1 Jan,2011

A brand new year with compassion
Archbishop Patriarch of Goa and Daman Filipe Neri Ferrão has done well to point at the growing trend of supposedly democratic and representative institutions being used to foment religious and communal tensions, fuel communal divides and abet communal violence. His address, at the annual civic reception on the occasion of Christmas held at the Archbishop’s House on Wednesday, offered the hand of the Church in Goa to collaborate “in the building of a society that sincerely and genuinely promotes the dignity of the human being, religious freedom and cultural harmony, as well as peace and justice for everyone”.
These words are doubly significant in the context of events in neighbouring Karnataka, which is ruled by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Some years ago, it saw horrific communal violence against the peaceful Catholic community in the state by the stormtroopers of the Sri Ram Sene, the Bajrang Dal and other fascist outfits on the pretext of a leaflet released by a minuscule Protestant evangelist group. Significantly, the government of the state did little or nothing to prevent the violence. Instead, police beat and arrested Catholic youth who resisted the violence.
Even more recently, the state has passed a draconian law banning slaughter of not just cows and calves, but of bulls and buffaloes as well. This has nothing to do with religion. The Hindu religion may consider the cow to be holy, but certainly not the bull – which is used for ploughing fields – or the buffalo. The whole purpose of the law is purely to harass minorities which eat beef, like the Muslims, Christians and Dalits. Thankfully, the Karnataka Governor in a political masterstroke has referred the bill to the President of India for an opinion, and it is now stuck in limbo.
As the Archbishop said, the country and this state presently face a threat to their minority communities, even though the minorities do not represent any threat to the majority. He has called not for any resistance or protest in this matter, but rather for an opportunity to conduct a genuine dialogue and promote mutual cultural enrichment. He pointed out that right from the United Nations to parliaments, legislative assemblies, municipal corporations and village councils like our panchayats, there are vast opportunities for people to sit at a common table and discuss matters of common interest, which contribute to the common welfare of humankind.
It is only when these very structures of participation become tools in the hands of a few to wield power over national and state communities, instead of being genuine community empowering instruments, that they cease to be the democratic institutions that they purport they are.
Without taking any names, the Archbishop slammed “large conventions” that take place, sometimes with the sole aim of disturbing inter-religious peace and harmony existing amidst citizens. He was probably referring to the alleged ‘Hindu Dharma Jagruti Sabhas’ that are organised by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti in Goa. In these meetings, strident rabble rousing is the order of the day. Hinduism is falsely proclaimed to be ‘in danger’, and vitriol is poured on the minority communities, on the Congress government in Goa, and in particular on the Chief Minister of the state. Many of the speeches made at these meetings could easily attract criminal charges of causing disaffection among communities.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was present at the reception, along with a host of other dignitaries. He could not have failed to have heard the Archbishop Patriarch. There was no hatred or anger in his words; just a longing for communal harmony and a rebuke for those who sought to disturb it without any real cause. The next time there is a Hindu Dharma Jagruti Sabha, maybe the CM should ask for a report, and then take what action he feels is appropriate.