Author:
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: October 16, 2008
URL: http://www.rediff.com//news/2008/oct/16inter.htm
If there is one issue that has replaced terrorism
and the slumping markets that is the attacks on the Christians which, according
to Hindutva activists, is sparked off by forcible conversions. It all started
in Orissa and then gradually spread to Karnataka and now even Tamil Nadu.
The issue has become a hot political potato
with the United Progressive Alliance considering a ban on the Bajrang Dal
for its reign of terror and the saffron brigade daring it to go ahead with
the ban.
In an interview with Special Correspondent
Vicky Nanjappa, D N Murthy, general secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad,
talks about religious conversions, the violence that it sparked off, and also
the allegations of terrorism being made against some Hindutva activists.
Q.: The issue has spiralled out of control.
So much violence and no solution in sight. The Union government and the international
community have reacted very sharply to the violence in Orissa and Karnataka.
Being a very senior man in the VHP, what are your views on this?
A.: You call the incidents in Karnataka as violence. A few glass panes were
broken and you call that terrorism. In Karnataka not a single person was injured.
What are these people talking about? It is ridiculous. Glass panes of cinema
theatres are broken due to certain disputes. Can you call this terrorism?
Did the Union government react in this manner? The people are just protesting
against those indulging in forcible conversion. That is all.
Q.: The Bajrang Dal is being seen as the perpetrator
of this violence. The government came very close to banning it. What do you
have to say about banning the Bajrang Dal?
A.: Ask the Congress this question. All right, tell me something. They planned
to ban it but were they able to? What allegations are they making against
the Bajrang Dal? There is no consensus even among the allies of the Congress
on this issue.
Q.: An act of terror does not necessarily
have to limit itself to bomb blasts. Violence and destruction in any form
is also terrorism. Since the Bajrang Dal has indulged in violent acts don't
you think it classifies as terrorism?
A.: Bajrang Dal and terrorism? Whoever says this has no common sense. There
are so many terror attacks in the country in which so many innocent lives
have been lost. The security agencies are unable to nab the real culprits
who always manage to give the slip. As I said earlier, in Karnataka not a
single person was injured and you call the Bajrang Dal's actions as terrorism.
It is utter nonsense.
Q.: What about Orissa? People were killed
and raped over there.
A.: In Orissa the people were just reacting to forcible conversions. Over
there forcible conversions have damaged the lives of thousands of people and
there were protests against it.
Q.: But Orissa or Karnataka, violence is violence.
Are you saying the VHP justifies the violence in Orissa or even in Karnataka?
A.: We do not believe in violence. I am aware that nothing can be achieved
by violence. The Bajrang Dal is protesting against conversions. But get this
clearly into your head. Our direction to the Bajrang Dal is simple and straight-forward.
It is Seva (service), Samskara (culture) and Suraksha (security). They have
been asked to follow these three points.
Q.: If you do not approve of the violence
and your message to the Bajrang Dal is that of peace and protection, then
who is behind the madness that has claimed so many lives?
A.: Yes, there were protests against conversions. If there were instances
of horrific violence then it was due to personal scuffles in some areas. If
one of two persons have indulged in acts of serious violence can you blame
the entire organisation? The police force is meant to protect but there are
some policemen who misbehave. Does that mean you brand the entire organisation
and brand the entire police force as rotten?
Q.: But what about those one or two people?
They were also part of the Bajrang Dal and they too know about Seva, Samskara,
and Suraksha. Will the VHP keep quiet and not do anything about them?
A.: Did I say we will keep quiet? We will surely act against them.
Q.: The state convener of the Vishwa Hindu
Parishad, Professor M B Puranik, told me in an interview recently that once
a Hindu converts his loyalties shift. Do you agree with that?
A.: Yes, the loyalties do shift. But I would also like to add that everyone
has a right to practice a religion. But nobody has the right to convert. If
a conversion is based on an ideological acceptance of a new way of life, it
is fine. But conversions in large numbers or mass conversions are deplorable.
I can understand when an educated man converts. He can think and decide for
himself what each religion has to offer. Why are missionaries targeting slum-dwellers
and tribals? What can these people understand?
Q.: Do you have proof that conversions are
really taking place? If yes please give me figures.
A.: I cannot give you the figures off-hand. But, yes, the census says it all.
The number of Christians has gone up all of a sudden in the past few years.
Looking at the census I could easily say that the rise in population is just
not proportionate. It is really hard to tell the difference between a Hindu
and a Hindu who has converted.
The missionaries have found a way of duping
the people. The women who have been converted continue to wear saris, bangles,
and bindis, and this is not different when compared to the way a Hindu woman
dresses. Even if these persons are found in a church during mass, the missionaries
claim they have just come there for prayers. This is the way in which they
dupe the people.
Q.: How much of the problem has been solved
after these sudden outbursts? Or let me put it this way. Will the problem
ever be solved?
A.: The problem surely will not be solved unless and until both Christians
and Muslims agree that all other religions are great too and their path is
not the only path to reach God. In India our practice is to welcome all great
thoughts. We believe that all religions' ways are towards God. The problem
is that both Christians and Muslims think it is only their way which takes
people ultimately to God. They say theirs is the right path and the only way
to attain salvation. The problem will be solved only if Muslims and Christians
agree that all religions are great and have the same goal.
Q.: Many have said it is unfair that while
Muslims get blamed for terror strikes, Hindu activists who indulge in bomb
blasts as in Nanded and Kanpur get away. What is your reaction to this?
A.: If they think Hindu activists are involved in terror activities then let
them probe. Nobody is stopping them.
