Press and Media Reports

Page 5

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's foreign trips seem to be creating a lot of controversy
March 23, 2005, NDTV (New Delhi)

Barely two days after being denied a visa by the US, Modi has been given the go ahead to visit the UK, to attend the "Vibrant Gujarat" celebrations on March 26.

Britain however, has made it clear that while the Gujarat Chief Minister was not being denied entry, the British government would continue its policy of having no working contact with the state government.

The British High Commission in Delhi also conducted an internal inquiry into the violence in Gujarat in 2002 following the death of a British national in the riots.

Set for protests

Meanwhile, activists in UK have vowed to make their presence felt during Modi's visit, just as in New York, where protests were held when he addressed a gathering via satellite from Gandhinagar.

AWAAZ and South Asia Watch are planning protests and demonstrations at various venues where the Gujarat CM will attend functions.

Modi's last visit to London was in 2003, barely a year after the Gujarat violence, and he had been hounded by protests at that time.

However, this time round, the highlight of Modi's visit to London will be his presence at the Royal Albert Hall for the 'Vibrant Gujarat' celebrations on Saturday.

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The chief minister's office (CMO) says Modi will be attending the March 26 Gujarat Day Celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall, London. But it's not clear who has invited him. The organisers of the event, the Asian Music Circuit, say they haven't invited Modi and don't know on whose invitation he plans to be there.

Asian Music Circuit's website dedicates a whole page to the event, but nowhere does it mention Modi. The website says folk singer Praful Dave and percussionist Trilok Gurtu and Sandeep Raval will be performing at the event, to be compered by Harish Bhimani. It also names the sponsors.

One Asian Music Circuit office-bearer, who didn't want to be named, told The Indian Express: ''We are a non-political body and do not want to be dragged into any controversy. We have not invited Modi but he may attend the function.''

Modi's office, which has been briefing the press for the last two days, says he has been invited by Asian Voice, a London publication. The chief minister's public relations officer, Jagdishchandra Thakkar, claims Modi's visit to London is an official tour, in which he will be accompanied by tourism secretary R.M. Patel, secretary (CMO) A.K. Sharma, and officer on special duty (infotech) Parag Shah.

Those who run Asian Voice categorically deny that they've invited Modi, but say they aren't opposed to his coming there.

C.B. Patel, publisher and editor of Asian Voice, told The Indian Express: ''We have not extended invitation to Modi. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar (UK) are just two of the few sponsors. I'd be glad to invite Modi, but I have no role whatsoever in the management of the event, nor am I authorised to invite people for it.''

The Asian Music Circuit was created in 1989 and is registered as a charity. It is funded by the Arts Council of England since 1991. Sources said 5,000 of the 6,000 tickets for the event have already been sold.

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The US yesterday defied the Indian prime minister by upholding a decision to deny a visa to Narendra Modi, Gujarat's controversial chief minister, stating that the BJP politician was linked to "particularly severe violations of religious freedom" during an anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat in 2002.

The US's stance leaves Britain under pressure to follow suit as Mr Modi plans to attend a celebration of Gujarati music at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Saturday. British Muslim and human rights groups are protesting at his UK entry.

Mr Modi and the BJP government in Gujarat allegedly helped orchestrate India's worst communal riots in years, when up to 2,000 Muslims were killed following the deaths of 58 Hindus in an arson attack on a train.

The US's intransigence on the issue is also a rebuff to Manmohan Singh, India's prime minister, who on Friday had called on the US to reconsider the decision.

Jeff Wilson, a spokesman for the British High Commission in Delhi, which as a matter of course refuses contact with the Gujarat state government because of its human rights record, said the UK government had no plans to deny Mr Modi a visa or revoke any existing ones. "We have a different system to the US and have no plans to follow suit," Mr Wilson said, pointing out that Mr Modi visited the UK in 2003. "The US has refused him a visa on a specific point of legislation pertaining to the abuse of human rights."

Ravi Nair of the Delhi-based South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, said: "The British High Commission did a detailed report after Gujarat and there is enough material in that to show that Mr Modi is an undesirable person in any democratic country."

Dhruv Khanna, marketing officer for Asian Music Circuit, promoter of the Royal Albert Hall event, yesterday denied Mr Modi was coming: "I don't know why they are misleading you. I am sure he is not coming." However, Sanjay Bausar, an aide to Mr Modi, said he was "definitely going to be there".

Prevented from attending a conference at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, Mr Modi yesterday delighted his Hindu nationalist supporters by using a satellite link-up to claim he was the victim of a "disinformation campaign" by non-governmental organisations and others.

Although Mr Modi has not been charged with any crime in India, the US said it was basing its action on a report by India's own National Human Rights Commission, which claimed the state "failed" to control "persistent violations of rights".

Mr Modi accused Washington of double standards: "Tomorrow if the American army chief seeks to visit India, should we look at the US track record in Iraq and deny him a visa?"

The Congress-led government in New Delhi has deplored the US decision as an infringement of India's national sovereignty, and taken care to minimise Mr Modi's portrayal of himself as a Hindu "martyr".

Mr Modi's supporters promised a backlash against US companies and threatened to boycott American Express, which withdrew sponsorship of the Asian-American Hotel Owners Convention at which the BJP leader was to speak.

