US monitoring mass conversions in India

The Newspaper's Correspondent Published December 13, 2014

WASHINGTON: The United States said on Friday that it was closely monitoring reports of forced mass conversions in India.

“We are aware of recent reports regarding alleged coercion in mass conversions in India, and are monitoring the situation closely,” said a statement issued by the US Department of State.

The issue of mass conversion was raised at the State Department’s regular briefing on Thursday but the spokesperson, Jen Psaki, promised to respond later.

“We work to promote respect for freedom of religion and belief in all countries around the world. We call on all states to comply with their obligations to protect religious freedom, as per international norms,” the statement said.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2014

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Realist

Dec 13, 2014 10:45am

There are such things about countries called borders and USA seriously needs to learn to respect that.

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jaatboy

Dec 13, 2014 10:56am

And what about evangelists working in India ?? We are not slaves to US ,we don't care what US thinks.

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Realist

Dec 13, 2014 11:00am

@Realist There are such things about states called basic human rights and India seriously needs to learn to respect that.

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lucifer

Dec 13, 2014 11:01am

As much as I condemn these stupid conversions, I would also like to point out that Hindus are converted into Islam and Christianity on a daily basis. Most conversions in India happen to Hindus.

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Independent

Dec 13, 2014 11:02am

We are monitoring killing of African Americans in USA.

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Fawad

Dec 13, 2014 11:17am

How population of Christians increased in indian subcontinent? Tribals and poor were given incentives and turned, where was US when Britain ruled and conversion went well even after British left. So we don't need to learn from US, about most of the things. as China said about US mudslinging over human rights. Now world is different and world order is different, respect every country, everyone has right. And every country has ability to solve problem of their own, and if they need help, they will ask or will let others know. You have done enough with drone, now don't start preaching.

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Chanakya

Dec 13, 2014 11:23am

The US can can not control what is going in it's major cities, arson., killing, looting, rapes, crimes right under the very watchful eyes of law enforcement, and it is monitoring India with it's four times bigger population. It's about time for the US to keep it's own house in order before monitoring India. Has Kerry become a stand up comic?

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Faraz

Dec 13, 2014 11:29am

US is not giving up the role of international policeman.

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Chanakya

Dec 13, 2014 11:35am

@Realist From whom?

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Chanakya

Dec 13, 2014 11:37am

And who is monitoring the US?

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nirajchawhan

Dec 13, 2014 11:42am

This is India's internal matter and USA should not monitor that(we are not pakistan). And if it's monitoring habit is so strong then it should start from situation of Muslims in China. Would it really do that.??

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anshul

Dec 13, 2014 11:50am

Better monitor anti racism protests in our own country.

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Ifti

Dec 13, 2014 01:30pm

Food for thought for those who question partition of Indian subcontinent

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Kamal Pasha

Dec 13, 2014 01:32pm

@Realist, There are no borders for the rulers of the World. They can go anywhere anytime they want.

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Imran Qasim

Dec 13, 2014 03:41pm

Pakistan media did not cover the issue well. probably india is very rich to buy our media.

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AshwinMS

Dec 13, 2014 04:01pm

We don't care what US monitors.

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Dec 13, 2014 04:51pm

@Imran Qasim Dawn covers news impartially. If you see othrwise, it is your way of thinking. We admire the way Dawn works.

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Desi Dimag

Dec 13, 2014 05:08pm

This news is not in Indian media. I think Pakistan is closely monitoring mass conversions in India.

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tani

Dec 13, 2014 05:12pm

@Realist And India needs to learn to respect other religions.

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tani

Dec 13, 2014 05:13pm

@lucifer These are not mass and coerced conversions.There is a difference between these conversions.

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tani

Dec 13, 2014 05:14pm

@Chanakya Do not justify a crime by comparisons.

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tani

Dec 13, 2014 05:18pm

@Desi Dimag because India chose to ignore the news.I always looked at India a great country but now my perceptions are changing since Modi has come to power.I have many Indian Hindu and Muslim friends who are well educated and working in IT sector in UK.Even they seem ashamed of Modi's past and wonder how did he become PM with such a horrific past.

