Saffron groups oppose rebuilding of destroyed churches

Saffron groups in the country are protesting against the release of government funds for the rebuilding of churches and Christian institutions damaged in the August Orissa violence.

VHP Orissa unit general secretary, Gouri Prasad Rath, told media last week, that government had no right to spend taxpayers' money on appeasing the Christian community.

"Churches and Christian training centres are patronising conversion activities. If the government wants to restore communal harmony in Kandhamal, it must stop giving any financial help for the reconstruction of churches (damaged in the violence)," he said.

According to the Hindu leader, the state relief code does not mention provision for financial assistance to places of worship. "The Supreme Court had never directed the state government to provide financial assistance to such institutions," he argued.

Rath said the court had only asked the government to look into the issue in a humanitarian manner "but the government appears to have mistaken that order".

On November 16, the government had announced financial aid for the rebuilding of churches and Christian institutions destroyed in the violence. Saffron outfits since then have been reacting to the government orders, accusing it of sliding with minorities, ignoring the plights of majority Hindus.

Violence was sparked in Orissa's Kandhamal district after the murder of a local VHP leader on August 23. Ignoring a claim of responsibility by the Maoists, the Hindu fanatics accused Christians for engineering the VHP leader's murder along with four of his aides in Jalaspata ashram.