November 17, 2006
Editorial
IT is a matter of national shame
that the poisonous weed of religious intolerance,
which has already brought to India the ignominy
of Graham Staines murder, is taking roots at
the unlikeliest of places. Who would have thought
that a Christian preacher would be thrashed
in a relatively peaceful place like Yamunanagar
in Haryana? While the priest, Mr A.M. Samuel,
President of the N-W Region of Indian Pentacostal
Church of God, and others say that they were
there only to propagate the name of Jesus and
to hold prayers, the angry mob allegedly consisting
of BJP and Bajrang Dal activists insists that
they were trying to convert Hindus to Christianity.
Even if it is conceded, for arguments' sake,
that such indeed was the motive of the congregation,
still nobody had the right to take the law into
his own hands.
What is all the more galling is the fact that
the troublemakers were accompanied by a large
number of local residents who do not owe allegiance
to any militant organisation or group. Apparently,
their feelings had been aroused with the help
of vicious propaganda. That is highly disturbing.
Only recently, 30 Hindu activists were arrested
in Mohali for reportedly protesting against
a programme being organised by the local church.
Two months ago, an equally ugly incident had
taken place at Loreto Convent in Lucknow. Such
instances can by multiplied if one goes a little
further back in time.
The situation demands that the police has to
remain alert against the mischief-makers who
are always keen to tread on minority rights.
It should now immediately swing into action
and bring the guilty to book. Only then would
the apprehensions of the minorities be assuaged.
Community leaders also need to ensure that the
venom of religious hatred is not allowed to
be spread. Fanaticism has no place in a plural
and multi-cultural country like India.
