दैनिक सामना

Four Hindu Doctors Gunned Down in Pakistan

CHAKRA) The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) condemned the brutal attack on four Hindus earlier this week in a small town in Sindh province, Pakistan. The attack resulted in the deaths of three doctors: Drs. Ajit Kumar, Naresh Kumar, and Ashok Kumar, while a fourth, Dr. Satia Pal, received serious injuries and is currently in intensive care in a Karachi hospital. The incident has caused widespread fear and apprehension amongst Hindus in Sindh, who frequently complain of inadequate protection from the police.

Such violent attacks on the Hindu community are fairly common in Pakistan according to the Foundation, which publishes an annual human rights report that documents the plight of Hindu minorities worldwide.

“This horrific act is yet another example of the religious intolerance that pervades Pakistani society,” said Samir Kalra, Esq., HAF Director and Senior Fellow for Human Rights. “Hindus and other minorities are routinely subjected to violence and persecution, while the government and police sit idly by and do nothing.”

The victims were reportedly gunned down by members of the Muslim Bhayo community after an alleged dispute involving a Muslim “dancing girl.” Members of the Hindu community, however, maintain that they had been receiving threats for the past three months, since they stopped paying “protection money” to the Muslim Bhayos. Hindus and other non-Muslims are often forced to pay “protection money” to Muslim gangs in order to safeguard their community from violence.

Following funerals for the victims, Hindus throughout Sindh, including in the cities of Shikarpur, Larkana, Umarkot, Tharparkar, and Nawabshah, initiated an indefinite strike and closed their businesses to protest the murders and demand justice. Police authorities have reportedly made arrests in connection with the case, but it is unclear as to whether any of the arrested persons will be charged or prosecuted.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims,” said Arvind Chandrakantan, HAF Executive Council Member. “We urge the government to take all necessary steps to bring the perpetrators to justice and provide protection to the Hindu community.”

Why Gilani is man of peace for Manmohan

    Friday, November 11, 2011, 

 Addu: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's praise of his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani as "man of peace" attracted a lot of attention here, with New Delhi clarifying that the assessment was made on basis of the frequent meetings between the two leaders. 

    The prime minister's assessment was based on frequent meetings he had with Gilani, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters when asked why Manmohan Singh described Gilani as "man of peace" at a joint press conference the two leaders held after their talks on Thursday. 

    The nature of talks he has had with Gilani supported this assessment, Mathai said. 

Manmohan Singh's pursuit of peace with Pakistan and the resonance he finds in his talks with Gilani to strengthen the relationship explains it, said Mathai. 

    Manmohan Singh and Gilani have met four times in the past 30 months, including their meetings in Sharm el Sheikh on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit in July 2009 and in Thimphu on the margins of the SAARC summit in April 2010. 

    Gilani accepted Manmohan Singh's invitation to watch the World Cup semifinal in Mohali in India's Punjab in March. In their meeting in the Maldives on the margins of the SAARC summit here Thursday, both leaders struck an optimistic note and vowed to open a new chapter in their bilateral relations. 

Togadia calls for death sentence for conversion

(The Hindu -AHMEDABAD, November 9, 2011)

Vishwa Hindu Parishad international general secretary Pravin Togadia has sought death sentence to those who attempt to convert Hindus to other religions.

Dr. Togadia was addressing the concluding session of a three-day Akhil Bharatiya Dharmaprasar Karykarta Sammelan on Monday. VHP workers from all over the country took part in it.

The sammelan was held close to Pirana Dargah, on the outskirts of the city, sending the police into a tizzy, particularly because it coincided with Bakrid.

The convention, however, ended peacefully, with the trustees of the Pirana Dargah contributing Rs 1.11 lakh to the VHP for assistance towards schools, hospitals and other humanitarian aid being run by the Parishad. Incidentally, the Pirana dargah is run by a Trust that has both Hindus and Muslims as members. Its present chief is Nanakdasji Maharaj, a Hindu.

While anti-conversion measures were a priority, re-converting the Hindus converted to Islam or Christianity was a bigger priority. Large-scale conversion of Hindus to other religions was being carried out only because of the “appeasement politics” of all major political parties, he said.

