```

[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 434 Introduced in House (IH)]

110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 434

 Condemning the recent religious violence in India and calling on the 
 Government of India to stop the violence and address its root causes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 26, 2008

   Mr. Akin (for himself, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Pitts, Mr. McGovern, and Mr. 
  McCotter) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
 Condemning the recent religious violence in India and calling on the 
 Government of India to stop the violence and address its root causes.

Whereas India is the largest democracy in the world, with a Constitution that 
        provides for the protection of religious freedom and the fundamental 
        rights of all citizens;
Whereas the United States respects and admires the commitment of India's present 
        government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to preserve pluralism and 
        religious diversity in India;
Whereas the murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati was a hideous act of violence;
Whereas an act of violence should never lead to violent retribution or mob 
        governance;
Whereas recent violence in the state of Orissa has resulted in the deaths of 
        significant number of Christians and Hindus, the burning of churches, 
        Christian institutions and homes, and has forced tens of thousands of 
        Christians to flee their homes;
Whereas the violence in the state of Orissa continues to flare and is spreading 
        to other states such as Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh;
Whereas this is the second major outbreak of religious violence against 
        Christians since December of 2007;
Whereas the efforts of the state governments have had little effect in 
        preventing the continuing violence;
Whereas certain leaders belonging to the ruling parties in the states are 
        publicly encouraging such violence against Christians to create 
        animosity between the Hindus and others;
Whereas the Supreme Court of India has ordered the state government of Orissa to 
        detail its efforts to stop the violence;
Whereas India's National Human Rights Commission, an official body, is sending a 
        team to investigate the origins of the violence in Orissa;
Whereas the National Commission for Women has expressed shock at the level of 
        violent crimes committed towards the Christian women by police forces;
Whereas the Government of India has not moved quickly to prevent further 
        violence or address the root causes of the violence;
Whereas maintaining the rule of law, rather than mob rule, is of vital 
        importance to building a strong democratic government; and
Whereas it is in the interest of the Government of India to prevent tension 
        between different religious groups, promote religious liberty and 
        freedom of peaceful religious expression in India: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) strongly condemns the religious violence in India, 
        including the killings, rapes, and home and church destruction;
            (2) calls on the Government of India to take all necessary 
        steps to restrict the reach and resources of the radical 
        religious party elements that cause such violence regularly, 
        including the direct incitement to violence against Christians;
            (3) calls on the Government of India to take strong steps 
        to prevent ongoing and future violence, including the provision 
        of adequate police protection for targets of violence, and 
        active prosecution of perpetrators of violence;
            (4) calls on the state governments of India and elected 
        bodies in all levels of government to protect all their 
        citizens regardless of their religious beliefs;
            (5) condemns the implementation of any laws restricting the 
        freedom of religion or the freedom to change one's religion, 
        the fundamental rights in any democracy; and
            (6) urges the people of India to respect all peaceful 
        religious beliefs and live together as a model to the rest of 
        the world.
                                 <all>
```