Ramesh Patel, a 38-year-old RSS worker addressing an informal meeting of tribals in Rajpipla (250 km southwest of Ahmedabad) says: "We are in power in Delhi; we are in power here in Gujarat, we cannot tolerate Christian missionaries doing what they like with you. You support us. We'll be with you ... " The group is silent. Tribals are slow to react. "Christians and Muslims will face hell in Gujarat", he shouts in despair.
"But our children have schools, we have a small clinic-run by Christian Sisters. They are kind to us. They love us", says Rama Tadvi, 63, to the RSS worker. That night Rama Tadvi was attacked. This was in June 1998 "Tadvi is watched. He will not be safe", says his family.
Pamphlets are freely distributed by the RSS, and they are helped by other Hindu fascists - VHP and Bajrang Dal. The ruling party (BJP) has time and again pooh-poohed mercy petitions made by Christians in Gujarat.
In less than six months, since the BJP came to power in Gujarat, there were 11 major attacks on Christians. "In a little less a month, copies were the New Testament were publicly burnt y Hindu militants in Rajkot (203 km from Ahmedabad), and nuns and priests insulted in their schools", says Sr. Valesiamma.
"Christians are harassed when they go to any government office", says 59-year-old retired school teacher Peter Parmar of Rajkot. According to a police version (this too cannot be given much credence because the police is pro-BJP), in the last 90 days there were 23 complaints made by Christians ..
Meanwhile the national Congress President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, has sent a three-man high-level delegation to Gujarat to go into each and every case of attack and study the follow-up by the BJP authorities. Mr. Vayalar Ravi, MP, Leader of the Delegation says, "I'm personally shocked to see the unfortunate treatment that the Christians are receiving at the hands of the BJP. The BJP men and their militant groups are exposed now. The minorities - Christians and Muslims - are feeling terribly insecure and sacred. The BJP is silently watching the show and enjoying it.
Two other members of the delegation are Congress Deputy Leader in the Parliament, P. Shivshanker and a former Congress MP, Vimla Varma ... "There has been well-planned and well-organised attacks on Christians and their places of worship", says Vayalar Ravi. "From our reports we conclude that these attacks were made by the VHP, Bajrang Dal and the RSS. Christian schools and hospitale wre singled out and attacked", he says.
"It surprises us that the police is silent. Are they asked to play that role? Instead of taking actions against the attackers, victims were harassed by the police", continued Mr. Ravi. "It seems the police and officials are taking the BJP line. Attackers are sheltered. Communalisation of police force in Gujarat is a dangerous trend. If this is allowed or encouraged, the minorities will face hell in Gujarat", he cautioned.
In Rajkot, in a convent school of 1500 girls, there are hardly 28 Christians. 1472 students are non- Christians. Hindu girls of this convent already gave their statement that they were not forced to read or study the New Testament. The schools morning prayer begins with "Vande Mataram". Yet, a group of Bajrang Dal boys rushed into the school, burnt copies of the New Testament, and utterly terrified the girls and the nuns ...
Recently, a Church in Ahmedabad was ransacked. "It was constructed on illegal ground without any permission", says an official ... This official has no answer when asked. "There are other about 27 illegal constructions in the same area where this particular Church was demolished. Why was the Church alone singled out?" Whenever such an incident is reported to me, I urgently inquire into the matters, says the Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel ...
SOS Gujarat
Christians have become easy targets ... Any flimsy excuse is enough to attack Christians in the state ...
* For the last fifteen years Missionaries of Charity nuns work among slums in Ahmedabad's Khanpur area. Two sisters of the congregations were prevented by the VHP men and their mobile clinic was stopped and filthy words were used for the nuhs ... Slums dwellers objected as they wanted the free medicines.
* Copies of the New Testament were burnt in a Rajkot school.
* In South Gujarat there have been systematic attacks on the Christian tribals. They were threatened if they continue (to profess their faith).
* St. Mary's School, Naroda (on the outskirts of Ahmedabad) was attacked by ... VHP ... The reason? "Why don't you teach Sanskrit in your school?" A picture of Our Lady was damaged and bad words were written on the walls ...
* A corpse was dug up ... in Kheda district's Kapadwanj village and the coffin was placed later in front of the Methodist pastor's residence. The reason? "You buried the dead in the illegal land." The land was in fact allotted two years ago for Christian burial.