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Close on the heels of the US denying visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to visit that country, two United Kingdom-based voluntary organisations are planning protest demonstrations during his proposed visit to London next Saturday.

This was announced at a public meeting organised on Saturday night by the AWAAZ and South Asia Watch.

Modi is scheduled to participate in the 'Vibrant Gujarat' celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall.

Welcoming the US decision to deny visa to Modi and revoke his tourist/business visa, Suresh Grover of AWAAZ said, "We need to create necessary momentum to keep up the international pressure ...when he comes here on Friday."

Modi denied visa to visit US

Indira Jaising, eminent human rights lawyer and senior advocate of the Supreme Court, was the chief guest at the meeting.

Jaising, also chairperson of the Lawyers Collective (India) and director of the Women's Rights Initiative, New Delhi, alleged that the Gujarat riots in February 2002 were 'pre-meditated'.

Angelika Pathak, researcher at Amnesty International's South Asia Team, said Amnesty had recommended to the Gujarat government to investigate promptly, thoroughly and impartially all reports of alleged police connivance or participation in acts of sexual violence against women and bring to justice those responsible.

It suggested that the state government should recruit adequate number of women police officers and appoint investigating officers who specialise in cases of sexual violence. They should be provided specialist training, especially in collecting, analysing and preserving medical and other forensic evidence.

Visa denial matter of concern

Amnesty wanted the Union government to ratify the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

The convention provides for individual petitions and for inquiries into its systematic violations, affording an international remedy for women who have suffered human rights abuses.

Amnesty also urged the Indian government to permit UN human rights mechanisms and international human rights organisations free and regular access to enable them to research alleged human rights issues in the country.

It is a matter of swabhimaan: Modi

Meanwhile, the Indian Muslim Federation (UK) and the Council of Indian Muslims (UK) have welcomed the US government decision to deny visa to Modi.

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London: Close on the heels of the US denying visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, two UK-based voluntary organisations are planning protest demonstrations during his proposed visit to London next Saturday.

This was announced at a public meeting organised on Saturday night by the organisations -- AWAAZ and South Asia Watch.

Welcoming the US decision to deny visa to and revoke tourist/business visa of Modi, Suresh Grover of AWAAZ said, "We need to create necessary momentum to keep up the international pressure... when he comes here."

Indira Jaising, eminent human rights lawyer and senior advocate of the Supreme Court, was the chief guest at the public meeting. Jaising, also Chairperson of the Lawyers Collective (India) and Director of the Womens Rights Initiative, New Delhi, alleged that the Gujarat riots in February 2002 were "pre-meditated".

Angelika Pathak, Researcher at Amnesty Internationals South Asia Team, said Amnesty had recommended to the Gujarat government to investigate promptly, thoroughly and impartially all reports of alleged police connivance or participation in acts of sexual violence against women and bring to justice those responsible.

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AS non-resident Indians dig deep into their pockets to help the tsunami victims, there is a heightened concern that sectarian groups are exploiting the tragedy for their own divisive goals.

Secular groups across the United States and Britain are specifically apprehensive about the US-based India Development and Relief Fund; and overseas chapters of the RSS, Sewa International and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Mr Chetan Bhatt, a reader in sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of London, has studied the proliferation of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh affiliates in the NRI community. He says in India the RSS is trying to “penetrate the southern states” under the guise of providing tsunami relief.

“The RSS has had little success in South India and it hopes to spread its influence like it did in Orissa after the cyclone (in 1999) and in Gujarat following the earthquake (in 2001),” he said, adding that, “There is a pattern where you have a natural tragedy, the RSS launches an appeal and this is followed by a dramatic expansion of Sangh activities in the area. This expansion has invariably been accompanied by violence.”

Established in 1925, the RSS advocates Hindu nationalism and seeks to convert India into a “Hindu Rashtra (Nation).” The RSS has been banned thrice in India, most recently in 1992 after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

The RSS is not permitted by the Government of India to accept funds from abroad. Instead, US affiliates, which include IDRF and HSS, serve as fronts for organisations like Sewa Bharati, Jana Sankshema Samiti and Vivekananda Kendra in India, all of which are intrinsic parts of the RSS operations and subscribe to its anti-minority ideology.

An ex-employee at the World Bank and a former member of the RSS, Maryland-based IDRF founder Vinod Prakash has in the past said IDRF has given “absolutely no money to the RSS.”

In 2002, the US-based Campaign to Stop Funding Hate (CSFH) documented links between IDRF and RSS affiliates in India. Biju Mathew, a professor of business at Rider University and a member of the campaign, says of the long list of organisations that IDRF claims to support, only Sewa Bharati (Tamil Nadu and Kerala), Jana Sankshema Samiti (Andhra Pradesh) and Vivekananda Kendra (Tamil Nadu) are clearly identified as RSS affiliates.

“Sewa Bharati [in Tamil Nadu] is housed in the same office as the Southern Region branch of the RSS,” said Mr. Mathew.

In London, the Charity Commission is investigating Sewa International (U.K.) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad following a number of complaints, including one from Lord Adam Patel of Britain’s House of Lords.

“Lord Adam Patel claimed that not all the funds raised by the Gujarat Earthquake appeal (by Sewa International and the VHP) were applied in accordance with the appeal,” said Sush Amar, public relations manager at the Charity Commission. She said the commission has not placed any restrictions on fund-raising campaigns by these groups during the course of the investigation.

