<?xml version="1.0"?>
<feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xml:lang="en">
	<id>https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&amp;feed=atom&amp;title=John_Dayal</id>
	<title>John Dayal - Revision history</title>
	<link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&amp;feed=atom&amp;title=John_Dayal"/>
	<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=John_Dayal&amp;action=history"/>
	<updated>2026-07-31T09:12:22Z</updated>
	<subtitle>Revision history for this page on the wiki</subtitle>
	<generator>MediaWiki 1.45.4</generator>
	<entry>
		<id>https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=John_Dayal&amp;diff=114118&amp;oldid=prev</id>
		<title>&gt;JJMC89 bot III at 03:22, 5 May 2021</title>
		<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=John_Dayal&amp;diff=114118&amp;oldid=prev"/>
		<updated>2021-05-05T03:22:52Z</updated>

		<summary type="html">&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2013}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Infobox officeholder&lt;br /&gt;
| honorific-prefix = &lt;br /&gt;
| name = John Dayal&lt;br /&gt;
| native_name = &lt;br /&gt;
| native_name_lang = &lt;br /&gt;
| honorific-suffix = &lt;br /&gt;
| image = Dr John Dayal (15613700445).jpg&lt;br /&gt;
| imagesize = &lt;br /&gt;
| smallimage = &amp;lt;!--If this is specified, &amp;quot;image&amp;quot; should not be.--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| alt = &lt;br /&gt;
| caption = &lt;br /&gt;
| order = &lt;br /&gt;
| office1 = Secretary-General&amp;lt;br /&amp;gt; [[All India Christian Council]]&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start1 = 1998&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| successor1 = &lt;br /&gt;
| office2 = Vice-President, [[All India Catholic Union]]&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start2 = 2000&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end2 = 2004&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| successor2 = &lt;br /&gt;
| office3 = President, [[All India Catholic Union]]&lt;br /&gt;
| term_start3 = 2004&lt;br /&gt;
| term_end3 = 2008&lt;br /&gt;
| predecessor3 = [[Maria Emilia Menezes]]&lt;br /&gt;
| successor3 = [[Remy Denis]]&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1948|10|02}}&lt;br /&gt;
| birth_place = [[New Delhi]], [[Dominion of India|India]]&lt;br /&gt;
| death_date = &lt;br /&gt;
| death_place = &lt;br /&gt;
| restingplace = &lt;br /&gt;
| restingplacecoordinates = &lt;br /&gt;
| birthname = &lt;br /&gt;
| citizenship = &lt;br /&gt;
| nationality = Indian&lt;br /&gt;
| party = &lt;br /&gt;
| otherparty = &amp;lt;!--For additional political affiliations--&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| spouse = &lt;br /&gt;
| partner = Married&lt;br /&gt;
| relations = &lt;br /&gt;
| children = &lt;br /&gt;
| residence = &lt;br /&gt;
| alma_mater = &lt;br /&gt;
| occupation = &lt;br /&gt;
| profession = Activist&lt;br /&gt;
| cabinet = &lt;br /&gt;
| committees = &lt;br /&gt;
| portfolio = &lt;br /&gt;
| website = {{url|johndayal.com}}&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;John Dayal&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (born 2 October 1948) is an Indian human rights and Christian political activist. He is a member of the [[National Integration Council]] (NIC) of India, Secretary-General of the [[All India Christian Council]] and a past president of the [[All India Catholic Union]]. He has been outspoken in opposition to communal polarisation, bigotry and the spread of hatred between religious communities.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Biography==&lt;br /&gt;
John Dayal was born in New Delhi to Christian parents from South India.&lt;br /&gt;
He studied Physics at [[St. Stephen&amp;#039;s College, Delhi]] before deciding to become a journalist.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ICEC&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
He served as war correspondent or foreign correspondent in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Europe.&amp;lt;ref name=Minorities/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
He became editor and CEO of the &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Delhi Mid Day&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, a small afternoon newspaper, and treasurer of the [[Editors&amp;#039; Guild of India]].&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ICEC&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In June 1998, Dayal was one of the signatories of a statement by a group of journalists calling on India to return to the global nuclear disarmament agenda.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite book&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSSNtPs521cC&amp;amp;pg=PA374 |page=374&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Out of the Nuclear Shadow&lt;br /&gt;
 |author1=Smitu Kothari |author2=Zia Mian |publisher=Zed Books |year=2001 |isbn=1842770594}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
He continues to provide commentary and analysis in print and on national TV and radio.&lt;br /&gt;
