[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 8, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E42-E43]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    BAN ON CONVERSIONS IN INDIA SHOWS IT IS THEOCRACY, NOT DEMOCRACY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 8, 2003

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, while we were in recess, a law 
was passed in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu by the Hindu 
fundamentalist government there that bans religious conversions to any 
religion but Hinduism. The Washington Times did an excellent report on 
this bill in its issue of November 11.
  According to the article, the bill ``penalizes those who convert to a 
religion other than Hinduism with imprisonment and a hefty fine.'' The 
ruling BJP and its coalition partners, as well as one of its sister 
organizations, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), have endorsed this bill 
and called for similar bills to be passed all over the country.
  The militant Hindu nationalists claim that people are being converted 
by force. However, as John Dayal, secretary-general of the All-India 
Christian Council in New Delhi, said, ``In fact, the only inducements 
by fraud and fear are those being carried out by [Hindu organizations] 
in the tribal belt, where innocent tribals are being forced to become 
Hindus.'' A Cabinet members was quoted several months ago as saying 
that everyone who lives in India must be a Hindu or be subservient to 
Hindus. This is the reality of Indian democracy, Mr. Speaker.
  India must start acting like a democracy. 52,268 Sikhs political 
prisoners and tens of thousands of other political prisoners being held 
in India must be released. Since 1984, over 250,000 Sikhs have been 
murdered by the Indian government. The Indian regime has also killed 
over 85,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, over 200,000 Christians in 
Nagaland, and tens of thousands of other minorities, including 
Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, and Tamils, among others. Last 
spring, 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims were murdered in Gujarat with the 
connivance and support of the police. In November, the government of 
Pakistan issued 400 visas to Sikhs to come and celebrate the birthday 
of one of the Sikh Gurus, Guru Nanak. India only let 48 Sikhs to the 
celebration.
  Why are American taxpayers being asked to support this theocratic 
regime? It is time to cut off our aid to India, and it is time to 
support the American principles of freedom, democracy, peace, and 
stability by openly and publicly supporting self-determination for all 
the peoples and nations of South Asia, such as Khalistan, Kashmir, 
Nagalim, and others, through a free and fair plebiscite. This will show 
India's commitment to being a true democracy rather than a Hindu 
theocracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Washington Times article on 
the anti-conversion ordinance into the Record at this time for the 
information of my colleagues.

               [From the Washington Times, Nov. 11, 2002]

                   Low-Caste Hindus Eye New Religions

                       (By Shaikh Azizur Rahman)

       New Delhi.--Low-caste Hindus in the southern Indian state 
     of Tamil Nadu are threatening to embrace Christianity, 
     Buddhism or Islam to protest a new law that outlaws religious 
     conversion.
       A bill passed into law by the state legislature last month 
     penalizes those who convert to a religion other than Hinduism 
     with imprisonment and a hefty fine.
       While religious minorities in Tamil Nadu plan to challenge 
     the law in court, many Hindus from so-called ``untouchable 
     castes,'' known as Dalits, are threatening to publicly defy 
     the new law.
       One group of Dalit Hindus in the state capital, Chennai, 
     said that a group of 10,000 will convert to Buddhism on Dec. 
     6 if the law is not revoked.
       Another group, known as the Dalit Panthers of India [DPI), 
     pledged that 25,000 of its members would become Christians to 
     protest what they called an ``unjustified'' decree.
       ``The upper class has been torturing the Dalits for 
     centuries, and now, by passing the

[[Page E43]]

