Says the tribal population in Kandhamal is to blame for the anti-Christian violence
Says the tribal population in Kandhamal is to blame for the anti-Christian violence
NEW DELHI: Denying involvement in the anti-Christian violence in Orissa, the Bajrang Dal demanded a judicial inquiry on Wednesday into the attacks.
The outfit blamed the violence on the tribal population of Kandhamal, which it said was simmering with anger against conversions and other activities of Christian missionaries.
The Dal said the anger found release after the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda.
Former Dal chief and VHP spokesman Surendra Kumar Jain claimed the conspiracy to kill the swami was hatched at a meeting of the parish council on May 25.
The Christian hand in the murder was confirmed by the fact that all the three arrested accused belonged to that community, he said.
About the nun rape, Jain said the Dal condemned it as a most deplorable crime. “But this is not the first time they (Christian missionaries) have levelled such a charge. It is their favourite charge. They said the same thing in Jhabua and each time they were proved wrong,” he alleged.
Casting a doubt on the nun’s claim, Jain pointed out that she was avoiding investigation agencies as well as the media.
He said the Bajrang Dal did not have a unit in the violence-affected region of Orissa and the way the outfit was being blamed was unfortunate.
“The Bajrang Dal does not believe in violence. It works by creating awareness and awakening people, not killing them,” Jain said.
Claiming that Christians had invited the wrath of tribals, he said if these tribal people were depicted as demons, it would be difficult to assuage them. Due to large-scale conversions, the Christian population in the area has shot up from 6% in 1981 to 27% in 2001, Jain said.
Dismissing the credibility of a CBI inquiry, he demanded a judicial inquiry into the entire affair “covering Swami Laxmanananda’s murder, conversions, false propaganda and the reason for the violence”.
s_rajesh@dnaindia.net
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