Dayal has headed the governing boards of several colleges of [[Delhi University]], and has taught as a visiting teacher at several universities in north India.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Minorities&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
John Dayal became an activist in the early 1970s.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.minoritiesofindia.org/indian-journalist-warns-underground-church-in-india-at-par-with-china/|title=Indian Journalist Warns Underground Church in India &amp;quot;At Par&amp;quot; With China|author=|date=4 August 2015|website=MinoritiesOfIndia.org|access-date=13 September 2017}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; In this role he has worked on such issues as displacement of tribal people, opposition to nuclear weapons, [[forced disappearance]]s and impunity.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;Minorities&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
During more than forty years he has investigated a great many cases of human rights abuse aimed at minority group of Christians.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dayal was one of the founders of the ecumenical [[All India Christian Council]] (AICC) and the [[United Christian Forum for Human Rights]].&amp;lt;ref name=ICEC/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Dayal was National Secretary for Public affairs of the [[All India Catholic Union]] (AICU) during the presidency of [[Norbert D&amp;#039;Souza]] (1996–2000).&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://groups.google.com/group/JohnDayal/browse_thread/thread/fd083c4aacb17926?pli=1&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=A Salute to the laity in India &lt;br /&gt;
 |date=18 August 2008&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=John Dayal&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date=18 April 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In 2000 he was elected vice-president of the AICU and on 20 September 2004 he was elected AICU president, succeeding Dr [[Maria Emelia Menezes]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-25987815_ITM&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Catholic Union concerned over Modi&amp;#039;s remarks.&lt;br /&gt;
 |agency=Asia Africa Intelligence Wire&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=13 September 2002&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date=15 April 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref name=MilliG200410&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/01-15Oct04-Print-Edition/011510200489.htm&lt;br /&gt;
 |work=The Milli Gazette&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=1–15 Oct 2004 &lt;br /&gt;
 |title=John Dayal elected All India Catholic Union National president &lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date=5 March 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
He held that position until 2008 when he was succeeded by Dr. [[Remy Denis]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url         = http://aicuindia.org/officebearers.html&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher   = All India Catholic Union&lt;br /&gt;
 |title       = Office Bearers&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date = 8 April 2012&lt;br /&gt;
 |url-status     = dead&lt;br /&gt;
 |archiveurl  = https://archive.is/20121220120901/http://aicuindia.org/officebearers.html&lt;br /&gt;
 |archivedate = 20 December 2012&lt;br /&gt;
 |df          = dmy-all&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In March 2005, Dayal was a member of a delegation led by [[Vincent Conçessao]] that presented a memorandum on minorities to the prime minister.  The delegation was assured that the government would issue a White Paper on minority communities.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lY4qstA6JNQC&amp;amp;pg=PA45 |page=45&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Indian Affairs Annual, Volume 2 |author=Mahendra Gaur&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher=Gyan Publishing House |year=2007 |isbn=8178354349}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dayal has been appointed to many fact finding committees and tribunals.&amp;lt;ref name=Minorities/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In December 2007, he was one of a five-member Fact Finding Team that went [[Phulbani]] area of [[Kandhamal district]] in Orissa to investigate recent violence against Christians. &lt;br /&gt;
According to his account, he was forcibly expelled by the police.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://ipsbu.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/john-dayal-expelled-from-phulbani-orissa/&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=John Dayal expelled from Phulbani, Orissa.&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=31 December 2007&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate=2012-03-05}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In September 2008, Dayal won the Maanav Adhikaar Paaritaushik (Human Dignity Award) in memory of Professor M. M. Guptara.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url        = http://johndayal.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/12/geneva-based-indian-human-rights-award-for-john-dayal/comments.htm&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-url = https://archive.is/20130203075643/http://johndayal.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/12/geneva-based-indian-human-rights-award-for-john-dayal/comments.htm&lt;br /&gt;
