if people 
became Christians as a result of what they saw and heard at the 
festival, then the festival would be closed. Secular democracy in 
action.
  On October 22, activists from the militant Hindu organizations tried 
to set the festival's location on fire. The electric lights were 
damaged. These religious terrorists were not punished. No action was 
taken against them. Is this how India protects its secular tradition?
  While this was going on, the Indian regime is attempting to arrest 
the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, the spiritual leader of the Sihk 
Nation. Here is another fine example of religious tolerance by the 
world's largest democracy.
  Finally, the Christian festival was closed by the authorities. the 
attendees then began a dharna, or what we would call a sit-in. For this 
act of peaceful resistance, the tyrannical forces of Indian theocracy 
opened fire on them.
  Mr. Speaker, such a country is unworthy of the label ``democracy.'' 
We rightly protest human-rights violations in China, including the 
mistreatment of Christians, Buddhists, and others. Yet India is 100 
times more oppressive than China. We must take strong measures to bring 
democracy to South Asia by cutting off U.S. aid to this theocratic 
satrapy, placing an embargo against it, and declaring our support for 
the self-determination of the Christians of Nagaland, the Sikhs of 
Punjab, Khalistan, the Muslims of Kashmir, and the other South Asian 
people and nations struggling for their freedom. We must also include 
India in any sanctions taken against countries that fail to observe 
religious freedom. Those measures will stand as our contribution to 
political, cultural, and religious freedom in South Asia.
  I am introducing the story from the Tribune of Chandigarh into the 
Record.

          [From the Chandigarh (India) Tribune, July 16, 1997]

                        DSP Hurt in Brickbatting

       Ludhiana, October 26.--The police opened fire in the air 
     and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse an agitated mob of 
     Christians last night as many as 19 policemen, including a 
     DSP and nine Christians were injured in the brickbatting and 
     lathi charge. Two vehicles were also damaged. The Christians 
     had started a five-day programme on ``Jesus Christ is the 
     answer'' festival from October 22, to October 26 on the 
     Chandigarh Road. They claimed that they were holding their 
     prayers and thousands of Christians were participating in the 
     same. On the other hand BJP activists of the Shiv Sena and 
     the Bajrang Dal objected to the holding of the festival 
     alleging that the Christians were resorting to conversions 
     and indulging in

[[Page E2147]]

     ``magical healing.'' The administration on the first day 
     withdrew permission to hold the festival but on the assurance 
     that no magical healing would be done and no conversions 
     would take place, it relented. However, groups opposed to the 
     holding of the festival continued their protest dharna near 
     the venue of the festival. The police had made elaborate 
     security arrangements. According to a spokesperson for the 
     Christians, the district administration yesterday forced them 
     to wind up the festival as tension was brewing up in the 
     town. He said that on October 22 an attempt was made to set 
     the venue on fire and electric lights were damaged. But the 
     administration did not take any action against the rioters. 
     He said as the announcement for the cancellation of the 
     festival was made the youngster started a dharna on the 
     Chandigah Road. The police lathi charged them and chased them 
     to the CMC Chowk were other Christians had collected in 
     protest against the cancellation of the festival. The 
     spokesman said a deputation of the Christians had also met 
     the Chief Minister, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, at a village in 
     Muktsar district two days ago and apprised him of the 
     situation. The SSP, Mr. Dinkar Gupta, said as many as 19 
     policemen were injured in the brickbatting. He said the 
     police force was outnumbered at the CMC Chowk and had resort 
     to a lathi charge and open fire in the air to protect 
     themselves.

     

                          ____________________