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INDIA: A DEMOCRACY STRUGGLING FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Congressional Record ^ | May 8, 2007 | Rep. Cliff Stearns

Posted on 05/28/2007 10:07:03 PM PDT by TBP

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Although India professes democratic principles, religious freedom is just one of the many freedoms that we take for granted that are in practice notrecognized for all in India. If this act will do somethign to help that situation, I'm all for it.
1 posted on 05/28/2007 10:07:08 PM PDT by TBP
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To: TBP

BTW, just for perspective, here is the kind of person who tends to support India:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r110:7:./temp/~r1102080zg::

JOINING THE CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON INDIA AND INDIAN AFFAIRS — (Extensions of Remarks - May 01, 2007)

[Page: E905] GPO’s PDF
-—SPEECH OF
HON. KEITH ELLISON
OF MINNESOTA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 2007
Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, Indian Americans have contributed greatly to the vibrancy, creative thought, and diversity of our Nation. The large and growing population of Indian Americans in Minnesota has enriched our neighborhoods and communities and continues to play an important role in improving the lives of all Americans. It is with these advances in mind that we celebrate the growth of relations between the United States and India and look forward to promoting a closer friendship amongst our two countries.
I’m proud to join the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Affairs and look forward to working with my fellow Members of Congress through the promotion of our shared values and concerns. I stand with India and Indian Americans in promoting peace, prosperity, and happiness for all the world’s people.

Note that Rep. Ellison is the America-hating Nation of Islam Congresscritter who took his oath on a Koran. He has been outspokenly anti-American in his public utterances.


2 posted on 05/28/2007 10:13:44 PM PDT by TBP
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To: TBP

You’re feeling a little extra lonely this time, aren’t you? BTW, how’s the weather in Islamabad?


3 posted on 05/29/2007 2:25:59 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: TBP; CarrotAndStick
Yes, it appears that Cliff Stearns is the man for Pakistan.

My amendment clarifies and reinforces the intent of Congress that the nuclear cooperation entailed in this legislation would be for peaceful and productive purposes, not military purposes,” stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala).
4 posted on 05/29/2007 2:38:59 AM PDT by familyop
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To: TBP; CarrotAndStick

I wonder if there might be some hope of hardware manufacturing for Pakistan in Stearns’ district.


5 posted on 05/29/2007 3:05:58 AM PDT by familyop
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To: TBP

What is frequently forgotten is that India is a Hindu nation. On my trips to India everyday people feel the same attacks on their values and beliefs that Christians complain about here in America.

There is complete freedom of Religion there, I have met Buddists, Muslims and Christians in my trips and never once had any of them seemed afraid. The problems arise when the guests in the country start attacking the traditions of that nation ( sound familiar huh ? ) There are several missionary groups who slander Hindu tradition and proclaim theirs is the only way.

So before you slam India think a bit about the “ guests “ here in America that put down our way of life and how we would respond if forced to do things the way they say is right.


6 posted on 05/29/2007 4:57:26 AM PDT by BhaktaSteve
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To: CarrotAndStick

Whats up with this guy ? Is he a pakistani ?

If he is one, well, I can understand.

If he isnt, then it means somethings seriously wrong with his understanding of ground realities in S. Asia.


7 posted on 05/29/2007 6:09:32 AM PDT by design engineer
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To: BhaktaSteve

Most missionaries are doing exceptional service to the poor and their contribution to education sector is lauded even by die hard Hindus.

But some of those evangelicals, who are being incited by well established American quacks, are pretty nasty. They do nothing but spread hate and all anyone who doesnt listen to them as “pagan”, “heathen”, etc. They dont even spare catholics.

Conversion through choice brings spiritual and mental happiness.. while conversion through fear/coercion brings forth ugliness and corrupts the actual message, however good it may be.

If American protestant majority really knew the kind of people these were, they would definitely understand why there is resentment against the evangelicals, which sometimes spills over to other communities among christians.


8 posted on 05/29/2007 6:19:08 AM PDT by design engineer
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To: BhaktaSteve
India is a Hindu nation.

No, India is not a single nation of any kind, Hindu or otherwise. Most of its population is Hindu, but there are places that are lkinguistically, culturally, religiously completely different from Hindustan. What would be wrong with letting those minority nations decide whether they want to be free from India and have their own country? Isn't that the democratic way? Or does democracy only apply to the upper-caste Hindus?

9 posted on 05/29/2007 4:01:57 PM PDT by TBP
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To: TBP

Does anybody even care about what you say?
.....I mean seriously??....Who gives a f*** about what you say?


