India: Democracy in Diversity a Publication of Hindu American Foundation | 3 April 2018 Including Pakistan

Birthplace of Dharmic India: Traditions India is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Democracy in These collectively are often referred to as the ’Dharma’ Traditions. The Dharma Traditions share many Diversity concepts such as dharma, karma, India is a robust, multi-religious and multicultural, samsara, and moksha, though each religion understands and interprets secular democracy. It is home to the vast them differently. majority of the world’s Hindus and has sizeable Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Jain Sikh, and Zoroastrian populations. India’s Diversity India is home to unparalleled linguistic, cultural, and religious diversity. There are 22 constitutionally recognized languages Religious minorities, either as a single and thousands of community or collectively, comprise additional languages majorities in eight states. and dialects. Throughout its history, religion has been an important part of India’s culture. Hindus, a widely diverse populace, comprise a little less than 80 percent of India’s 1.3 billion people, while religious minorities encompass a little over 20 percent of the population. In addition, India has the world’s second largest Muslim population (approximately Religious Majority 176 million or 14.4 percent), and world’s largest Sikh (1.9 percent),  Hindu and Jain populations (0.4 percent).  Sikh There are also substantial numbers of Christians (2.3 percent)  Muslim and Buddhists (0.8 percent).  Christian Smaller communities of Jews and Zoroastrians have been living in  Hindu & Christian India for over a millenia. April 2018

Subsequent to India’s independence prevalent throughout India, including …its unique brand of secularism provides including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, in 1947, the demographics of St. Thomas Cathedral in Mylapore Refuge for unprecedented religious accommodations Buddhists, and Zoroastrians religious minorities have either and St. Xavier’s shrine in Goa. across the following broad areas: increased or remained stable, and to its religious minority populace. (1) educational empowerment, Religious demographics in India are Persecuted there have been no major religious (2) economic empowerment, complex, especially when examined to grant legal resident status migrations out of the country. For Religious Groups (3) infrastructure development, regionally. Religious minorities, and citizenship to those fleeing instance, the Muslim population Secularism in (4) special needs, and (5) support either as a single community or Throughout its history, India has religious persecution and has grown from 9.8% in 1951 to for institutions. For instance, the collectively, comprise majorities served as a refuge for persecuted seeking refuge in India. its current level of 14.4%, while Modern India government recently utilized a $15 in eight states. Similarly, in many religious groups or those fleeing the proportion of Christians, Sikhs, ❱❱ Ahmadiyya Muslims, who are million World Bank loan to support other states, minorities represent violence from around the world. India is a secular democracy, but Buddhists, and Jains have stayed outlawed in Pakistan, are free skill development and training significant and influential segments its unique brand of secularism relatively the same. The Muslim ❱❱ Some Jewish communities in to worship, construct mosques, in madrasas that would benefit of the population. provides unprecedented religious population is projected to grow India trace their roots back over and propagate their faith free accommodations to its religious 35,000 Muslim students. Money further to 18.4% by 2050, according ❱❱ Punjab: Sikh majority 2500 years, while others over from government intrusion. The minority populace. Until 2018, the has also been earmarked in the to Pew Research Forum. Moreover, the subsequent millenia, fleeing Sunni Waqf Board of India (a Union Budget for the celebration of ❱❱ Jammu & Kashmir, Government of India (GoI) provided India is now home to the world’s persecution from various parts private religious body), however, Zoroastrian culture to help preserve Lakshadweep: Muslim majorities a subsidy for 108,000 Muslims to largest Baha’i community, estimated of the Near and Middle East. does not consider them Muslim, complete the Hajj pilgrimage to their history, while the Prime Minister ❱❱ Arunachal Pradesh, and therefore does not grant at over 2 million people, and the ❱❱ Zoroastrians arrived around Mecca annually, covering airfare, has promoted Buddhism and Sufi Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Ahmadiyya membership or world famous Baha’i Lotus Temple 700 AD (they’re now known domestic travel, meals, medical Islam through various programs. Nagaland: Christian majorities benefits of their services. in New Delhi. as Parsis and Iranis in India), care, and lodging assistance. From 2012 to 2014, for example, India is also home to some of ❱❱ Manipur: equally Hindu fleeing persecution in their Personal Laws and the world’s most famous Islamic and Christian, with minorities native land of