In an effort to bring about mutual trust among followers of different faiths senior leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the leaders of various sects among the Christian community in India, held a series of meetings recently. The RSS has always considered Christians as part of the larger Indian society sharing the hopes and aspirations of everyone here. But a section of the Church, with ulterior motive and heavy foreign funding has been playing a different and dangerous game of creating a wedge between people professing different forms of worship. From these differences, misunderstandings arise giving rise to friction and unpleasantness. Though the idea of active interaction between Sangh leaders and the leaders of the Church has taken shape now, for over last twenty five years or so, these meetings have been taking place. The RSS, interaction with Muslims, Christians and the Communist leaders intensified after the Emergency was lifted and Janata Party came to power.
Speaking, on the outcome of the meetings Shri M. G. Vaidya, spokesperson of the RSS said that through these meetings a number of misunderstandings and facts which were fabricated by the so-called 'secularists' against the RSS were proved to be baseless and wrong. It was also decided that in future also such meetings would be arranged to remove the deadlock between the Church leaders and the RSS. Discussions will also be held on the monetary assistance which the churches are getting from abroad, Shri Vaidya said.
Replying to the questions put forth by the journalists regarding the Vajpayee-Musharraf talks Shri Vaidya said that we cannot expect any positive results from them because Gen. Musharraf considers Kashmir terrorism as jehad against India and Kashmir as the agenda of the talks.
Shri Vaidya said that before these two leaders should meet again, the problem should first he discussed at length at the secretarial level and then at the ministerial level. Only then there are some chances of obtaining some positive results. He said that the RSS is not afraid of talks and intact believes in free, fair and open talks.
Meanwhile, Poor Christian Liberation Movement has declared its unstinted support to the bilateral talks between Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Church organisations for promoting secularism and good will between the Hindus and the Christians. In a communique issued to the Press, President of the movement, Shri R.L. Francis strongly criticized individuals and organisations who in a bid to prevent and sabotage the proposed talks, were trying to create a terror in the name of Hindu organisations and saffronisation of education, thereby misleading the general Christian community.
Shri R. L. Francis said that some of the individuals and organizations are disgusted after the talks which recently took place between the Catholic Bishop Conference of India and the RSS. Finding it hard to digest the talks, these elements are now working on their selfish and dirty agenda of creating an adverse atmosphere of hatred between the two communities.
Shri Francis said that he was hopeful that the opening up of the process of exploring possibilities for promoting amity between Hindu and Church organisations would lead to a positive atmosphere of peace and. secularism in the country. He expressed the confidence that it will pave the way for bridging the gulf between the two communities and putting an end to the sense of hatred and selfishness.
Poor Christian Liberation Movement
has, for a long time, been advocating mutual dialogue between church organisations
and the Sangh. Shri Francis appealed to the individuals and organisations
opposing the proposed talks to call off their dirty campaign keeping in
view the interest and welfare of the Christian community as a whole.