RSS raps Church leaders for anti-Parivar remarks
RSS raps Church leaders for anti-Parivar remarks
Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: The Indian
Express
Date: May 15, 2000
The Rashtriya Swayamsewak
Sangh today hit back at Church leaders and Christian MPs accusing them
of indulging in "anti-Sangh Parivar propaganda" and said they should "verify
the facts" before going public.
Apparently unnerved by
the allegations levelled on parivar outfits over the recent attacks on
Christians across the country, `Prajna Pravah', the intellectual wing of
RSS, has shot off an open letter to all Members of Parliament exposing
the "intentions" of the Church and accusing it of "making an issue out
of non-existing events".
The letter, coming in
the wake of the formation of Christian MPs' forum, quotes extensively from
"Church publications" to prove the RSS charge that missionaries were engaged
in mass-scale conversions.
The Christian MPs forum
had expressed serious concern over the recent spate of attacks on minorities
and "free distribution of hate literature" by Hindu organisations.
"The church leaders should
realise that this cannot go on. They must verify facts before going public,
if, of course, their intentions are clear. They should also look into the
Church propaganda and literature, which is often derogatory to non-Christians
to the point of being offensive," says the letter written by Rajendra Chadha,
joint co-ordinator of the RSS intellectual wing.
"The Church and its leaders
have been using all means, fair and foul, to sell their gospel and falsehood
about India and Hindus.... They are in the habit of making an issue out
of a non-existent event," the letter says.
Citing the case in which
two nuns were hit by a scooter in Rewari district of Haryana, the RSS letter
says, "the United Chirstian Forum for Human Rights alleged and raised a
hue and cry that militant Hindu miscreants attacked the nuns in a planned
and systematic manner.
"Later, even the nuns
and local Christian leaders expressed surprise as to how such an incident
could be converted into an attack on Christians."
Referring to the recent
attack on Christian missionaries in Nagala Ajita near Agra, it said, "the
fact is that the local population mainly consisting of Scheduled Caste
`Kanjar Community' opposed the move of some Christians who landed in that
village that morning and entered their temple with their shoes. However,
the event was portrayed as an attack on Christianity."
"Even a small theft in
a Christian house these days is being claimed to be part of the anti-Christian
drive," it said, adding "why they (Christians) are not raising their voice
against rape and attack on religious institutions of other communities.
Why do not they cry on religious atrocities in Kashmir Valley".
The RSS letter refers
to several "Church publications" and the report of the Justice Wadhwa Commission,
which probed the killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines, to substantiate
its charge of "mass conversions" being carried out by Christian missionaries.
The publications include
Delhi Catholic Directory and World Christian Encyclopaedia published by
Oxford University Press.
Back
Top
|