Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NEWDELHI2529
2006-04-13 12:08:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
RAJASTHAN'S CHIEF MINISTER TELLS SPEAKER HASTERT
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002529
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR KIRF KDEM SCUL CASC IN
SUBJECT: RAJASTHAN'S CHIEF MINISTER TELLS SPEAKER HASTERT
SHE IS ANGRY AT CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES
REF: A. NEW DELHI 1818
B. NEW DELHI 1953
C. NEW DELHI 02291
Classified By: A/DCM Geoff Pyatt for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002529
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR KIRF KDEM SCUL CASC IN
SUBJECT: RAJASTHAN'S CHIEF MINISTER TELLS SPEAKER HASTERT
SHE IS ANGRY AT CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES
REF: A. NEW DELHI 1818
B. NEW DELHI 1953
C. NEW DELHI 02291
Classified By: A/DCM Geoff Pyatt for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) In an otherwise cordial April 10 courtesy call with
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and seven accompanying
Congressman, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje
expressed genuine anger at the activities of Christian
missionaries in her state and provided a spirited defense of
the recently passed Rajasthan anti-conversion bill (Reftels).
Describing the bill as a "progressive measure," the Chief
Minister pointed out that because of India's dire poverty
there are persons so poor that they feel compelled to "sell
their children or change their religion to make a buck." She
emphasized that she had made it clear to state officials that
her administration would never allow such a thing to happen,
and that the anti-conversion bill would "save" them from such
exploitation.
2. (C) CM Raje noted that she had no qualms about
individuals changing their faith, but that they should first
be "educated" before making such an important decision, so
that they understand its implications. She accused Christian
missionaries of targetting the most ignorant and uneducated
in society and taking advantage of them and that she "would
never allow it." The Chief Minister then told the
Congressmen that the Emmanuel Mission (EM) in Kota was
responsible for the publication and distribution of a
"scandalous" book ("Haqeeqat") that enflamed religious
sentiments. She angrily exclaimed that "this could have
disturbed communal harmony in the state" and that she would
"not allow anything to do this." As evidence of her
determination, she described to the Speaker how she had
dispatched law enforcement officers to Kerala to arrest the
author of the book.
3. (C) She then turned her wrath on what she described as EM
attacks on her and her government. "Just because we are a
BJP government," she exclaimed, "they think they can set up
scurrilous websites calling us barbarians and accusing us of
persecuting Christians. Those who set up such websites are
the true barbarians," and implied that the real motive of the
EM campaign was to use scare tactics and websites to raise
money from naive people. CM Raje pointed out that she was
herself educated in "convent (Catholic)" schools "all the way
up to the University level," and that she never remembers any
Christian behaving like the persons from EM.
4. (C) The exchange regarding the conversion bill and
missionaries occupied approximately 10 minutes of an
otherwise warm and cordial courtesy call that lasted over one
hour. The codel spent the remaining time discussing such
topics as economic development, investment, agriculture,
education and the rights of women with the Chief Minister.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Vasundhara Raje is a devout Hindu. Her personal home
temple was clearly visible in her residence and a personal
priest was conducting a puja (worship ceremony) while the
meeting with Speaker Hastert was in progress. She is also a
member of the BJP's moderate wing and has no connection to
the RSS and other Hindutva groups that have targetted EMI.
It was evident from the tone and tenor of her remarks,
however, that the Emmanuel Mission has thoroughly alienated
NEW DELHI 00002529 002 OF 002
her and she has no sympathy for the group and its
proselytization activities in Rajasthan. We have monitored
some of the same Christian websites that she cited in her
conversation, and their aggressive tone and harsh
condemnations of her and her government have clearly angered
her. It appears that the EM has burned its bridges with the
Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
6. (U) This message has been cleared by Speaker Hastert.
7. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINR KIRF KDEM SCUL CASC IN
SUBJECT: RAJASTHAN'S CHIEF MINISTER TELLS SPEAKER HASTERT
SHE IS ANGRY AT CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY ACTIVITIES
REF: A. NEW DELHI 1818
B. NEW DELHI 1953
C. NEW DELHI 02291
Classified By: A/DCM Geoff Pyatt for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) In an otherwise cordial April 10 courtesy call with
Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and seven accompanying
Congressman, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje
expressed genuine anger at the activities of Christian
missionaries in her state and provided a spirited defense of
the recently passed Rajasthan anti-conversion bill (Reftels).
Describing the bill as a "progressive measure," the Chief
Minister pointed out that because of India's dire poverty
there are persons so poor that they feel compelled to "sell
their children or change their religion to make a buck." She
emphasized that she had made it clear to state officials that
her administration would never allow such a thing to happen,
and that the anti-conversion bill would "save" them from such
exploitation.
2. (C) CM Raje noted that she had no qualms about
individuals changing their faith, but that they should first
be "educated" before making such an important decision, so
that they understand its implications. She accused Christian
missionaries of targetting the most ignorant and uneducated
in society and taking advantage of them and that she "would
never allow it." The Chief Minister then told the
Congressmen that the Emmanuel Mission (EM) in Kota was
responsible for the publication and distribution of a
"scandalous" book ("Haqeeqat") that enflamed religious
sentiments. She angrily exclaimed that "this could have
disturbed communal harmony in the state" and that she would
"not allow anything to do this." As evidence of her
determination, she described to the Speaker how she had
dispatched law enforcement officers to Kerala to arrest the
author of the book.
3. (C) She then turned her wrath on what she described as EM
attacks on her and her government. "Just because we are a
BJP government," she exclaimed, "they think they can set up
scurrilous websites calling us barbarians and accusing us of
persecuting Christians. Those who set up such websites are
the true barbarians," and implied that the real motive of the
EM campaign was to use scare tactics and websites to raise
money from naive people. CM Raje pointed out that she was
herself educated in "convent (Catholic)" schools "all the way
up to the University level," and that she never remembers any
Christian behaving like the persons from EM.
4. (C) The exchange regarding the conversion bill and
missionaries occupied approximately 10 minutes of an
otherwise warm and cordial courtesy call that lasted over one
hour. The codel spent the remaining time discussing such
topics as economic development, investment, agriculture,
education and the rights of women with the Chief Minister.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Vasundhara Raje is a devout Hindu. Her personal home
temple was clearly visible in her residence and a personal
priest was conducting a puja (worship ceremony) while the
meeting with Speaker Hastert was in progress. She is also a
member of the BJP's moderate wing and has no connection to
the RSS and other Hindutva groups that have targetted EMI.
It was evident from the tone and tenor of her remarks,
however, that the Emmanuel Mission has thoroughly alienated
NEW DELHI 00002529 002 OF 002
her and she has no sympathy for the group and its
proselytization activities in Rajasthan. We have monitored
some of the same Christian websites that she cited in her
conversation, and their aggressive tone and harsh
condemnations of her and her government have clearly angered
her. It appears that the EM has burned its bridges with the
Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
6. (U) This message has been cleared by Speaker Hastert.
7. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
MULFORD