     bill, the government has decided to shackle us in a society 
     where we are denied even our basic democratic rights,'' said 
     one Dalit activist, who identified himself by the Christian 
     name Emmanuel.
       On Oct. 31, Tamil Nadu became the first--but probably not 
     the last--Indian state to outlaw religious conversions. 
     Though the law targets conversions ``by force, allurement or 
     fraudulent means,'' opponents say the language offers the 
     means to challenge all conversions to faiths other than 
     Hinduism.
       ``Even if one changes one's religion of one's own free 
     will, those involved in the conversion can be punished on the 
     ground that it's a case of forced conversion,'' said M. 
     Karunanidhi a former chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
       The new law was welcomed by Hindu fundamentalists, who 
     govern the nation in a coalition led by the Hindu nationalist 
     Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
       ``The BJP is strongly of the view that this law is most 
     necessary for the whole country. Lots of money is coming into 
     the country from Islamic organizations to aid conversions,'' 
     said BJP President M. Venkaih Naidu.
       Ashok Singhal, leader of the World Hindu Council (VHP), 
     hailed the law as a ``timely and bold step'' and he urged 
     other states to pass similar laws.
        The issue of religious conversion has long been a source 
     of strife in India. While federal law allows Indians to 
     change their faith, the ruling BJP makes no secret of its 
     dislike to the practice, while its ruling partner--the VHP 
     party--views conversions as betrayal.
       Opponents of the new law warn it will only trigger an even 
     larger exodus of Hindus to other faiths.
       The Global Council of Indian Christians said it was 
     ``alarmed by the hurriedly promulgated ordinance,'' and 
     called it ``the most heinous violation of religious freedom 
     aimed at targeting Christian missionaries engaged in poverty 
     alleviation and spreading the light of education.
       The All-Indian Christian People's Forum said that it went 
     against the core of the Constitution. ``This ordinance is 
     uncalled for, unwarranted and smacks of a pro-Hindu 
     ideological basis of the . . . government''.
       ``The bill runs foul of Article 25 [25] of the Indian 
     Constitution, which grants freedom of conscience and free 
     profession, practice and propagation of religion to every 
     Indian citizen,'' the group said.
       Dominic Emmanuel, director of New Delhi Catholic 
     Archdiocese, called the measure, ``an assault as much on 
     civil rights as on human rights as on human dignity.''
       John Daya, secretary-general of the Christian Council in 
     New Delhi, said: ``In fact the only inducements by fraud and 
     fear are those being carried out by [Hindu organizations] in 
     the tribal belt, where innocent tribals are being forced to 
     become Hindus.''
       Muslims, too, are concerned.
       How can conversions be prevented if an individual is 
     attracted to another religion because of his or her faith in 
     it? Force is never used to convert one to Islam because it is 
     against the basic tenets of [Islam],'' said Maolana 
     Siddikullah Chowdhury, general secretary of the Jamiat-e-
     Ulema party in Calcutta.
       He added that low-caste Hindus converted to Islam simply to 
     ``escape discrimination and ill treatment'' and not under any 
     coercion.

               PAYING TRIBUTE TO: SILVERTON FIRE DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 8, 2003

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
recognize the Silverton Fire District for their service and dedication 
during one of Colorado's most formidable fire seasons. Last summer, the 
Silverton Fire Department played an integral role in containing the 
Missionary Ridge forest fire that burned over 70,000 acres in 
Southwestern Colorado. Today, I would like to pay tribute to their 
heroic efforts before this body of Congress and this nation.
  When the Missionary Ridge fire first erupted last June, the citizens 
of Durango, Bayfield and the surrounding communities called upon the 
Silverton Fire District to protect their loved ones, homes, and 
communities from what would become the worst fire in area history. The 
fire began in a ditch beside Missionary Ridge Road just 15 miles 
northeast of Durango and grew to consume more than 70,000 acres, 56 
residences, and 27 outbuildings.
  Although the Missionary Ridge fire was a devastating reminder of how 
destructive forest fires can be, it also served to remind us of the men 
and women who risk their lives to protect their fellow citizens on a 
daily basis. The Silverton Fire District has served the citizens of 
Colorado for many years and has a reputation for its outstanding 
service. The district relies upon the Chief and its fire fighters to 
remain on call, prepared to fight fires or provide medical assistance 
on a moment's notice.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with sincere admiration that I recognize the 
Silverton Fire District before this body of Congress and this nation. I 
want to commend all of the Fire District's fire fighters for their 
determination, courage, and resolve during last summer's efforts on 
Missionary Ridge. Without the help of the Silverton Fire District and 
others, the added devastation to our community, environment, and 
quality of life would have been unimaginable. Their tireless commitment 
throughout the fire season has served as an inspiration to us all and 
it is an honor to represent such an outstanding group of Americans in 
this Congress.

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