Mr James Bishop, director of humanitarian policy and practice at Washington-based InterAction — the largest alliance of US-based international and humanitarian non-governmental organisations, acknowledges a precedent in which humanitarian tragedies have been exploited by “certain individuals and groups that posed as legitimate charities and engaged in fraud.”

Mindful of these incidents, the Chicago-based American Institute of Philanthropy, a non-profit charity watchdog, has instructed Americans to send tsunami aid “to only those charities with an established track record of helping people in this region.”

“During a highly publicised crisis, it is common for disreputable, fly-by-night ‘charities’ to take advantage of the public’s generosity,” the institute cautioned.

Complaints about unequal distribution of aid in the tsunami-hit regions in India have started to pour in to human rights organisations. Brad Adams, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch, says the New York-based group has received reports of discrimination against Dalit communities in India by the authorities as well as by some aid groups and local communities.

Noting the presence of a significant Dalit Christian population among the affected communities, Mr Mathew said the RSS, through its Tamil Nadu front — the Hindu Munnani — “has been trying to divide that community along religious lines for the last decade.”

“The Hindu Munnani is most active in Tamil Nadu amongst the fisher folk communities,” he said “With an influx of funds, the Munnani will be able to launch an aggressive campaign against the Dalits. The region is prone to a fairly bad communal situation.”

The emergence of Sewa International (US) and its role in tsunami relief efforts, Mr Mathew said, “is a matter of concern but also shows that IDRF has been affected by negative publicity and the Sangh felt the need to float a new front.”

Secular groups have, in the past, been criticised for focusing on the activities of the RSS and its affiliates.

After IDRF’s links to the RSS were exposed in 2002, a group calling itself Friends of India put together “A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund.”

Defending IDRF from charges of being discriminatory, sectarian and deceptive the Friends of India report said: “If indeed IDRF wanted to be deceptive, would it put up all the details of funds received and distributed for everyone to see on the Internet?”

The group also noted that accusations that the RSS’ accounts are never audited publicly “does not have any meaning because audits are conducted of individual organisations that handle money. A group of people sharing common ideals has no need of any ‘audit’ except in communist or Islamic dictatorships.”

In defence of its work, CSFH said: “While it is important to oppose all sectarian organisations, including fundamentalist Christian and Muslim groups, who wait in the wings to pounce whenever tragedy strikes, it is far more important to confront and expose the RSS in India because it is exponentially more powerful than any other such exclusionist organisation.”

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The Civil Suit for damages was filed today, 30th April 2004, at a Gujarat District Court, by the British based Dawood family on behalf of their relatives who were violently attacked and murdered during the Gujarat carnage two years ago. The case may lead to further charges being filed in international courts at a future date.

Such legal action against senior political and government officials is unprecedented in Indian legal history. The charges will mean that the officials will face huge compensation claims and the case will highlight the specific roles played by state officials in the Gujarat Carnage.

The scale of attacks on Indian Muslims during the period has been described as a highly organised and systematic Genocide that claimed thousands of innocent lives. Hundreds of Muslim women are known to have been brutally raped and over two hundred thousand people were displaced from their homes and businesses.

Amongst those targeted were the British nationals. In February 2002, whilst returning from the Taj Mahal, the vehicle carrying the four British tourists, was stopped on the main highway into Gujarat, by a well organised roadblock set up by hindu extremists. The roadblock was in close proximity to local police services and once the vehicle had been stopped Mohamed Aswat, Sakil Dawood, Saeed Dawood, Imran Dawood and Yusuf Palagar, an Indian national, were then set upon by the mob for being Muslims. Only 18 year old, Imran Dawood, survived the attacked.

All senior public figures listed in the claim, formed a "hierarchy of command in Gujarat qua the Prantij Police Station and are therefore responsible not only for their own acts as agents of the State that caused and facilitated the violation of rights but also for the acts of non-state players", such as those individuals directly responsible for the murder of the Dawood relatives. Apart from Mr Modi, other senior officials include Mr Gordhonbhai Pragjibahi Zadaphia (the Home Minister of the State of Gujarat); Mr Ashok Narayan ( the Home Minister of the State of Gujarat) ; Mr K.Chakravarty (Director General of Police of the State of Gujarat) ; Mr Amitabh Pathak (Inspector General of Police of the State of Gujarat.); Mr N. D. Solanki (the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dist. Sabarkantha, Gujara); and Mr D. K. Vankar (the Inspector of Police, Prantij Police Station, Dist. Sabarkantha, Gujarat). Bracket designations indicate positions held by individual at the material time.

The lengthy and highly detailed documentation lodged in Court today also holds the Chief Minister responsible "for the acts of commission and omission committed by his officers in the command structure" for the systematic gruesome targeted pattern of destruction of the Muslim community that clearly "constitute actionable wrongs of genocide, torture and crimes and against humanity and violation of the fundamental rights of life and liberty".

The perception of India, will be under enormous scrutiny as a result of these charges. The case has already been the focus of an adjournment debate in the British Parliament and both the British Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw have expressed 'deep concern' at the circumstances in which the British Citizens were murdered and a lack of any serious investigation thereafter.

