VHP targets missionaries

SURAT, FEB 22: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP has stepped up its activities in South Gujarat to counter what it calls the growing influen...

SURAT, FEB 22: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad VHP has stepped up its activities in South Gujarat to counter what it calls 8220;the growing influence of missionaries in this predominantly tribal dominated region8221;.

Already, proselytizing is a major issue in at least one of the Assembly constituencies; and indications are it will snowball into a major election plank in future.

Though the police claim the VHP did not get good response in any of its meetings in South Gujarat, but the Parishad was able to project conversion as a major issue. Dharmantaran is already top on the five-point programme, chalked out by the Parishad8217;s Marg Darshak Mandal.

Last week the firebrand Sadhvi Rithambara was spewing venom against conversion alleging quot;it is an international conspiracy. The demand for separate state or council has come from areas where missionaries are active.8221;

Carrying on a similar propaganda in the rural areas are bands of VHP and Bajrang Dal activists. They are alleging that tribals are being misled or luredwith financial and other assistance to adopt Christianity. Doling out help to an impoverished population and feeding them Christian beliefs amounts to forcible conversion, says a senior VHP activist in Vyara.

The first batch of missionaries from America landed in Vyara in 1905 and established their activities by 1909 which included financial assistance for education and medical treatment. And, influenced by their preachings and developmental activities thousands of tribals converted to Christianity over the last few decades. A significant feature of these conversions is that a very insignificant number of tribals have changed their names to Christian ones after conversion. The only indication comes when they attend the Church mass on Sunday.

They are located in almost every interior areas of South Gujarat-Vyara, Songadh, Nizar, Uchhal, Dharampur and Dangs to name a few; concentrated in Vyara and Songadh, their numbers range from 50,000 to 80,000.

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The VHP8217;s claim of forcible conversion sounds hollow forthere is not a single police complaint on the issue. Says Veljibhai Gamit, a Church of North India priest, 8220;Those who believe in our preachings have adopted Christianity voluntarily.8221; The Vyara unit president of VHP Bhurabhai Rana, however, disagrees. He alleges that 8220;ignorance of tribals is exploited; patients are given medicine but told that they were cured by sacred water.8221;

The VHP also alleges that tribals are hoodwinked into believing that Christianity is better by using a wooden Christ idol and a metallic idol of any Hindu God. Both are thrown into water and credulous tribals are made to see that the Christ idol floats. Veljibhai, however, contests this.Proselytizing was never an issue for there was no confrontation between the convert and the Hindus in the past. Recently though political bodies in the area have sensed its potential as a electoral issue what with its overtly communal characteristic.There was an attempt around Christmas last year to whip up a frenzy. The VHP had organised aconvention at Pipalwada village in Vyara taluka on the Christmas day, about 300 meters away from the Church. Apprehending trouble, Christian community had even sought police protection.

Meanwhile, Lavjibhai Gamit, a convert contesting as Independent from Vyara constituency, is banking solely on Christian votes. And Parishad activists admit that it has decided to go all out and make it a poll issue.