DIG AT MODI

Dr. Togadia had a dig at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Without referring to Mr. Modi's recent controversy when he was offered Muslim headgears during his “Sadbhavana Mission” fast here and again in Navsari, Dr. Togadia said of late it had become a “fashion” for him (Mr. Modi) to hobnob with the minorities and offer them “sumptuous biriyanis as being done to Mumbai attack convict Ajmal Kasab.”

Narayan Sai, son of the controversial self-styled “Godman” Asaram Bapu, felt that Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists should be considered part of the Hindu religion for, “their line of thinking is no different from that of Hindus” except for some rituals.

Pak schools teach Hindu hatred: US commission

Islamabad: Text books in Pakistani schools foster prejudice and intolerance of Hindus and other religious minorities, while most teachers view non-Muslims as 'enemies of Islam,' according to a study by a US government commission released on Wednesday.

The findings indicate how deeply ingrained hardline Islam is in Pakistan and help explain why militancy is often supported, tolerated or excused in the country.

"Teaching discrimination increases the likelihood that violent religious extremism in Pakistan will continue to grow, weakening religious freedom, national and regional stability, and global security," said Leonard Leo, the chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Pakistan was created in 1947 as a homeland for the Muslims of South Asia and was initially envisaged as a moderate state where minorities would have full rights. But three wars with mostly Hindu India; state support for militants fighting Soviet-rule in Afghanistan in the 1980s; and the appeasement of hardline clerics by weak governments seeking legitimacy have led to a steady radicalization of society.

Religious minorities and those brave enough to speak out against intolerance have often been killed, seemingly with impunity, by militant sympathizers. The commission warned that any significant efforts to combat religious discrimination, especially in education, would 'likely face strong opposition' from hardliners.

The study reviewed more than 100 textbooks from grades 1-10 from Pakistan's four provinces. Researchers in February this year visited 37 public schools, interviewing 277 students and teachers, and 19 madrases, where they interviewed 226 students and teachers.

The Islamization of textbooks began under the US-backed rule of army dictator Gen Zia-ul-Haq, who courted Islamists to support his rule. In 2006, the government announced plans to reform the curriculum to address the problematic content, but that has not been done, the study said.

Pakistan's Islamist and right-wing polity would likely oppose any efforts to change the curriculum, and the government has shown no desire to challenge them on the issue.

The report found systematic negative portrayals of minorities, especially Hindus and, to a lesser extent, Christians. Hindus make up more than 1 percent of Pakistan's 180 million people, while Christians represent around 2 percent. Some estimates put the numbers higher.

There are also even smaller populations of Sikhs and Buddhists.

"Religious minorities are often portrayed as inferior or second-class citizens who have been granted limited rights and privileges by generous Pakistani Muslims, for which they should be grateful," the report said. "Hindus are repeatedly described as extremists and eternal enemies of Islam whose culture and society is based on injustice and cruelty, while Islam delivers a message of peace and brotherhood, concepts portrayed as alien to the Hindu."

The books don't contain many specific references to Christians, but those that "that do exist seem generally negative, painting an incomplete picture of the largest religious minority in Pakistan," the report said.

Attempts to reach Pakistan's education minister were not successful.

The textbooks make very little reference to the role played by Hindus, Sikhs and Christians in the cultural, military and civic life of Pakistan, meaning a "a young minority student will thus not find many examples of educated religious minorities in their own textbooks," the report said.

"In most cases historic revisionism seems designed to exonerate or glorify Islamic civilization, or to denigrate the civilizations of religious minorities," the report said. "Basic changes to the texts would be needed to present a history free of false or unsubstantiated claims which convey religious bias."

The researchers also found that the books foster a sense that Pakistan's Islamic identity is under constant threat.

"The anti-Islamic forces are always trying to finish the Islamic domination of the world," read one passage from a social studies text being taught to Grade 4 students in Punjab province, the country's most populated. "This can cause danger for the very existence of Islam. Today, the defense of Pakistan and Islam is very much in need."

The report states that Islamic teachings and references were commonplace in compulsory text books, not just religious ones, meaning Pakistan's Christians, Hindus and other minorities were being taught Islamic content. It said this appeared to violate Pakistan's constitution, which states that students should not have to receive instruction in a religion other than their own.