Yusuf Dawood, brother of one of the British victims stated, "We have all been traumatised by the loss of our loved ones, in particular; the circumstances have made it very difficult to come to terms with the tragedy. It is hoped that by pursuing the culprits and those that have organised the Genocide, the deaths of our loved ones will not be in vain. We should never forget the scale of these crimes and no one should rest until justice has been done."

Imran Khan, an eminent British civil rights lawyer who represents the family said, "Given the existing circumstances in Gujarat, the family has been forced to bring this legal action, a first step to holding those responsible for murder and genocide to account. We now hope that the Courts in India will allow our action to proceed without placing any unnecessary obstacles in its way".

Suresh Grover, the Dawood Family Spokesperson, said, "We know from experience that obtaining justice is never easy and rarely achieved but this unprecedented legal action achieved through joint work in India and the UK will not only galvanise international public support for the Dawood family but also offer hope for those victims living in fear in Gujarat today".

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A recently published report provides insights into how Hindutva groups operate at the international level through different front organisations and charities.

LORD ADAM PATEL was one of the many overseas Indians moved by the tragedy of the Kutch earthquake in 2001. A Labour Party Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, Lord Patel, along with other public figures in the Indian diaspora, used their influence to help gather funds to send back home. He was a patron of Sewa International’s Earthquake Relief Fund.

But soon, Lord Patel was jolted. He found out that Sewa International’s mission was not purely "seva" (service). The money was allegedly being given to Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh-affiliated organisations that propagate hatred against Muslims and Christians. The Sangh Parivar was involved in the communal violence that crippled Gujarat in 2002. Realising their links, Lord Patel resigned as a patron of Sewa International.

"I very much regret ever having been part of this racist organisation. ... Sewa International is a front for militant Hindu organisations. ... I am sure a lot of the donors don’t realise the money is being sent to help terror groups like the RSS," he said in an interview with the U.K. newspaper Sunday Mercury (August 11, 2002).

Recently, a British group called Awaaz exposed the RSS’ charitable facade. It published a report, "In Bad Faith: British Charity and Hindu Extremism," which traces how, in the guise of earthquake relief, millions of pounds raised by Sewa International have gone to RSS fronts. It found that all the two million pounds raised for quake reconstruction and rehabilitation were given to Sewa Bharati, an RSS affiliate. The report provides insights into how Hindutva groups operate at the international level through different front organisations and charities.

"Sewa Bharati’s activities around both the Gujarat Earthquake and the Orissa cyclone in 1999 demonstrate a pattern in which a natural, human tragedy is used to enable the dramatic expansion of RSS institutions through the use of overseas funds," said the report. In 2002, a similar report, "A Foreign Exchange of Hate", exposed how an RSS front charity in the United States called the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) was funding Sangh Parivar activities in India.

While appealing for funds, it is alleged, Sewa International did not disclose its association with the Hindu Swayamsewak Sangh (HSS), the RSS’ U.K. branch, and Sewa Bharati. Sewa Bharati was banned by the Madhya Pradesh government because of its alleged role in the attacks on Christians. "Sewa International funded Sewa Bharati for rebuilding work, but it was the RSS that conducted ceremonies at the start of rebuilding work or handed over the completed villages to residents," the report said.

Sewa Bharati started RSS shakhas during the rehabilitation of Badanpur village. Reports allege that the RSS distributed relief selectively to upper-caste victims, neglecting Dalits and Muslims. The RSS also organised shakhas in relief camps. At Adhoi village, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) preachers gave lectures every night on the need to be vigilant against Christians and Muslims. RSS volunteers allegedly threatened other relief workers with harm unless they left Kutch. They accused the latter of receiving foreign funds to convert people to Christianity.

Almost a quarter of Sewa International’s earthquake relief funds went to RSS-run schools. The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) criticised the teaching material in these schools as being "blatantly communal".

While confirming that all its earthquake relief funds went to Sewa Bharati and that it is a part of the HSS, Sewa International refuted accusations that it is funding hate campaigns in India. "Sewa International is a non-religious, non-political and non-sectarian organisation, which believes in equality. At all times, Sewa International encourages social integration and not social division," said Shantibhai Mistry, a Sewa International representative, in a letter to the newspaper that published Lord Adam’s interview.

"The view expressed in the newspaper, in which Lord Adam implies that Sewa International is a front for militant activity, which incites racial hatred, is both outrageous and offending. Sewa International has always openly condemned violence, terrorism and racial discrimination in the past and will continue to do so in the future," said Mistry.

He maintained that the dealings of Sewa International were transparent. "Many individuals such as the Lord Mayor of Coventry and the former Mayor of Derby together with several Labour MPs and representatives from the media have visited the earthquake-affected areas of Gujarat and have personally approved, endorsed and commended the rehabilitation work carried out by Sewa," he said. Refuting allegations, Sewa International said it encouraged donors to visit the projects that their money had funded and provided every assistance to those who wished to do so.

Besides earthquake relief, questions have also been raised about Sewa International’s other projects. Most of the £2,60,000 raised by Sewa International U.K. for cyclone relief in Orissa after 1999 went to a key front of the RSS, the Utkal Bipanna Sahayata Samiti (UBSS). "The HSS U.K. said the funds would be channelled through RSS volunteers. It also said it funds organisations that gets their workforce from the RSS," said the Awaaz report.

