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[1] New religion Bill may face the same fate Special Correspondent http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/25/stories/2008032557110700.htm Rajasthan Governor takes part in Easter celebrations JAIPUR: The observations made by Rajasthan Governor Shailendra Kumar Singh in his address to a gathering of Christians on the occasion of Easter celebrations here on Sunday have led to speculation that the newest of the anti-conversion Bills in the country, passed by the State Assembly three days ago, would go the same way as the previous one—passed in 2006 and returned to the State Government by the then Governor Pratibha Patil. Unity and harmony “We have to respect all religions equally and strive for the uplift of society. Unity in society and harmony could be brought only through our good behaviour and not by Bills and legislation,” said Mr. Singh, a former career diplomat, addressing the gathering of believers at the more than a century old All Saints Church. “Faith brings mutual confidence. All the religions should be respected equally. This only can create an atmosphere of love and brotherhood,” Mr. Singh said. The Upanishads and the shastras have defined faith, love and belief with good clarity, he said. Quoting from the Bhagwad Gita, the septuagenarian Mr. Singh said Lord Krishna, while trying to help Arjun come out of his dilemma on the battlefront, had said that in society all are equal and real “dharma” is to carry out one’s responsibilities. In what perhaps came as a reassurance to the beleaguered Christian community—which is apprehensive of the harsh Rajasthan Religious Freedom Bill, 2008--was the Governor’s participation in two Easter programmes. Prior to the All Saints Church function, Mr. Singh sat through a two-hour-long midnight Easter vigil service on Saturday night at the St. Xavier’s Catholic Church. High hopes Raj Bhawan sources said he had gone to St. Xavier’s as a “commoner”. The midnight church service, which mentioned the presence of the Governor amid the gathering, thanked him for his gesture. As is the practice every year, the congregation prayed for the Rajasthan Chief Minister and the members of the Cabinet as well for “enabling them to do their duties well”. “The Governor’s act came as a reassurance. It was so kind on his part to participate in two celebrations of Resurrection,” said Collin C. Theodore, Bishop of the Church of North India (CNI), speaking on phone from Ajmer. The All Saints Church comes under CNI. “We hope the Governor means what he said. We have high hopes on him,” the Bishop noted. The Rajasthan Freedom of Religion Bill, passed by the State Assembly after it was pushed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party last Friday amid protests from Congress and CPI (M) members, has stringent provisions to punish anyone who “converts or attempt to convert” from one religion to another by “use of force or allurement or fraudulent means” with imprisonment ranging from one year to five years. The same is not applicable for those converting back to his/her “original religion”. ------------- [2] Indian dies in Karachi jail Nirupama Subramanian ISLAMABAD: An Indian fisherman died in a jail in Karachi on Thursday. Inspector-General (Jails), Sindh, Mohammed Yamin Khan, told The Hindu that Lakshman Kanji died in the Malir Jail hospital where he was admitted after he complained of stomach pain and diarrhoea 10 days ago. Kanji, 38, from Gujarat was apprehended in February 2006 in Pakistani territorial waters along with several other fishermen, Mr. Khan said. The Indian High Commission here was given consular access to him in July 2006. Like all other fishermen caught for trespassing, Kanji was charged under the Passport Act, Mr. Khan said. The maximum jail sentence under this Act is six months, but it has become the practice to release fishermen in large groups in a ceremonial exchange of prisoners between the two countries, even if individuals among them have long completed their sentences. The jail official dismissed suggestions of a tit-for-tat — for the death of Khalid Mahmood in custody in India — and ruled out torture as a cause of death. He said a magistrate had examined the body and found no external injuries. The body was sent for post-mortem examination. “There is no question of torture,” Mr. Khan said and added that Kanji was in the same section of the jail as 431 other Indian fishermen were and it was “impossible” to mistreat one without the others coming to know of it. http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032161980100.htm ------------- [3] Gurkha war veterans protest ‘discrimination’ Hasan Suroor LONDON: In a symbolic protest against what they called “immoral discrimination” 50 Gurkha veterans, who served in the British army, have returned their medals as part of their campaign to be treated on par with their fellow British soldiers. They handed over the medals — awarded to them for their long service and good conduct — to the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg who said he would pass them to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to shame the government into considering their demand. The “handover,” held at a sombre event near the Houses of Parliament, marked the start of a new phase of Gurkhas’ protest over the British Government’s policy under which Gurkhas who retired before 1997 get much lower pension than their British counterparts and do not enjoy automatic right to remain in Britain. Gurkhas argue that this is discriminatory as on the battlefield they faced the same risks as their British colleagues and their sacrifices are no less. One angry Gurkha veteran said he was without a job and could barely survive on the meagre pension he received after serving for 17 years in the British army. http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032155322200.htm ------------- |
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