 |url-status   = dead&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-date = 3 February 2013&lt;br /&gt;
 |title      = Geneva-based Indian Human Rights Award for John Dayal&lt;br /&gt;
 |date       = 12 December 2008&lt;br /&gt;
 |work       = Sulekha.com&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate = 2012-03-05&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In 2010, Dayal was again nominated as a member of the National Integration Council.&amp;lt;ref name=Moeller2011/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
As of March 2012, Dayal was secretary general of the [[All India Christian Council]], founded in 1999.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url         = http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1737/114/&lt;br /&gt;
 |title       = FAQ&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher   = All India Christian Council&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate  = 2012-03-14&lt;br /&gt;
 |url-status     = dead&lt;br /&gt;
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120312145601/http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/1737/114/&lt;br /&gt;
 |archivedate = 12 March 2012&lt;br /&gt;
 |df          = dmy-all&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Dayal is married and has a son and a daughter.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ICEC&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Views==&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Hindutva===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In January 2002 the AICC issued a statement signed by [[Joseph D&amp;#039;souza]] and John Dayal asking State governments and the national government to prevent efforts by the [[Sangh Parivar]] to stir up communal violence in the Adivasi tribal belt in Northern India. It talked of a &amp;quot;vicious [[Hindutva]] communal rhetoric .. targeting Christians in the region&amp;quot;. It said  RSS cadres were running schools that &amp;quot;follow a curricula and textual material, which is outside the pale of any academic and public scrutiny, blatantly rewrites history, and poisons young minds&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite book&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aPAwhOGUggQC&amp;amp;pg=PA616&lt;br /&gt;
 |page=616&lt;br /&gt;
 |chapter=More Indian Repression of Tribal and Christian Minorities&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=5 February 2002&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Congressional Record, V. 148, Pt. 1, January 23, 2002 to February 13, 2002&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher=Government Printing Office }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In 2005 Dayal again expressed concern that [[Ekal Vidyalaya]] (&amp;quot;single teacher&amp;quot;) schools run by the RSS Hindu nationalist organisation in tribal districts were spreading hatred towards members of the Christian minority.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/aicu-president-suspects-hindu-charitable-trust-of-forming-antichristian-schools-for-indian-tribals/156.htm&lt;br /&gt;
 |work=Christian Today&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=AICU president suspects Hindu charitable trust of forming anti–Christian schools for Indian tribals&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Jacob Chaterjee&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=19 July 2005&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date=5 March 2012&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824032549/http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/aicu-president-suspects-hindu-charitable-trust-of-forming-antichristian-schools-for-indian-tribals/156.htm&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-date=24 August 2013&lt;br /&gt;
 |url-status=dead&lt;br /&gt;
 }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dayal has made unsubstantiated claims that the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) has spent millions of dollars in an attempt to convert tribal people in central India into Hindu nationalists.&amp;lt;ref name=Baravalle/&amp;gt; &lt;br /&gt;
