Kandhamal BJP candidate booked for hate speech against Christians

When BJP candidate Ashok Sahu spread rumors against the church claiming to have killed VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, church could only stay helplessly mum. On Sunday, it was not the case, as law finally caught up with the former retired IPS officer for his hate speech against Christians.

The BJP candidate for Orissa's Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency was booked for delivering inflammatory speech against Christians, violating the model code of conduct during electioneering at Raikia on April 5.

The decision was taken by the Election Commission (EC) after reviewing a CD that contained the alleged hate speech in which Christians were accused of murdering Swami Laxmananda by hatching a plot in Kerala state. He also fanatically blamed the church for indulging in forced conversions.

Enraged, the Commission went a step further by registering two more cases apart from the already registered cases under sections 125 (promoting enmity between classes in election) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and 153 (A) (creating enmity between two communities) of the IPC.

On Sunday, the EC booked him under sections 505 (making statement not conducive to public order) and 295 (defiling place of worship).

Kandhamal district superintendent of police S. Praveen Kumar said a case against Sahu has been registered and the matter is under investigation.

Meanwhile, a police team was dispatched after learning that Sahu was absconding. He was later arrested by the police and now could be in jail for upto three years.

After his arrest, he told a new channel that he was unapologetic about his comments on Christians.

"Why should I surrender on such flimsy grounds?" said Sahu.

The head of Hindu Jagaran Samukhya (HJS), Sahu also accused archbishop of Cuttack, Bhubaneswar diocese Raphael Cheenath for indulging in forced conversions using foreign money.

The development comes at a time when the state authorities are strenuously working to ensure a peaceful poll on April 16. Sources also note that the arrest of Sahu could lead to more violence against Christians in Kandhamal where over 300 churches and 4000 homes were razed down since last year.

On August 23, 2008, after violence erupted in Kandhamal with the murder of 80-year-old Swami Laxmananda, Sahu alleged that Christians in Baliguda Church planned to "eliminate Swamijee who was an insurmountable obstacle against conversion and cow-slaughter in the area."

To draw home his point, Sahu had distributed certain fake documents among the media in which the Christian's signatures were doctored.

Furious over the allegations, the Baliguda Church Council filed a suit of Rs 50 crore accusing Sahu of distorting documents.

The parish council has refuted the claims and said the signatures were faked to defame the church and the Christian community.

According to official reports, Swami Laxmananda was murdered by Maoists who twice claimed responsibility for the slaying.