INSAAF International
A Demand For Justice

Press Release
Bhatinda 22.8.00

Today participation of thousands of people from all walks of life, caste, creeds and 
religions in 'Sadbhavana March and Rally' organized by Insaaf International is a clear 
message to the fundamentalist and fascist elements in the country that they will not 
succeed in their nefarious designs to divide and victimize minorities in India. 
Thousands of men women and children took part in the march and rally braving the 
heavy rains and walking through the flooded streets. Rain could not dampen the spirits 
of participants. At the assembly point the children sang patriotic songs full of 
enthusiasm instilling the spirit of nationalism in the adults. It was a very inspiring 
atmosphere.

There is an urgent need to mobilize and organize hundreds and thousands of people for 
similar protests to exhibit firm determination to fight against forces of disintegration, 
disunity, and fascist elements. For a couple of years some such anti people forces are 
bent upon eliminating people belonging to religious minorities through violent methods.

In 1996 there were seven cases of anti-Christian violence, 24 in 1997 and 120 in 1998. 
In last six months the number of attacks on Christian institutions and individuals is 
alarming. There have been several acts of burning of religious literature, attacks on 
missionary institutions, priests and nuns. Four bomb blasts targeting churches took 
place in various parts of the country in a day. These are certainly not `isolated criminal 
incidents' as the government has tried to project, but a thought out plan against the 
minority community. Authorities turn deaf and dumb to the pleas of Muslim 
communities when their burial grounds are forcibly occupied either by land Mafia or 
criminals with political nexus.

Insaaf International feels that the majority of the political parties have ignored the 
interests of the minorities, violation of the constitutional rights and to counter the threat 
to the unity and integrity of the Nation, probably due to the fear of loosing their vote 
banks in the majority community. Except issuing political statements at random to this 
end, no effective measures have been taken by them at National level. At this time of 
crisis it was the duty of those well established political and social organizations which 
owe their allegiance to secularism, democracy, national integration and non- violence to 
take the lead in mobilizing the people of country to face the challenge of nefarious 
elements. Today Insaaf International, a young organization with its limited resources 
has made a good start towards this aim.

Insaaf International strongly protests against the total failure of the central and state 
governments in taking effective administrative steps to curb the violence against 
minorities for political considerations. Instead the government has adopted misleading 
methods and policies to cover-up the communal violence as law and order problem. 

It is a matter of National shame that cold-blooded murderers of the two innocent 
children and their father Mr. Graham Steins are being promoted as heroes. The guilty of 
this ghastly crime were welcomed profusely not only by the leaders of some allies of 
the ruling party but also by the ministers. Insaaf International expresses apprehension 
that the time is not far off when one of those murders will join already increasing 
number of their likes in legislative bodies in our country. 

The anti-social elements committing rapes of women including nuns, missionary 
women, kill children, burn places of religious worship and literature can never be true 
religious people as no religion teaches violence, hatred and path of crime.

We appeal to all social, religious, secular, democratic and political organizations to rise 
up to the occasion and defeat the sinister designs of some fundamentalist and fascist 
groups to destabilize the nation on the basis of caste creed and religion. At this time of 
crisis we all should forget our petty differences and come together cutting across the 
religious and political alliances to save our country from these traitorous elements.

We demand form the government to shed its political narrow interests and fulfil their 
duties towards nation and people, which are entrusted to them by the constitution. The 
stringent punishments be given to anyone indulging in violence against minorities and 
put an end to this religious Apartheid in the country.

We strongly condemn the attitude of district administration towards the people 
participating in the Silent and peace march organized by Insaaf International today.
Despite the prior information to the district administration, it did not take any traffic 
control and other measures for the safety of the thousands of men, women and children 
marching on the rain flooded roads. The unregulated traffic blocked the way of 
marchers at many places. The fast moving vehicles splashed the water on the children 
and other people participating in the march. It was left to the volunteers of Sadbhawana 
march to make way for the march to pass at the crossings. 

The memorandum which is endorsed by many National, International organizations and 
prominent persons including from Haiti, England, USA, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, France, 
Netherlands, Pakistan, Germany, Canada, Czech Republic, Malta, Switzerland, Hong 
Kong and South Africa was also not received by the Deputy commissioner. It is being 
sent by the registered post to the President of India, Prime Minister and Home Minister.
While the people were approaching the office room of DC, he drove away reportedly to 
his residence. When people wanted to follow him to his residence to present the 
memorandum, the policemen prevented them. Then it was decided to send the 
memorandum by post.

This attitude puts a question mark on the role of District administration towards efforts 
done for communal harmony.

1

2