E-Paper
Communal violence feared by Iyengar
STATE MINORITIES Commission member Indira Iyengar today expressed the apprehension that the occasion of the birth centenary celebrations at Bhabhra in Jhabua on February 27 could be used by Hindu militant outfits to create communal disturbance in the area.
STATE MINORITIES Commission member Indira Iyengar today expressed the apprehension that the occasion of the birth centenary celebrations at Bhabhra in Jhabua on February 27 could be used by Hindu militant outfits to create communal disturbance in the area.
Addressing a press conference here, Iyengar claimed she had definite information about designs of the saffron outfits to use the occasion to further their campaign against Christian missionaries.
Accusing Madhya Pradesh Government of providing political shelter to Hindu fundamentalists against Christians, Indira Iyengar asked the Centre to take a serious note of the State administration’s functioning.
“The BJP government in the State is trying to undermine the role of the Minorities Commission at the behest of the RSS,” Iyengar alleged.
Alleging 109 per cent rise in incidents of violence against Christians in January-February 2006 as compared to the same period in 2004 and 2005, Iyengar appealed to the Centre to take serious note of State Government’s functioning and take necessary steps to safeguard interests of the minority community.
Quoting a survey conducted by the Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, she said about two dozen incidents of attack on Christians including incidents of arson have taken place this year since January 25.
Iyengar said the State Minorities Commission had sent letters to all district Collectors in the State seeking details of incidents of violence and police atrocities against the Christian community and their institutions in their respective districts but they did not bother to send any information in this regard.
