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FIACONA dismayed at the attitude of Modi Government to poor children

Published on 22 March, 2017
FIACONA dismayed at the attitude of Modi Government to poor children

March 22, 2017, Washington, DC. 

Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations (FIACONA) is deeply disturbed by the total abdication of responsibility by Prime Minister Modi’s nationalist Hindu government in resolving an issue which affects at least 147,000 poor Indian children and their future, besides putting US-India relationship at a greater risk. 

A US based Christian charity, Compassion International (CI), for the past 48 years has been helping the families that are stuck at the very bottom of the society in India, by helping their children get a better future. There are over 147,000 poor and marginalized children currently enrolled in CI's India program. The aid provided by Compassion International helps break the cycle of poverty and indignity these children have experienced.
 
But the government headed by a radical Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leader Mr. Narendra Modi, are denying the only help these Indian children have been receiving. The reason for their action seems to be ideological - which their government won’t even acknowledge officially.
 
Prime Minister Modi’s decision to expel Compassion International from India for their ideological reason will effectively condemn 147000 children to a life of indignity and grinding poverty. Mr. Modi’s decision effectively denies these children a shot at what life could offer them.
 
Mr. David Prasanna, one of FIACONA members from New Jersey said, “Mr. Modi’s resolve to expel Compassion International from India on false charges will irrevocably affect not only the future of the children currently enrolled in their program but it will also affect hundreds of thousands of children who could get a life-line to escape the cycle of grinding poverty and indignity in future”.
 
Pastor Joel Johnson, an active member of FIACONA said, “It is an assault on a 2000 year old Christian church in India by a radical group under the leadership of Mr. Modi”.
 
Dr. Ravi Mathews, another member of FIACONA from Tennessee points out that the action taken by Modi government on trumped up charges, is a crime against the vulnerable people of India.
 
He also pointed out that the action by Modi government is a national shame because, it effectively denies hundreds of thousands of children the only means to a life of dignity and respect.
 
FIACONA believes that this action by Modi government against Christian aid agencies is an attempt by the political-Hinduism to hijack the rich religious traditions of religious Hinduism and the people of India.
 
Mr. Modi’s hardcore Hindu nationalist government should also decide if their ideological argument is worth damaging the important US-India relationship.
 
The hardline approach of the Hindu nationalist government under Modi has the potential to cause serious damage to the US-India relationship at a time when India needs the US more than the other-way around.
 
FIACONA understands that these actions against Christian institutions is a serious issue that affects the US interests in India.  

John Prabhudoss

President, FIACONA.

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