The Hindu : Christian council regrets threat of replicating Gujarat model

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 22, 2003

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National

Christian council regrets threat of replicating Gujarat model

BANGALORE JAN. 21 . The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) has criticised the RSS leader, K.S. Sudarshan, for his call to replicate the Gujarat experiment by his committed "strong troopers" all over India.

The GCIC also objected to the VHP leader, Praveen Togadia, for ridiculing Christian leaders in the Northeast who had exhorted the people of Meghalaya and Nagaland going for polls to "vote for candidates who are God fearing, guided by values, committed to protecting rights of all and to the development of State, dedicated and impartial, stand for peace and harmony, paying attention to the youth, fight corruptions at all levels, lead model lives and frame policies and programmes for the benefit of all".

The GCIC convener, Sajan K. George, in a press release here today, said Dr. Togadia's insinuation of a nexus between the church and the Pakistan ISI was "baseless and malicious, and has originated from a sick mind". These utterances and threats on the eve of Republic Day were causing grave concern for the minorities and members of the law-abiding civil society. Republic Day celebrations were to commemorate the country's constitutional guarantees that assured to every citizen, justice, liberty and fraternity and the dignity of the individuals.

The Gujarat experiment was the antithesis to everything India and its Constitution stood for. There had been a perceptible and systematic breakdown of the rule of law, the release said.

"We appeal to the Prime minister to extend protection of the minorities and their institutions as Mr. Sudarshan's latest remark might trigger an avalanche of attacks on minorities. We also urge the United Nations Human Rights Commission to monitor the situation and persuade the Indian Government against the repetition of the Gujarat genocide model," it said.

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