IMC India - Campaign against IDRF charity

Campaign against IDRF charity
By chandan mishra 04/12/2002 At 20:48

I am apalled by this anti-IDRF campaign even though I dont care about IDRF as such. But I am very much concerned by falsehoods and dishonesty in any public issue debate, so please go through the original report against IDRF and then take a look at my point by point rebuttal of the anti-IDRF report.

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Following
report was created to document the funding of hate which IDRF does.

http://www.mnet.fr/aiindex/2002/FEH/index.html

As a
disclaimer I want to say that I dont know anyone from IDRF and haven't donated a
single penny to it. The kind of work they do doesn't even inspire me much, as I
have entirely different concept of charity/development work. But the above
report does make me rise to their defense for them getting labeled as
hate/terror funding organization.

When people
purportedly working against communal hate jump their guns, overstretch
their imaginations and use "below the belt" tricks to attack the organizations
they think are hateful, they hurt overall campaign and lower their
credibility. Who knows IDRF might be actually funding hate, but unless
actually find out that to be true in REALITY rather than through implied
insinuations, we all will play into hands of people who might have their agenda
beyond fight against communal hate.

Regardless
of what people feel about IDRF or its projects, I do want to restate the
argument, which I use for people who strongly criticize Madrassahs or Islamic
schools. We may strongly disagree with the kind of education
imparted in these schools, but we should just remember that if those
projects aren't run, the students studying in those schools wouldn't have any
education at all. Its always better to have imperfectly educated individuals
than illiterate ones. And also people stopping the IDRF funding should realize
that they are stopping a small but still important foreign exchange
flow to our country.

Lets look
at following "below the belt" tricks used in the above report ad
nauseam.

Guilt by
association:
This is the standard trick used across this report. If some organization's
name gets mentioned in website of some other organization, it would mean that
former organization is completely associated with and controlled by latter.
And report seems to imply that if latter took part in communal riots, former
should also be considered guilty.
Hindu cultural events = communal
hate frenzy
: Multiple places this report has tried to imply that since a particular
organization organized some Hindu cultural event, it was a communal hate
spewing organization.
Extra-Extrapolation of Newspaper
articles:
Newspaper articles cited in this reported, have their conclusions completely
extrapolated beyond the factual contents of that newspaper article. Many times
the newspaper articles cited simply have no relation to the context of
accusations where they were cited in.
In
summary:

There has not been a single proof
that has been cited that IDRF funded organizations actually took part in
promoting hate. No actual legal convictions. No actual linkage of these
organizations to recent riots in Gujarat has been shown.
The writers of this report seem
more annoyed with the Hindu overtones in the work of IDRF organizations and
quickly jump to the conclusion that these organizations spew hate because
their activities have Hindu overtones.
The writers of this report also
seem annoyed by funds going to people suffering from “terrorist war” (please note the quotes used in
the report).
Arguments used in this report can
be used to brand many of the Gandhian NGOs or other similar NGOs hateful
NGOs.
And the same line of flawed logic
can be used to prove that some of the organizations behind this report are
India-hating, pro-pak jihadi organization.
I will cite
some examples where false logic, guilt by association, strong insinuations are
used by writers of this report to reach the conclusion that IDRF is a hate
funding organization.

[This shows the ideologies of the
writers of this report. It shows their selective sympathy for victims of hate.
THIS REALLY PLACES QUESTIONS ABOUT CREDIBILITY OF THE WRITERS OF THIS REPORT.
They have got no sympathy for victims of terrorism in
Kashmir]
In
Appendix B.2 of the report:

"Martyrs for National Integration
Fund: This is
an in-house IDRF fund-raising effort to generate money for “families of security
personnel, and of civilians” in order “to assist those who have suffered from
the terrorist war being waged on our nation”[98]
[the “terrorist war” here refers to the conflict in Kashmir, particularly along
the Indian-Pakistani border]."

[guilt by association, same logic is
used for all of the IDRF organizations. just because its mentioned in RSS
website, it becomes a hateful organization]
In
Appendix B.1 of report:
"In Sangh literature, the origins and growth of Vikas Bharati
is described as follows:The Vikas Bharati stream, which originated in
the fountainhead called Sangh, has been quietly flowing towards the ocean called
society, gathering many additional streams on the way.[13]
(emphasis added)"

