Fundamentalists Beat up Five Nuns in Madhya Pradesh


by Nirmala Carvalho
Asianews

Mumbai (AsiaNews), Oct 28: The accusation of forced conversions to Christianity has once again been used as a pretext to justify Hindu fundamentalist violence against members of the Catholic community.   Yesterday 5 sisters of the Poor Clare’s order were savagely beaten with sticks by a group of activists from Dharma Raksha Samiti (Committee for the protection of religion), a fundamentalist organisation in favour of sati (the ritual suicide of the widows). The incident took place yesterday afternoon in Raseli, Indore diocese, Madhya Pradesh. The police have refused the diocese’ attempts to report the incident.

The religious sisters currently hospitalised in grave conditions in Bhandari Hospital, are all very young: Sr. Jincy, 40, Sr.  Sayujia, 27, Sr. Pavitra, 26, Sr. Sweta, 26  and Sr. Anna Maria, 27. “We had gone to attend the Rosary Prayer at Mr. Anil‘s house. He is a catholic by birth and the driver of our convent, when they attacked us with sticks”, says Sr. Jincy. Dharma Raksha Samiti convenor Kamal Waghela accused the sisters of converting people in the area to the Christian faith, and said that “after the prayer, picked a quarrel on this issue which lead to clash between the sisters and our workers”.

The spokesman for the Indore diocese immediately responded to these accusations: “It is nothing but finding an easy way to justify the brutality done to women religious, we will fight with tooth and nail”. Archbishop Leo Cornelio, Chairman, Catholic Bishops Council of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh too used strong words to condemn the episode: “We have been suffering silently but it looks that the fundamental organizations take it as a weakness from our part, it is n attack on women and human freedom.”

On learning of the event the diocese launched a hunger strike in protest.  Local police has refused to launch an investigation into the episode until the Catholic authorities agree to end the strike set for October 28th.  In fact today in Indore a meeting of Madhya Pradesh Industries is due to take place and the Catholic’s protest against police inaction and government disinterest could seriously harm the image of the event.  Msgr Cornelio confides his worries to AsiaNews: “What is alarming is that these fanatical outfits are   so powerful politically, that the authorities cannot take care of Law and Order and fail in their duty to protect the citizens and hence these fanatics get encouraged to intensity their hate propaganda and anti-minority sentiments to carry out act of violence towards the monitory and get away scot free. India is a democratic country and this cannot be tolerated, our religious freedom is non-negotiable.”

Fr Anand Muttungal, Regional Public Relations Officer & Spokesperson, said, “We welcome the support extended by left parties, secular organizations, various inter-religious forums and NGOs.” He warned,” the fundamental organizations are preparing the ground for the assembly election to be held in 2008”.

  

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Comment on this article

  • mohan, kulai

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    This is indeed a heinous act and has to be condoned. The govt. should step in to stop associations or organizations such as this to take matters in it's own hands. I sincerely feel that proselytizing, religious institutional buildup has to be stopped. It is the poor flock that gets the brunt when the game plan of the religious order is at work.

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  • Oliver Mark D 'Souza, Bajpe/Dubai

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    I strongly condem this brutal attack on helpless sisters.It is a shame on Indian secular image.What is the big deal about the Government's boasting about 8% economic growth and India's Superpower aspirations when it has failed to protect the basic Constitutional rights of its citizens.

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  • Nelson Lewis, Karkala/Bombay/Kingdom of Bahrain

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    States like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and even Karnataka have become communal either because they have governments who are communal or due to weak governments turning a blind eye to appease their coalition partners. The matter is further aggravated because there is a coalition government again at the centre. Moreover, the Congress Party is not able to rule fairly and with transparency, simply because it is also totally corrupt and further has to depend on coalition partners for support.

