…and that obnoxious Bollywood spectacular that was staged for him this fall at Madison Square Garden…or anyone except for a few lone voices… If his party had been a Muslim party, we would have found a military to remove him already. How much of this “no-alarm” attitude is a product of New-Agey, Western ideas about Hinduism’s “meek-and-mildness.” Lots of saffron, namastes and marigolds all around, so things are cool.
From The New York Times:
“During the last days of its winter session ending on Tuesday, Parliament was unable to deal with important legislative business because of repeated adjournments and an uproar over attempts by Hindu groups to convert Christians and Muslims. The issue has come to a head following a “homecoming” campaign by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad — groups dedicated to transforming India’s secular democracy into a Hindu state — to “reconvert” Christians and Muslims to Hinduism.
“In recent weeks, Hindu militants have engineered conversions of Muslims and Christians in Agra and in the states of Gujarat and Kerala. Police are investigating accusations that people have been induced to participate in mass conversion meetings by a combination of intimidation and bribery, including the promise of food ration cards. Attacks on Christians and their places of worship have intensified in recent weeks. One of New Delhi’s biggest churches burned down on Dec. 1 — arson is being blamed — and Christmas carolers were attacked on their way home in the city of Hyderabad on Dec. 12.”
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Jadde: from Bosnia to Bengal 