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If States fail, Centre should act: Minorities Commission

Special Correspondent

‘Christians said their return was predicated on acceptance of Hindu religion’

The situation has worsened in Kandhamal
Not a single case of forced conversion registered

NEW DELHI: The ground reality in Orissa, according to the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), is such that it holds out little hope of the latest round of communal violence in the State being the last.

Meanwhile, in separate reports on attacks on the Christian community in Orissa and Karnataka, the NCM has recommended that “if the State governments are unable to restore normality and a sense of confidence among Christians, the Centre should consider an appropriate response in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.”

Based on the visit of NCM Vice-Chairperson Michael Pinto to the Kandhamal district of Orissa in mid-September, the report, the third on the State in less than a year, takes note of the fact that far from improving, the situation has worsened with trouble spreading to other districts. “The communal divide appears to be as strong as before and there has been little success in reining in the extreme fringe that has encouraged and fostered the spread of intolerance.”

Rise in Christian population

Dwelling at length on the charge of conversion against the Christian community, the NCM concedes that the Christian population in Kandhamal has registered a larger increase than the Hindu population. But it points out that not a single case of forced conversion has been registered under the Freedom of Religion Act which has been in place in the State for about 40 years.

“If indeed conversions by force or fraud were responsible for the feelings against Christians, it is absolutely amazing that the provisions of an Act designed precisely to address such conversions have never been invoked. It gives rise to the suspicion that conversion had really very little to do with the problem,” the report states.

According to NCM, practically every Christian living in the relief camps — at the time of the visit, an estimated 20,000 people were living in 14 relief camps set up by the State — complained of threats that their “return to their homes was predicated on their acceptance of the Hindu religion.”

Though secular quarters have reservations about such legislations, the NCM said that since the Act was now on the statue book, its provisions must be used against the pernicious threats to Christians to convert forcibly to Hinduism.

Remedial action in Karnataka

In its Karnataka report, the Commission has said remedial action, “including a ban and prosecution” should be initiated against all organisations which have contributed to the breakdown of communal harmony.

While the NCM has not named any one organisation in its recommendation, the report makes repeated references to the Bajrang Dal and its involvement in the attacks on Christians and their institutions.

During a three-day visit to Karnataka beginning September 16, the NCM team raised the issue with the State administration and asked why the head of the Karnataka unit of Bajrang Dal was not arrested despite him issuing press statements acknowledging his role in damaging prayer halls in the State.

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