President Obama Welcomes PM Modi's Remarks on Religious Tolerance

Press Trust of India | Updated: February 21, 2015 13:51 IST

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/president-obama-welcomes-pm-modis-remarks-on-religious-tolerance-741282

WASHINGTON:  United States President Barack Obama has welcomed the recent remarks of Prime Modi in which he condemned religious-based violence and gave an assurance that his government will give equal respect to all religions.

"The President welcomed Prime Minister Modi's February 17 condemnation of religiousassurance that his government will give equal respect to all religions," the White House said on response to an online petition.

Launched by the New York-based Sikh for Justice, the online petition had urged President Obama before his India trip to raise the issue of "Sikh Genocide" and "Sikhs' Right to Self-determination" during his talk with MP Modi.

The petition had attracted more than 125,000 signatures. The White House responded to the petition in less than a month after it was launched.

Thanking those who signed the petition, the White House said during his recent trip to India, the President discussed the importance of religious freedom and tolerance in India on January 27 during his speech at Siri

"As the President said in his January 27 speech, 'In both our countries, in India and in America, our diversity is our strength'. We are committed to working with India to reaffirm this principle not just within our own countries but around the world," the White House said.

File photo: US President Barack Obama with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Associated Press)

Commending President Obama's principal stand on equal status to all religions, SFJ legalPannun said "The White House's response to Sikh group's petition is yet another reminder to Modi that India's success depends on giving all religious communities freedom and right to profess, practice and propagate fear of persecution".

While President Obama in his speech in India clearly affirmed the equal status for Christians, Muslims, Buddhists in America, PM Modi in his February 17 response on religious tolerance failed to address the issue of Article 25 (b) which labels 'Sikhs' as 'Hindus', Pannun said.

ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL CONDEMNS THE KILLING OF 21 COPTIC CHRISTIANS BY THE ISLAMIC STATE SOLDIERS ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL CALLS UPON THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO JOIN HANDS WITH THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO STOP THIS BARBARIC RELIGIOUS GROUP

ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL CONDEMNS THE KILLING OF 21 COPTIC CHRISTIANS BY THE ISLAMIC STATE SOLDIERS

ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL CALLS UPON THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO JOIN HANDS WITH THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY TO STOP THIS BARBARIC RELIGIOUS GROUP

Hyderabad, February, 2015

All India Christian Council strongly condemns the barbaric killings of 21 Coptic Christians by the Islamic State Soldiers. The Christian Council also calls upon the Indian Government to join hands with the global community to stop this barbaric religious group.

21 Egyptian Coptic Christians were captured in Libya by ISIS-affiliated militants in December 2014 and January 2015 and were beheaded on February 16. The minority Christians in the area are wracked with grief and panic after these killings. The ISIS-affiliated militants have been killing Christians, Muslims and Yazidi people in the region.

The All India Christian Council strongly condemns the ongoing barbaric killings and murders by the soldiers of ISIS. Bishop Dr. Joseph D'souza, the President of the All India Christian Council said, "This kind of violence by the Islamic State soldiers is a crime against humanity. The killing of Christian families and children, the Yazidi and even Muslims is a horror that the world had not expected, especially as it continues unabated and in a deliberate fashion."

The Christian Council joins the rest of the Christian community around the world in prayer for the families of the 21 Coptic Christians who were martyred. Bishop Dr. Joseph D'souza further said, "The All India Christian Council stands in solidarity with the Coptic Church in Egypt and also the ancient Church in Iraq, and affirms the truth that the blood of martyrs has been the seed of the Christian Church for the last 2,000 years."

The Christian Council calls Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Government to work with the global community in bringing the violence in Iraq and neighboring places to a halt through all democratic means. Bishop Dr. D'souza said, "It would be tragic and devastating to global peace if a religious war broke out in these regions due to the unabated violence unleashed by ISIS in the name of religion."

The All India Christian Council is a nationwide alliance of Indian Churches, organisations and individuals. Over 2000 Christian denominations, organisations and major Christian alliances are members of the Christian Council. The Christian Council works for religious freedom, freedom of conscience and the fundamental rights of all marginalised groups regardless of caste and faith. It works for communal peace, development and for upholding the integrity and unity of India and its Constitution. The All India Christian Council is a major national and global voice in the causes and issues it espouses

Rashtriya Kisan Samanvay Samiti (National Farmers Coordination Committee) Meet on Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 and (Amendment 2014)

Rashtriya Kisan Samanvay Samiti (National Farmers Coordination Committee) Meet on Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 and (Amendment 2014)

Feb, 2015. New Delhi

Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013, passed during the UPA regime and “The Right for Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2014, brought in by the current Government, is not acceptable, was the opinion expressed unanimously by over 30 farmers organisations, which participated today in the meeting convened on the above issue. The same views are also held by various other farmers organisations all over the country, was conveyed by the other farmers. BKU has given a call to organise an all India protest rally in Delhi with one lac farmers on 18 March, if the Government decides to go ahead with the current form of the Ordinance said BKU Spokesman, Sh. Rakesh Tikait. However the party General Secretary, Sh. Yudhvir Singh said that he is hopeful from the Government that they will reconsider the stand on the amendments, as was given the impression by Sh. Rajnath Singh and Smt. Sushma Swaraj in meeting with us day before.   Bhartiya Kisan Union was represented by all its State presidents.

