Christian and fearful

It is unfortunate that Christians as a community had to come out on the streets to protest against the violent incidents against them. The only other time they had organised a countrywide protest was in the Seventies against the abortive Freedom of Religion Bill. The Christians are agitated because the number of such incidents this year is more than similar incidents since Independence put together. Naturally enough, they link the sudden spurt in anti-Christian violence with the advent of the BJP rule at the Centre. That most of the incidents occurred in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP was in power, only strengthened their fears. While receiving a memorandum from the Christian leaders, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is reported to have called the perpetrators of violence `lunatics’. A few days earlier, BJP president Khushabhau Thakre, who had a dialogue with some community leaders, had also used such a strong language against the attackers. Similarly, Home Minister L.K. Advani hadalso been unsparing in his criticism of the violent acts. This is the right approach towards the malcontents who have forced a peace-loving community to take to the path of agitation. There is no reason to disbelieve the BJP leaders when they say the anti-Christian campaign does not have their support. Yet, the Christian perception remains unchanged for reasons that are not far to seek.

Though there has been an upsurge in the attacks against Christians, it would be farfetched to see it as an elaborately organised attempt to terrorise the community. This is not to state that they are all stray events unconnected with one another. In all such incidents, it is only a handful of miscreants who have participated. However, it is their political affiliation that has worsened the situation. Had there been a strong condemnation of their deeds by the BJP leadership right when they occurred, the Christian reaction would perhaps have been different. Instead, some top leaders of the Sangh Parivar issuedstatements that only exacerbated the minority’s concern. For instance, even before any of the community leaders had blamed the Hindutva brigade for the rape of nuns at Jhabua in Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh, a senior VHP leader and former MP defended it much to the consternation of all right-thinking people. He even called the Christians `traitors’.

An overwhelming majority of the people, including the BJP supporters, do not approve of any such violence. It is not a mere coincidence that it is the enlightened sections of Hindus who have been the most trenchant in the criticism of the violent acts. That it had a bearing on the defeat the BJP suffered in its stronghold states in the recent assembly elections cannot be disputed. It is not the first time that the voters have made it clear that they will never support any campaign that seeks to pit a community against another. Nor do they approve of mixing of religion and politics. The BJP seems to have learnt these lessons as can be inferred from the sackingof the Uttar Pradesh minister who stirred a controversy by making recitation of Saraswati Vandana in front of a portrait of the Goddess compulsory in the primary schools in the state. While it is better late than never, the BJP will do well to control those elements within the parivar who are bent upon creating problems where none exists.