Lord Adam and others in the U.K. are appealing to the U.K. government to get the organisation’s status as charity revoked. In India, such funding is a violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) regulations since the money is used to fund political ends under different guises.

In the United States, a large part of the IDRF’s fund raising is done through electronic means such as money transfer portals, charity portals or company foundation portals such as the Cisco Foundation.

Many large corporations match employee donations to charities and land up giving a lot of money to the IDRF. From 1993-95, the VHP of America had signed up with AT&T for a programme in which a fixed percentage of any subscriber’s total telephone bill could be directed to a non-profit organisation of his/her choice if the organisation was registered under the AT&T programme. But AT&T withdrew support for the VHP of America after it was under pressure from people who were appalled by the VHP’s misuse of charity.

The Awaaz report is an eye-opener for many who are misled by charities and donate without knowing what their money is used for and by whom. Charity is not always as harmless and benevolent as it sometimes seems.

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A rights group has urged the Election Commission to probe a report that Hindu rightwing groups are receiving foreign funds that may find their way into the upcoming poll campaign.

K.G. Kannabiran, national president of the Peoples' Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL), in a statement here, drew attention to a report that was presented to Britain's House of Lords in February.

Titled, "In Bad Faith? British Charity and Hindu Extremism", and prepared by the NGO Awaaz, the report alleged that groups like the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh - the British branch of the Rahstriya Swamyamsevak Sangh (RSS) of India - and its fundraising arm Sewa International were raising finances in Britain and using it to support organisations like the RSS.

The PUCL has demanded a probe by the Election Commission, alleging that funds raised in the name of charity provide funds for the political activities of the Hindu nationalist fraternity (Sangh Parivar) that supports the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"In the light of recent announcements that the Sangh Parivar will be explicitly supporting the BJP election campaign, such funding may also be distorting the democratic process," it said.

The PUCL also noted that more than two million pounds raised by Sewa International for disaster relief work after the Gujarat earthquake in 2001 were sent to Hindu rightwing outfits in India.

It said Section 10 of the Foreign Currency Regulation Act (FCRA) allows the central government wide powers to prohibit acceptance of foreign contributions from any association or person even though unconnected with the election, if such funds are likely to impair the "freedom or fairness of elections or disrupt harmony between religious, racial, linguistic groups, castes or communities".

"It becomes necessary for the Election Commission to consider whether the money spent by the Sangh Parivar on the BJP's election campaign is permissible and if not, consider suitable action to interdict receipt of funds by these organisations from foreign sources."

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A report, titled In Bad Faith? : British Charity and Hindu Extremism, was released in the House of Lords on February 26th (see www.awaazsaw.org). It details how UK-based groups – particularly the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK (the RSS' UK branch), and its fundraising arm Sewa International – have been raising funds in the name of humanitarian aid in India. In particular, Sewa International raised over 2 million pounds (about Rs. 14 crore at current rates) for disaster relief work after the Gujarat earthquake. Virtually all the money raised by these organisations is sent to Sangh Parivar outfits in India, particularly Sewa Bharati. The report demonstrates that the uses of this money include relief work that glorified the RSS and extended its shakha network, construction of the controversial ekal vidyalayas and Vidya Bharati-run schools, and funding of other Parivar groups, particularly the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram.

In its investigation into the 2002 anti-Muslim genocide in Gujarat, the Concerned Citizens' Tribunal had stated that “The source of [Sangh Parivar] funds, used increasingly for blatantly unlawful and unconstitutional activities, needs to be investigated.” This report provides a partial answer to that question. It requires to be highlighted that both Sewa Bharati and the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram have been directly involved in anti-minority violence (such as Sewa Bharati’s recent involvement in the Jhabua clashes).

The Peoples Union for Civil Liberties reads this Report with concern and is apprehensive of the effect such large scale funding of an avowedly communal outfit will have on the polity and its pluralistic character. RSS can no longer be taken as some sort of an innocuous cultural organization separate from and uninvolved with the BJP, universally considered to be its political face. The fig leaf of being separate entities has been torn off in the context of the 2004 elections. The 10th March, 2004 edition of the Hindu carries a report highlighting the plans of the RSS for a larger and more direct role in the coming 2004 elections. The report points out to the fact that the RSS this time is insisting on stressing the Hindutva view in all issues dealt with by the Vision Document of the BJP. Clear instructions have been issued by the RSS bosses from their Nagpur and Delhi offices to ensure that their workers not only work during elections for the success of BJP in the polls to the Lok Sabha but also to see that that the elected representatives toe the line of the RSS. It is a complete takeover by the RSS of the entire election campaign of the BJP. It is in this context that the report of Awaaz raises issues of concern. It is clear that the funds collected in Britain would not, in actuality, have been used for the purposes for which they were said to be collected. It is clear that much of the funds will indeed have been used for ensuring the growth of organizations affiliated to RSS and their cohort organizations in expanding their area of Hindutva influence and supporting groups involved in violence.

Though currently there does not exist direct evidence, there is every possibility that the funds raised may be used for the current election purposes and such an eventuality cannot be ruled out. These will not be accounted for in the returns filed on election expenses. People experienced in monitoring the way election expenses are accounted know that such diversion is possible without being shown in official election expenses. This is especially so given the complexity of electoral dynamics and difficulty in strict monitoring. No political party ever reflects the true amounts spent on elections. The fact also remains that such funding may well be used for funding the current rath yatra of Advani without anyone being wiser.

