Author: Observer Political
Bureau
Publication: The Observer
of Business and Politics
Date: November 9, 2000
The RSS concept of a
'Swadeshi Church' received a shot in the arm, when an organisation representing
dalit Christians, called for a debate on the issue within the community
and accused the church of misleading the Christians about the idea.
"The church and their NG0s are misleading the Christian community by creating
various kinds of misunderstanding and misconceptions on the idea of swadeshi
churches advocated by RSS chief K S Sudarshan," R L Francis, president
of Poor Christian liberation Movement (PCLM) said.
Alleging that church
leaders discriminated against backward Christians and most of the church
organisations have been converted into "commercial enterprises", he said
that the PCLM would initiate an open debate on the issue of 'swadeshi churches'
and has started work in UP, MP and Punjab in this regard.
Accusing the church of
creating bitterness in the society by floating organisations such as 'Rashtriya
Suraksha Vahini' in Orissa, Mr. Francis said that PCLM would initiate
an awareness campaign to demand equal rights for dalits in church bodies
and strengthen harmony.
