Other States - Orissa

Call to stop `hate campaign' among tribals

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR MAY 4. The All-India Christian Council has accused the Sangh Parivar of launching a "hate campaign'' against Christians and other religious minorities in the tribal belt extending from Gujarat in the west to Orissa in the east.

Talking to The Hindu here on Saturday, the Council secretary-general, John Dayal, alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its allied organisations were making a "concerted effort" to vitiate tribal society. The hate campaign was aimed at turning the tribals against Christians and Muslims, he said.

The Sangh Parivar was distributing pamphlets which called for the "elimination of the Christians and Muslim communities" from the region. In many areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatishgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa, arms, including swords and trishul-shaped hand weapons, were distributed in large numbers and many training camps held.

All this was extremely dangerous. Dr. Dayal said the inquiry committees probing the Gujarat violence had found that innocent tribals were misled into participating in the violence leading to large-scale killings of the minorities.

In Jharkhand, the hate literatures were specially targeted at the Sarana-speaking communities, generating a strong apprehension and unease. The Special Branch police of Ranchi had informed the Jharkhand Government about the circulation of such literatures.

About the burning of a church in Koraput district of Orissa recently, Dr. Dayal said the State Government should not take such incidents lightly. ``Our apprehension is that having tasted blood in Gujarat, the Sangh Parivar may repeat it in other States whenever they get an opportunity,'' Dr. Dayal warned.

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