    Otherwise, they would have the guts to tell the Leftist Parties to either support them in the nuclear deal and relations with USA or go to hell. For a just cause and principle, they are not ready to see the Government collapse and succumb to pressure. It is for everyone to get together, unite and tell our politicians to put an end to violence or quit their chairs. Some States have become very communal

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  • Reena Fernandes, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    Its such a Apalling incident.I guess all the christians need to get together & fight for Justice.Day by day violence against the Christian missionaries are increasing.may God grant strength to the nuns amidst the suffering.

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  • Shanti Lobo, Bondel/Bangalore

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    I strongly condemn this inhuman incident. These people are surely 'Namard', as they lifted their hand on wemen to exhibit their failure. How can a citizen assualt another in a democratic country?

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  • ozy, GANGULLI PARISH, DUBAI( NOW SETTLING AT SANTEKATTE,KALLIANPUR0

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    FIRST OF ALL WE ALL ARE HUMANS AND CREATED BY THE ALMIGHTY. RELIGION COMES AFTER. IF ANY ONE WHO DONOT RESPECT THE OTHERS THEN THEY ARE LIVING DEVILS BCOZ IF THE SAME WE TREAT TO THIER FAMILY MEMBERS WHAT THE ATTACKERS WILL DO. TILL NOW WE CHRISTIANS ARE WILLINGLY ACCEPTING THE BRUTAL TREATMENT FM ALL SECTORS BUT THE TIME IS COME TO GET OURSELEVES TO FIGHT. IN INDIA FANATIC GRUOPS USING RELIGION AS THIER MAIN WEAPON BUT THEY DOESNOT KNOW THE OUTCOME OF IT, IN FACT THIER OWN SUFFER MORE THAN WE SUUFER AND WE ARE EXPERINCING IT IN OUR OWN EYES.

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  • Austin Pinto, Muscat

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    Curse on these anti-human beings, who are doing illegal activities in the name of saving religion. I am sure they will be given proper punishment by GOD himself.

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  • Ranjith Kumar, Mangalore, Dammam

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    I strongly condemn this act. All at a first set, wipe out the hindu organisation like "Bajarang Dal, RSS, etc". Who gave them the authority to do all these things? Is it the Government? BJP should be blamed for this. Just imagine that if the same attack happened to their own sisters? What would be their condition. First of all we should think that we are all human beings. Chirstanity is only a faith to the eternal salvation. Its an option and not compulsory. If anyone is interested, let them opt for it, if not just ignore. Never attack anyone by this name. Authorities please take care.

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  • Robert Wilson, New Delhi

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    What the western powers do not understand is that ultimately it is these fanatics and fundamentalists like the mass murderer Modi and Advani and Vajpayee who will control India. Right now they are waiting in the wings to get absolute majority ( And it will happen).

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  • Abdul Rahman, Muscat

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    The coward act of the fundamentalits on innocent nuns is untolerable and should be condemned. Each and every minority communities should raise the voice against this shameless act. The government should take immediate action against the culprits.

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  • Victor Baptist, Oman

    Tue, Oct 30 2007

    What sort of Dharma Raksha Samiti is this? when they do have have any humanistic value!!!! unfortunately they do not trust or believe in their own religion, hence they are not firm what they wish to do. They are just like mad dogs at the open gardens.

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  • donfrank, mangalore

    Mon, Oct 29 2007

    All of us should condemn this inhuman act of the fundamentalists. It is true that the State Government headed by the BJP is supporting these criminals to attack the harmless christians. Many incidents of attack on christians are taking place mainly in BJP ruled states, and yet there is no strong support or protection for us, christians, mainly because we are not vote banks.

    Many a time these incidents are not reported by the media people mainly because the reporters themselves are sympathetic to the ideology of Sang Parivar. The Sang Parivar is having an hidden agenda to wipe out all people belonging to the minority faiths (mainly the christians)in India. Unfortunately, many of us have not realised this danger. It is really a tragedy.

    I do not understand why these fanatics are afraid of our religion when we are less than two percent of India's population. Day by day these incidents are increasing and no action has been taken on the culprits. Our strong faith in God will surely help us to defeat these fanatics.