On 17 October 2004 a ceremony was organised by the [[World Hindu Council]] (Vishva Hindu Parishad – VHP) in [[Orissa, India|Orissa]] at which about 300 tribal Christians were &amp;quot;reconverted&amp;quot; to Hinduism. Dayal said the event was part of a well-organized and respectful ghar vapasi program, that he wholeheartedly agrees with.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite book&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YsL-7mlzEY8C&amp;amp;pg=PA98 |pages=98–99&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Communal Crimes and National Integration: A Socio-Legal Study&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Praveen Kumar&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher=Readworthy Publications |year=2011 |isbn=9350180405}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In a 2004 interview following the defeat of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] and the return to power of the [[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]], Dayal said that the change was because &amp;quot;People have rejected the ideology of hate, consisting of xenophobia, narrow nationalism and a sustained persecution of Muslims and Christians&amp;quot;.  He went on to compare Hindutva to [[neo-Nazism]] and [[Apartheid]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/01-15Jun04-Print-Edition/011506200468.htm&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=John Dayal: &amp;quot;People have rejected the ideology of hate&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
 |work=[[The Milli Gazette]]&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=1–15 June 2004&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date=14 March 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Attacks on other religions===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dayal has said that militant groups exploit economically backward people in attacks on Christians and Muslims: &amp;quot;Dalits and tribals are used as instruments. He said, though the Irish and Scottish Missionaries introduced distilled alcohol (Indian-made foreign liquor or IMFL) the depiction of Anglo-Indians and Christians as alcoholics is real and threatens to consume Christianity. He also said Christians are paid, drugged, alcoholized, they are in a stupor. Even wine at communions should be banned&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;[http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/08/28/south-india-alcohol-ban-could-include-communion-wine/ EpiscopalDigitalNetwork.com]&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Speaking after the Bharatiya Janata Party had made gains in riot-affected parts of [[Gujarat]], Dayal said &amp;quot;[Christians] have never been more afraid ... I have been expecting the very worst since the B.J.P. came to power, and the worst, I think, may still be in the future.&amp;lt;ref name=Baravalle&amp;gt;{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G8J23G28RrwC&amp;amp;pg=PT476 |pages=476–477&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Rethink: Cause and Consequences of September 11&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Giorgio Baravalle&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher=design.Method of Operation|year=2004 |isbn=0970576862}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
With levels of violence in Gujarat rising, on 1 October 1998, Dayal remarked &amp;quot;The AICU is surprised that Union Government and members of the ruling coalition, including the BJP, have not come out categorically in denouncing the violence against Christians&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite book&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6PnBFW7cdtsC&amp;amp;pg=PT105 |page=91&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=The RSS and the BJP: A Division of Labour&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Abdul Gafoor Abdul Majeed Noorani&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher=LeftWord Books |year=2000 |isbn=8187496134}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In February 2002, after a renewed series of attacks on Christians, Dayal said &amp;quot;Physically, many of the incidents are now less obvious, but there is a 24-hour reign of terror, which occasionally bursts into violence&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=udKPBp8yqBsC&amp;amp;pg=PA2026&lt;br /&gt;
 |work=Washington Times&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=25 February 2002&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Julian West&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=New Spate of Attacks Targets Christians&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date=14 April 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Church property===&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dayal represents the conservatives in the AICU.&lt;br /&gt;
At a seminar in [[Goa]] in  August 2009, former Union minister [[Eduardo Faleiro]] said that church property should be brought under the ambit of state laws, as was the case with other religions.  This was endorsed by Remy Denis and other liberals. &lt;br /&gt;
However, Dayal opposed any change.&lt;br /&gt;
He said that the &amp;quot;Christian situation&amp;quot; was radically and materially different from that of the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh religions, and existing laws were sufficient.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/17952/conservatives-oppose-call-church-assets.html&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Conservatives oppose call for Church assets reforms&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Devika Sequeira&lt;br /&gt;
 |work=Deccan Herald&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=5 August 2009&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate=2012-04-08}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In March 2012, two [[Baptist]] churches in [[Imphal]], [[Manipur]] were ordered to vacate within 15 days.&lt;br /&gt;
