Religious violence in India: Difference between revisions
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==Violence against Hindus== |
==Violence against Hindus== |
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In [[North-East India]], separatist Christian militant groups have emerged.<ref>{{cite book | title = Holy Warriors: A Journey Into the Heart of Indian Fundamentalism | last = Fernandes | first = Edna | isbn = 978-0670058709 | publisher = Penguin Global | chapter = Part II: The Crusaders, Chapter 11: 'Nagaland for Christ'}}</ref> The National Liberation Front of Tripura, a separatist group, wants to convert all tribals in the Tripura state to Christianity.<ref name="BBCAug2000">{{cite news | title = Hindu preacher killed by Tripura rebels | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/899422.stm | accessdate = 2007-11-30 | date = [[28 August]] [[2000]] | publisher = [[BBC]]}}</ref> It has carried out many violent acts, including kidnapping and murders of [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] members and Hindu priests.<ref name="HT_">{{cite journal | year = 2005 | month = January-February-March | title = Violence in Northeast India | journal = Hinduism today | issn = 0896-0801 | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-104237047.html | accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref><ref name="BBCAug2000"/> The Baptist Church of Tripura has backed NLFT, and its members have confessed to buying and supplying explosives to the NLFT.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/717775.stm | title = Church backing Tripura rebels | date = [[April 18]] [[2000]] | publisher = [[BBC]] | accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref> |
In [[North-East India]], separatist Christian militant groups have emerged.<ref>{{cite book | title = Holy Warriors: A Journey Into the Heart of Indian Fundamentalism | last = Fernandes | first = Edna | isbn = 978-0670058709 | publisher = Penguin Global | chapter = Part II: The Crusaders, Chapter 11: 'Nagaland for Christ'}}</ref> The National Liberation Front of Tripura, a separatist group, wants to convert all tribals in the Tripura state to Christianity.<ref name="BBCAug2000">{{cite news | title = Hindu preacher killed by Tripura rebels | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/899422.stm | accessdate = 2007-11-30 | date = [[28 August]] [[2000]] | publisher = [[BBC]]}}</ref> It has carried out many violent acts, including kidnapping and murders of [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] members and Hindu priests.<ref name="HT_">{{cite journal | year = 2005 | month = January-February-March | title = Violence in Northeast India | journal = Hinduism today | issn = 0896-0801 | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-104237047.html | accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref><ref name="BBCAug2000"/> The Baptist Church of Tripura has backed NLFT, and its members have confessed to buying and supplying explosives to the NLFT.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/717775.stm | title = Church backing Tripura rebels | date = [[April 18]] [[2000]] | publisher = [[BBC]] | accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref> |
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In the [[Violence in Kashmir|Kashmir]] region, many [[Kashmiri Pandit]]s have been killed by [[Islamist terrorism|Islamist militants]] in incidents such as the [[Wandhama massacre]] and the [[2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/jan/27kash.htm | title = 'I heard the cries of my mother and sisters' | publisher = [[Rediff]] | date = [[27 January]] [[1998]] | accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040428/j&k.htm#1 | title = Migrant Pandits voted for end of terror in valley | publisher = [[The Tribune]] | date = [[April 27]] [[]2004] |accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ASIANOW/south/08/01/india.kashmir.massacre/ | title = At least 58 dead in 2 attacks in Kashmir | publisher = [[CNN]] | date = [[August 2]] [[2000]] |accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/41306901.cms | title = City shocked at killing of Kashmiri Pandits | publisher = [[The Times of India]] | date = [[25 March]] [[2003]] |accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-99139517.html | title = Islamic militants kill 24 Hindus in Kashmir massacre | date = [[March 25]] [[2003]] | publisher = [[The Independent]] | author = Phil Reeves | accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref> Since March 1990, nearly 2.5 lakh pandits have migrated outside Kashmir due to persecution by Islamic fundamentalists.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=131481 | title = Kashmiri Pandits in Nandimarg decide to leave Valley | publisher = [[Outlook (magazine)|Outlook]] | date = [[30 March]] [[2003]] |accessdate = 2007-11-30}}</ref> |
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{{seealso|Persecution of Hindus}} |
{{seealso|Persecution of Hindus}} |
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Revision as of 07:13, 1 December 2007
While usually India and Indian subcontinent was and is known for religious plurality,since historical times, time and again there were notable number of times when communal hormony went for a toss.
1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
On 31st October the then Prime minister of India Indira Gandhi was assasinated at 9:20 AM by her bodyguards. At 11 AM All India Radio announced that the guards who shot Indira Gandhi were Sikhs. The 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots started on 1st November and continued till 3rd of November 1984. The killings were led by Congress activists and sympathizers. The first killing of a Sikh reported from east Delhi in the early hours of November 1. About 9 am, armed mobs took over the streets of Delhi and launched a massacre. Everywhere the first targets were Gurudwaras – to prevent Sikhs from collecting there and putting up a combined defence. The then Congress government was widely criticized for doing very little at the time, possibly acting as a conspirator, especially since voting lists were used to identify Sikh families. [1]
Ayodhya and Babri Mosque
On December 6, 1992, a mob of right wing Hindu extremists destroyed the 430 year old Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, claiming the land to be the birthplace of Rama. The resulting religious riots caused at least 1200 deaths. [2][3].
