Those who set up these Provocative banners must be dealt with quick

KTM confirms provocative banners removed from station

Published 10 hours ago on 08 June 2018

By Yiswaree Palansamy And Ida Lim

A man is seen removing the provocative banner from the KTM station area, June 8, 2018. ― Pictures courtesy of KTMB

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 ― Provocative banners with racial messaging targeting two politicians have been removed from the area of a Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) station, the railway company has confirmed.

Earlier today, Malay Mail had spotted two provocative messages outside the KTM station in Kg Dato Harun in Petaling Jaya, which had targeted DAP's Damansara MP Tony Pua and Human Rights Party Malaysia's president P. Uthayakumar.

Malay Mail alerted KTMB about the matter and its chairman Datuk Nawawi Ahmad confirmed it and the banners have since been removed.

Malay Mail understands that a senior KTMB officer was told today that the banners were put up yesterday and that the officer had subsequently ordered KTMB staff to remove the banners.

Photographs were furnished as proof to Malay Mail that the banners have been taken down from the KTM station area, with the removed banners also shown folded up near the ticket turnstiles.

The banners spotted today were yellow in colour, with warnings to “infidels” and “immigrants” to not challenge the status of Islam in the country.

The provocative banners that were hung up by unknown individuals bore red writings in Malay, saying: “Immigrants don’t overstep the line!! Don’t play with fire” and “Islam is the official religion of Malaysia!! Infidels don’t forget yourself”.

Article 3 of the Federal Constitution states that Islam is the religion of the federation.

The banners also showed the faces of Pua, and Uthayakumar, which were crossed out.

It is unsure why the two were targeted, but the latter had led a group called Hindraf 2.0 who had recently demanded among others for Bumiputera-exclusive Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) to be opened to all Malaysians.

It also carried photos of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Muhammad V.

Earlier today, Pandamaran state assemblyman Tony Leong lodged a police report over around 20 banners with similar appearances and similar provocative messages that were spotted in Pandamaran in the Klang district. The banners have been taken down.

Leong told Malay Mail that similar banners were said to have been spotted in Padang Jawa and Shah Alam, two other locations in Selangor.

The removed banners are seen folded up near the ticket turnstiles.

Those who set up these Provocative banners must be dealt with quickly. NO GROUPS must be allowed to get away with this.  

Anti-Corruption Drive - Time to CLEAN UP to Police Force!

Anti-Corruption Drive Must Start With Corruption Busters

• 8 June 2018
 
• 6

Malaysians are grateful that the newly positioned IGP identified which way the wind was blowing on election night and, together with armed forces chiefs, made it clear to the Agong that the people must not be frustrated in the appointment of the government of their choice.

For several tense hours on the night of May 9th, the ‘independent’ Election Commission had suspended the formal announcement of results, in deference to their loyalty to Najib, whilst the ex-prime minister looked for ‘solutions’ to his landslide defeat, involving anything but the return of Mahathir to power.

Those included no less than two calls by Najib to Anwar in his prison cell, seeking to carve  some sort of deal with the man he’d jailed, whilst the former ‘FLOM’ reportedly howled with tears. The panic being played out during those dark hours also involved intense discussions with palace advisors to suggest the appointment of one of the other opposition figures as prime minister – anyone who Najib thought could be more easily put under pressure than Dr M.

It was, according to well informed political insiders, decisive advice from police head, Mohamad Fuzi Harun, that broke the impasse.  The entire country knew about the opposition victory via the internet, passions were rising over the obvious disruptive tactics and the police chief did not want violence to break out on his watch.

In the early hours, therefore, the election results started to flow once more and the Agong announced that he would invite Mahthir to the palace.  Angry popular scenes were thereby averted.

It was a good move by the IGP.  Nevertheless, this top cop was appointed by a tainted government, recommended by a tainted predecessor and heads an establishment dominated for years by a culture of loyalty to a man, who believed the law was for ‘little people’ not the leaders of the country.