The authorities threatened to use force if the churches were not dismantled on schedule.&lt;br /&gt;
The All India Christian Council took up the issue with the national and state minority commissions.  According to Dayal, &amp;quot;Christians in Manipur are facing increasing threats from the public as well as the state government&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/two-manipur-churches-served-eviction-notice/7194.htm&lt;br /&gt;
 |work=Christian Today&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Two Manipur churches served eviction notice&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=3 April 2012&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate=2012-04-14}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
The same month, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia said that it is &amp;quot;necessary to destroy all the churches of the region&amp;quot;.&lt;br /&gt;
As AICC Secretary General, John Dayal asked that India and other countries help assure the safety of churches in other countries of the Arabian peninsula.&lt;br /&gt;
The AICC pointed out that destruction of churches would be counter to the [[United Nations Charter]] and to the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance And of Discrimination Based on Religion Or Belief.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://twocircles.net/2012mar31/christian_council_condemns_saudi_clerics_call_destruction_churches_west_asia.html&lt;br /&gt;
 |work=TwoCircles&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Christian Council condemns Saudi cleric&amp;#039;s call for destruction of Churches in West Asia&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=31 March 2012 &lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Pervez Bari&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate=2012-04-14}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===Dalit rights===&lt;br /&gt;
A survey by the NGO Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan found that the &amp;quot;Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers&amp;quot; was being abused.&lt;br /&gt;
Apart from encouraging Dalits to remain in menial jobs, in many cases some or all of the money was embezzled.{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}&lt;br /&gt;
In March 2012, Dayal said &amp;quot;There is a massive scandal of graft between bank officials, politicians and middle men to fleece ignorant people who are given 50 per cent of the loan only but made liable for the full amount even as rest of the money is taken away by crooks. Collectors in villages must crack down on such miscreants and wherever such cases are found, government must waive off the loans or it would be condoning cheating and criminal actions&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3261450.ece&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=30 March 2012&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=A blot upon the nation&lt;br /&gt;
 |work=[[The Hindu]]&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=DIVYA TRIVEDI&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate=2012-04-14}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
John Dayal has spoken out against bills that prevent or penalise conversion to Christianity passed in various states in India.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2003/june/14.26.html&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Fending off Hindutva&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Joshua Newton&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=1 June 2003&lt;br /&gt;
 |work=Christianity Today&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate=2012-03-05}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
A deeply religious person, Dayal has written &amp;quot;How a community treats its poor is, for the Bible, the acid test of its life.  And the way a community will be changed is through the poor&amp;quot;.{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Criticism==&lt;br /&gt;
[[Rediff.com]] columnist [[Varsha Bhosle]] wrote in 2002 that &amp;quot;John Dayal and his Catholic cohorts are the worst act I&amp;#039;ve ever seen... Christian activists ... aggressively seek to weaken Hindu society in terms of numbers as well as space&amp;quot;. Noting that Dayal had objected that on the 2001 census form a scheduled caste, or Dalit, could choose only among the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist faiths, she said &amp;quot;If conversion to Christianity certifies social equality, why would there be a &amp;#039;Dalit Christian&amp;#039;? As for guaranteeing economic freedom, don&amp;#039;t make me laugh&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/sep/02varsha.htm &lt;br /&gt;
 |title=Towards Balkanisation, IV: Catholics&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=Varsha Bhosle&lt;br /&gt;
 |date=2 September 2002 &lt;br /&gt;
