VHP ‘struggle’ groups to counter Christianity

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a Hindu nationalist organization in India, an offshoot of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, plans to mobilise Hindu masses to counter Christian missionaries and activities in the country.

The growing influence of Christianity in India renders fear among radical organisations like the VHP who has decided to form struggle groups at the village and block levels to sabotage and usurp the Christians.

Addressing a meeting of VHP activists in Karsewakpuram, the VHP's local headquarters in Ayodhya, senior leader Narendra Singh Bhadauriya said the “influence of the Vatican City” is gradually taking over the political and economic systems of the country.

The Hindu leader accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi, a Christian, for being a "Vatican agent". He alleged that to launch a wide conversion movement in India, the Vatican has given $ 20,000 to Christian missionaries working here.

The VHP leader who apparently studied the rise of Christian population in South India added, "It has crossed the 25 per cent mark in Kanyakumari, the 45 per cent mark in Orissa, the 40 per cent mark in Kerala and the 35 per cent mark in Tamil Nadu. This rapid growth of Christians is dominating the economy and political system there."

Pointing the present stature of north eastern states in India, the VHP leader said, Northeast states like Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Assam have totally become “Christian states”.

The senior leadership of the VHP has decided to form anti–missionary struggle groups in one million villages across India, with a central committee at the block and district levels, to "stop the growing influence of Christianity."

From recently, Hindu radical organisations such as the VHP and RSS are actively campaigning against Christians, severely attacking and damaging their properties.

In December 2007, a series of communal violence occurred against Christians in Phulbani, Daringbadi, Bamunigaon and Baliguda towns of Kandhamal district in Orissa. Government had to impose curfew in order to control the situation.

The All India Christian Council reported at least 70 Churches/Institution being attacked, broken, and torched. More than 600 Christian homes damaged. Nine dead and 5000 affected by the attack in Orissa.