[SVRDS becomes an abhorred
organization for organizing competitions on Krishna Jayanti!!!!!!!!!!, what a
hateful disgusting act!! It doesnt matter that almost all of the schools in
India give a day off to their students on this day]
In
Appendix B.1 of report:
"While the stated goal of SVRDS is rural development and
education of tribals, considerable documentation exists to show its emphasis on
tribals learning practices that surround Hindu religious festivals.[15]15. In a report to
the IDRF, SVRDS states that it conducted competitions for Krishna Jayanthi (a
Hindu Festival) in which the school children participated enthusiastically. It
should be kept in mind that these tribals do not consider themselves Hindu, nor
do they usually observe Krishna Jayanthi."
[
Typical flat accusations without any substantiations. For last statement of this
paragraph no proof has been cited]
In
Appendix B.1 of report:
"While VKA and its
affiliates claim to work for the ‘welfare’ of the tribal population, they are in
fact mainly working to ‘Hinduise’ the tribals and demonize the work of Christian
missionaries in tribal area"

[
Typical example of "guilty by association". They forgot to mention that Mr. Jois
is governor of Jharkhand. Again no connection with the "hate which this whole
report has been blasting IDRF about]In Appendix B.2 of
report:
"The President of Bharat Vikas Parishad is Justice
Rama Jois, who is actively involved in the VHP movement for rebuilding a Hindu
temple at the site of the 16th century Babri Mosque in Ayodhya that the VHP had
demolished in 1992. As reported in an Indian daily, “Though his formal position
in the Sangh Parivar is as the president of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, an RSS
frontal organization, Mr. Jois is known more for his legal assistance in the
‘Ayodhya movement [to build the temple].’ He has even attended a meeting at the
Prime Minister's house last March when Atal Behari Vajpayee held extensive
consultations in an attempt to deal with the VHP-imposed deadline of ‘March 12’
[97]” [this ‘deadline’ refers to the date set by the VHP
for the government to allow it to start the temple construction or to face a
nationwide stir]."

[
The link mentioned below has NO such quote.]
In
section 4.4.1.2:
Swami Ashimanandji is in
charge of the Ashram’s activities in this district… though is as some (sic) only
before 18 months he is well known as respected by the community.
[45]
45.

http://www.idrf.org/news/vanvasi/

[
Typical act of overstretched insinuations. Since IDRF president was in area
where there was trouble, it means he must be involved in
it]
In
section 4.4.1.2:
Further, it
is not difficult to explain the presence of an IDRF vice president in Gujarat
and his reporting on the activities of the Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad in Waghai.
The Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad is a direct beneficiary of the IDRF. It is listed
under the title “IDRF Supported Projects in Gujarat.” [46]

[
Again a blatant attempt at lies, see the evidence given and the final
conclusion derived. No evidence is given that IDRF organizations were involved
in Gujrat riots ]
In
section 4.4.2:
The anti-Muslim pogroms that
took place in the state of Gujarat this year had a surprise element in them—the
active participation of the adivasis in the violence against the Muslims.
Several commentators have noted the role played by Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad and
the Vivekananda Kendra (both funded by the IDRF) in actively communalizing the
tribal mind, and creating the anti-Muslim ethos[47]. An affiliate organization, the Vanavasi Seva Sangh,
has also been identified as an active participant in the anti-Muslim,
anti-Christian indoctrination of tribals. [48]
In
section 4.4.3:
In summary
at all levels, the IDRF’s implication in sectarian work, including support for
organizations of the Sangh that are directly implicated in violent actions over
the last four years, is well documented. The documentation presented leads us to
a simple and single conclusion – the IDRF does fund hate.

[
Again a blatant attempt at lies, none of the links
cited mention that there was any violence started by the
organizations mentioned ]
In
section 4.4.3:
Such cases
of the IDRF funding of organizations directly implicated in the violence is not
restricted to Gujarat alone. Documentation exists also for a similar role played
by the IDRF in supporting organizations such as Sewa Bharati, Ekal Vidyalays and
the VKA implicated in violence against Christians in Madhya Pradesh[49]. The
implication of Sewa Bharati, Madhya Pradesh in anti-Christian violence has been
recognized by the local State government, which has taken an extreme step of
revoking the license of Sewa Bharati, an the IDRF funded organization, because
of its part in spreading anti-minority violence[50].