Who in Malaysia can forget that as late as March this year this IGP was stating that 1MDB was not a criminal matter and that there was no evidence against Jho Low?  It has to be asked how equipped is such a crime chief to assist the government in its present top tast of exposing 1MDB and retrieving all the missing cash – more importantly, how far can he be trusted?

Who Can Clean Out The Cops?

Sarawak Report reported on a number of occasions on the apparent short-comings of Fuzi’s predecessor, including inappropriate connecti0ns with a notorious organiser of a police protection racket and businesses involving the sale of firearms, which he himself must licence.

Despite the failure of the previous IGP to deny these matters, Prime Minister Najib had attempted to extend his tenure beyond GE14 and his normal retirement.  Loyalty to Najib was all that mattered. It was IGP Khalid Baker, who had tipped off the premier in 2015 that he was facing charges drawn up by the AG over his thefts from 1MDB/SRC.

In the end it was Khalid himself who bowed to pressure and stepped down, paving the succession of the head of Special Branch, Fuzi, to replace him shortly before GE14.

They are not known to be stupid in SB, hence the right call on election night.  However, the new corruption-busting administration must now decide if Fuzi and his top associates, all close to Najib, are the best men to carry out the much needed clear-up of a police force that has been allowed to descend from being custodians of the law into a dangerous threat all on their watch?

Fuzi currently tolerates one Noor Rashid as his Deputy IGP, for example, another crony extended beyond his retirement by Najib just weeks before the election.  Insiders have just passed to Sarawak Report damning evidence of an episode that has stained Noor’s reputation amongst his men, but which the police establishment seems to have chosen to ignore.

In 2015 it appears that Noor’s car was stopped in Cheras, whilst being driven by his son and was allegedly found to contain illegal substances.  The upshot? Far from the alleged perpetrator being duly charged, it was the police officers involved who received punishment for stopping the ‘wrong’ car and reporting the situation to their colleagues.

These officers were all later transferred out of their jobs, having received a warning letter that appeared to claim that they had no authority to stop or check the DIGP’s car – even though it was privately registered, so they were not aware of who the owner was (not that the DIGP or his family should be above the law in the first place):

Letter chastising officers for stopping Noor’s car

Signed

The letter translates:

This dept has conducted disciplinary investigation on the issue of detaining and inspecting a car owned by the deputy inspector-general that was driven by his son at 7 mile Jalan Cheras, Kuala Lumpur on 13 october 2015 around 1830 hours and the dissemination via whatsapp application by members of the patrol car branch of the Cheras district police hq, Kuala lumpur.

2. The result of the investigation found that you had broadcasted the number of the car owned by the deputy inspector-general to the whatsapp group “NKRA MPW Series 1/2014” when you have no authority to verify the matter, which led to negative comments from members of the WA group. Your conduct contravenes the Standing Order of the Inspector-General of Police A 110 paragraph 8.1.3.1 which is making false statement towards any members of the force and paragraph 8.1.40 on authority to verify or disseminate any information related to the police force or other matters related to the force or any other matters that should be kept secret. Your conduct can be understood as ‘irresponsible’ under Rules 4(2)(g) Public Servant Rules (Conduct and discipline) 1993.

3. After examining the overall facts of the case, I decided not to take disciplinary actions towards you this time, but instead, issue this ‘ reprimand letter’ as a reminder to be more professional and having integrity while executing your duties and responsibilities. You are required to obey every instructions and rules of the force from time to time. Please use this opportunity to change your attitude by giving proactive and excellent service.

4. This department will not hesitate to take stern actions if its proven that you commit offence of the rules and laws in future.

On behalf of Director, Integrity and standards compliance dept, Bukit aman

There are those in the police force who feel that the episode imparts an impression that senior officers and their relatives are immune and the public is likely to be likewise concerned at this apparent attitude by top brass.

