Quake Relief Money for India Funds Militant Violence
by Allie Martin
March 12, 2004
(AgapePress) - Government officials in the United Kingdom claim that some money raised for relief efforts in India is actually helping to fund violence against Christians.Recently lawmakers in the United Kingdom began an investigation into allegations that money raised for disaster relief in India was being funneled to radical Hindus who routinely persecute Christians. Apparently, these militant Hindu organizations have been appealing to American and British citizens to donate money for earthquake relief efforts.
However, according to Dave DeGroot, a spokesman with Mission India, it seems that some of the donated funds have gone toward funding Hindu militants. He says "in this case, the money apparently went to an organization called the R.S.S., a very extreme organization in India. In no sense can they be called a good, upstanding organization."
DeGroot says members of the R.S.S. cause problems for Mission India's personnel and for Indian Christians in the villages. He notes that this group has engaged in intimidation and violence against Christians, and he says it has been linked to incidents of "brutality, outright persecution, ridicule, humiliation," and "much worse crimes than that."
Mission India tries to assist the Christian Church in India and work toward its expansion through prayer, finance, and ministry partnerships. DeGroot points out that reports of money intended for relief efforts being rerouted to violent and anti-Christian militants are disturbing because they can cause people to lose confidence in genuine Christian outreach and service organizations.
"Christian organizations always worry that we are painted with the same brush as these unscrupulous dealers. We don't want that to happen," the Mission India spokesman says.
DeGroot notes that incidents like this underscore the need for Christians to be well informed about organizations that ask for humanitarian donations.
