IDRF and the American Funding of Hindutva |
Full text of the report © 2002, SabrangCommunications & Publishing Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, India, and The South Asia Citizens Web, France
|
IDRF and the American Funding of Hindutva |
Full text of the report © 2002, SabrangCommunications & Publishing Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, India, and The South Asia Citizens Web, France
|
IDRF Relief Efforts: Sectarian, Not Humanitarian
Some areas where the Muslims live have been purposely left out without any relief or rehabilitation work. The discrimination against them has been open. The press has complained about it. Some newspapers have even cited examples, alleging how the RSS and the VHP activists have "hijacked" relief supplies in the Kutch. The government appears to have connived at such flagrant instances of bias and prejudice.
But when Catholic workers from the St. Xavier's Social Services Society arrived at the hospital to provide some help as well, they were chased off with sticks, curses, and threats. “They [the RSS workers] were shouting at us, telling us literally to get out,” says the Rev. Cedric Prakash, St. Xavier's director in Ahmedabad. "In a situation like this, anybody who wants to work and serve must be given the chance to do so. I don't think that any one group should be controlling it.
IDRF…undertook a project to raise funds for the Indian Moslems who had gone to Saudi Arabia for Haj but died in a fire…IDRF immediately hired a man…to raise funds for the dead Mohammedans. When people asked him why was he doing that, …the 'wise guy' …from RSS replied that this was not to really help the Mohammedans but to 'create' a false impression of Hindu generosity toward the Mohammedans. That way…the Mohammedans would vote for the BJP in the coming election…”
1. Even the relief component of the IDRF’s funds must be understood as almost entirely sectarian. There is an active intent on the part of the IDRF and the organizations it specifically uses in crisis relief efforts to discriminate against minorities and provide relief to Hindus alone.
2. In many areas of the world, relief is often provided by religious organizations because of the deep seated humanism in many religions. The IDRF on the other hand funds relief not within the ambit of humanitarianism but clearly as part of its strategy of consolidating Hindus.
3. However, it should also be clear that IDRF wants to retain an image of being non-sectarian. This should indicate that not only is IDRF sectarian even in relief, but also misleads donors with humanitarian pretensions.