49. Sewa Bharati and Ekal Vidyalays organized the Hindu Sangam in
the tribal belt in Madhya Pradesh earlier this year. A report from Sewa Bharati
is available at

http://www.hvk.org/articles/0102/98.html.
The aggressively anti-Christian flavor of the meet, and the concomitant tensions
it created are described in RSS temples for tribals
spell trouble for Digvijay, Yogesh Vajpeyi, Indian Express, January 7th 2002
. For Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram’s role, see Appendix F.50. RSS outfit stripped of
its licence in MP, Yogesh Vajpeyi, Indian Express, February 28th,
2002

This anti-IDRF campaign forces us to think about
something very important regardless of our personal viewpoints, which is
intellectual honesty in any kind of public issue debate and not losing
sight of the actual goal. Many of us (including me) may not care about
IDRF and some of us might be opposed to the way it does charity. But the key is
not to become hostage to dogma of our own personal ideologies that we start
hindering the work of people working towards the same goals shared by us. This
campaign against IDRF didnt help a bit against communal forces in India, but it
might leave some tribal children illiterate.

Chandan
Mishra

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Email:: chandan@hotmail.com
URL:: http://www.geocities.com/chandanmishra/index.html

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Comments

Report on IDRF blow to communalists

Gautam 08/12/2002 22:23

The long winded attempted rebuttal by Chandan Mishra is flimsy and lacking in terms of solid argument. The report on IDRF is very well documented and refers to lots of information that comes straight from the horse's mouth.

Mr. Mishra has not refuted ONE SINGLE allegation made in the report against the IDRF. IDRF donates money to organizations that ARE DIRECTLY involved in fomenting and carrying out acts of violence, which in the case of Gujarat 2002, with the active complicity and participation of the state and national governments.

IDRF DID MISREPRESENT itself and its role as a so-called "charity" when it has been functioning as a front organization for the Sangh Parivar, collecting money from many innocent donors.

IDRF DID LIE to its donors about the use of its funds.

IDRF DID declare to the US IRS in its tax documents that it supports organizations, which are Sangh Parivar organizations. This information is from its own documents, so it would be disingenuous to accuse anyone except the IDRF of duplicity and fabrication.

These are only some of the serious issues to which none of the pro-Sangh Parivar voices in the media have any answer. The evidence is clear as the fresh waters flowing from Mount Kailash: IDRF is an organization that supports, and believes in terrorizing of minorities.

This is not "guilt by association,' as IDRF is not being accused of being seen at tea parties with the Sangh Parivar. It is being accused of actively and aggressively collecting funds for the Sangh Parivar's political and ideological goals of a majoritarian fascist state, misrepresenting itself to its donors, to the corporations which generously match these funds, and the US government, by claiming to be a charity and availing itself of the privileges and rights afforded to charities.

IDRF has caused great harm to the reputation of Indians particularly in the U.S. technology industry, as now, innocent Indians will become the target of unwarranted scrutiny on account of the shameful chicanery of the IDRF.

We must not only encourage the IMMEDIATE boycott of IDRF. We must also ensure that all donations given to charitable causes are adequately researched as good intentions can always be taken advantage of, especially by movements that are engaged in wholesale detruction.

Gautam

Emotions dont count for facts

Chandan Mishra 10/12/2002 06:08

This criticism of my critique by Mr Gautam, against shows a lot of emotion and passion. But still his critique also lacks the same thing which anti-IDRF report lacks, facts. Solid facts which PROVE that IDRF is a hate funding organization.

Fact is that allegations cited in anti-IDRF report dont contain anything substantial. I havent seen a single documentated instance of conviction by court, I havent seen a single documentation of statement of senseless hate by the IDRF or the organization it funds.

Lets face it there is no single documentation in the report. Newpaper clippings and insinuations dont count as documentation. Insinuation might be just the hallucination of the IDRF report writers, not the actual facts.

This anti-IDRF report is a shame and an act of intellectual dishonesty. This has hurt the anti-communalism movement rather than helping it.

IDRF is a terror funding organization

Ashwin 10/12/2002 17:22

Chandan Mishra's "refutation" of Gautam's comments amounts to nothing. I will dissect his statement below:

Chandan Mishra says:

This criticism of my critique by Mr Gautam, against shows a lot of emotion and passion. But still his critique also lacks the same thing which anti-IDRF report lacks, facts. Solid facts which PROVE that IDRF is a hate funding organization.

What emotion and what passion? You are throwing in these words to simply say the statements made had no reason/rationality, only emotion/passion. This silly linguistic trick won't work. Also saying the report lacks facts is beyond silly. Here's why:

1) IDRF misrepresents itself to its donors about who it funds and towards what ends.(PROVEN IN REPORT)
2) IDRF is deeply connected to the RSS and its organizations, which needless to say are engaged in wholesale organized voilence against minorities in India. These are HATE organizations; (ALSO PROVEN IN REPORT)
3) IDRF FUNDS these HATE organizations; (PROVEN)

THEREFORE, it is clear: IDRF IS A HATE-FUNDING ORGANIZATION.