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  • Ajay, Mangalore

    Mon, Oct 29 2007

    Does the Indian constitution condone violence by its citizens under any pretext ? If the answer is No, then whether it is Conversion, Instigation, Morality or whatever, no one has the right to use violence against another citizen.

    But the Sangh organizations which are indulging in this violence, seem to be getting away by using such pretexts to justify their violence against the defenseless. They have made Law and order a joke in India, constitution does not seem to matter to these hoodlums and sadly even to the authorities who are mandated to uphold it. This is anarchy, or leading towards it.

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  • Anand Kumar, Kudla

    Thu, Nov 01 2007

    Why these people are fighting for Gods, what is the difference between the religions, christian people are worshiping Jesus as God, and we worship Shreeram, Shreekrishn. Let us unite and worship all the Gods together, Christians accept our God, we will accept Christian Gods.

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  • Fr Maxim Rosario, Mangalore

    Mon, Oct 29 2007

    We vehemently condemn the brutal attack on nuns in M.P. The fundamentalistic forces are to be put an end to at any cost. Where r the politicians who make bo bombastic speeches during elections?

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  • Marian D'Souza, Mangalore - Falnir

    Mon, Oct 29 2007

    Let the perpetrators of this henious crime on innocent and unarmed nuns know that God is looking from above and will surely punish them in some form or other and these hooligans will perish soon because of their sins. The nuns might have suffered physical injuries as a result of the savage beating by these criminals .One wonders whether these goons are having any respect for the religion they follow.Otherwise anyone who is having fear of God won't indulge in these violent acts committed in the name of religion.Certainly they are not followers of any religion because no religion preaches hatred and violence against the innocent and meek human beings.

    The pain ,agony and suffering of these guileless nuns which they are offering for the sake of upholding one's faith which Almighty is watching from above will inflict heavy punishment which nature will take care. May God grant the courage and solace to these nuns in their hour of pain and punish the wicked and the guilty in the most severest form.There is a saying that every dog has his day and that day is not too far for these criminals.

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  • rahman, mangalore

    Mon, Oct 29 2007

    atleast name it as Terrorist Group instead Dharma Raksha Samiti

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  • Alfred J. Rebello, Kundapur/Dubai

    Mon, Oct 29 2007

    Though the Congress is ruling in the centre, this kind of acts happenning mostly where the BJP is ruling in the states. Now many blame the centre, but for me it is the responsibilty of the state Goevernments to protect the Indians be them follow whichever faith. If at all we want to progress, we have to consider ourselves Indians first.

    Perhaps now many may agree what I was saying. Now I do not know which political party has done better to India since all the parties are more or less same, but I do know who has done the most harm to the Indians using religion, it is the BJP, not because BJP is a fanatic but because their mentors are. These fanatics, thinking they are safe in the hands of BJP and use BJP as a tool to propagate their hidden agendas, which could lead their own downfall one day since the voters are becoming more and more educated slowly by slowly.

    It is for the BJP to think wisely and change their religious favouritism and work for the bettement of nation and its people. If they continue to favour these fanatics India will be in pieces one day. No outsiders can break us into pieces but ourselves. Then, there is no use of regretting later.

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  • Mary Pereira, Kundapura/ USA

    Mon, Oct 29 2007

    I along with my Fly strongly condem the incident brutality against the minority specialy vulnerables. They should be ashamed to commit such a act on religious women.

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  • agnel fernandes, mangalore/uae

    Mon, Oct 29 2007

    it has happened earlier and it has happened today, the media should bring this to the notice of the government and should be on television also. This is a cowardly act from these fundamentalis and we catholics always suffer in this regard specially in MP. All catholics must protest and bring the curprits to severe punishment for hurting and attacking innocent nuns in MP

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  • Ronald DSouza, Udupi

    Mon, Oct 29 2007

    These fundamentalists are mentally ill. They are unfit to live in the society of human beings. And the rough political parties supporting them to get power are worst than the fundamentalists. How can the police refuse to register a case? Are they not covered under Indian constitution? Simply Cowards!! With these elements how can we expect a better tomorrow?

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