World

Religious Intolerance: India will become the next Pakistan, says former Indian police officer

India has undergone series of attacks on churches in last six months, with 8 churches attacked

Web Desk March 16, 2015

PHOTO: REUTERS

A former Christian Indian Police Service officer, Julio Ribeiro said on Monday that India will be the next Pakistan – a failed state – when it comes to the issue of religious intolerance.

#RibeiroProtestsHindutva | I am worried, India is going to become Pakistan: Julio Ribeiro to CNN-IBN
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 16, 2015

Pakistan, on Sunday, experienced yet another attack on the Christian community inhabiting the country, when twin blasts took place in churches in Lahore's Youhanabad area, killing 14 people and injuring over 70.

India, on the other hand, has undergone a series of attacks on churches in the last six months, with at least 8 churches attacked. Moreover, a 70-year-old a nun was gang-raped in a school in West Bengal, according to India TV.

Read: LIVE: One killed, 12 injured as Christians protest countrywide over deadly church attacks

The former Indian police officer expressed doubt in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s outlook on religious intolerance, stating that he would lose the percentage of minority votes which, incidentally, he gained in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Further, in an op-ed the former police officer had written for the Indian Express, he voiced how he felt like a stranger in his own country.

He spoke of the time he was chosen to go to Indian Punjab to fight against separatists, in what the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi termed "the nation's battle".

He was told that his appointment would enable the Hindus of Punjab to “breathe more freely and rejoice”.

Read: Prayers in India for elderly nun gang-raped at convent

But that was a long time ago. Today, he writes, he feels "unwanted" in a country he has called his home.

“The same category of citizens who had put their trust in me to rescue them from a force they could not comprehend have now come out of the woodwork to condemn me for practising a religion that is different from theirs,” he wrote.

He blatantly put Modi on the frontline, stating, “Is it coincidence or a well-thought-out plan that the systematic targeting of a small and peaceful community should begin only after the BJP government of Narendra Modi came to power last May?”

This article first appeared on IBN.

COMMENTS (22)

Raj - USA | 9 years ago | Reply @rkfromny: I have liked and supported Modi for a long time and I still like and support him because he is a nationalist. I don't think he is anti muslim or anti christian or anti any other religion and I strongly believe in this. I have not blamed Modi. But there are some who think Modi is hindutwa guy and they can get away with anything, like preaching hate for others. Modi needs to send clear message to them and also make sure that they understand his message clearly as they are destructive forces.

rkfromny | 9 years ago | Reply @Raj - USA Answer me this..why pretend to be a follower of Modi when you are clearly afraid of him... do you think no one will take you seriously otherwise... not that anyone falls for all your nonsense.. !

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Asok | 9 years ago | Reply Rebeiro is 100% correct. I'm not blaming Modi primarily. He has, in fact, made statements supporting the Christian community and asked the police to investigate these incidents expeditiously. However, the RSS, the VHP, and the Bajrang Dal sees his victory as giving a blank cheque for their ideology and is taking the opportunity to vent their hatred against Christians.

Mashael | 9 years ago | Reply Religion is only a way of life otherwise we are all the same.So if someone decides to choose another way of life (i.e. choose another religion) then why should anyone boher. I agre that forced conversion is rong but willful conversion is right. This goes for Muslims also- if someone finds peace in other religion he/she should be allowed. This is the basic rightof a human being. As for conversion funding is considered, why doesn't hindus look after the people who feel deprived and want to change. You as a society give them a reason for chnage- if they are happy with their religion why would they change? Give them respect and rights and I am sure they will be happy as hindus.

wb | 9 years ago | Reply @Rahul: And what's your point?

Rahul | 9 years ago | Reply @wb Did you know Subramanyam Swamy's daughter is married to a Muslim. Look it up on wikipedia.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply Yes modi has all the guts and gestures to convert India into a security state, economic myth would certainly be diminished soon bad part of modi s'' brain is hurling every where

jamor | 9 years ago | Reply @Hemant: Who started the militancy is not the issue.He was asked to do a tough job which he did to the best of his ability.

wb | 9 years ago | Reply A major problem with Indian Muslims and pseudo-secular populace of India is that they have become lovers of lies and haters of truth. If they're told that with the exception of Akbar (who was not a Muslim by the way) all other Muslim rulers were failures or barbarians or warmongers, it becomes spreading hatred against Muslims. If they're told that Muslims are inconsiderate and insensitive to the needs and sensibilities of others, it becomes hatred towards Muslims. If they're told that their collective contribution to India's growth and progress, it becomes hatred towards Muslims. If they're told that they're becoming a burden on our economy and they must start acting responsibly, it becomes hatred towards Muslims. If they're told that they're disproportionately highly represented among criminals and anti-social elements, it becomes hatred towards Muslims. If they're told that they must not seek appeasement and adhere to a common civil law and shed their unjust, misogynist, bigoted, archaic personal law, it becomes hatred towards Muslims. Is it any wonder that there are 1.6 billion Muslims in this world and pretty much all of them are slaves one or another country and their contribution to humanity is nothing but violence and bloodshed! Well, again, Subramanya Swamy become a Muslim hater because they lack honesty to look within themselves and always play victim and he is the only one with the courage to speak the truth. His brutal honesty shatters their bigotry. What a shame! Maybe not. One needs to have shame to feel it.

the eddy | 9 years ago | Reply @Rakib: You are right , it is the ostrich-mentality esp. of we Hindu majority that is harming all , btw even us.