There are further concerns in that the officer understood to be in prime position to eventually replace this Deputy IGP is none other than the former CID chief Mohammed Salleh, who was revealed as one of the top cops in regular telephone contact with the leader of the so-called ‘Ops Gopi’ protection racket by exposes in this website last year.

He was transferred to nacotics in the aftermath of Sarawak Report’s revelations that (like the then IGP himself) Salleh had received several calls from the suspected ringleader of a gambling and massage parlour extortion syndicate, Gopinathan Krishnan, and had rung him back just hours before ‘Gopi’ was arrested and allegedly confessed his role to MACC investigators.

Large sums of money were also seized in this notorious case.  However, in the end it appears no charges were pressed against the crooks, who had been so apparently caught ‘red handed’.  The case appears to have simply melted away, not least owing to pressure from then prime minister Najib, our sources have told us.

Gopi has been released, probes into senior police personnel have been dropped and no charges have been pressed. Now, Mohammed Salleh is being widely touted to be Fuzi’s favourit as the next DIGP, which would involve him leap-frogging over more senior and respected officers.

Under the new order Malaysians will be expecting an untainted police force, starting at the top.  Sarawak Report suggests that the clear out needs to start immediately to prevent growing obstruction of anti-corruption measures in Malaysia and the danger of continuing high level collusion with members of the past regime, who may be seeking to distabilise the new government.

After all, if junior police officers can be moved out for stopping a Deputy IGP’s car and removing substances, then senior officers with dubious connections to gangster activity ought likewise to be moved aside and certainly not promoted.

 

Anti-Corruption Drive - Time to CLEAN UP to Police Force! Start eith the top brass Ops Gopi and all.

Sarawalk Report - Whispering Campaign Against Proposed AG (TT should be accepted by all)