Persia, and approximately $300 million was pilgrimage sites, including prominent collectively comprising integrated seamlessly into subsidized. The program was Triple Talaq Sufi shrines/dargahs (tombs of a majority Indian society, while practicing phased out by orders of the The Indian constitution and legal Muslim saints), such as Ajmer Sharif their faith fully. Supreme Court, and it was ended system protect religious freedom ❱❱ Kerala: Hindu (55%), Muslim early in order to ensure subsidies Dargah in Rajasthan and Haji Ali (27%), and Christian (18%) ❱❱ The Dalai Lama and Tibetan and ensure equality for all citizens, Dargah in Mumbai, as well as the GOI BUDGET were available for all minorities. regardless of religious identity. Buddhists fled to India after Earmarked for world renowned Jama Masjid and escaping Chinese oppression However, religious minorities are Makkah Masjid mosques in Delhi Minorities Affairs provided separate, religion-based and established the Tibetan Ministry Subsidies and Special and Hyderabad, respectively. Popular government in exile in the personal laws, which many civil sacred Christian sites are also Programs rights advocates have criticized northern city of Dharamsala. $610M In the 2016-2017 GoI budget, as being contrary to the principle ❱ ❱ Many Rohingya Muslims from $600.8M $600.8 million was earmarked of a secular democracy and for Myanmar and Afghan Muslims $600M for the Minorities Affairs Ministry adversely impacting women. have found a home in India as well. to benefit the country’s religious +$14.0M “Triple Talaq” or the process for minorities, reflecting an increase of ❱❱ Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and $590M instant divorce in Islamic society, for Afghan Hindus have trickled over $14 million from the previous example, has been a legal part of into India for decades to year. The current government has the personal law code for Muslims $580M escape religious persecution. also initiated several new welfare in India, despite it being outlawed They have struggled to obtain schemes for religious minorities, in most Muslim majority countries, refugee status or any type of $570M long term legal status in India, …religious minorities are provided separate, preventing them from accessing $560M basic resources or employment. religion-based personal laws, which many civil Tibetan refugees eating pani puri (traditional indian snack) The current government in India, rights advocates have criticized as being contrary in Dharamsala, India. however, has made it a priority $550M 2015-20162016-2017 to the principle of a secular democracy…

2 | India: Democracy in Diversity A Publication of Hindu American FOundation | 3 April 2018 including Pakistan. “Triple Talaq” Court found that given their The directive principles are not ritual practice, as some Muslim lacks any requirements for ex- numerical strength, economic and enforceable by writ, and similarly scholars have suggested. spouses to pay alimony or child social status, and representation the fundamental duties cannot No reference is made in the support, impoverishing millions of in government jobs, among be mandated by a court of law. women and children. In response other factors, minority status However, in furtherance of Article petition to any particular Surah of the Holy Quran which, in terms, to this negative social impact on is unnecessary. Jaṭ Sikhs (the 48, most states (with the exception Muslim women and children, Prime dominant Sikh caste group in of Kerala and some of the requires the sacrifice of a cow. Minister Narendra Modi proposed Punjab), however, were granted Northeastern states, two states All that was placed before us comprehensive legislation backward class status by the with significant Christian during the argument were Surah prohibiting the practice of “Triple Punjab government in 2014, making populations) have enacted laws XXII, Verses 28 and 33, and Surah Talaq” in 2016. Upon passing the them eligible to receive reserved related to the prohibition of CVIII. What the Holy book enjoins Lok Sabha (the lower house of Sikh devotees praying at the Golden Temple in Punjab, India. seats in government jobs. slaughter of cows (and in some is that people should pray unto parliament) in 2017, the bill was cases milch buffalo) and its progeny. the Lord and make sacrifice…It is welcomed and lauded by Muslim There is also the Prevention of therefore, optional for a Muslim women’s rights groups across the free from government intrusion, State Level Cow Protection Laws Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 to sacrifice a goat for one person country, but opposition parties used while many Hindu institutions do not, with subsequent amendments. or a cow or a camel for seven At the state level, several states At the time of India’s independence, the issue to stoke communal tensions thus falling victim to governmental According to animal welfare persons. It does not appear to have reserved quotas for Christians the founders of the modern state and prevented the bill from passing corruption, mismanagement, and advocates, however, the laws be obligatory that a person must and Muslims for government