Armitage likely to discuss Gujarat

"I have great admiration for Hinduism. Historically, Hinduism had been the most tolerant and peaceful faith.

The violence in Gujarat was not because of Hinduism. It was a result of extremism. Extremism is a religion in itself. Converts to this faith include Hindus, Muslims, Christians and many others.

But Gujarat arises when the elements of the extremist faith enter the government, or the government is controlled by the followers of extremism," were the opening remarks of Mr. Najid Husain, son-in-law of slain Congress leader Ehsan Jafri, before the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.

US Deputy Secretary of state Richard Armitage is expected to take cognisance of the strongly-worded letter written to him by the commission on August 15 to "publicly state the profound concern" of the Bush administration about the "widespread killing of Muslims in the state of Gujarat."

The commission, a federal body, has taken exception to the Bush administration’s complete silence on this issue, stating, "As far as we know, no senior US administration official has expressed concern over the killings or called for accountability for those responsible." The US state department usually acts on the advice of the Commission on International Religious Freedoms, which closely monitors this aspect in countries around the world.

An emotional Mr. Husain, called by the commission to testify, had said, "The oft-repeated claim of these Hindu extremist outfits justifying violence against innocent Muslims is that the Muslims are anti-nationalist and terrorists. My father-in-law served his country and its citizens, regardless of their ethnic background, race or religion, for 50 years with pride and distinction.

His poems full of strong nationalism and his teachings constant with human values, dignity and communal tolerance, are a testimony to his deep roots in the Indian culture and respect for all faiths.

He was not a terrorist. He was not a fundamentalist. He was not an anti-national. He was, in fact, a very patriotic and proud Indian who despite every opportunity to have left India and joined us in the United States, chose not to do that, just because he understood his duty to his country and its people. He was deliberately targeted by the extremists, with the backing of the Gujarat government, just because he was a Muslim."

The commission has urged Mr. Armitage to pursue the matter with the Indian authorities, basing its direct intervention on a detailed hearing organised by it in Washington on June 10, with detailed question and answer sessions with the witnesses. Key persons who had been working actively in Gujarat since the violence began, had been flown in from India to participate in the hearing.

The commission, a statutory body, is equipped to promote religious freedom as a US foreign policy goal. The commissioners are selected by the US President and the Congress. Its advice is usually heeded by the US state department, with sources maintaining that it will be "unusual" if Mr. Armitage does not take the commission’s letter on board.

Pakistan for the attacks on Christians, and China have also been covered in the commission’s missive to Mr. Armitage for similar action. The letter, written by chair Felice Gaer, is also critical of the US administration’s reluctance to take an official position on the violence.

"As far as we know, no senior US administration official has expressed concern over the killings or called for accountability for those responsible," the commission has said, pointing out that US secretary of state Colin Powell had admitted as much through his statement that the Gujarat violence did not come up for discussion during his visit to the region. "Clearly, it is important that the United States speak out publicly against such religion-based extremist violence, all the more so in view of our country’s war on terrorism."

Mr. Husain, who visited Gujarat after Ehsan Jafri’s brutal murder, said, "Four days after the Gujarat riots began and three days after my father-in-law was brutalised and killed along with hundreds others, US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, during her tour of India to emphasise India’s part in our war against terrorism, said, ‘We believe that the Vajpayee government will do the right thing and we will encourage them to do the right thing.’

One wonders if obsessed with our own war against terrorism, we are neglecting, if not abandoning, our own ideology and pledge on freedom, liberty, democracy, human dignity, rights and justice.

Pressed for the need to maintain coalition in our fight against Al Qaeda, will we also turn a blind eye to this government-sponsored human tragedy in Gujarat by accepting the rhetoric of the Sangh Parivar that the Indian Muslims are all fundamentalists and terrorists? I hope not."

Mr. Armitage arrives in New Delhi on Friday to meet senior ministers and officials. The commission’s letter is expected to change US policy on Gujarat with the Deputy Secretary likely to be the first state department official to raise the issue with defence minister George Fernandes and national security adviser Brajesh Mishra. Till date, the Americans had kept out of the Gujarat issue, leaving it to their UK and European Union colleagues to express concern.

Republished from The Asian Age