Stop collusions and respect the law, best ways to fight religious extremism, H T Sangliana says

MUMBAI, Dec. 31, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Nirmala Carvalho / UCAN):

“All laws are effective if they are implemented without bias. Unfortunately, far too often, the same forces that are supposed to protect minorities are the ones who turn a deaf ear or remain silent, or worse, show bias in favour of the aggressors,” said H T Sangliana (pictured), who was recently appointed by the government to be the vice chairman of the National Commission for Minorities.

H T Sangliana spent 36 of his 68 years in the Indian Police Service and is known across the country as “supercop”. Elected in 2004 to the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian parliament) with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he broke ranks with the party over political issues. A Christian, he heads the Karnataka Missions Network.

For many observers, his appointment as vice chairman of the National Commission for Minorities puts the right man in the right place.

Is your appointment indicative of the central government’s renewed interest in protecting minorities?

In principle, certainly. Everyone knows that I am an impartial police officer, that I do not favour any one community, that I defend the weak, the oppressed, those without representation and those on the side of the law. In 36 years of service, I was never accused of favouring anyone, whether on the basis of language, religion, caste or ethnicity. I have always been impartial in helping the brothers and sisters of our country. It is not mere chance that three documentary makers made movies about my work.

What are your thoughts and who do you think is behind the repeated attacks on the country’s minorities?

Well-educated, middle class Hindus are not closed-minded. They know that the country needs harmony. The attacks are the work of self- styled bajrang dal radical groups like the Visva Hindu Parisad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). These people believe that the 2.5 per cent (Christian) proportion of the population can overwhelm the 85 per cent (Hindu) majority if conversions are not stopped. Extremists plan their attacks when they want to strike at Christians and even call the media to document the fact.

Recently, you said that the most radical Hindu fringe elements want to create a psychosis of fear among Christians and poison public opinion. What do you mean by that?

Christians have been involved in more than a dozen cases [of alleged forced conversions], but no one has been prosecuted for lack of evidence. Since such a practice is an offence under the law, the police must investigate such cases. However, I always told my officers to prosecute anyone on slander charges if the accusation is proven false.

[Accusing someone of forced conversion] is a way to persecute minorities. It is no accident that charges are often filed on Saturday so that Christians end up in jail on Sunday.

If Hindus can perform puja (a purification ritual) at home without a permit, why should Christians not be allowed to pray at home without a permit? The protection of minorities is a duty of the government.

The Communal Violence Bill is touted as a solution to protect minorities against extremist violence. What do you think?

All laws are effective if they are implemented without bias. Unfortunately, far too often, the same forces that are supposed to protect minorities are the ones who turn a deaf ear or remain silent witnesses, or worse, show their bias in favour of the aggressors. For this reason, I believe that the Communal Violence Bill is good thing if it is adopted. However, even existing laws are good if police officers enforce them properly.

You have worked for years in the Indian Police Service. What is your opinion with regards to the problem of possible collusion between political forces and police?

There is a clear nexus between police officers and political parties. When parties support radical groups, this becomes a problem for the rest of society and puts coexistence at risk.