 |work=Rediff.com&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date=5 March 2012}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Discussing Dayal&amp;#039;s 2005 letter to the [[Manmohan Singh|prime minister]] about attacks on Christians including the rape of nuns, murder of priests and destruction of churches, P.N Benjamin, coordinator of the [[Bangalore Initiative for Religious Dialogue]], said Dayal &amp;quot;opens his mouth and wields his pen only to spew venom on the Hindu community&amp;quot;. Benjamin said most of the attacks on Christians had been in response to aggressive [[Evangelism|evangelizing]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url         = http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=ARTICLES&amp;amp;id=1126589532&lt;br /&gt;
 |title       = When Intolerance Begets the Loss of Reason&lt;br /&gt;
 |date        = 13 September 2005&lt;br /&gt;
 |author      = P.N. BENJAMIN&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date = 14 April 2012&lt;br /&gt;
 |url-status     = dead&lt;br /&gt;
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190411/http://www.christianaggression.org/item_display.php?type=ARTICLES&amp;amp;id=1126589532&lt;br /&gt;
 |archivedate = 29 October 2013&lt;br /&gt;
 |df          = dmy-all&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In 2008, journalist [[François Gautier]] described Dayal as a fanatic who was &amp;quot;radicalizing&amp;quot; his flock. The assertion was made in an [[op-ed]]  in &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[The Indian Express]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; that accused [[Sonia Gandhi]] of responsibility for the [[2006 Mumbai train bombings]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url         = http://expressbuzz.com/Opinion/Op-Ed/sonia%E2%80%99s-presence-in-delhi-is-costing-india-dearly/23579.html&lt;br /&gt;
 |title       = Sonia&amp;#039;s presence in Delhi is costing India dearly&lt;br /&gt;
 |author      = Francois Gautier&lt;br /&gt;
 |date        = 8 December 2008&lt;br /&gt;
 |work        = Expressbuzz&lt;br /&gt;
 |access-date = 14 April 2012&lt;br /&gt;
}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Rajiv Malhotra]], in his book &amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Breaking India]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, has also criticized Dayal for spreading lies about Hinduism and painting a biased picture of the situation of Indian minorities for a western audience.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
== Testimony against India at U.S. House of Representatives==&lt;br /&gt;
John Dayal on 4 April 2014, appeared at a hearing on &amp;#039;&amp;#039;The plight of religious minorities in India&amp;#039;&amp;#039;  which was convened by [[Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission]].&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/concerns-in-us-about-religious-freedom-in-india/article5874176.ece|title=Concerns in U.S. about religious freedom in India|first1=Narayan|last1=Lakshman|date=5 April 2014|publisher=|access-date=13 September 2017|via=www.TheHindu.com}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; This commission is a mostly white [[bipartisan]] [[caucus]] of [[United States House of Representatives]] that was set up with the help of the [[Council on Foreign Relations]]. In his short testimony he made unsubstantiated remarks about his views of religious tolerance in India. While as a member of [[National Integration Council]] ([[government of India]]), he, as a witness, recommended the panel of commission to incorporate his concerns in U.S.-India relationship and U.S. policy vis-a-vis the United States-India strategic dialogue which is framework of engagement of the [[United States Department of State]] with India. Further, he cited the [[house resolution 417]]&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-resolution/417&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/protect-indias-religious-minorities-us-house-resolution/article5368540.ece|title=Protect India’s religious minorities: U.S. House resolution|first=Narayan|last=Lakshman|date=19 November 2013|publisher=|access-date=13 September 2017|via=www.TheHindu.com}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and urged that human rights should be the part of strategic U.S.-India dialogue.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;{{cite web|url=http://tlhrc.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id%3D1259 |title=Archived copy |access-date=18 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331011510/http://tlhrc.house.gov/hearing_notice.asp?id=1259 |archivedate=31 March 2015 }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Dayal&amp;#039;s attempt to advance this resolution was strongly criticized by others, such as the [[United States India Political Action Committee]],&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;spsdonmodi&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
{{cite news&lt;br /&gt;
| title       =More people in the US don’t know about Modi than do know about him: Sanjay Puri&lt;br /&gt;
| first       =Deepak&lt;br /&gt;
| last        =Chitnis&lt;br /&gt;
| url         =http://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2013/12/27/people-us-dont-know-modi-know-sanjay-puri/&lt;br /&gt;