Whispering Campaign Against Proposed AG Smacks of Najib 3 June 2018 ‘Beyond ethnicity, serious concerns about choice of Attorney-General’.  FMT Reporters It’s not merely a question of ethnicity, there are other concerns such as a possible conflict of interest, poor command of the national language and lack of understanding about the shariah. Reservations over the possible appointment of constitutional expert Tommy Thomas as the new attorney-general may have to do with concerns about conflict of interest and problems in dealing with his day-to-day job, more than ethnic and religious factors, according to a highly placed source close to the government. The source confirmed that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s choice of a non-Malay and non-Muslim as head of the Attorney-General’s Chambers has not sat well with some within Pakatan Harapan (PH). But it was pure speculation “bordering on lobbying” to suggest that the disagreement had to do with Thomas’s ethnicity and religion, it said. The source, who agreed to speak to FMT on the condition of strict anonymity, said many had pointed out that Thomas had been part of the legal team for Lim Guan Eng, the current finance minister. Thomas appeared alongside Gobind Singh Deo when Lim challenged committal proceedings initiated by Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali, in a case linked to the corruption charges against Lim. He also represented the Penang government under Lim, when the state sued the Election Commission and the federal government to restore municipal elections. “He had represented Guan Eng. This is a conflict of interest that is direct, clear and obvious,” the source said…… Source: Whispering Campaign Against Proposed AG Smacks of Najib, Free Malaysia Today Comment An orchestrated whispering campaign seems underfoot, with anonymous writers and sources crawling out of the woodwork to spin conflicting stories designed to undermine the new Prime Minister’s choice of Attorney General. The concerted villification bears the familiar hallmarks of tactics associated with the premiership of Najib. It can be deduced, therefore, that Najib and his remaining allies fear or resent the constitutional expert, Tommy Thomas, who has been put forward as a tough corruption-buster for the job. He is not ‘Malay’ enough; he has not the ‘right sort’ of legal background; he is ‘pro-Chinese’, the sniping goes. This is all old-style, divisive talk to distract from real issues, such as whether the new AG will open a review of the apparent cover-up over the murder of Altantuya and other such dirty episodes from the recent past? A key player in that apparent cover-up over Altantuya was Najib’s then lawyer Cecil Abraham, whose son Sunil went to school with the present Agong and represented him in a gruesome battle against his own father, the Sultan of Kelantan (who protested at being disregarded by his son as regent). The Agong reportedly calls Cecil ‘uncle’ and the father and son are amongst his known advisors. Those advisors should be wary, if, as suggested by all the rumour-mongering, this Agong is indeed objecting to the cabinet’s choice for Attorney General, since it presents a glaring inconsistency to voters, who just elected the new government on an anti-corruption agenda. The Prime Minister has proposed Tommy Thomas, who holds a clean and decent reputation, for a two year term to tackle that agenda. Why should the PM be thwarted when the rulers and previous Agong did nothing in 2015, after the previous Attorney General was marched from his office at gun-point and forceably ‘retired’ from his post by Najib Razak, in order to protect himself from charges over 1MDB? That move was unconstitutional, yet there was not a murmur from the rulers. Instead, the then Agong tamely appointed a notorious legal crony put forward by Najib, Apandi Ali. Apandi proceeded to conduct himself shamefully, bowing to preposterous excuses from the tainted PM and refusing to cooperate with officers from the MACC and Central Bank, who demanded charges must be laid. Indeed, just before the election, the present Agong renewed the tenure of that same Apandi, who by then was derided worldwide for refusing to cooperate with law enforcers from the United States, Singapore and Switzerland, seeking to retrieve billions stolen through 1MDB on behalf of Malaysians, who were not being served by their own government. Only now, when an unblemished and upright senior law officer is being proposed for the job is it being alleged that the Agong and some rulers are making objections on spurious grounds, presumably on the urging of advisors who may themselves be tainted. Given the clear delays, it is time for the Agong to act to dispel such dangerous gossip and end the apparent indecision. Malaysians voted decisively last month in favour of a clean up. They do not want to have to conclude that people close to previous corrupt ways continue to have undue influence over high-level appointments or that petty excuses and ill-founded objections are being made to keep a corruption-buster out of the post of AG. Read the story on Sarawalk Report Whispering Campaign Against Proposed AG (TT should be accepted by all). Yes, The PH govt was elected into power and as such should be given the authority to choose the AG they want. What a LOAD of CRAP about non Malay, non Muslim, pro-Chinese. Look at Apandi (pro-Umno, 1MDB Najib protector, greedy, so much injustices and not doing justice to Umno/BN detractors who commit crimes, acts of indecency, etc...). Let us M'sians voice out and get TT be installed as the next AG quickly.

Sarawalk Report - Ting Pek Khing (Taib M. crony)