sought to codify as policy the uniquely through the Rajya Sabha (the upper illegal sale of property. protecting animals, not just cows, seats and in the public sector. Indic ethos of compassion towards sacrifice a cow… house of parliament). animals and the practical reality of the are toothless and enforcement Additionally, India’s Jewish Supreme Court of India, dismal. They hold that both the Unlike Christians and Muslims, community was recently accorded wealth cattle represents for people in Mohd. Hanif Qureshi and Others v. Representation in central and state governments Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains do minority status in the State of a primarily agricultural society. Cow State of Bihar (1958) Civil Society protection laws are thus rooted in need to strengthen the extant legal not have separate personal laws Maharashtra, making them eligible And Muslims are free to legally and evolved from economic, cultural, and institutional framework with and are considered Hindus under India’s diverse religious minorities for specific benefits, including travel slaughter goats or other animals and moral precepts, pre-dating the necessary amendments, provide Article 25(2)(b) of the constitution are represented in all levels to Jerusalem completely subsidized during religious festivals and modern Republic of India, and do adequate funding to carry out (though this constitutional reference of Indian society and have by the GoI. Similarly, Jains have frequently do so. Moreover, the not stem from any animus towards mandates, and, most importantly, pertains to opening religious attained the highest echelons been provided with minority argument that the inability to eat Muslims and Christians. promote enforcement. institutions to all social classes of power in the Indian military, status in the states of Gujarat and beef deprives certain communities rather than an explicit statement government, judicial system, civil Telangana, making them eligible for Articles 48 (Directive Principles) and The media reports, from time access to critical sources of nutrition denying the separate religious service, bureaucracy, media, and government grants, scholarships, 51A(g) (Fundamental Duties) of the to time, on vigilante violence is baseless, when access to other identity of Sikhs, Buddhists, and private sector. These include and other resources, in spite of Constitution of India state respectively: committed in the name of cow types of meat is easily available. Jains). Notably, Article 25(2)(b) Supreme Court Justices, Prime being one of India’s more affluent protection. These incidents are also provides Sikhs the right to Ministers and Presidents, heads communities. The State shall endeavor to often mired in complicated local carry kirpans (ceremonial knife) as of the Indian Armed Forces, organize agriculture and animal political and social dynamics. The decision to grant minority an article of their faith, a religious and leading industrialists, and husbandry on modern and scientific Regardless, HAF condemns such status at the state level is made on accommodation they’re still CEOs. Moreover, relative to lines and shall, in particular take violence as it runs contrary to Hindu a state-by-state basis and is not advocating for in the US. But in the their population size, Christians, steps for preserving and improving teachings regarding the sanctity of appropriate in all circumstances, absence of a Uniform Civil Code Sikhs, Jains, and Parsis are the breeds and prohibiting the all life and ahimsa, or non-harming, according to the Indian Supreme (one set of laws for all Indians), overrepresented in many fields slaughter of cows and calves and and Hinduism’s history of mutual Court. For instance, in states where which the current government has and sectors. other milch and draught cattle. respect and pluralism. religious minorities constitute advocated for, these groups should majority populations, such as It shall be the Fundamental Duty of Lastly, the Supreme Court of India be granted their own personal law Sikhs in Punjab, the Supreme has held that cow protection laws code should they so seek. every citizen of India to protect and do not impinge on the religious improve the natural environment Jewish Community and Beyond personal laws, all religious rights of others, based on the including forests and to have Synagogue of Ahmedabad, India minorities enjoy autonomy over their India’s diverse religious minorities are finding that Muslims are not compassion for living creatures. Photo credit: Emmanuel Dyan, Flickr institutions and places of worship, represented in all levels… required to slaughter cows for

4 | India: Democracy in Diversity A Publication of Hindu American FOundation | 5 April 2018

