1.S Gurumurthy says in his article on the Kandhamal violence that it was not against christians but between Kandhas and Panas. Refer below what the Chief Minister of Orissa who is a partner in the coalition government with BJP has to say in an interview with Barkha Dutt of NDTV
Bajrang Dal is a fundamentalist outfit: Orissa CM Barkha Dutt Tuesday, October 14, 2008, (New Delhi) At the meeting of national integration council on Monday, BJP chief Rajnath Singh described the Bajrang Dal as a nationalist group. But now Orissa Chief Minister and NDA partner Naveen Patnaik says the Bajrang Dal is a fundamentalist outfit. Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Patnaik said many of those arrested for anti-Christian violence in the state were from the Bajrang Dal. But he refused to comment directly on a possible ban, saying he will only react when the Centre takes a final stand. He clarified that none of the letters sent by the Home Ministry mention Article 355. "President's rule in Orissa would be political misuse," he said. Patnaik said that the Centre sent ten companies of trainees when we asked for help. "Home Ministry sent helicopters five days late," he added. Orissia Chief Minister's admission is likely to fuel the debate over banning the Sangh Parivar outfit. On Saturday, in an exclusive interview to NDTV, National Security Advisor M K Naraynan said "SIMI and Bajrang Dal are not two sides of the same coin, but both of them are dangerous." He added that "You can ban it (Bajrang Dal) but you will then not be able to sustain it." Thereafter, several political leaders reacted to the NSA's observations. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said the NSA spoke like a bureaucrat, while the Opposition said the instance showed there were differences of opinion in the government. 2.Christian missionaries are being regularly accused of 'forced conversions' without adducing any proof or evidence. And without a single case or conviction since the past 60 years. Refer to article below by Sampad Mahapatra of NDTV on christians being forced to renounce their religion under threat of death. Scared Christians in Kandhmal turn to Hinduism Sampad Mahapatra Tuesday, October 14, 2008, (Kandhmal) On Sunday, Pope Benedict the 16th made a pointed appeal for an end to violence against Orissa's Christian minority. The Archbishop of Cuttack has petitioned the Supreme Court seeking CBI probe into the Nun rape case. The Supreme Court had earlier directed the Orissa government to protect Christians and arrange for extra security in the relief camps. The situation in Kandhmal, one of the worst affected districts, remains tense. Terrorised by the communal riots and having to choose between faith and survival, dozens of Christians in Kandhmal are embracing Hinduism, only to ensure they get back to their homes and live in peace. On Sunday, 18 Christians in Sarangad, who converted to Hinduism, claimed it was purely a voluntary decision. "We were born to Christian parents and stuck to the faith for so long. But we have realised we get nothing out of being Christians. So we decided to return to Hinduism. No body has forced it on us," said Krishna Chandra Nayak, former Christian, Sarangad. Under the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act of 1967, anyone seeking religious conversion needs to apply to the Collector and wait for proper police verification to ensure it is not being done under coercion or inducement. But in Kandhmal on Tuesday the rules are different. You have to apply only to the local VHP head in a prescribed format and the wish will be quickly granted. "These people had on their own given a written undertaking that they had joined the Christian faith but now they want to return to Hindu fold. I am only catering to their wishes," said Adikand Patra, Hindu priest. The 12,000-odd Christians, who are still in relief camps fear they will be killed if they don't become Hindus. But the state government has done little to allay such fears. Regards, Marshall -- Hyundai to launch the i20 in India. Catch the exclusive preview on ZigWheels.com http://www.zigwheels.com/b2cam/newsDetails.action?name=Emb11_20080731&path=/INDT/News/Emb11_20080731&page=1&pagecount=2&utm_source=indmail&utm_medium=footer&utm_content=tracking&utm_campaign=Nletter_07oct2008_ZW
