How Americans are Helping Fund Hindu Extremism in India
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is an Indian right-wing, Hindu paramilitary group that has been accused of promoting violence and intolerance under the guise of Hinduism. It was founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a physician and activist who drew inspiration from fascist movements in Europe. Hedgewar’s goal was to establish a Hindu-only nation in India. The RSS adopts a paramilitary structure, training its members in hand-to-hand combat and weapons, preparing them for potential conflicts with Muslims and other minority groups. The RSS has close ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party, India’s ruling political party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a former member of the RSS. The RSS and other Hindu nationalist groups played a key role in Modi’s national rise to power a decade ago. The history of the RSS is tainted by bloodshed. One notable incident was the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 by Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Additionally, its members were involved in the destruction of the Babri Masjid mosque in 1992. The RSS’s alleged complicity in the Gujarat riots of 2002, led to accusations against Modi himself, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time. Because of
Warrior Sikhs attack persecuted Christians in India
Pastor Jai opened up his church in the city of Rajewal in preparation for Sunday services. Just as the congregation was worshipping, a mob comprised of men dressed in the traditional attire of a Sikh warrior stormed into the church, causing significant property damage and injuring numerous persecuted Christians in India. As previously reported on the GCR Prayer App, the South Asian nation has recently fallen under international criticism for the violent riots that took place in Manipur early last month, displacing tens of thousands of persecuted Christians in India. Throughout the country, religious tensions couldn’t be higher. The attackers in Rajewal wore blue robes and were armed with swords and spears. They barged into a peaceful church service and tore Bibles, vandalized vehicles and assaulted congregants. Pastor Jai and the church members were forced to hurl stones in self-defense. The police were called to help bring the hostile situation under control. The attackers are said to belong to the Nihang sect, which is a warrior order in India, but the sect has denied any involvement. According to the U.S. Department of State, Christians comprise just over 2% of the population. Many believe the number to be as high as nearly 5%—however persecuted
Manipur Is Burning: Why Are You Silent, Mr Modi?
It's said Emperor Nero played the fiddle while Rome was burning. Historians have pointed out that the story is baseless. The fiddle was not there in Rome during Nero's time, and his favourite instrument was the lyre. When the fire began, he was 35 miles away from Rome. However, it is true that Nero availed of the fire to blame the Christians and started a wave of persecution, the first of many. It would be wrong to say that the Central Government behaved like Nero, even though the fact remains that the Union Home Minister could find time to go to Manipur only three weeks after the fire started. In short, the fire raged on for three weeks before the fire brigade in the nation's capital thought of taking note of it. In defence of the Home Minister, it can be argued that the all- important Karnataka State elections merited his attention. Prime Minister Modi, in his super popular Mann ki Baat on 17 June 2023, spoke about the dark days of the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25 June 1975. He spoke about the ravages of cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat. He had no time to say even a
Is ‘Save India from China’ the real motive for Modi’s US odyssey?
The Prime Minister has to go shopping for arms and energy supplies in the US, with Asian international relations a mess and Russia at war. Question is, what will India need to pay? The United States administration’s authorisation to General Electric company to sell GE414 engines to India is aimed at assisting Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme or AMCA1 — a fifth-generation stealth, multirole fighter plane, with sixth generation technologies, for the Indian Air force (IAF) and Indian Navy. The understanding — finalised during US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin’s visit to Delhi earlier this month — could be among the announcements during Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington this week. Also in the pipeline, expected to be made public during or around Modi’s trip to France on 14 July, is a purchase of the naval version of Dassault Aviation’s Rafale. The air force variety — chosen by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government — is already rendering service in the IAF. It has generally been reported that the GE414 engines were meant for the Light Combat Aircraft, LCA Tejas 2, project. Their dual utilisation in the development underway at HAL is an additional dimension. It’s apparently a setback for Rolls Royce,
How Modi went from being banned to embraced by the United States
(CNN) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was once shunned by the United States. Denied a visa for “severe violations of religious freedom,” he was effectively banned from entering the country for nearly a decade. But in the nine years since that ban was lifted, Modi has been progressively embraced by the White House – now more than ever. The leader of the world’s most populous nation will meet with US President Joe Biden during a state visit to Washington this week, in a trip that is expected to further boost defense, trade and technology ties, and celebrate “the warm bonds of family and friendship” that link the two countries together. Modi will also lead celebrations for the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday, illustrating the influence of India’s soft power. He will then address Congress the following day, an honor reserved for close US allies, and attend a lavish state dinner hosted by Biden in a clear indication of how much of a strategic partner Modi has become But while the ceremonies and diplomatic niceties play out in Washington, analysts say Modi’s visit will also be a test for the Biden administration, that has positioned itself
Blame for Manipur violence on BJP, Narendra Modi urged to ‘speak up and take accountability’