10 posted on 05/29/2007 4:17:17 PM PDT by Gengis Khan
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To: TBP
Or does democracy only apply to the upper-caste Hindus?

Has something crawled up today in you? Or are on a freak-out today because your Pakistani paymasters are forcing you to show what you've achieved for their money's worth?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070511-1728-india-stateelections.html

Low-caste politician sweeps to power in India’s largest state

ASSOCIATED PRESS

5:28 p.m. May 11, 2007

LUCKNOW, India – India’s most powerful low-caste politician swept into power Friday in the country’s largest state, dealing a political blow to the scion of the powerful Gandhi clan.

Mayawati, a fiery 51-year-old woman who goes by one name, was set to become the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, a vast, poor state that encompasses more than 180 million people and often sets the political agenda for the rest of the country.

“I thank people of all castes and communities who supported my party to achieve this overwhelming victory,” Mayawati, a dalit, or “untouchable,” at the bottom of India’s complex social ladder, said at a news conference. With results final in all but six of the 403 seats in the state assembly on Friday, Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party had won 202 seats, enough to form a government without a coalition, according to the Press Trust of India news agency which cited state election authorities.

The election will likely slow the rise of Rahul Gandhi – the son, grandson and great-grandson of Indian prime ministers. By Friday afternoon, Gandhi’s Congress party had gained no additional seats in the state assembly despite his relentless campaigning. Gandhi holds a seat in the Indian Parliament, representing a rural district in Uttar Pradesh.

The election was the first serious political test of Gandhi, 36, who is a rising power in the Congress party and – despite his youth and inexperience – already is mentioned as a possible future prime minister. Though the Congress party is not a major force in the state, Gandhi’s campaigning was expected to help boost its political power.

Mayawati forged a powerful coalition that brought together low-caste and Brahmin voters and candidates to force out Mulayam Singh Yadav, the state’s outgoing chief minister whose own support was rooted among middle-caste farmers.

Mayawati, who has been chief minister of the state twice before, lost power in 2003 amid controversy over her government’s approval of a $40 million-dollar tourism complex near the Taj Mahal.

The Uttar Pradesh elections are unlikely to have an immediate impact on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s Congress-led government in New Delhi, though the state often plays a key role in shaping national political alliances. The next national elections are due in 2009.

11 posted on 05/29/2007 5:57:52 PM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: Gengis Khan

Now, there is a logical and intelligent argument!


12 posted on 05/29/2007 8:51:04 PM PDT by TBP
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To: BhaktaSteve
There is complete freedom of Religion there

B-O-L-O-G-N-A! There is little freedom of religion. Cases like the ones the Congressman cites are frequent, regular occurrences. I cited some earlier. Police broke up a Christian festival with gunfire in one incident. The govbernment allowed an assault on a Christian school and convent. The 1984 attack on the Golden Temple shows the state of religious freedom in India. So do the laws which effectively prohibit anyone from converting to any religion except Hinduism.

Why do you think that there is an organization called "Persecuted Church of India"?

13 posted on 05/29/2007 9:46:46 PM PDT by TBP
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To: BhaktaSteve

Tell Graham Staines about the complete religious freedom in India.

Or tell it to Joseph Cooper.

Or let us know how the U.S. State Department’s report that the Indian government paid over 41,000 cash bounties to police officers for killing Sikhs reflects “complete religious freedom.”


14 posted on 05/29/2007 9:50:52 PM PDT by TBP
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To: TBP

Yada yada yada.

An answer to that oldie, when you’ve got one... or are you still stumped stupid?


15 posted on 05/29/2007 10:30:19 PM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: TBP
Why do you think that there is an organization called "Persecuted Church of India"?

To every one of those, there are multiples of these too:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/717775.stm

16 posted on 05/29/2007 10:46:05 PM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: BhaktaSteve; TBP

And BTW,

A little insight into TBP:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/729887/posts?page=6#6


17 posted on 05/29/2007 10:47:07 PM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: TBP

Sure because the People associated with Ellison are trying to take over India.

There is an article on Zenit today (Catholic website from the Vatican) about 4000 Christians being arrested during a protest.

http://www.zenit.org/english/


18 posted on 05/29/2007 10:51:15 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: design engineer
Whats up with this guy ? Is he a pakistani ?

http://209.157.64.201/focus/f-news/1624429/posts?page=7#7

19 posted on 05/29/2007 11:06:25 PM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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To: Salvation

Oh Zenit.com

I’m sure they don’t have an agenda [/sarc]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/717775.stm


20 posted on 05/29/2007 11:26:23 PM PDT by CarrotAndStick (The articles posted by me needn't necessarily reflect my opinion.)
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