A Matter Of Development 2 June 2018 Ting Pek Khing is (or perhaps one should say was) a Sarawak businessman, who flourished under Taib Mahmud by becoming involved in projects linked to the present governor’s ‘family enterprises’. Suddenly, following Harapan’s surprise win, which has put the strongmen in Sarawak in a massive quandry, given that Taib thrived from his collaboration with the now defunct BN, this tycoon cum bankrupt cum elderly retiree has popped out of the woodwork to propose a massive RM30 billion project in Dr M’s constituency. In the eyes of most Malaysians it does look rather blatant.  The new Prime Minister has been fairly cautious in his response, saying Mr Ting Pek Khing is ‘welcome to do business’ in Langkawi, which has none-the-less been sufficient to ring alarm bells amongst reformers, who supported his leadership of Harapan. After all, it’s tempting for the premier.  In one fell swoop he can hope to bring the magic rain on his local voters, who might expect to benefit from jobs as cleaners and servers for the massive influx planned of tourists into such a resort on their island. However, in a proper management of such issues of development, there ought to be full due process and consideration given, proper tendering, planning and all the rest.  There should be full scrutiny of the models being proposed, the consequences of what is being proposed and who really will benefit in the end. In a democracy, it is the wider population who must expect to gain most. For example, do Langkawi residents really want to host a mega-resort on their island with tens of thousands of cheap travellers pouring in to soak up water, make filth, cause trouble, create prostitution issues and drug worries and all the rest of the social ills that inevitably accompany such resorts? Are they ready for the environmental effects on their waters, their reef, natural plants and sea life?  Do they appreciate that soon their island with its tower block hotels will become a magnet for incoming workers from across Asia, who will undercut their own sons and daughters when it comes to competition to work in the hotels and restaurants etc? A study ought to be made of the impact of mega-modern hotel complexes from Hawai, to Benidorm to Pataya beach in Thailand before the people of Langkawi are subjected to what would be the tranformation of their island, not necessarily for the better. Indeed, any such mega-project ought to be the subject of a proper 360 review by an independent special planning enquiry, involving a full local consultation process for local people to understand, evaluate and decide on such a life changing transformation that might benefit them far less economically than promised. After all, what did Ting Pek Khing’s Bakun project do for the refugee communities displaced by that mega-dam, which was meant to economically transform Sarawak?  They had all been previously promised this project would enrich them, yet it has destroyed their beautiful homeland and left them impoverished. There is also the thorny issue of where Mr Ting Pek Khing’s financing will come from. Full transparency on that matter is required, not least because of his closeness to Taib Mahmud, whose management of Sarawak has made the kleptocracy of characters such as Najib Razak pale into insignificance. Indeed, to place such a mega-project into the hands of a single financier, in itself can run several risks, especially given that this ‘grand plan constructor’ has plunged into bankruptcy before on just these sorts of ventures. An economic case needs to be made for this old boy’s mega-plans, so that Langkawians do not end up with something completely different from what was promised (a ‘classy resort’ could end up a sleezy sink if things go wrong). It is entirely probable, that a more restrained, sophisticated, lower key investment would in fact benefit Langkawi people better.  Less, but richer tourists; less, but better jobs and less impact on the environment, so that they keep their island beautiful and safe – a place still nice to live in. These sorts of issues need thought and transparency and public debate.  It is not for one rich and controversial entrepreneur with dubios connections just to make the offer nor for the new MP just to accept the offer, over a couple of deal making discussions where no one else gets a chance to make wider concerns heard. Much damage has already been done by that sort of development, especially when the motives appear suspect from the start.  Thankfully, Dr Mahathir has indicatedthat Ting’s bid would indeed need to go through the state parliament and be handled in the proper way. Read the story on Sarawalk Report

Syria Will Be Liberated With Or Without Americans

New Assad Interview – Syria Will Be Liberated With Or Without Americans

TOPICS:Brandon TurbevilleMilitarySyria

MAY 31, 2018

By Brandon Turbeville

Fresh on the heels of a string of victories over Western-backed terrorists in areas where they have been entrenched for years, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sat down for an interview with RT. During the course of the interview, Assad expressed optimism at the ability of the Syrian government to fully liberate the entire country, “within a year” if it were not for the interference of the West. He also expressed optimism that the outcome would be the same whether or not the outside interference stopped, once again pledging to liberate every inch of Syrian soil.

“With every move forward for the Syrian Army, and for the political process, and for the whole situation, our enemies and our opponents, mainly the West led by the United States and their puppets in Europe and in our region, they try to make it farther – either by supporting more terrorism, bringing more terrorists to Syria, or by hindering the political process,” said Assad.

Assad stated that he believes Washington is “losing its cards” after the recent victories by the Syrian government. “Our challenge is how we can close this gap between their plans and our plans,” he said.

But he also pointed out that the closer Syria comes to victory, the more desperate the West becomes. In this regard, he mentioned the alleged and now debunked Douma chemical attack, asking “Is it in our interest? Why, and why now?” Assad stated that this incident was a last-ditch effort by the West to sway public and international opinion, an effort that failed.

“They told a story, they told a lie, and the public opinion around the world and in the West didn’t buy their story, but they couldn’t withdraw. So, they had to do something, even on a smaller scale,”Assad said, referring to the Western missile strikes against Syrian targets, including a factory that manufactured cancer drugs.

