BJP's minority bashing a virulent political obscenity:Dayal

New Delhi, Jan 30 (UNI) Christian groups today said the virulent minority bashing by the BJP was a prelude to ''denationalising Christians'' and sought the intervention of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee before the Sangh Parivar ''unleashed a bloodbath against the minorities''.

''The BJP's verbal assault on the minorities at its executive is a more virulent political obscenity as it comes when the Christians are facing the worst ever physical violence in recent times at the hands of the Sangh Parivar, the BJP's ideological masters,'' All India Catholic Union president John Dayal said.

The statements made against Christians and Muslims at the BJP's national conclave came in the backdrop of a rash of anti-Christian wave in Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan, he said.

Dr Dayal said the National Commission for Minorities had, in its report, indicted the VHP for the anti-Christian violence in Orissa.

He said a sinister conspiracy by the Sangh Parivar was afoot to ''denationalise Christians after the attempt made from 1969 to 2002 to denationalise Muslims which led to the Gujarat riots.'' ''Unless the Centre acts now to stop this hate campaign and BJP leaders like Mr Vajpayee counselled partymen...the lunatic fringe of the Sangh Parivar could unleash a bloodbath against the Christians.'' He also cited the ''collusion'' of the police with the communal elements in several incidents to substantiate his claim that there was a total absence of law and order in the rural parts of the country.

Dr Dayal, who is also a member of the National Integration Council, repudiated the BJP's claim that the UPA government was indulging in minority appeasement and said the ''Dalit Christians remained the poorest of the poor.'' Deprived communities need preferential treatment with religious persuasion being incidental, he added.

Dr Dayal is also president of United Christan Action, Delhi and Secretary General of All India Christian Council.

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