[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ANOTHER CHURCH ATTACKED IN INDIA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, recently another Christian church 
was attacked in India. The Associated Press reported on February 17 
that about 50 militant, extremist Hindu fundamentalists attacked a 
Catholic church on the outskirts of Bangalore. Unfortunately, this is 
just the latest incident in a longstanding campaign of repression 
against Christians and other religious minorities in India, which 
appears to be tacitly supported by the government. Last year, a cabinet 
member was quoted as saying that everyone who lives in India must 
either be a Hindu or be subservient to Hindus. This is part of the 
Hindutva ideology of the ruling BJP and its parent organization, the 
RSS, which was founded in support of the Fascists.
  This latest incident seems to mirror with so many other actions 
perpetrated by Hindu militants under the umbrella of the RSS. They have 
murdered priests, raped nuns, and burned churches. They have attacked 
Christian schools and prayer halls. It was Hindu militants under the 
RSS umbrella who burned missionary Graham Staines and his two young 
sons to death while they slept in their jeep, all the while chanting 
``Victory to Hannuman,'' a Hindu god. India subsequently threw Mr. 
Staines's widow out of the country rather than let her continue his 
work providing health services for the downtrodden. The RSS itself 
published a booklet on how to file fake criminal cases against 
Christians and other religious minorities. Indian police used gunfire 
to break up a Christian religious festival. More than 200,000 
Christians in Nagaland have been murdered by Indian forces. In the face 
of this pattern of repression, abuse, and tyranny, Prime Minister 
Vajpayee told an audience in New York, ``I will always be a 
Swayamsewak,'' invoking the self-designation of RSS members.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the Indian government has done little to 
stop or prevent these acts of violence. If the abuse and repression of 
Christians were the only story, it would be bad enough, but it is not. 
Sikhs, Muslims, and other minorities have faced repression also. The 
Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs, over 75,000 Kashmiri 
Muslims, and many thousands of other minorities, including Tamils, 
Dalit ``untouchables,'' Bodos, Assamese, Manipuris and others. 
According to the Movement Against State Repression, India admitted to 
holding 52,268 Sikhs as political prisoners, and we know the numbers 
the government admits to are generally low. Amnesty International 
reports that tens of thousands of other minorities are also being held 
as political prisoners.
  To make it worse, Mr. Speaker, it was reported in the January 2 issue 
of the Washington Times that India is sponsoring cross-border terrorism 
in the province of Sindh to destabilize Pakistan, which has been a 
solid, strong ally in the war on terrorism. In addition, India's 
aggressive military maneuvers have forced Pakistan to shift troops away 
from the border with Afghanistan to the Indian border, possibly 
creating an escape for Taliban and Al Qaeda terrorists. In effect, 
India's actions are abetting the Al Qaeda terrorists.
  In light of all this repression and terrorism America must make a 
strong stand. We must make it clear that such practices are 
unacceptable for countries that proclaim democratic principles and for 
countries that seek U.S. support. To do so, we should stop U.S. aid to 
India until these abuses are ended and we should publicly support the 
freedom movements within India's borders by calling for a free and fair 
plebiscite on the issue of Independence for Kashmir, Khalistan, 
predominantly Christian Nagaland, and the other nations seeking their 
freedom from India. These measures will help shine the light of freedom 
on everyone in South Asia.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Associated Press article into 
the Record at this time.

               [From the Associated Press, Feb. 17, 2002]

                  Police: Hindu Extremists Hit Church

       Bangalore, India.--About 50 Hindu hard-liners attacked a 
     Roman Catholic church in southern India on Sunday and injured 
     several worshipers, police said.
       V.V. Bhaskar, the police chief in the city of Mysore, 
     declined to say how many people were hurt in the attack, 
     which happened on the outskirts of the city.
       The assailants threw stones at the church before forcing 
     their way inside, breaking furniture, smashing windows and 
     attacking worshipers.
       The men demanded the priest end what they said were efforts 
     to convert local villagers, who are mainly Hindu, Bhaskar 
     said.
       Christians make up only a tiny fraction of India's 1 
     billion-plus population. About 80 percent are Hindus.
       Some Hindu extremist groups have accused church officials 
     of trying to attract poor Hindus with promises of money and 
     jobs.
       The worst attack against Christians in India took place in 
     1999, when an Australian missionary and his two children were 
     burned alive by a mob.

     

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