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Lucky Star

Dec 13, 2014 05:28pm

Civilized world stop giving nuclear technology to India and sop arming her with dangerous weapons because Indian society is the most discriminatory and prejudice society on the universe.

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KKC Bhopali

Dec 13, 2014 05:48pm

How dare America commented on our internal matter.

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Laeeq,NY

Dec 13, 2014 05:57pm

These conversions are fine as long as they are not forced. People with weaker beliefs in their religion always turn to another religion for guidance and inner satisfaction. Religion should be personal matter and let people or a person decide what they want to believe as long as no one impose their religion to some one else.

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ilyas

Dec 13, 2014 06:04pm

@nirajchawhan ... Yes this is so, Pakistan's red line is Monitoring and Indian red line is maybe beyond stripping...as already happened through America to an Indian diplomat. Do not forget maybe Indians are more in numbers but really not powerful yet.

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Zain

Dec 13, 2014 06:13pm

There is a difference between preaching and converting and forcing them to convert. Indians Are the most ignorant people I have came across in my whole life. When you do something wrong at least be a man and admit it.

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Ashwani

Dec 13, 2014 06:21pm

The Freedom of religion is under 2 different articles in India. But in a society, like India conversion from one faith to another , is always a tense situation. There have been cases of mass conversion on tribals to Christianity. In this conversion, they were inducements given to poor to reconvert back to Hinduism. It is as football between between faiths. Only poor suffer

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Dr. Abdul Manan

Dec 13, 2014 06:21pm

Indian Reaction.... HAHAHAH

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salim alvi

Dec 14, 2014 01:13am

"Anglo/Arab man came to our land with book in hand. He asked us to close our eyes because we was going to read something from his book. We trusted him since he was a guest and so closed our eyes. When he was done reading in alien tongue, a word of which we did not understand, we had the book and he had the land... we saw our dear ones being shipped to distant slave bazars of Macca, Baghdad, Rome and Americas," Desmond Tutu / Julius Nayrere.

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paatchu

Dec 14, 2014 11:27am

Mr.Kerry should be nominate for an OSCAR for best COMEDIAN!!!

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almas mohommad

Dec 14, 2014 11:27am

the issue is is the conversion by coercion , then this has to stop, is the conversion by inducement like the recent one in agra then it has to stop , otherwise mark my words we are going towards any banana republic

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deven

Dec 14, 2014 01:46pm

It is not conversion but returning to roots. 90% Pakistanis are Hindus and seeing condition of Pakistan slowly they are bound to return to their roots too as the Arabs have flately refused to accept them as Muslims.

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diwakar

Dec 14, 2014 03:48pm

@Realist ,Look who is talking.

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Setu Madhavan

Dec 14, 2014 10:52pm

@Desi Dimag 'The news is not in Indian Media' REally? Channel after channel is airing program after episode exclusively devoted to this.

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Indian

Dec 15, 2014 03:59am

Who cares of US in India..

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chari

Dec 15, 2014 07:19am

Yes, Kerry you are right. As Americans, ew must monitor what is going on in India. Why don't we start with Joshua Project funded by US and other Christian organizations whose goal si to convert all Hindus to Christianity and has been quite successful at it since 1960. They converted many tribals to Evangelism and are killing many many Muslims. They have been destroying temples, just like they destroyed Buddhist shrines in Korea. It is about time Kerry review these mass conversions (by any means) in India and Yes! Stop It immediately. Bravo Modi!

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Chakri

Dec 15, 2014 07:23am

This is such a joke, thousands of people are converted every year by evangelists in India. These evangelists are funded by American politicians. Hindus should 'man up' for once, to fight these hypocrats.

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Yusaf

Dec 15, 2014 08:47am

The picture, heading and the content has no connection. Picture is pasted from somewhere else? What a joke.

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Harsh

Dec 15, 2014 09:29am

The United States said on Friday that it was closely monitoring reports of forced mass conversions in India, in other words she told the Pakistani journalist who asked this question, we don't care.

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meharali

Dec 16, 2014 12:12pm

@Chanakya Indians cant take criticism yet are first to celebrate any negative news about Pkistan

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