The attitudes of the teachers no doubt reflect the general intolerance in Pakistan — a 2011 Pew Research Center study found the country the third most intolerant in the world — but because of the influence they have, they are especially worrisome.

Their views were frequently nuanced and sometimes contradictory, according to the study. While many advocated respectful treatment of religious minorities, this was conditional upon the attitudes of the minorities, "which appeared to be in question," the report said. The desire to proselytize was cited as one of the main motivations for kind treatment.

According to the study, more than half the public school teachers acknowledged the citizenship of religious minorities, but a majority expressed the opinion that religious minorities must not be allowed to hold positions of power, in order to protect Pakistan and Muslims. While many expressed the importance of respecting the practices of religious minorities, simultaneously 80 percent of teachers viewed non-Muslims, in some form or another, as "enemies of Islam."

Hindu organisation slams Agnivesh for participating in `Bigg Boss`

Rohtak: The Hindu organisation, Arya Samaj, on Wednesday criticized social activist Swami Agnivesh for making his debut in the television show `Bigg Boss`, and said that the latter has hurt the religious sentiments of the saffron clan through his act.

The chief of Arya Samaj in Haryana, Acharya Baldev, said that the image of the entire saffron clan has taken a beating due to Agnivesh`s act.

Acharya Baldev said that if Agnivesh wanted to become a part of the television programme then he should have shed the saffron attire.

"Not only Arya Samaj, but entire society will face its consequences because he (Swami Agnivesh) has coloured his clothes (in saffron colour). So, all those who have coloured their clothes are in trouble. He would have gone (in the television reality show) after removing his saffron colour clothes," said Acharya Baldev.

"He has hurt religious sentiments of everyone including ancient Hindu organisation and all Arya Samaj as he had harmed the image of the saints and sacred people," he added.

Acharya Baldev further said that the entire Arya Samaj would not allow Agnivesh to participate in the future events of the organisation.

"We have already boycotted him from the Arya Samaj and in the coming future also we will go on with this boycott. We will completely ban his entry on any functions of Arya Samaj, we won``t let him attend any such events. All the intellectuals from the country will share stage, but he would not be allowed," he added.

Swami Agnivesh had earlier on Tuesday said that he would use his stay in the reality show Bigg Boss 5 to create awareness about various maladies that exist in Indian society and to promote steps to remove them.

The 72-year-old social activist, who entered the Bigg Boss House on Tuesday night, further said that he would use the reality show as a medium to initiate a dialogue with middle class youth on various social issues.

The fifth season of the much-hyped reality show Bigg Boss kick-started on October 2 with the unveiling of the 14 contestants. This show is an Indian version of a UK show, Big Bother.

Hindus observe shut down in Sindh to protest killings

PTI | Nov 9, 2011, 07.10PM IST

KARACHI: Angry over killing of three Hindus, the community members today observed a shut down in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh as part of an indefinite strike to protest the deaths, as police arrested 13 people in the case. 

The Pakistan Hindu Council which had initially said that four Hindu doctors were gunned down on Eid day later clarified that three Hindus were killed in the attack. 

"It is now confirmed that those killed included a doctor, Dr Ajit Kumar and two of his relatives who were businessmen, Naresh Kumar and Ashok Kumar," Dr Ramesh Kumar, a former lawmaker and chief patron of the PHC, told PTI. 

He said a fourth person, Dr Satia Pal, was badly wounded in the attack and is now under intensive care in a Karachi hospital. "He is still struggling for his life," Kumar said. 

Police have so far arrested 13 people in connection with the killings, a police official said. 

Since the funeral of the three Hindus killed allegedly by the Muslim Bhayo community in a town near Shikarpur, the community has been observing an indefinite strike in many parts of Sindh including Shikarpur, Larkana, Umarkot, Tharparkar, Nawabshah. 

"The Hindu community has shut down its businesses and are observing the strike until the killers are apprehended," said Pitanbar Sewani, an elected representative of the Hindu community belonging to Sukkur district. 

The community members closed down their business in protest and announced an indefinite strike till those responsible for the killing are brought to book.