Dr. John Dayal
Member: National Integration Council
Government of India
Member, Justice and Peace Commision
Archdiocese of Delhi
National President: All India Catholic Union (Founded 1919) Secretary
General: All India Christian Council (Founded 1999)
President: United Christian Action, Delhi (Founded 1992)
505 Link, 18 IP Extension, Delhi 110092 India
Email: johndayal@vsnl.com
Phone: 91-11-22722262 Mobile 09811021072
May 19th, 2006
Her Excellency the Governor, Mrs Pratibha Patil Government of Rajasthan Raj Bhawan, Jaipur (Rajasthan)
Re: Grateful thanks for rejecting the so called Rajasthan Freedom of Religion Bill 2006 – and responding to our appeal to use Governor’s power in defence of secularism
Your Excellency
Greetings of Gratitude from the Christian Community of India .
On behalf of Dr Joseph D Souza, President of the All India Christian Council, on behalf of the officers of the All India Catholic Union, and the United Christian Action, and on my own behalf I take great pleasure in extending to you our warm and most grateful thanks for your using the Powers granted you by the Constitution of India and affirmed by several Supreme Court rulings, to reject and return the Bill, whimsically called the Rajasthan state Freedom of Religion Bill 2006, which was rushed through the State Assembly in April.
We thank you for paying heed to the nationwide outcry, not just in the Christian community but in the entire secular polity, against the bill whose intention and nefarious motives were nothing less than to divide the people on religious lines and injure the secular polity of the state and the nation. This is a triumph of the democratic and secular values – enshrined in our Constitution — for which our nation is known in the world.
As I pointed out to you in my letter of 17 April, 2006 such medieval and backward looking bills go counter to every single International covenant, which India has signed, and bring a bad name to the country.
This Bill will also have an impact on the fair reputation and goodwill of the state of Rajasthan.
I appeal to you to please also advise the State government not to try again to pass the Bill through the Assembly in which the Bharatiya Janata Party has a brute majority. W will oppose any such move in the public, and in courts of law.
Assuring Your Excellency of our highest regards
Dr John Dayal
CC:
The President of India
The Prime Minister of India
The Chairman of the UPA, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
