VHP attributes illegal conversion for clash in Kandhmal

Bhubaneswar, Dec 29 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Orissa unit today alleged that Christians, along with the naxals, have created communal clashes in Kandhamal.

VHP General Secretary Gouri Prasad Rath told newspersons here that Hindus were in minority in the district and the Christians, along with Naxals, attacked the Hindu houses and temples in a planned and an organised manner.

Mr Rath alleged that to gain worldwide sympathy and malign the Hindus and tarnish the popularity of the state government, the Christian organisations were spreading misleading information against the Hindus.

He alleged that the Christians had set their own makeshift churches and homes to win the sympathy of the people, which they claim had happened in the past as well.

Mr Rath denied the role of the VHP in the communal clash in Kandhamal and said the party's role was confined to a statewide four-hour bandh on December 25 only, to protest the attack on Swami Laxamandana Saraswati.

The VHP leader said Christians were in majority in the area. They attacked the Hindus, their places of worship and homes at the instance of Parliament Member Radhakant Naik and former Parliament Member Mrutunjaya Nayak He said illegal conversion taken up by various Christian ''outfits'' was responsible for the communal clash that took place in Kandhamal and demanded the government to ban conversion to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.

The VHP general secretary demanded that the Freedom of Religion Act 1967 should be amended and implemented strictly to prevent conversion in the state.

Mr Rath alleged that Christian missionaries in the state were engaged in conversion through fraud, inducement, threat and allurement, violating the rule, which has created disharmony and communal conflict many times in the past.

He warned that such incidents would continue if the Act was not implemented in letter and spirit.He further said various Christian outfits were receiving huge funds for each conversion and utilising the money for fomenting trouble and creating disharmony between various communities.

He demanded the authorities to constitute a Commission to scrutinize and inquire into the flow of foreign funds to Christian missionaries and it's utilisation.

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