These laws have not been consistently enforced Facebook post about Islam. The resulting in few arrests and no convictions. Inter-Religious riots lasted for several days and led to the vandalism and destruction Laws on based clinic for their sick spouse, Conflict in India of several dozen Hindu owned isn’t reverting to the practice of their shops and homes, as well as the A tumultuous history of violence Religious Freedom original faith. destruction of police vehicles and against and subjugation of the From the colonial period to the government property. Several The Freedom of Religion Acts religious majority and other present, Christian humanitarian Hindus were also injured and a were primarily formulated as a indigenous religionists, as well as efforts in India have been part of a 65-year old man, Kartik Ghosh, reaction to this type of religious forced or state-abetted conversions systematic campaign to “harvest was stabbed to death by the imperialism, and were intended of the same has not been erased souls” through mass conversion rampaging mob. to prevent vulnerable populations from the collective conscience of and church planting initiatives, from being preyed upon and falling many Indians, and thus continues In 2018, the Nagaland Baptist Church disrupting indigenous communities Keshav Dev temple and Shahi Idgah mosque together in Mathura, India victim to predatory efforts seeking to color interreligious relations. Council demanded Christians in the and inflaming religious tensions along religious conversion in exchange for While the initial flow of Muslims to state “choose between the trishul the way. The Central India Christian or with the allurement of medical the subcontinent was a result of trade [trident - a common Hindu symbol] Mission, a small US based group, HAF unequivocally condemns Institute, “...[in] places like and humanitarian aid, education, and was on the whole peaceful, India and the cross.” alone has built over 1600 churches these attacks and believes that any Assam, West Bengal and Uttar or employment. The Freedom first faced Islamist violence, dating since 1982. such violence is unacceptable and Pradesh, rapidly growing Muslim Additionally, violence between of Religion Acts are focused as far back as the 8th century to the contravenes Hindu teachings and populations are no longer always Muslims and the tribal Bodo Converts are often asked to on protecting these vulnerable time of the Mughal invasions and India’s pluralistic ethos. a beleaguered minority. The reality population (both Christians and repudiate their community and populations from conversions by rule through the mid-19th century. of contemporary conflict is often Hindus) in Assam in 2013 affected family, reject traditions and customs “forcible” or “fraudulent” means, or Religious violence in India has also Later, colonization by European messier, and much less one-sided, all communities and involved that have been passed down for by “allurement” or “inducement.” taken the form of conflicts or riots nations heavily promoted Christian than in the past.” several factors, including an influx generations, and instructed to avoid They are currently only in effect in proselytization and conversion, between minority religious groups of illegal migrants from Bangladesh attending religious ceremonies and the following six states: Arunachal much of which was conducted by or between different sects within For instance, after a Hindu activist into the state, while Hindu-Muslim celebrations that are the very basis of Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, demonizing Hinduism and other a religion. Muslims and Sikhs, for allegedly made derogatory remarks riots in the state of Jammu & daily life. In some instances, converts Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Himachal Dharmic traditions. In modern example, clashed in the southern about the Prophet Mohammed, Kashmir disproportionately are paid visits from church volunteers Pradesh. These laws have not been times, identity politics, domestic city of Hyderabad in 2014 where the Muslims in the Muslim-majority impacted Hindus. to ensure that the convert, who may consistently enforced, resulting in few and cross-border terrorism, violence left at least three dead and have received a seat for their child arrests and no convictions. Moreover, radicalization, and aggressive and 19 injured. Similarly, there has been in a church-run school, or much there is a lack of data showing that active foreign missionary campaigns a long history of Sunni-Shia (the …300,000 Hindu Kashmiri Pandits (the indigenous needed medical treatment at a faith- the laws have led to the inequitable of conversion within India’s borders two primary sects in Islam) violence population of Kashmir) were ethnically cleansed… treatment of religious minorities. contribute to fomenting inter-religious in the city of Lucknow, especially during the Shia holy month of Ghar Wapsi (the process by which misunderstanding and tensions. Muharram, and between Sikhs district of Malda in West Bengal Moreover, starting in 1989, over converted Hindu populations return to Though there have not been major and the Nirankari, Ravidassia, and went on a violent rampage 300,000 Hindu Kashmiri Pandits their original faith), on the other hand, riots or attacks targeting religious Dera Sacha Sauda sects in Punjab. in January 2016, where they (the indigenous population of pales in scope and magnitude to the minorities in India in recent years, Moreover, tensions and violence ransacked a police station, torched Kashmir) were ethnically cleansed conversion