Dr. MJ Khan, National Convener of the Federation of Indian Farmers organisations (FIFO) said that some of the clauses in the Amendment Ordinance are progressive in nature, which will address the emerging challenges of the farmers and the rural society, create more economic opportunities. He said that the problems that farmers are facing cannot be addressed by more money being handed out or doles given through one time compensation, but by more facilities and more opportunities. Development of infrastructure, Industrial projects and economic activities in rural areas will mean more jobs, more incomes, better facilities and social and economic empowerment.

Sh. Krishan Bir Chowdhary, president, Bhartiya Krishak Samaj said that we are opposed to the Ordinance in its current form, but we are ready to discuss the concerns with the Government and if the recommendations of the Coordination Committee based on the today’s deliberations are accepted, then we will support the Government on this issue. He also said that Anna Movement is politically driven and captured by certain NGOs with political intents. It will meet the same fate, as the previous Dharna. Some NGOs will make a similar political flesh out of this agitation, leaving Anna ji high and dry. Following organisations participated in the meeting:

1.       Sh. Rakesh Tikait, National Spokesman, Bhartiya Kisan Union

2.       Sh. Yudhveer Singh, South Asia Convenor, International Farmers Alliance and Gen Secy, BKU

3.       Sh. KB Chowdhary, President, Bhartiya Krishak Samaj

4.       Sh. Puneet Singh Thind, General Secretary, Rashtriya Kisan Sangh

5.       Sh. Kesari Singh Gujjar, President, Dehat Morcha

6.       Sh. Ram Karan Solanki, President, Delhi Unit, BKS

7.       Sh. Arun Bhaku, Gen. Secy, Kisan Manch, Uttarakhand

8.       Sh. MI Sayyed, President, Vegetable Growers Association of India, Kolhapur

9.       Sh. Shriram Gadhve, President, Federation of Farmers Organisations, Maharashtra

10.   Sh. Dashrath Ram Reddy, Andhra Pradesh Rythu Association, Warrangal

11.   Sh. Raja Ram Tripathi, President, MAHACHAMP, Chhatisgarh

12.   Sh. GN Sharma, President, Bihar M&A Farmers Association

13.   Sh. Sudhir Aggarwal, President, Uttar Pradesh Beej Utpadak Sangh

14.   Sh. KT Gangadhar, President, Karnataka Rajya Rayyat Sangh

15.   Sh. Kannain Subramania, Convenor, South India Farmers Coordination Committee

16.   Sh. Banwari Beniwal, State President Haryana, Bhartiya Kisan Union

17.   Sh. Mahavir Gulia, Haryana State President, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh

18.   Sh. Rajesh Sharma, General Secretary, Bhartiya Praja Party (Manvir Teotia)

19.   Sh. Ravinder Chauhan, President, Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers Associaiton

20.   Sh. Pramod Tyagi, President, Progressive Farmers Organisation, Uttar Pradesh

21.   Sh. Bijendra S Dalal, Convenor, Haryana Progressive Farmers Club, Palwal

22.   Sh. Rajesh Sharma, President, J&K Cooperative Association and J&K Farmers Council

23.   Sh. Prabhakar Kelkar, Gen. Secy, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh

24.   Sh. Kamal Chauhan, President, Haryana Mashroom Farmers Association

25.   Sh. Mahavir Gulia, Haryana State President, BKS

26.   Sh. Vidyadhar Singh Olkha, Rajasthan Farmers Association, Ganganagar 

27.   Dr. MJ Khan, Convenor, Federation of Indian Farmers Organisations

 

Demands of the Farmers

1. Consent of 70% land holders in a project of the Government and 80% in PPP projects,  consent is must for acquiring the land for developmental projects. Government must not acquire land for private parties, accept in PPP projects for public purpose.
2. The word “Appropriate Government” has to be clearly defined. We demand that in Districts the right to acquire land should be given to District Boards, which have farmers representation. In other authorities, farmers nominees must be included.
3. The Social Impact must be ascertained by a committee, which should have 50% farmers and non-governmental representatives. Effective measures should be taken to address the farmers issues.
4. The Amendment under section 24 (2) should be withdrawn, which gives the validity of projects beyond five years, pending arbitration
5. Lands acquired for industrial purpose and such other projects, where employment is generated, 50% of the class 3 and class 4 level jobs are reserved for those farmers, whose land is acquired.