The 16th Congress of the CPI(M) expresses its outrage and strong condemnation of the systematic violence unleashed against the Christian community by the RSS and its wings, notably the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, throughout the country in recent months, ever since the BJP-led Government took over power at the Centre ... The pattern of violence shows that the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena cadres are carrying out a well-chalked out plan to harass, intimidate and terrorise the minority Christian community ..

The National Commission of Minorities, after investigation, held the BJP government in Gujarat guilty of creating an atmosphere of insecurity for minorities. Despite the spate. of attacks across the country, the central government has issued no official statement condemning this violence nor taken any action to ensure the security of the Christian community. The representatives of the community have said that it is for the first time since Independence that Christians in India feel threatened.

The attack ... stems from the very essence of Hindutva ideology which claims that India is the land of a monolithic Hindu community in which members of the other faiths are "alien" and deserve no status. The same hate that led to the demolition of the Babari Masjid and violence against the Muslim minority is being manifested in the attacks against the Christians. This hate and violence is an intrinsic part of the RSS-BJP-VHP's strategy ...

The Congress ... calls upon all party units and members to ... expose the diabolical game plan of the Hindutva forces (and) be in the forefront of the battle to safeguard the rights and ensure the security of the minorities in India. (Source: The People's Democracy, 18 October, 1998)