activities and predatory there have been reports of individual have also erupted between Muslims two dozen vehicles, and burned the from their ancestral homeland in proselytization of missionary groups. incidents involving attacks by and Dalit communities in various shops and homes of Hindus. the state of Jammu & Kashmir by Hindus on Christians and Muslims. parts of the country. a radical insurgency orchestrated Similarly, in July 2017, Muslim and funded by Pakistan’s Inter- …not been erased from the collective conscience The causes of inter and intra- mobs attacked the Hindu Services Intelligence Agency. These community religious violence in community in Basirhat, Baduria of many Indians, and thus continues to color Hindus have not yet been able to India have been complex and and other neighboring areas in return to the Kashmir Valley, and Saint Mary’s Syrian Orthodox interreligious relations. While the initial flow of the culprits varied. According West Bengal, after news circulated other Hindus living in the state church at Thiruvithancode, Muslims to the subcontinentt was a result of trade to Sadanand Dhume, a resident that a Hindu high school student are economically, politically, and Tamil Nadu and was on the whole peaceful… fellow at the American Enterprise posted an allegedly blasphemous

6 | India: Democracy in Diversity A Publication of Hindu American FOundation | 7 April 2018 socially marginalized. The Muslim …inter-religious violence takes numerous forms and motivated and a sign of rising Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, An escalation in religious violence majority state has also been has diverse culprits and countless victims… religious intolerance under the Bhutan, and the Maldives. In fact, against minorities and the growing granted special status under Article current government, subsequent these countries constitute the South power of radical Islamists in Pakistan 370 of the Indian Constitution, flight enroute from Toronto to New including the lynching of a Muslim police investigations revealed Asian Association for Regional and Bangladesh has also contributed which prevents non-resident Delhi was bombed by Sikh extremists man in Dadri in 2015 and riots in that they were primarily crimes of Cooperation, a regional forum to to large-scale migrations of Hindus Kashmiris from owning property in based in Canada, killing all 329 Muzaffarnagar in the state of Uttar opportunity, rather than incidents strengthen cooperation amongst into India. The civil war in Sri Lanka the state, including many displaced people on board. Pradesh in September 2013. The stemming from religious animus. themselves. India’s other prominent between the Sinhala-Buddhist Kashmiri Hindus. Hindu pilgrims neighbor, China, has increasingly dominated government and the ethnic Muzaffarnagar riots left 60 people In addition, while Christian leaders visiting ancient religious sites in attempted to exert its economic Tamil minority, and continuing state dead and thousands displaced, have suggested that attacks Jammu and Kashmir have further and military influence in South Asia sponsored repression, has further led Post-Conflict Justice including both Muslims and Hindus. on churches have increased been frequent targets for terrorists, in recent years, at times leading to large numbers of Tamils (mostly Hindus) While the Indian law enforcement Following the incident in Dadri, under Prime Minister Modi’s including the recent terror attack territorial disputes with India. to seek refuge in India’s southern Tamil infrastructure’s capacity for arrests were made within 72 hours, administration and have been on a bus of Hindu pilgrims visiting Nadu state. Similarly, discriminatory investigating and prosecuting crime, while the violence in Muzaffarnagar religiously motivated, police India’s immediate neighborhood the Amarnath shrine in July 2017 policies by Bhutan’s Buddhist majority not just religiously-motivated led to a Special Investigative Team statistics indicate that this has has also been highly volatile with that killed seven people and left government forced more than 100,000 crime, is not without significant (SIT) judicial probe to examine more been the result of a general surge the prevalence of both overt military 20 injured. Additionally, Pakistan minority Hindus to flee to neighboring limitations, there have been than 400 registered cases that has in crime, including the targeting of conflict and asymmetric warfare and China continue to illegally Nepal and India, many of whom have comprehensive investigations and already indicted several Muslim all places of worship. For instance, destabilizing the region. Since occupy significant parts of the state now been resettled in the U.S. arrests by law enforcement, as well and Hindu leaders for their role in in the first month of 2015, at 1947, for instance, Pakistan has of Jammu & Kashmir, known as as prosecution and convictions instigating the violence. least 14 Hindu temples, five Sikh initiated three full-fledged wars with India has been a stabilizing force Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and by the courts of those who have gurdwaras, and