National   

Health centre ransacked

By Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD April 12.. A health care centre run by the BJP-controlled Limdi municipality in Surendranagar district in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat was ransacked allegedly by the local Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal members just because it was reconstructed with donations from the All India Christian Council.

The centre had collapsed in the January 26, 2001, earthquake and a new building was constructed near Azad chowk in the heart of the town with donations from the Council which had adopted the centre.

On the eve of the inauguration, the miscreants ransacked the building, pulled down the stage set for the inaugural ceremony and damaged the boards listing the names of the donors. They painted all over the building slogans such as "Jai Shree Ram'' and "Jo Ram ka nahin, woh kisi kaam ka nahin,'' in red ink.

The Council joint secretary, Samson Christian, and other Christian leaders, who had reached Surendranagar to attend the inaugural function, were threatened with dire consequences and were forced to return from the circuit house.

Tension had been building in the town with notices coming up at various roads questioning the municipality accepting donations from a Christian organisation when "several Hindu organisations'' were willing to donate funds for the centre. "We have taught a lesson to the municipality'' the boards in the name of the VHP proclaimed.

The VHP State general secretary, Dillip Trivedi, however, said he was not aware of the incident and did not know if it was the handiwork of his organisation and the Dal. But the VHP Saurashtra unit general secretary, Bakul Khaki, supported the actions.

He said the VHP had forewarned the municipal president " about the disappointment of the Hindus" in accepting donations from a Christian organisation.

Invitees had been cautioned against attending the function as their presence would be construed as "anti-Hindu''.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Centre will speed up hydel projects: PM
• The tussle at the top in Samata
• I will not quit BJP, says Shanta Kumar
• Two killed in clash during procession
• Don't misuse POTA: Advani
• Ex-SIMI activists held
• I&B Ministry plans to woo foreign filmmakers
• Shekhawat, PM's Baisakhi greetings
• Brisk business along Indo-Myanmar border
• Court functions to start with national anthem?
• Dacoit offers bell to temple
• Concern over laying of roads in Kudremukh National Park
• Kashmiri officers discriminated against?
• Trade unions plan protest on May 21
• PIL on Delimitation Act admitted
• J&K Govt. silent on prisoners' release
• Insurgency cannot be viewed in isolation: Tripura CM
• SC ruling on knowledge of arms dump
• BSP gearing for mega rally
• AI Board to meet again
• Digging work stepped up
• Kalam's book translated into Chinese
• Fossilised baby brain found in T.N.
• Centre to elicit views on statute amendment bill
• Health centre ransacked
• 'NGOs can represent consumers on fora'
• Orissa Minister quits

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu