Hindutva is not Hinduism; it is only an aberration of Hinduism ... Only a handful of fundamental, intolerant elements indulge in activities of arson and rioting, burning the innocent, raping the helpless, torching the Holy Books, attacking the Churches, and killing the priests. Their ideology of "Hate thy Neighbour" is crystal clear. The methodology they use is scientific. A lot of research simultaneously goes on to find out the loopholes in the Church doctrines and practices. Fundamentalist scholars are working on a war footing in the research institutes to study the missionary literature and their style of functioning. Programmes are chalked out meticulously to check the growth of missionary activities ... All modern sophisticated tools and techniques are at their disposal to further their vested interest. One of the main methods to meet their end is the 'hate' campaign through provocative statements and literature, and malicious propaganda against the minorities. The sinister designs of the Hindutva forces lie exposed even as the Government finds ISI hands in the recent attacks on the churches and missionary institutions.

Earlier it was a 'fashion' to accuse the foreign hand for every political disturbance. Now there is a shift in the Hindutva methodology. Accusation of the foreign hand has now become a 'strategy' to further the evil designs of the Hindutva forces.

It is not necessary for all the attacks to be preplanned but the lethargy and the 'doublespeak' of the Government has allowed an atmosphere to prevail where Hindutva forces, hand-in-glove with the criminal and anti-social elements are on prowl, waiting for the prey. They are confident of protection by the powers that be.

What is saddening is the hate campaign by the Sangh Parivar against the Christian minority is escalating. For the time being campaign against Muslims has taken a back seat. This is obviously a (tactical) retreat. Lots of hate literatures are available teaching, preaching and spreading hatred and violence ...

Hate campaign is not a recent phepomenon but a long-term goal which started long ago and which his bearing fruit now resulting in rampant attacks on Christians.

.. Hindutva forces (are trying to) inculcate the spirit of false nationalism and anti-minorityism. There is a deliberate attempt to confuse nationalism with Hindutya. The implication is that if one claims to be a true national or Indian s/he should abhor Christians and Muslims alike. Hence, there is no space for the latter in the imagination of the self-styled nationalists. Not that they had any part in the freedom movement. On the contrary, they even played a dubious role during the freedom struggle.

Those indulging in the hate campaign selectively pick up the references out of context to suit their purpose ...

Efforts are also being made by the so-called Hindutva's Bible scholars to enter into the doctrinal issues of the Church ...

Hundreds of cheaply available books, booklets, pamphlets, documents and handouts are being printed day in and day out. The only aim of all of them is to poison the minds of the Indians, to misinform the public, to bring division among people in the name of ... creed. Christian Missionaries are held responsible for tribal movements for self-assertion. Christian Minorities are branded as anti- nationals and outside the national mainstream. Tribals are identified with Hindus. They surely have an eye on the vote-bank: Turning the tribes against the Christian minority serves their purpose best. 'Gharwapsi' (Reconversion) programme is meant to divert the attention of the country from the issues of violence, exploitation and oppression of the poor by the rich ... Learned university professors and students are also under the impression that all tribal Christians are forcefully converted to Christianity. What they read in the newspaper and hear in the fiery speeches is taken to be true.

Most of the clergy is dormant. Christians are not educated to face the challenge. Too much of spiritualisation prevents them from taking to streets to counter the menace of the Hindutva forces. Meanwhile continues the strategy of RSS: approach the disgruntled elements in the Church apart from giving a call for 'moratorium on conversion' and create problems in the Church-related institutions ... Dumka ... incident (is a) clear example of pre-planned disruption in the activities of the Church. Church-run schools are the heart of the Missions. Hindutva forces have strategically attacked the roots where it hurts most.

The themes of the widely circulated Hindutva. literature against can be summed up:

1.     missionaries' involvement in mass conversions by incentives, deceit, allurement, coercion

2.     denigration of Hindu deities and scriptures

3.     atrocities and torture of Hindus by Christians

4.     misinformation on events involving Christians,

5.     tribals being branded as 'Hindus' and 'Vanvasis'.

The thrust of the entire propaganda is to create an atmosphere of hatred and abhorrence towards Christian minority. When the common innocent man first hears of the false allegation labeled against Christians by the Hindutva forces there is a shock and disbelief. Unfortunately, repeated accusations and defensive attitude of the Church help the allegations to sink in the subconscious. Consequently, even some of the sympathizers of the Christian minority take those allegations to be true. The strategy of Hindutva forces pays off (in violence) ... The perpetrators of the 'culture of violence and hatred' ceaselessly continue their campaign with a missionary zeal ... (Source: The Indian Currents, 2 July, 2000)