Washington DC. May 14, 2003.The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA)ina press release have invited all to attend a Briefing by Mr. Harsh Mander is cosponsored by FIACONA along with other orgnaizations in Washington area. Mr. Mander, a Hindu by faith, is from an elite group of Indian Administrative officers who run India's massive beurocracy. Mr. mander resigned from the government's Administrative serive in protest last year after the government, which is controlled by a hardcore Hindu extremist party, deliberately failed to protect the lives of thousands of innocent religious minorities in the state of Gujarat. The tit for tat violence was started by torching of a train compartment by a group of non-hindus, over petty arguments, in which 58 people belonging to the Hindu extremist groups died. Mr. Mander condemned the active cooperation of government machinery with Hindu extremist groups in the pogroms which killed thousands of non-Hindus. Mr. Mander resigned from his office in protest and currently heads a relief and rehabilitation agency in India to care for the victims of the relgious violence. Time & Date: 10 - 11 AM, Friday, May 16, 2003 Place: 2220 Rayburn House Office Building, The Capitol Hill, Washington DC The briefing will address the following questions: As India prepares for national elections next year, what issues does Indian democracy face? Should the rise of religious politics in India concern us? What are the global implications of such a movement? What does the widening discrepancy between India's religious and ethnic groups mean for India, and South Asia's, regional stability? Harsh Mander is an award winning journalist and social activist based in New Delhi. In addition to being the Country Director for Action AID India, Mr. Mander was also a long time member of the prestigious Indian Administrative Service. His book Unheard Voices was widely praised for its account of neglected groups in India. He is a regular contributor to Frontline Magazine and has lectured throughout the world. In August 2002, Mr. Mander was awarded the 10th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for Outstanding Contribution in Promoting Peace and understanding in India. Co-Sponsored by the following Organizations: Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA) Indian Muslim Council Young India Action Aid Association for India's Development (AID) Aligarh Alumni