Interestingly, Assad stated that Russia played a role in restraining the United States not only in general since 2015 but also in this specific incident.

“The Russians announced publicly that they are going to destroy the bases that are going to be used to launch missiles, and our information – we don’t have evidence, we only have information, and that information is credible information – that they were thinking about a comprehensive attack all over Syria, and that’s why the threat pushed the West to make it on a much smaller scale,” the Syrian president said.

But while many pro-Syrian activists were angry at the lack of response by Russia, Assad praised the Russians for not triggering World War Three with the United States.

“We were close to have direct conflict between the Russian forces and the American forces, and fortunately, it has been avoided, not by the wisdom of the American leadership, but by the wisdom of the Russian leadership,” Assad told RT. “We need the Russian support, but we need at the same time to avoid the American foolishness in order to be able to stabilize our country.”

When asked about the political vs. military approaches to solving the conflict, Assad was resolute, reminding the interviewer that there were still battles left to fight.

“Factions like Al-Qaeda, like ISIS, like Al-Nusra, and the like-minded groups, they’re not ready for any dialogue, they don’t have any political plan; they only have this dark ideological plan, which is to be like any Al-Qaeda-controlled area anywhere in this world. So, the only option to deal with those factions is force,” Assad said, emphasizing that there is no stepping back now.

“The more escalation we have, the more determined we’ll be to solve the problem, because you don’t have any other choice; either you have a country or you don’t have a country,” the Syrian president told RT.

Assad referred to Israel’s threats as nothing more than what Syrians have lived under for years pointing out that the recent publication of those threats were merely “hysterical” reactions to watching the terrorists Israel supports finally losing in Syria.

When finally asked about Donald Trump’s tweet calling him “Animal Assad,” the Syrian president responded “This is not my language, so, I cannot use similar language. This is his language. It represents him. It represents him, and I think there is a well-known principle, that what you say is what you are.”

“Somebody like Trump will move nothing for me,” he added.

You can watch the full interview here:

Brandon Turbeville writes for Activist Post 

US should stop supporting terrorists

Curcumin is your heart’s best friend

Curcumin is your heart’s best friend: Three ways the compound protects you from life-threatening cardiac events

(Natural News) What do you do to avoid heart disease? Are you eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise? Perhaps your doctor has convinced you to take medications like ACE inhibitors? If you think you’re already doing everything you can for hearth health – or if you’re taking meds and worried about the risk – you’ll want to hear about curcumin’s amazing ability to reduce your risk of experiencing a life-threatening cardiac event.

Curcumin is found in turmeric, and it’s what gives this Indian spice its vibrant yellow-orange hue. It’s already known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and lots of studies have shown its potential utility in preventing and managing cancer thanks to its ability to inhibit blood vessel growth in cancer tumors and prompt cancer cells to die. While this remarkable power has rightfully stolen many of the turmeric-related headlines, its benefits don’t end there. Here’s a look at three ways curcumin can protect your heart.

1.    It enhances your arterial function

If you’ve been having trouble getting in regular exercise for heart health, you’ll be happy to hear that curcumin works just as well as exercise does at enhancing the function of your arteries. A 2012 study published in Nutrition found that just 150 grams of curcumin per day was as effective as performing aerobic exercise moderately in improving the function of the endothelium. This layer of cells that line blood vessels helps to control blood clotting and blood cell stickiness, tone and consistency.

It’s believed that curcumin accomplishes this by boosting the production of nitric oxide, which causes the smooth muscle in blood vessels to relax and allows the vessels to dilate. Curcumin also lowers blood pressure and boosts blood flow by suppressing receptors for angiotensin, which stimulates arterial muscle contraction. In this way, curcumin actually works much like the ACE inhibitor meds often used to treat high blood pressure – without the side effects!

