Bid to convert Church into temple: team

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, DEC. 5. A fact-finding committee of the All-India Christian Council, which visited the desecrated church at Chindiya in Surat district of Gujarat, has come back here alleging that the Sangh Parivar was trying to convert the church into a temple.

The five-member team, headed by Mr. John Dayal, council's secretary-general, spent the whole of Saturday at the tribal village amid tight police security while Rt. Rev. Ezra Sargunam, Bishop and head of the Evangelical Church of India, to which the church belongs, was on an indefinite fast inside seeking justice. In view of the deteriorating condition of the bishop, a diabetic, the leaders tried to persuade him to give up the agitation, but in vain. The team later met the Surat District Collector and SP, Ms. Sangeetha Singh and Mr. K. L.N. Rao, who the team said, promised ``justice'' but had not been able to make a single arrest so far, ``though most of the culprits were known to the police.'' The council released photos on the desecrated portions of the church. A picture of the front elevation shows the cross on the pinnacle replaced by a saffron flag and another, a side window with iron grill with cross symbol missing. Mr. Johan Dayal and Mr. Sam Paul, an executive member, said the situation in the village where, they claimed, a ``large number of tribals'' embraced Christianity ``out of their own free will,'' was explosive. The followers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the RSS, led by Mr. Bagu Jania, president, local VHP unit, were waiting to enter the premises again for converting it into a temple.

A statement issued by the All-India Christian Council, signed by its president, Mr. Joseph D' Souza, said the land on which the Chindiya church was located was donated by a few tribal families, one of them being Punya Bhai. The VHP/RSS, it was alleged, ``threatened'' Punya Bhai and he turned against the church and now wanted his land back.

PTI reports:

Bishop Ezra Sargunam was shifted to the New Civil Hospital here last night, police said. The 64-year-old Bishop had resorted to fast on Tuesday last seeking legal possession of the chapel which was ransacked by some miscreants on November 26.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Other States
Previous : SOS for Central aid
Next     : Enron project: MSEB paying Rs. 95 cr. for
           unbought power