But the true danger of this funding is not just that it may have been used to directly support violence. All of the groups discussed in the report swear by Hindutva and pledge themselves to propagating their view of India as a ‘Hindu nation’ where minorities are second-class citizens. They engage in this by staging massive publicity spectacles like yatras, spreading misinformation and falsehoods through the media and, most importantly, running schools that teach distorted, anti-minority propaganda in the name of education. For decades these groups have worked to spread their influence and to ensure that the rights of Muslims and Christians are increasingly marginalized. It is worth recalling that, in 1993, the NCERT’s National Steering Committee on Textbook Evaluation described Vidya Bharati’s textbooks as being “designed to promote bigotry and religious fanaticism in the name of inculcating knowledge of culture in the young generation”. These activities, now we know, are part of its political campaigning This report is only the tip of the iceberg, and the money spent on captive youth is prepare them for the support of a theocratic state. AWAAZ in its Report has gone into the details of this fund raising extensively. And these funds are channeled through Seva Bharati and similar organizations registered under FCRA.

Such funding raises concerns that foreign contributions to FCRA registered organisations (such as Sewa Bharati) are being used to support the aims and activities of unregistered political organisations, including the RSS and the VHP. The report points out that funds raised for the Orissa super cyclone were given to a group whose office address is the same as that of the Orissa RSS branch. Further, in the light of recent announcements that the Sangh Parivar will be explicitly supporting the BJP election campaign, such funding also may be distorting the democratic process.

As such, the findings of this report require urgent investigation as evidence of potential FCRA violations. Under section 10 of FCRA the central government has wide powers to prohibit acceptance of foreign contributions from any association or person even though unconnected with the election as specified by section 4. This section covers persons and associations like RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal, not covered by section 4, at all times including the election period. The Central Government shall have the power to prevent receipt of foreign funds if it is likely to impair “freedom or fairness of elections to any legislature; or harmony between religious, racial, linguistic, or regional groups, castes or communities.” Section 5 prohibits any political organization from receiving funds foreign sources. Organisations of a political nature again have to be notified by the Central Government.

Over the years the Ruling Party at the Center and the Central Government have become interchangeable and with this Ruling Party it is all the more so. It becomes necessary for the Election Commission to consider the question whether the money spent by RSS etc on the BJP’s election campaign is permissible and if not, consider suitable action to interdict receipt of funds by these organizations from a foreign source.

It now remains to be seen if our political class will take up this matter with the seriousness it deserves. Crores of rupees have been flowing to groups who are accused of engineering genocide and other forms of gross human rights violations. We call upon national leaders to urgently initiate investigations into this matter under the FCRA and all applicable laws, and we call upon democratic groups here and abroad to widely campaign against fundraising by such groups.

Dr. V. Suresh K.G. Kannabiran, General Secretary President, PUCL-Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry PUCL – National Unit, PEOPLE’S UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES - (Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry)

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New Delhi: In the name of fundraising for Gujarat earthquake victims, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) coffer finds itself overflowing even as funds are being channeled to several affiliates to propel and further strengthen the organisation’s professed agenda of spreading religious hatred and working towards the establishment of Akhand Bharat. "Sewa International U.K (SIUK) has tricked gullible Britons into donating large amounts of money for what they claimed would be exclusively used for humanitarian purposes particularly those affected during the Gujarat earthquake," alleged an 80-page report lately released by the London-based Awaaz-South Asia Watch Ltd.

The prominent Human Rights organisation while releasing its report "In Bad Faith? British Charity and Hindu Extremism" to mark the second anniversary of the Gujarat carnage, also exposed the dubious links between the SIUK and RSS. "Millions of pounds have been collected by SIUK, ostensibly for welfare, education and development projects in India, but has been used to promote the objectives of the RSS," the report claimed.

SIUK, which was established in 1991, is the fundraising arm of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, the UK branch of the RSS. Its major project so far has been the fundraising campaign for the 2001 Gujarat earthquake victims. RSS—the radical Hindu organisation—has many frontal organisations working in different fields. Sewa International, Sewa Bharti, Vidya Bharti, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Durga Vahini are amongst its prominent arms.

The report stated: "Much of the money was spent on building RSS schools that indoctrinate children into Hindutva and promote anti-minority hatred. The money was also given to other Sangh Parivar outfits like Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. Sewa International sent 2 million pounds to its Indian counterpart Sewa Bharati as part of its quake relief fund to Gujarat. Nearly a quarter of those funds were spent on RSS schools that promote fanaticism and large sum went to RSS front organisations." According to the report, HSS and Sewa International are UK branches of the RSS and the main purpose of their fundraising is to channel money to RSS fronts in India "despite their claim to be non-sectarian, non-religious, non-political and purely humanitarian organisations."

"Most British donors would be horrified if they knew the nature, history and ideas of the RSS. British individuals raised funds and donated in good faith to Sewa International’s Gujarat Eartquake appeals, but would not have done so had they known that the organisations raising the money were closely linked to the fascist-inspired and extremist RSS," the Human Rights organisation said in its report.