 

2.    It keeps high blood sugar from damaging the heart

If you thought high blood sugar wasn’t closely connected to heart health, think again. High blood sugar can cause damage to the heart as well as the blood vessels, which explains why diabetics have as much as three times the likelihood of dying from heart disease as those who don’t have diabetes. High blood sugar impairs the heart muscle’s function over time, raising the risk of heart attack. Curcumin, however, decreases oxidative stress, thereby preventing heart muscle tissue from dying from high glucose. It also suppresses the production of the advanced glycation end products that lead to restricted arterial flow and artery dysfunction and stiffening.

3.    It improves cholesterol

A study found that supplementing with 1 gram of curcumin per day and the lycopene extract biopene significantly reduced people’s levels of LDL cholesterol – the bad kind – while raising HDL, or “good cholesterol.” It also limits the formation of plaque in arteries and reduces triglycerides. In addition, it can lead to a reduction in abdominal fat, which has been linked to several serious health problems. It’s believed that it accomplishes this by normalizing the levels of signaling molecules governing body fat distribution known as leptin and adiponectin.

As you can see, curcumin brings a host of benefits when it comes to heart health, adding to an already impressive resume. In addition to its cancer-fighting abilities, it can also boost your brain health and strengthen your immune system and bones. When you throw its ability to support reproductive health, kidneys, and eyes into the mix, it’s hard to find any part of the body that curcumin doesn’t seem to help.

Catholic archbishop's letter incensed India's BJP and he's RIGHT

How a letter by a Catholic archbishop incensed India's BJP

Archbishop Couto's letter should be seen in the context of growing anti-minority sentiment in India.

by Apoorvanand

16 hours ago

After calling parish priests to pray to save India from the "turbulent political atmosphere", the Archbishop of Delhi, Anil Couto, has been accused of intervening in politics [AP]

A letter the Catholic Archbishop of Delhi sent to all parish priests working in India's capital city has created a furore in the country's already charged political scene.

In the letter dated May 8, Archbishop Anil Couto requested parish priests to start a year-long prayer campaign to save India from the "turbulent political atmosphere", which "poses a threat to the democratic principles enshrined in our constitution and the secular fabric of our nation".

The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) immediately jumped to criticise the letter, calling it a "divisive move" and saying it was akin to calling people to vote along communal lines. BJP President Amit Shah also condemned the letter and warned people not to mobilise masses on the basis of religion. Giriraj Singh, a senior minister of the BJP government who is known for his controversial statementsabout India's minority communities, responded to the letter by saying "every action has a reaction". If the archbishop asked his people to pray, people from other religions would also start praying in their own way, he said.

The only Christian minister in the central cabinet, K J Alphons, said the archbishop was not the entire church and was an "isolated voice" in the community. Calling the letter "unfair to the government", he advised the bishop that "Godmen should stay away from politics".

Home Minister Rajnath Singh also felt compelled to respond to the letter, and claimed that India is a country where "there was no discrimination on the basis of religion". Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the parent body of the BJP, also criticised the archbishop's call to prayer. Prominent RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha called the letter "a direct interference of the Vatican in the affairs of India" and said that it was an affront to the secular character of India.

It was interesting to see the BJP and the RSS treat the letter as an attack on the government. The letter does not mention the BJP nor does it mention the current government. The only thing the letter does talk about is the "turbulent political atmosphere" in the country.

'Inciting religious hatred'

The archbishop's letter was not the only statement that has been issued by concerned Indian Christians in the past month. Barely a week after Archbishop Couto's letter became public, the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC)  put out a statement condemning the appointment of a known RSS man - Kummanam Rajasekharan - as a governor of Mizoram, which is a Christian-dominated state.

"Christians in Mizoram in particular, and those of the country in general, feel disturbed and very much let down after the appointment of a hardcore Hindutva fundamentalist as the new Governor of Mizoram where 87 percent of people are Christians," the Council said. The organisation also alleged that Rajasekharan's appointment was "a deliberate move" to create disharmony in a state "that has won awards in the last few years for being the most peaceful state in the country".

