The Hindu : U.S. Commission's `concern' over Gujarat violence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 14, 2002

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International

U.S. Commission's `concern' over Gujarat violence

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, March 13. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called on the administration to work with the Indian Government to help foster an atmosphere of greater religious tolerance in the country. "As the United States deepens its engagement with India, it must work with the Indian Government to help foster an atmosphere of greater religious tolerance,'' the Commission has said.

Created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the Commission noted with "great concern'' the rioting in Gujarat. "Regardless of who the perpetrators are, the Commission unequivocally condemns such attacks and urges the U.S. Government to press Indian authorities to exercise their power to halt the atrocities and violence and bring the perpetrators to justice'', the Commission has said.

Even in its May 2001 report, the Commission had made known its concerns over the increase in violence against the minority groups in India, particularly Muslims and Christians; and had noted that the rise in violence had been associated with the rise in power of Hindu nationalist organisations known as the Sangh Parivar. It criticised the Sangh Parivar ideology especially the notion that only Hindus are the "real'' Indians and the suggestion that non-Hindus are foreigners and thus deserving of suspicion and attack. "It is hard to imagine a set of views and values less appropriate in a country that is home to one of the world's largest Muslim populations (about 120 millions) and 20 to 30 million Christians'', it said.

"The United States Government must speak out strongly against the increasing attacks on minorities and the ideology of hate behind them'', the Commission said, adding that the Government of India must also "do more'' to root out the causes of such tragedies.

The Human Rights Watch also called upon New Delhi to take measures to prevent any violence in view of the planned events in Ayodhya. It wanted those responsible for the recent communal violence in Gujarat, including police officers who had failed to intervene to uphold the law, be brought to book.

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U.S. Commission's `concern' over Gujarat violence