| newspaper   =American Bazaar Online&lt;br /&gt;
| publisher   =&lt;br /&gt;
| date        =December 27, 2013&lt;br /&gt;
| accessdate  = 2015-10-21&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; the [[Hindu American Foundation]],&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;hafngabbard&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last=  Rajghatta|first=Chidanand |date= April 5, 2014 |title= US rights panel under fire for &amp;#039;influencing&amp;#039; Indian election|url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/US-rights-panel-under-fire-for-influencing-Indian-election/articleshow/33288151.cms|newspaper= [[Times of India]]|location= [[New Delhi]]|access-date= April 17, 2016}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;  as well as U.S. Congresswoman (D-HI) [[Tulsi Gabbard]]. The HAF expressed concerns that the panel was &amp;#039;unbalanced&amp;#039; in favor of [[anti-Hindu]] activists. In particular, Gabbard characterized his testimony as a thinly veiled attempt to covertly influence the upcoming [[2014 Indian general election|General Elections in India]] which would &amp;quot;contribute to further sectarian division&amp;quot;, an action deemed &amp;quot;inappropriate&amp;quot; for the US Congress and &amp;quot;against the shared interests&amp;quot; of both nations.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;hafngabbard&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Bibliography==&lt;br /&gt;
A partial bibliography:&lt;br /&gt;
*{{cite book |author=John Dayal |title=The Indian Emergency (1975–77)}} &lt;br /&gt;
*{{cite book |title=Human Rights: A Close Look |author=John Dayal |isbn=81-7495-105-9 |pages=79}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{cite book |title=Delhi under emergency&lt;br /&gt;
 |author1=John Dayal |author2=Ajoy Bose |publisher=Ess Ess Publications |year=1977 |pages=239}}&lt;br /&gt;
*{{cite book |title=The Shah Commission begins&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=John Dayal, Ajoy Bose, India. [[Shah Commission]]&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher=Orient Longman |year=1978 |pages=351}}&lt;br /&gt;
* {{cite book |title=Gujarat 2002: untold and re-told stories of Hindutva lab&lt;br /&gt;
 |authors=Justice &amp;amp; Peace Commission, All India Christian Council&lt;br /&gt;
 |editor=John Dayal&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher=Justice &amp;amp; Peace Commission and All India Christian Council |year=2002 |isbn=81-7495-114-8}} &lt;br /&gt;
* {{cite book |title=A matter of equity: freedom of faith in secular India&lt;br /&gt;
 |author=John Dayal&lt;br /&gt;
 |publisher=Anamika Publishers &amp;amp; Distributors |year=2007 |isbn=81-7975-177-5}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
{{reflist |refs=&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;ref name=ICEC&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url          = http://www.evangelicalcouncil.org/stains_award3.html&lt;br /&gt;
 |title        = John Dayal&lt;br /&gt;
 |work         = The International Council of Evengelical Churches&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate   = 2012-03-14&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110830131241/http://www.evangelicalcouncil.org/stains_award3.html&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-date = 30 August 2011&lt;br /&gt;
 |url-status     = dead&lt;br /&gt;
 |df           = dmy-all&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;ref name=Minorities&amp;gt;{{cite web&lt;br /&gt;
 |url          = http://minorities.in/profiles.php&lt;br /&gt;
 |title        = Profile of NCM: Dr. John Dayal&lt;br /&gt;
 |work         = Minorities&lt;br /&gt;
 |accessdate   = 2012-03-14&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131025054311/http://www.minorities.in/profiles.php&lt;br /&gt;
 |archive-date = 25 October 2013&lt;br /&gt;
 |url-status     = dead&lt;br /&gt;
 |df           = dmy-all&lt;br /&gt;
}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;lt;ref name=Moeller2011&amp;gt;{{cite book&lt;br /&gt;
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uSfMDp6wKQQC&amp;amp;pg=PT117 |page=117&lt;br /&gt;
 |title=The Privilege of Persecution: (And Other Things the Global Church Knows That We Don&amp;#039;t)&lt;br /&gt;
 |author1=Carl A. Moeller |author2=David W. Hegg |author3=Craig Hodgkins |publisher=Moody Publishers |year=2011 |isbn=0802454178}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{Authority control}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Wikiquote}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dayal, John}}&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:1948 births]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Christian practices]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Christianity and other religions]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Indian Roman Catholics]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Living people]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Leaders of Christian parachurch organizations]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>&gt;JJMC89 bot III</name></author>
	</entry>
</feed>