BlackHat | 9 years ago | Reply Many see pluralistic Hinduism, with multitude of schools of thought, theology and philosophy, as weak, especially with respect to Islam. They think Islam's one God, one book, one militant ummah makes it strong. So, if only, these features can be transposed on to Hinduism, it will also become strong and will be able to resist foreign domination. Political Hindutva is a reaction - a mirror image of muslim exclusivism, separatism that began in early years of last century, both at the behest of the British. Though the muslim question was settled nearly 68 years ago, for some time has stood still. One must admit political Islam is remarkably successful even if muslims, by and large, have not benefited. By the same token, political Hindutva is just beginning to be successful, don't begrudge it. In the present times everyone wants easy, black & white answers. Don't want to think too much and get a headache.

zara | 9 years ago | Reply @Raj - USA: "The other day, I mentioned in my comment about watching a video where a hindu religious personality was addressing a huge crowd and saying to them that the bodies of muslim women and girls should be dug out and dishonored. What sort of speech is this????? Can anyone stoop so low ?????" I am impressed. Hindus are very progressive minded. Reminds me of alibaba site wala ajeet.

John B | 9 years ago | Reply In a country like India where every religion coexists, there will always be some one or a group that would like kindle the fire. I believe that the recent targeted violence against Christian institutions have a political motive. And it is easier to kindle the fire when BJP is in power. India should nip this at the early stage, otherwise social terrorism will be used to create chaos. It will only take few hooligans to create chaos among different religions in India. Blaming BJP, Cong or others is not going to solve the problem. All incidences have local perpetrators and should be addressed as such. And "next Pakistan" is an exaggeration, but the implied meaning should be taken seriously.

Rakib | 9 years ago | Reply @Raj - USA: reading the words of the finest of officers we had & then reading your post made me want to cry. The speed with which deterioration is taking place makes me very despondent. Its not murder & mayhem thats the issue, its the cold blooded sinister view that bothers. Its as if suddenly there is license to behave or speak as one feels. At an age when a man should turn a healer with words someone like Subramanya Swami invests his time in spreading hatred against Muslims. Instead of condemning violence against Christians the first thought is did it happen in a Non-BJP ruled State? If so, well, we are not responsible! While one must not over react, the time to wake up ostriches has arrived.

wb | 9 years ago | Reply One person makes a comment and it becomes a verse? He's obviously blowing things out of proportion. Still there is no idea who robbed and raped the nun. Just take cognizance of his concern, laugh at his comment, and get cracking the case. This is not rocket science. In fact, I'm surprised that Pakistan is not protesting his comment because he declared Pakistan a failed state.

MdiFied | 9 years ago | Reply Neither India will become Pakistan nor Pakistan an India. Religious outlook is changing world wide. There are debates all over the world in response to Islamic terrorism. Rape of nun has nothing to do with her religion. Rapist don't care what religion a woman is. Indians are questioning the activities of western missionaries who have been operating in tribal areas of India for decades. Its well known that large scale conversion has been going on of tribal people in India to Christianity for a long time. People have started taking it seriously now. Use of religion as a weapon was started by west in Afghanistan and now it is being used all over world. Indians know the pain of country's division in the name of religion. Its the religious minorities who often seek division and not the other way.

Taha | 9 years ago | Reply Why dont u also mention that the protesters burned innocent people after the blast. Making the protesters a bigger terrorist.

Nazir Basha | 9 years ago | Reply India is a big country with 1.3 billion people and rapes take place in rural and urban areas just like any other country. Some thieves entered a nun's room, looted and raped her. You call this as religious intolerance? Pakistani sites don't have sufficient news to publish about Pakistan?

Milind | 9 years ago | Reply @Raj - USA - Apparently you seem to have bought this drivel by our pseudo-seculars supported by the powerful Christian lobby that funds conversions in non-Christian countries. What has the rape of the nun got to do with Hindutva? Look at the state of Muslim countries the world over.. These have been controlled, invaded or tamed by the evil Christian lobby operating behind the facade of democracy in Western countries.... Almost 30% of China is now Christian, Taiwan, S Korea are above 80% Christian due to persisted efforts and funding for conversions.. Wisely Israel, Sri Lanka and almost all Muslim countries forbid these slimeballs on their land. Its time we wake up and see through this false propaganda and victimhood.

Hemant | 9 years ago | Reply I am aghast that a person like Riberio can utter such rubbish.Who started the Punjab Militancy is well known.If making nations with respect to Religion as a base, then yes he is right in giving example of Pakistan.India, is difficult to govern anyway.

Raj - USA | 9 years ago | Reply I am a long time supporter of Modi. But, even I think that Julio Riberio is correct. Religious intolerance is increasing at a very fast pace and it is not good for India and is not good for Indians. This rape of the 70 year old nun is very horrible. That someone can fall to such lows is beyond imagination. The other day, I mentioned in my comment about watching a video where a hindu religious personality was addressing a huge crowd and saying to them that the bodies of muslim women and girls should be dug out and dishonored. What sort of speech is this????? Can anyone stoop so low ?????? He is addressing a huge crowd and no one takes offense, no one gets disturbed no one feels sad, no one feels disgusted !!!!! As I write this comment, my heart is heavy and I am unable to swallow the bitter saliva it brings out. I feel sad, very sad and very very sad. When I read here Riberio saying "Today, he writes, he feels “unwanted” in a country he has called his home", I can feel that these are words coming out of from his heavily burdened heart, and my heart is bleeding.

zara | 9 years ago | Reply Haha. Is this same india whose current pm was once banned from entering usa for minority killing. Yet they have a face to say this.

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