BJP blames 'Christian conversion' root cause for violence

Terming 'Conversion' the root cause for violence against Christians in Orissa, BJP President Rajnath Singh on Saturday said, "Those who are engaged in doing so should introspect."

"Religion is the identity of the Country and freedom of Religion cannot be allowed to be misused," he said, adding, the Union government must formulate laws to review cases of change in faith throughout the country.

The party leaders at the State executive meeting accused Christian missionaries for inducing the innocent tribals to convert by taking advantage of their physical and financial difficulties that has brought a divide.

"Converted non-adivasis have taken advantage of reservation meant for tribal as well as minority communities leading to a serious conflict in the region. What has added to problem over the years is land grabbing and use of forged documents to get jobs fuelling discontentment among the tribals," resolutions adopted at the meeting stated.

It called for strict enforcement of Orissa Freedom of Religion Act, 1967, to end the illegal conversions. "Our party has demanded for a central legislation to ban religious conversion across the country," Rajnath said.

BJP demanded a ban on all Christian NGO's and missionary organisations involved in relief and rehabilitation for the victims in the district.

The party has also asked the Orissa government to speed up the probe into the killing of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and four of his disciples' gun downed by Maoists.

"We have strongly condemned the brutal murder of Swamiji. We demanded for a time bound judicial probe," said Rajnath.

Meanwhile, with the arrest of members from saffron groups for their alleged involvement in Malegaon blasts, the RSS, BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal have come under scanner.

AICC General Secretary and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on Sunday alleged that the RSS and its affiliated organisations were involved in making bombs and spreading communalism in the country and demanded enactment of a tough federal law to deal with such elements.

"I have been saying this for long that RSS and its affiliated organisation are making bombs and spreading communalism in the country and the same has been proved with the arrest of Sadhvi Pragya in connection with the Malegaon blasts case," Singh told reporters here.