vIndianz.com (21 Oct, 2009) — A US government report published recently gave top ranking to Indian Central government for putting in its best to religious liberty, but criticized a few state and local governments for commanding restrictions on this independence.
“The National Government by and large appreciated religious freedom in practice; yet, some state and local governments forced restrictions on this independence,” the State Department held on Monday in its congressionally mandated yearly account on International Religions Freedom.
“Although the enormous preponderance of populace of each religious group lived in serene coexistence, a few planned communal attacks against minority religious groups occurred,” the report said blaming “the state police and enforcement agencies frequently did not proceed promptly to successfully oppose such attacks.”
Releasing the report covering over 198 countries, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hoped it “will give confidence to existing religious independence movements around the globe and encourage dialogue between governments and within societies.”
The report believed the expression “normally respected” signifies that the government attempted to shield religious independence in the fullest sense and was “therefore the uppermost level of reverence for religious liberty assigned” by it.
Religious extremists, it noted, dedicated several terrorist attacks all through India, counting the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai that besieged luxury hotels, a packed railway station, a Jewish centre, a hospital, and restaurants.
The information noted 40 people died and 134 were wounded as “aggression erupted in August 2008 in Orissa after persons associated with left-wing Maoist extremists killed a Hindu religious leader in Kandhamal, one of the country’s poorest districts.”
“Even though most dead were Christians, the core causes that led to the bloodshed have multifaceted cultural, economic, religious, and political roots associated to land possession and government-reserved employment and educational settlement,” it said.
Several cases were in the magistrates, counting cases in association with the 2002 Gujarat violence, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and more fresh attacks against Christians, the State Department account noted.
“Overall, India’s democratic organization, open society, self-sufficient legal institutions, vivacious civil society, and press all provided mechanisms to tackle violations of religious liberty when they did happen,” the report said.
Listing “improvements and optimistic developments” in the year ended June 30, the report said, “In India, “Government officials responded to a number of latest and preceding violent proceedings, serving to stop communal aggression and providing respite and rehabilitation packages for sufferers and their families.”
Further Reading- Egypt sectarian deaths slammed amid civil war fear – AFP
- Christians targeted in Iraq – Aljazeera.net
- Moily wants CBI to probe Karnataka church attacks – Times of India
- For communal harmony, NAC proposes authorities at Centre, state – Expressindia.com
- Adarsh land belongs to State government: Mumbai Collector – The Hindu
- Adarsh land belongs to State government: Mumbai Collector – The Hindu
- Razing of shrines stopped till policy is formulated – Indian Express
- Karnataka church attack: A harsher report – NDTV.com
- Congress says MP circular on profiling Christians unconstitutional – Daily News & Analysis
- Coptic Christians in Los Angeles voice cautious optimism for Egypt’s future – Los Angeles Times
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