Denounce activists, NHRC tells VHP

NEW DELHI, JUNE 30. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal to denounce their activists who were allegedly involved in propagating ``anti-Christian'' statements, in order to restore harmony in the country.

``We have asked the senior vice-president of the VHP, Mr. Giriraj Kishore, and Bajrang Dal's all-India convenor, Mr. Surendra Jain, to tell their activists, whose names have appeared as having made inciting statements, to deny the charges publicly. And if they refused to do so, the organisations should then denounce them,'' the NHRC chairperson, Mr. J.S. Verma, told PTI here.

The leaders of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal had called on the Commission on Tuesday to clarify their stand, he said.

He also said the NHRC was awaiting reports on the steps taken in the aftermath of attacks on Christians but believes the administration has got ``activated'' to avoid such incidents.

``The Commission had given two weeks for response. By the reports appearing in various sections of the media, I believe that the administration has got activated and they are taking some action,'' Mr. Verma said.

In the wake of several incidents of attacks on Christians and their institutions, the NHRC had issued notices to the Centre and all State and Union Territory Governments and sought reports on steps taken to meet the situation.

Meeting with Christian leaders

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 30. The top brass of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal will meet Christian community leaders here on July 11 to remove ``discord, disharmony and misgivings'' between the two communities. The breakthrough to convene such a meeting came at the initiative of the National Commission for Minorities

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