CHANDAN MISHRA SAYS:

Fact is that allegations cited in anti-IDRF report dont contain anything substantial. I havent seen a single documentated instance of conviction by court, I havent seen a single documentation of statement of senseless hate by the IDRF or the organization it funds.

So your two criteria for "substantial" evidence are:
1) A court conviction
2) Statements of senseless hate

On 1) hopefully very very soon, the IDRF and its supporters will be answering to US law enforcement about their activities funding terrorism from the US. Wait and see; you will not be dissappointed at all!

On 2) Statements of senseless hate are among the most articulate statements made by the Sangh Parivar. Just look at the discussions on internet fora between supporters of IDRF. They use only the vilest, most obnoxious, hateful speech in their characterizations of their enemies, victims and opponents. You don't have even one anna of a point here, so back off from this silly assertion.

CHANDAN MISHRA SAYS:

Lets face it there is no single documentation in the report. Newpaper clippings and insinuations dont count as documentation. Insinuation might be just the hallucination of the IDRF report writers, not the actual facts.

Lets face what? Your illogical assertion? There is ample documentation in the report; and guess what! Much of the documentation comes from the IDRF itself; also from Parivar organizations, and from media. To say documentation only includes a few "newspaper clippings" reveals that you have 1) never read the report. or 2) intentionally lying about the report in order to push your pro-IDRF perspective.

CHANDAN MISHRA SAYS:

This anti-IDRF report is a shame and an act of intellectual dishonesty. This has hurt the anti-communalism movement rather than helping it.

On the contrary, I think the report on the IDRF is a ground breaking contribution to fighting communalism, because it reveals who is who and what is what. Your accusations of intellectual dishonesty are stupid given the fact that the matter at hand is the gargantuan dishonesty of the IDRF and its cursed friends of the Sangh Parivar.

In conclusion, Chandan Mishra needs to re-examine his understanding of what the report contains, perhaps by first reading it, before launching silly retorts which, by the way are being paraded by supporters of the Hindutvadis as a defence of the IDRF. There could not be a worse defence of the IDRF than CHandan's rants, a fact that could help delegitimize the IDRF more than ever. So, in a sense, we have to thank Chandan for doing his best to make the IDRF look worse with every idiotic assertion he makes on this forum.

Ashwin

Dont let hate cloud your logical faculties

Chandan Mishra 10/12/2002 23:02

Again another person playing the same game which he is accusing the person of playing to be. Anti-hate campaigners like Mr Gautam and Mr Ashwin are so much clouded in their hate for IDRF, that they have put the logical faculties of their brain on hold. Instead of having logical, objective and rational discussion of this topic, their language is punctuated with words "hate", "terror", "stupid" instead of containing any reason. These people are in same league as people supporting riots in Gujrat

Going to back to their so called arguments. Basically their argument is that everything is proved and documented in anti-IDRF report. But the fact is there is no proof in the anti-IDRF report. My point by point rebuttal of their so call "documentation" have shown that there no logical ground for reaching any of the conclusions which were reached.

And ask any lawyer, this anti-IDRF report would be thrown by any judge in any court in any part of the world in seconds. The anti-IDRF report writers know this themselves, thats why there is no mention of any legal action.

Anyway going back to some of the points raised:

Mr Ashwin says:
"1) IDRF misrepresents itself to its donors about who it funds and towards what ends.(PROVEN IN REPORT)
2) IDRF is deeply connected to the RSS and its organizations, which needless to say are engaged in wholesale organized voilence against minorities in India. These are HATE organizations; (ALSO PROVEN IN REPORT)
3) IDRF FUNDS these HATE organizations; (PROVEN) "

Again restating conclusions dont make them proven. Anyway what has point#1 (if assumed to be true) to do with proving that IDRF is a hate funding organization. By the same

If organization A supports organization B which is also liked and appreciated by organization C. By no stretch of logic, organization A becomes connected to organization C.
This is the main drive of argument #2. Typical "guilt by association" argument. By the same logic many of the organizations behind this anti-IDRF campaign can be said to be supporters of Paki terror infrastructure.

None of the organizations which IDRF funds has been shown to indulge in any hateful activity. If cultural events are hateful activities then God have mercy on intelligence of Mr Ashwin. For some people Hindu activities might be hateful activities, but not for rational people. Taking part in some religious activity is far from being synonymous to terrorism or hate.

Mr Gautan, Ashwin are no different from people who attack Madarassahs due to their hartred of Islam. They are attacking Hinduism due to their misplaced hatred of Indian culture.