VHP, Bajrang Dal not responsible for beating priests: Abdeo

Mumbai, May 10 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad joint general secretary Prof Venkatesh Abdeo today claimed the incident of beating two priests at Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur was a spontaneous reaction of the people as the duo had tried to lure eight persons from a family of the Lohar community to adopt Christianity by offering money.

Talking to reporters here today, Prof Abdeo said the two priests had taken these eight persons and baptised them. The news spread and the incident angered the people, leading to an attack on the two priests.

Prof Abdeo claimed that the poor family had been given Rs 4000 and was assured of Rs one lakh next month.

He said a similar incident had occurred in Jaipur recently and a school principal was beaten up.

The VHP and Bajrang Dal activists were not involved in any of these incidents, he claimed.

Prof Abdeo alleged that every year one lakh girls in the country are made to embrace the Muslim religion by forcing them into marriage.

UNI