Political twist to attack on Peth church

A group of villagers, angered by their fellow tribals’ refusal to participate in an annual ritual, on October 16 attempted to destroy the church building. The converts were attacked by 27 villagers, who were later arrested and released on bail. The village has a population of 662 of which about 50 are Christian converts. After the incident, Hindu fundamentalist organisations arrived in the villageand raised saffron flags on rooftops.

Later, Christian organisations took out a morcha in Nashik on November 3, condemning the damage to the church. Politicians from the parties that organised the morcha have also teamed up against the local MLA, Harischandra Chavan. They have been urging tribals to reject him as an “outsider” and elect a “local person” in his place in the next elections.

Chavan, a rebel Congressman was elected to the assembly in 1995 from Surgana constituency (which includes Peth). He lives in Nashik city.

Incidentally, Chavan had organised a farmers rally on Tuesday at Cholmukh village in Peth taluka, but his rivals managed to draw the tribals to the Nashik morcha.