Bombay Riots
The 1992 riots were occured in Mumbai. Arson, killings and property destruction occurred in different areas. Bombay burned when religious fundamentalists demolished the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. Caught in the flames fanned by communal elements were ordinary citizens, 500 of who met violent deaths in the worst-ever riots to rock the country since the partition. Every suburb of Bombay had a chilling incident to narrate. Four persons were burnt to death in a fire in the Asalpha timber mart at Ghatkopar, five were killed in Bainganwadi firing; hutments along the harbour line track between Sewri and Cotton Green stations were gutted; and a couple was pulled out of rickshaw in Asalpha village and burnt to death. Reference
2002 Gujarat violence
In 2002 a series of communal riots took place between Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat in February-May 2002, sparked by the Godhra Train Burning.
According to the death toll given to the parliament on May 11, 2005 by the government, 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were killed, and another 2,548 injured. 223 people are missing. The report placed the number of riot widows at 919 and 606 children were declared orphaned.[4][5][6] According to human rights groups, the death tolls were up to 2000.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] According to the United States Congressional Research Service the upto 2000, mostly Muslim were killed in the violence.[14] Tens of thousands were displaced from their homes because of the violence.
Anti-Christian violence
There are sporadic instances of violence between Hindu Nationalists groups and Christians. According to Human Rights Watch, there is large-scale violence being perpetrated by Hindu Nationalists against Christians[15].
Violence against Hindus
In North-East India, separatist Christian militant groups have emerged.[16] The National Liberation Front of Tripura, a separatist group, wants to convert all tribals in the Tripura state to Christianity.[17] It has carried out many violent acts, including kidnapping and murders of RSS members and Hindu priests.[18][17] The Baptist Church of Tripura has backed NLFT, and its members have confessed to buying and supplying explosives to the NLFT.[19]
In the Kashmir region, many Kashmiri Pandits have been killed by Islamist militants in incidents such as the Wandhama massacre and the 2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre.[20][21][22][23][24] Since March 1990, nearly 2.5 lakh pandits have migrated outside Kashmir due to persecution by Islamic fundamentalists.[25]
Violence by Islamic terrorists
In the Kashmir region, many Kashmiri Pandits have been killed by Islamist militants in incidents such as the Wandhama massacre and the 2000 Amarnath pilgrimage massacre.[26][27][28][29][30] Since March 1990, nearly 2.5 lakh pandits have migrated outside Kashmir due to persecution by Islamic fundamentalists.[31]
References
- ^ Swadesh Bahadur Singh (editor of the Sher-i-Panjâb weekly): “Cabinet berth for a Sikh”, Indian Express, 31-5-1996.
- ^ Gargan, Edward (December 16, 1992). "India, Acting on Militants, Ousts Local Rulers". New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ Serrill, Michael (December 21, 1992). "The Unholy War". New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ Gujarat riot death toll revealed,BBC
- ^ BJP cites govt statistics to defend Modi,Indian Express
- ^ 254 Hindus, 790 Muslims killed in post-Godhra riots,Indiainfo.com
- ^ Human Rights Watch 2006, p. 265.
- ^ "Talibanization" and "Saffronization" in India,hir.harvard.edu
- ^ Why is Narendra Modi in Wembley?,The Guardian
- ^ India Shining, Communal Darkness,pucl.org
- ^ India's Calculated Ethnic Violence
- ^ Communal violence and nuclear stand-off
- ^ India in crisis
- ^ India-U.S. Relations
- ^ http://hrw.org/english/docs/1999/09/30/india1626.htm
- ^ Fernandes, Edna. "Part II: The Crusaders, Chapter 11: 'Nagaland for Christ'". Holy Warriors: A Journey Into the Heart of Indian Fundamentalism. Penguin Global. ISBN 978-0670058709.
- ^ a b "Hindu preacher killed by Tripura rebels". BBC. 28 August 2000. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Violence in Northeast India". Hinduism today. 2005. ISSN 0896-0801. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Church backing Tripura rebels". BBC. April 18 2000. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "'I heard the cries of my mother and sisters'". Rediff. 27 January 1998. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ {{cite news | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040428/j&k.htm#1 | title = Migrant Pandits voted for end of terror in valley | publisher = The Tribune | date = April 27 [[]2004] |accessdate = 2007-11-30}}
- ^ "At least 58 dead in 2 attacks in Kashmir". CNN. August 2 2000. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "City shocked at killing of Kashmiri Pandits". The Times of India. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Phil Reeves (March 25 2003). "Islamic militants kill 24 Hindus in Kashmir massacre". The Independent. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Kashmiri Pandits in Nandimarg decide to leave Valley". Outlook. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "'I heard the cries of my mother and sisters'". Rediff. 27 January 1998. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ {{cite news | url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040428/j&k.htm#1 | title = Migrant Pandits voted for end of terror in valley | publisher = The Tribune | date = April 27 [[]2004] |accessdate = 2007-11-30}}
- ^ "At least 58 dead in 2 attacks in Kashmir". CNN. August 2 2000. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "City shocked at killing of Kashmiri Pandits". The Times of India. 25 March 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Phil Reeves (March 25 2003). "Islamic militants kill 24 Hindus in Kashmir massacre". The Independent. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Kashmiri Pandits in Nandimarg decide to leave Valley". Outlook. 30 March 2003. Retrieved 2007-11-30.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)