AJ SHORTS: The Last Jews of Kolkata

There are now fears that both the archbishop's letter and the GCIC's statement could be used by the BJP to further polarise Hindus in forthcoming elections in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In the past, BJP officials presented such letters and statements as evidence of an international conspiracy against a party that defends Hindu interests.

Last November, prior to the Gujarat state assembly elections, Archbishop Thomas Macwan of the Archdiocese of Gandhinagar issued a letter calling parish priests to organise prayer sessions to help people "who would remain faithful to the Indian constitution" get elected. BJP treated the letter as a call to vote against it, and a BJP leader even called for the archbishop's arrest for "inciting religious hatred".

In India, participation in politics of Hindu godmen and women is seen as normal, but when Muslim or Christian religious personalities speak on politics, they are accused of dividing people. The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh is the head of an old and very powerful Gorakhnath Math (temple) in Gorakhpur. There are ministers and members of parliament who themselves claim to be godmen and women and yet are seen as fit for office within the secular polity of India.

Increasing discrimination against minorities 

The letter of Archbishop Cauto needs to be seen in the context of the growing anxiety and unrest religious minority communities of India have been feeling.

In a column for the Times of India, Julio Ribeiro, a retired police commissioner and well-respected Christian public figure, voiced the concerns of many when he wrote: "I should be prepared for second class citizenship that denies top jobs like that of a judge in the Supreme Court, a governor of a state, the chief of defence staff or the intelligence bureau. What I will not accept is being accused falsely of being anti-national and pilloried on that count."

In this year's Open Door World Watch List, which ranks the 50 countries in which Christians face the worst persecution for practising their faith, India came 11th. The country was ranked 31st in the same list only five years ago. According to the United Christian Forum (UCF), more than 700 cases of attacks on Christians across India were reported to their toll-free helpline number between 2014 and 2017.

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian NGO, publishes a periodical report on the cases of discrimination or attacks against Christians in India. In its 2017 report, the organisation said: "According to a statement made by the Government in the Indian Parliament on the 7th of Feb. 2017 over the last three years, over 278 persons have been killed, and over 6,500 people were injured due to communal violence in over 2000 incidents". 

According to the ADF, discriminatory incidents and hate crimes experienced by Christians in India include cases of Ghar Wapsi (religious conversion activities), refusal to grant permission to establish and run places of worship, false accusations of forceful and fraudulent religious conversions, physical and verbal assaults on church pastors and members, false and divisive propaganda, damage, desecration and arson of places of worship, disruption of prayer services and restrictions on religious gatherings.

Moreover, BJP leaders and ministers regularly invoke anti-Muslim and anti-Christian symbolism to garner Hindu support. Representatives of the ruling party repeatedly talk about Muslims outnumbering Hindus in India or Christian missionaries luring poor people to their fold through their educational institutions. After creating sufficient fear within Hindu communities, they suggest that they can be the voice and protector of Hindus in India.

In his public addresses, Prime Minister Narendra Modi very cleverly uses a language that derides and mocks minorities and presents the Congress and other political parties in India as anti-Hindu forces. In the recently concluded and much discussed parliamentary by-election at Kairana, Uttar Pradesh, BJP representatives used a similar "us vs them" discourse, pitting Hindus against Muslims to garner votes.

Many members of minority communities in India, as well as many secular Indians, believe that if the BJP wins next year's general election, the subversion of the institutionally secular character of India would be complete.

This is why opposition parties are keeping their ideological differences aside and trying to forge a grand alliance. The letter of the archbishop needs to be read and judged in this context.

Catholic archbishop's letter incensed India's BJP and he's RIGHT on the dot. Modi and his BJP cohorts are indiscriminately maligning the rights of the minority religious faiths. Beatings of Christians, non action of the authorities to these criminal  activities, etc. VOTE THEM ALL OUT OF OFFICE!!!