Over 550 citizens’ groups, academics and lawyers on Friday attributed the violence in Manipur to “divisive politics” by the BJP, a party they accused of “exacerbating” age-old ethnic tensions between communities for political gain. The groups and individual signatories issued a joint statement calling for an immediate halt to the violence and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “speak up and take accountability”. “Manipur is burning today in very large part due to the divisive politics played by the BJP and its governments at the Centre and state. And on them lies the onus to stop this ongoing civil war before more lives are lost,” the statement said. More than 100 people have died and over 300 have been injured in violence between Manipur’s majority Meiteis and the tribal Kukis. The violence began on May 3 following tribal protests against the Meiteis’ efforts to gain Scheduled Tribe status, which had been bolstered by a Manipur High Court order in April. The joint statement said that while the high court order had been the “immediate trigger” for the violence, the situation had been “grim” since January when the state’s BJP government began eviction drives in the Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts, declaring tribal forest dwellers as
Burning of Khopibung Catholic Village Leaves 44 Families Homeless; Negotiations Fail, Church and Mobile Tower Destroyed
Imphal, 12 June 2023: Khopibung Catholic Village in Imphal suffered a tragic incident last evening when the entire village was engulfed in flames, leaving 44 families homeless. Despite the villagers’ courageous efforts to defend their homes throughout the day, negotiations between the residents and an attacking group failed, resulting in the destruction of the village between 5 pm and 5.30 pm. The fire also claimed the Catholic Church built by Bishop Dennis, along with a mobile tower. Thankfully, women and children had already been relocated to safer places prior to the incident. As the community grieves, prayers for peace in Manipur are requested. In a heart-wrenching event, Khopibung Catholic Village in Imphal fell victim to a destructive fire last evening, leading to the displacement of 44 families. The village’s residents valiantly fought throughout the day to protect their homes, but their efforts proved futile when negotiations with the attacking group failed, resulting in the complete torching of the settlement between 5 pm and 5.30 pm. The fire not only caused immense damage to the houses but also destroyed significant structures within the village. Among the casualties was the Catholic Church, which held great religious and cultural significance. The church was originally constructed
Archbishop of Imphal claims 249 churches burnt in Manipur: ‘Religious attack carried out’
Amid clashes between Manipur’s Meitei and Kuki communities, “religious attack has been effectively carried out”, Dominic Lumon, the Archbishop of Imphal, wrote in a letter Saturday. Recording at least 10 alleged instances of institutions under the Catholic Church being attacked since the violence broke out, he claimed that 249 churches belonging to Meitei Christians had been destroyed within 36 hours since the start of the violence. “The wonder is in the midst of the fight between the Kukis and the Meiteis, why did the Meitei mob burn down and destroy 249 churches located in the Meitei heartland? How is it that there was almost a natural attack on the church in the Meitei localities itself and how did the mob know where the churches were located if not previously planned?” he claimed. In his account, he has connected this with the revival of Sanamahism, the indigenous religion of Meiteis, and the emergence of groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun. “Some pastors have been indicated not to rebuild the churches. There is systematic silencing of the minorities. Is this not another ‘Ghar Wapsi’?” he claimed. He also questioned the role of the government and the armed forces in failing to maintain peace in the
Saw my brother lying in a pool of blood, mother shielding him from mob: Manipur violence survivor
Soon after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur last month, 20-year-old Jamngaihkim Gangte and six of her family members left their home in Imphal to get to a nearby CRPF relief camp. However, only four of them made it after hours of dodging murderous mobs and being cooped up in a car boot. While two of them were killed by a mob, one of them was separated from the family and found days later. The family managed to reach Delhi and is among more than 60 living in two relief camps set up in Dwarka for those affected by the Manipur violence, which claimed at least 98 lives. As violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, Gangte and her family moved to a relative's house in Imphal and returned home the next morning. "When we returned home, we found out that there was a CRPF relief camp nearby. So, we packed some essentials and important documents and decided to go there," Gangte told PTI. She and her family members -- her mother, brother, sister-in-law, cousin and aunt with her one-year-old baby -- left in a car. Some of her cousins were travelling in another car. "We left around 10 am and the roads were empty
Tribal Christians protest in poll-bound Indian state
Tribal Christians in a poll-bound central Indian state have protested against a call to de-list them from India’s affirmative action program and deny them reservation benefits. Hundreds of tribal Christians on June 10 marched through Raipur, Chhattisgarh state capital, six months ahead of the state elections. They shouted slogans against some Hindu groups' demand to remove tribal Christians from the list of people receiving reservation benefits in jobs and educational institutions. Tribal groups, listed as Scheduled tribes, receive such benefits as part of affirmative action to bring them social mainstream. Certain Hindu groups say tribal people who have become Christians should not be given such benefits as they have left traditional tribal customs and faith. Anil Kispota, a member of the organizing team, told the media that their “ancestors were tribal, and they continue to remain tribals.” Clad in their traditional attire, they gathered at the Science College ground under the banner of the Chhattisgarh Christian Adivasi Mahasabha (Chhattisgarh Christian tribal forum). In April this year, the Janjati Suraksha Manch (tribal protection forum) organized a rally in Raipur, demanding that tribal people, “who do not follow the traditions and customs, should be removed from the benefits meant for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community." Ram Bhagat, convenor of the forum and a
