Author: FOC
Publication: Organiser
Date: September 21, 2008
URL: http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=255&page=4
Justice on Trial, an Ahmedabad-based NGO comprising
of former judges, police officers, advocates and social workers, has alleged
the hands of church and Christian missionaries in the murder of Swami Laxmanananda
in Kandhamal district of Orissa on the eve of Janmashtami. Talking to mediapersons
in New Delhi, the team of the NGO, which had visited Kandhamal after the riots
in December last year, said various theories are being propagated through
various angles and the media, intelligentsia and common man are being made
confused.
The team comprised of Sardar G.S. Gill, Additional
Advocate General of Rajasthan, Shri P.C. Dogra, former Director General of
Punjab Police, Smt. Nafisa Hussein, former Member of National Commission for
Women, Captain M.K. Andhare, social activist, and Shri Ram Kishor Pasari,
a social engineer. This team visited Kandhamal initially from January 18 to
21 and subsequently Bhuwaneshwar between January 25 and 27. At that time the
committee interviewed Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, Archbishop Raphel Chenath,
leaders of the 'Phulbani Jan Kalyan Sangh' Kui Sanskritik, Kondh Surakhya
Manch, local MLAs, political and social leaders and intellectuals, in addition
to local residents of Kandhamal district. Report in this regard was released
at a public function on February 7, 2008, at Bhubaneshwar. Since this report
in the present scenario becomes more important and relevant, it was again
circulated to the media.
There is a controversy regarding the attacking
agency of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. His own statement in this regard becomes
very relevant. Swamiji told the committee that his devotion and work for the
uplift of Vanvasis and bringing the converted Vanvasis back to their original
roots, i.e., Hinduism, had given the Christian missionaries a reason to tarnish
his image and earlier they had attacked him eight times because he was opposing
the clandestine proselytisation activities of the Christians in that area.
He said, "First attack on my life took place on January 26, 1970. I had
to hide myself in a school for more than three hours. Nobody came to my rescue.
Then I thought, so many Hindus were there but nobody came forward at the time
of adversity. Then I pledged to awaken them and kindle a light in their soul.
I established Bhaghat Tungi, Radha Krishna Idols, evening prayer centres in
different villages. Besides, I taught the people how to cultivate their lands
properly, worship the mother cow, save forests etc. Vanvasis are simple, innocent
and truthful persons. The missionaries initially give money to them for conversion
but thereafter the poor Hindus are exploited like anything and are told by
missionaries that each converted Christian has to give one mutthi rice (a
handful of rice) everyday for the church; first calf of the cow has to be
donated to the church. Missionaries have vowed to make this place a Christian
land but I have pledged to reconvert this scenic spot into a united Hindu
area." Swamiji had a vast following and the Hindu Vanvasis of Kandhamal
had deep-rooted faith in him. Even the statement of Archbishop Raphel Chenath
corroborates the above.
Answering to a question, why government didn't
take any action against Swamiji, while Congress was in power at the centre
during 90's, Shri Chenath replied, "Although the government then ordered
the arrest of Swamiji, he couldn't be put behind the bars due to immense public
pressure. He said, "There would have been bloodshed if Swamiji had been
arrested." An enquiry further revealed that the earlier incidents of
December 2007 were imminent and abrupt repercussion of the attacks on Swamiji.
A CD showing relevant part of interview of Swamiji elaborating the above was
provided to the press.