Earlier, when a similar report was disclosed about Sewa International’s activities regarding misuse of charities, British peer Lord Adam Patel, a Muslim from Gujarat, resigned as a patron of Sewa International’s quake effort in 2002. "Sewa International has cheated me and cheated the residents of the UK. The organisation has been raising funds in the name of charity and giving them to extremist organisations that preach hatred against Muslims and Christians. The report demonstrates that Sewa International sent £2 million, raised in the wake of the devastating earthquake in Gujarat in 2001, to its Indian counterpart Sewa Bharati. This organisation is a front to the RSS, which has been involved in large scale violence or hate politics in India. Thousands of Indians have died over the past fifteen years as a result of religiously-motivated violence. Much of the money sent by Sewa International was spent on schools that promote hatred and fanaticism," alleged Lord Patel, who is associated with the British Labour Party, while resigning. Suresh Grover, a spokesman for the Human Rights organisation which released the report, charged: "Sewa International has tried to dupe politicians, donors and the general public. Its main purpose is to fund, expand and glorify hate-driven RSS organisations, several of which have been at the forefront of largescale violence, pogroms or hate campaigns in India. Its claim to be a non-sectarian, non-political, non-religious humanitarian charity is a sham."

According to media reports, Sewa International has been accused of fudging facts and figures regarding funds that were used for reconstruction and rehabilitation. Only six villages in Gujarat benefited from the charity whereas Sewa International claimed to have funded the reconstruction of 10 to 25 villages. "A key pattern found was that Sewa International funded Sewa Bharati for rebuilding work but it was the RSS that conducted the foundation stone-laying or village handover ceremonies. One rebuilt village (Chapredi) included an important dedication plaque glorifying the RSS, its founder and a key RSS affiliate. The organisation’s supreme leader, K S Sudarshan, undertook the foundation stone-laying ceremony for Mithapasvaria," the Asian Age said in Feb 26 report quoting Awaaz-South Asia Watch Ltd.

Meanwhile, RSS spokesman Ram Madhav, termed the allegations as "wild and false". "The whole report smacks of a sinister conspiracy to defame Hindu organisations. We take strong objection to the propaganda unleashed by persons and organisations hither to unknown against the RSS and organisations connected with it like the Sewa Bharati [a fundraiser] with wild and false allegations of misuse of funds received from abroad."

Of late, as part of its effort to improve the electoral arithmetic of its political arm—the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the radical Hindu organisation has started mending fences with the Muslim community in the country. Significantly, after decades of terming Muslims as "descendants" of Mughal invaders, the organisation has finally come to accept Muslims as "nationalists" as any other citizens. The major policy shift came recently after the organisation authorities held meeting with the prominent Muslim organisation Jamiat Ulama-e Hind and gave the "historic" decision. The organisation has also been trying to tone down its strident and aggressive attitude towards Muslims.

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A London magistrate has turned down an application from human and civil rights activists to issue an arrest warrant for visiting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to proceed.

District Judge Timothy Workman sitting at Bow Street magistrates' court had earlier heard arguments on behalf of human rights activists led by London-based Suresh Grover that Modi should be arrested because he was directly or indirectly involved in causing 'pain, suffering and torture' to citizens of Gujarat while he was the chief minister.

International solicitor Imran Khan representing Grover and co-petitioners London School of Economics Professor Guatam Appa and activist Jagdish Patel argued that under the International Convention Against Torture and Section 134 of the UK Criminal Justice Act of 1998 any public person could be arrested so long as they were in the UK.

Judge Workman agreed the case could be heard, but said Khan's evidence, based on published reports in the media and Justice Hosbet Suresh's inquiry into Gujarat's communal riots, needed more substance.

Justice Suresh, a retired Mumbai high court judge, had conducted an independent inquiry for some rights body into the riots

His ruling means there is nothing to prevent Modi from leaving London on Thursday as planned for Geneva.

But the petitioners say they intend to take up the judge's offer to return to the court later this week if they can come up with sworn statements from riot victims.

"He has given us permission to come back to court tomorrow or Friday if we are able to produce that evidence," Grover told rediff.com "We are at the moment trying to get statements from people, or people who attended the citizens tribunal hearing (in Gujarat) to see if they would sign a statement by themselves on what they heard from a minister close to Modi."

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About 200 people demonstrated against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, holding him responsible for the post-Godhra riots and demanding his arrest, as he addressed a gathering organised by the Friends of Gujarat at the Wembley Conference Centre in London on Sunday.

The protestors, representing the South Asia Solidarity, Awaaz and Indian Muslim Council, carried placards and held a noisy demonstration outside the centre.

Raising a fresh controversy, the chief minister said Gujarat has a right over the waters of Sindhu river, which is currently being utilised be Pakistan.

He said he has a document dating back to 1932 to support his claim.

Modi, who came to the dais accompanied by the Indian High Commissioner to the UK Ronen Sen, said he has requested Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that as and when the two countries resume talks, he should "remember me (regarding the state's claim)".

During the hour-long speech punctuated by repeated applause from the gathering, Modi lambasted Pakistan for waging a "proxy war" against India and adopting "new terror tactics" particularly in Gujarat and Mumbai.

Expressing his determination to deal firmly with terrorists, Modi said, "I will not leave them alone. I am prepared to pay any price."

Terrorists had launched a bloody attack on the Akshardham temple in the state some time back.

