Christians slam VHP honour for mother of Dara Singh

‘‘We expected no different from this group of people, who have said that they will carry out the experiment of fascist communalism

they showed in the Gujarat genocide to other states as well,’’ a statement issued by the All India Christian Council and All India Catholic Union said here.

‘‘We had, however, expected that national leaders such as Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and others in BJP would feel hurt and express their outrage at this travesty,’’ they said.

‘‘We are deeply perturbed that the honouring of Singh’s relatives comes in the Christmas season, a time of love and goodwill,’’ the statement added.

Dara Singh has been accused of leading a mob to Manoharpur in Orissa and burning Staines and his two sons alive inside their car. The case is on in court.

According to reports, Raj Rani, the mother of Singh, who is behind the bars after surrendering to police, his brother Arvind Kumar and Mukesh Jain, president of the Dharmarakshak Shri Dara Sena, were honoured at a function organised to celebrate the birthday of former MP and VHP leader B.L. Sharma ‘Prem’ here recently.

Besides Dalmia, VHP international working president Ashok Singhal, its senior vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore and international secretary general Pravin Togadia were present at the function.