two mosques India and a smaller incursion into in the region, has never supported Aksai Chin respectively. Moreover, individual incidents allegedly abetted or committed of violence on minorities have were robbed in Delhi. And in 2014, Indian territory in Kargil in 1999. In terrorism or the proliferation of nuclear Finally, Sikh extremists in the religiously-motivated crimes. been swiftly dealt with by law there were 206 Hindu temples addition, Pakistan has consistently weapons, and has invested billions of northern state of Punjab, where Examples include prosecution and enforcement. This includes the vandalized and robbed compared utilized cross-border terrorism in dollars in neighboring economies and Sikhs comprise a majority, convictions arising from conflicts in recent murder of a Muslim man in to three churches. India as an official instrument of the rebuilding of Afghanistan. spearheaded a bloody terrorist state policy, including the 26/11 Odisha in 1999 and 2007-2008, in December 2017, caught on video Events throughout India’s history campaign to carve out an Mumbai attacks that killed 166 which Christians were the primary at the perpetrator’s request in order have shown that inter-religious independent Sikh theocratic state people and the 2016 attack on an victims; Gujarat in 2002 where to broadcast the incident as a violence takes numerous forms and from the rest of India. The terrorist Indian air force base in Kashmir Recommendations approximately 790 Muslims and 254 threat to India’s Muslim community. has diverse culprits and countless campaign, known as the Khalistan that left 17 Indian Army personnel Hindus were killed; and the anti-Sikh The perpetrator was immediately victims. There has never been a It is critical that the U.S. continues to (land of the pure) movement peaked dead, to name a few. Pakistan’s riots of 1984, in which over 3,000 apprehended by police, tried, and is single theme to the events, and thus strengthen relations with India, the in the 1980s and 1990s, and involved military and ISI spy agency also Sikhs were killed. Indeed, many awaiting sentencing. no one religious group is subject only consistent democracy in South bombings, political assassinations, continues to support the Taliban, perpetrators from some of these to blanket culpability. Nor has any Asia, in order to bring greater stability kidnappings, selective killings, and Despite its limitations, the Indian the Haqqani group, Lashkar-e- conflicts have not yet been brought single religious group been the sole to the region and prevent the growth massacres of civilians. According judicial system in its entirety, from Taiba, and other affiliated militant to justice, however, investigations target of attack or victimization. of radical Islamist and Communist/ to the South Asia Terrorism Portal law enforcement to prosecution groups in Afghanistan to undermine and cases are ongoing, special Maoist terrorism that is impacting the (SATP), there were approximately and conviction, does deliver U.S. military operations and fast-track courts being set up, and lives of innocent civilians, causing 21,631 fatalities from terrorism justice consistently to victims maintain its strategic influence a robust community of human rights domestic unrest, and forcing large related violence since the insurgency of religiously-motivated crimes there. International security analysts activists continue to push for justice. India and Her scale migrations of Hindu refugees began in 1981, of which 11,783 were and does punish perpetrators of and intelligence reports from several The central government has also (and other religious minorities) from civilians. While the majority of the religiously-motivated crimes. countries, including the U.S., have earmarked monetary grants to the Neighbors Pakistan and Bangladesh into India. civilians killed were Sikhs, there was a Furthermore, in some instances, confirmed the role of Pakistan’s victims and/or their families in many India is considered the dominant Dialogue and bilateral relations targeted attempt to cleanse the state reports of targeted attacks on military and ISI in these activities in of these cases, including recently economic, political, cultural, and with India should focus on trade of its Hindu minority. The Khalistan minorities have been misreported India and Afghanistan. paying Rs. 500,000 each to a number military power in South Asia. It ties, regional security issues, and movement has received financial in the media, including a spate of the families of Sikhs killed in 1984. shares extensive civilizational and global strategic and logistical support from Sikh of attacks on churches in early cultural ties with its neighbors, India has been a stabilizing force in partnerships. extremists living in the U.S., Canada, There have been other smaller riots 2015. Although the incidents including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the U.K. And in 1985, an Air India and sporadic incidents of violence, were portrayed as religiously the region…

8 | India: Democracy in Diversity A Publication of Hindu American FOundation | 9 April 2018

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