Author:
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: September 1, 2008
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/sep/02orissa.htm?zcc=rl
Expressing doubts over the Maoists' claim
of having killed leader Lakshmananda Saraswati, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad
on Monday insisted that 'a sect of Christians' was behind the murder that
has sparked widespread rioting in Orissa.
VHP General Secretary Pravin Togadia said
his organisation and the Maoists have no reasons for confrontation and the
Maoists could have made the claims under 'Communist Influence' to divert attention.
"It is politically motivated, probably
under pressure from other Communist parties, which share similar ideology
with the Maoists," he said and added, "A particular sect of the
Christian community is behind the murder."
His allegations came a day after Maoists issued
a statement, claiming responsibility for Lakshmananda's killing and threatening
more attacks on the VHP if they targeted minorities.
Seeking to justify his argument about the
non-involvement of Maoists in Lakshmananda's murder, Togadia said, "The
extremists are known to target the police but when the VHP functionary was
killed, his two police escorts were left unharmed by the masked attackers."
He also claimed that the VHP has never received
any threats from the Maoists in the area or tribal belts elsewhere.
Togadia claimed that the Maoist party statement
is meant to 'divert the issue on the insistence of other Communist parties
based on similar ideological standing'.
When pointed out that the Orissa government
also has blamed the Maoists for the killing, the VHP leader said, "It
is easy to blame the Maoists for anything in the state... It is much like
blaming the black sheep in the family and diverting attention from the real
culprits."
"VHP is not against all Christians, but
just one particular section of missionaries who are inciting sectarian violence
in the area," he added.
