THE WRATH YATRA

 

 

What happens when a frenzied mob of fanatical zealots roam the streets? It is celebration of violence, murder and mayhem. Bajrang Dal activists once again resumed targetting Christians in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. On 25 January, Bajrang Dal activists attacked a congregation of Christians at Rohtas in Bihar. They beat up the Christians, accusing them of converting Hindus. The police came up with an expected response: “They are absconding, but we are after them.” On 30 January, Bajrang Dal activists further assaulted two South African nationals in the State, accusing them of carrying beef. They were actually carrying chicken and pork. After Gujarat, the State of Madhya Pradesh has virtually become a 'free zone' for the Sangh bandwagon. The Chief Ministers, Narendra Modi (Gujarat) and Shivraj Chauhan (Madhya Pradesh) conveniently have looked the other way,



HIT LIST

25 January: Bajrang Dal men attack Christians at Rohtas

30 January: Dal targets two South African nationals in Madhya Pradesh

1999: Bajrang Dal men kill Graham Stein



while these so-called flag-bearers of Hindutva have continued on their sickening rampages. The Sangh is now spreading its wings even in Bihar, ruled by the BJP-Janata Dal (United) coalition. It would be extremely pertinent to remember the gruesome murder of the Australian missionary, Graham Steins, and his two children in Orissa in 1999. At that time, the mob was led by a local Bajrang Dal leader, Dara Singh. Steins was accused of forcibly converting local Hindus. Earlier, the outfit activists were allegedly involved in the rape of four nuns at Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh. In July 2006, a Christian inmate in the Mangalore jail was attacked by other inmates, many linked to Bajrang Dal. When TSI cornered BJP spokesman, Ravi Shankar Prasad, on the Bajrang Dal, he smoothly shuts up. Though BJP Vice President, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, did tell TSI that such incidents of violence should be condemned, the fact remains that apart from the Dal itself, it is the BJP, the unsaid brother in arms, that stands accused despicably.