The chief minister said terrorists have no religion. "The world is now clearly divided between those supporting terrorists and those against terrorism. Terrorism is the enemy of humanity."

Modi, who is in Britain on a four-day visit to attract foreign investment in Gujarat, said the "covert operation" undertaken by Pakistan has been unmasked with the detection of "fake Indian currency notes and fake dollars" found in the Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu some time back.

Modi, who received standing ovations when he entered the centre and concluded his speech, held out a vision of a vibrant Gujarat, which he said would achieve a growth rate of over 10 per cent this year as against the national average of 8.2 per cent and make rapid progress in implementing its 'Panchamrat Yojana' (five-point plan) -- Gyan (knowledge) Jal (water), Urja (power), Jana (population) and Raksha (security).

He said he would make Gujarat a centre of excellence in the field of education

He said despite the killer earthquake in 2001, the state has recouped within a short period.

The state has also built 900 km-long tunnel to bring Narmada waters to Kutch within 700 days, according to him.

Modi said he is on his way to Geneva to bring the mortal remains of veteran freedom fighter Shyam Krishna Verma, who willed that his ashes should be taken to India for the last rites after the country achieved independence. He died in Geneva in 1930.

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Human rights campaigners say they have submitted an application before a London magistrate asking for the arrest of visiting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

A Bow Street magistrate is expected to respond on Wednesday to claims submitted by three campaigners that Modi and other BJP officials can be linked to last year's communal violence in the state in which an estimated 3,000 people lost their lives.

Suresh Grover, one of the three campaigners who will be represented at Wednesday's hearing, told rediff.com: "We think we can show a connection between BJP officials, including Cabinet ministers, to the incidents that took place in Gujarat."

Grover's said his submission to the magistrate has been co-signed by London School of Economics professor Dr Gautam Appa and fellow human and civil rights activist Jagdish Patel.

"I think we have prima facie evidence that Modi was present when certain actions were decided and he subsequently failed to fulfil his obligations to safeguard the public," Grover added.

The supplicants are pinning their hopes on the precedent that was created when the visiting former Chile dictator General Augustus Pinochet was detained in London for five months, pending his extradition to Spain to face charges of torture filed by relatives of those who suffered under his regime.

The issue became a political hot potato for the British government and Pinochet was eventually released and allowed to return home on grounds of ill health.

Legal experts in London say the magistrate will be within his rights to issue a warrant for Modi's arrest, but a decision on whether to execute the warrant rests with the UK's Attorney General.

Experts said Modi can be questioned by the police, but will not be charged without the explicit authorisation of the Attorney General.

Modi is due to leave London for Switzerland on Thursday. On Tuesday evening he is due to address a meeting of business leaders, including NRIs, who have been invited to participate in next month's Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit.

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Stung by adverse publicity he has attracted in media both in India and London, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked journalists to act as a 'honey-bee' rather than a 'fly' while discharging their duty.

"I would like to tell my journalist friends that the world is not only of garbage and rubbish. There are flowers and bouquets representing the positive aspect of life and they should reflect that also," Modi said after inaugurating the Shakti Hall of Gujarat Samachar, a bilingual weekly.

The chief minister, who faced a demonstration by a dozen people representing several organisations, including South Asia Solidarity, Awaaz and Indian Council of Muslims as he arrived, said, "Journalists should not act like flies, carrying dirt from place to place and spreading disease."

"Rather they should be like the honeybees, which fly from one flower to another, savouring honey and at the same time sting severely in an adverse circumstance," he said.

The hour-long function was attended by Lord Navnit Dholakia, leading NRI and president of the Liberal Democratic Party, Barry Gardiner, member of parliament, general secretary, Labour Friends of India, Keith Vaz, former minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, P C Haldar, Minister, Coordination in the High Commission of India and Capt Ashwini Kumar Sharma, Regional Director of India for UK and Ireland.

The gathering also had representatives of the Muslim community in the UK.

Without making any direct reference to last year's communal riots in the state, Modi said the humanity as a whole was currently in the grip of a religious conflict.

The chief minister said many people would not know that Gujarat was known for its religious harmony and it in fact has a religious harmony temple.

"We want to convert the Religious Harmony Temple situated at Udwada, near Surat, into a world heritage centre," he said.

Recalling its history, he said years ago, when Iranian Parsis came to India fleeing from atrocities back home it was a Hindu King who provided them shelter.

"The entire world is caught up in religious hatred and it is time we have religious harmony," he said.

He said a country that had given birth Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi would not give birth to a 'Hitler'. He was having an indirect dig at a London daily which had compared him with Hitler.

Ismail Hafez Yusuf Lorgat, representing the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind presented a covenant to the chief minister, which said, "Allah T a'ala promised his great favours, honours and the station of nearest to him to those who fulfil the obligations and conduct their affairs with justice and goodness. At the same time, he warns those who break the covenant with him and spread evil, corruption and injustice of severe punishment to come."

Throughout his speech, demonstrators outside kept on condemning Modi for the atrocities on Muslims in Gujarat following the post-Godhra riots.

This was the second demonstration faced by Modi during his four-day visit, which concluded on Wednesday. About 200 people had demonstrated last Sunday, the first day of his visit, as he addressed a public meeting at the closed-door Wembley Conference Centre.